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| Geggie Jazz Concert Series Following the success of the opening concert of the Geggie Series, the Fourth Stage of the National Arts Centre is pleased to announce the programming for the next concert, on Saturday, November 22, 2008. As his guests, renowned bassist John Geggie welcomes Cincinnati-based pianist Jim Connerley and guitarist Dan Faehnle, best known for his work with immensely popular band, Pink Martini. Stated Geggie: 'I have known Jim for years and when I found out that he and Dan worked together, I knew that the possibilities were endless for a swinging evening of inventive jazz.' John Geggie is greatly in demand as a versatile musician and creative composer both in Canada and internationally. He has toured extensively with the award-winning jazz group Chelsea Bridge and the Juno-nominated DD Jackson Trio. He has also recorded or performed with a veritable who's who of creative improvised music: Jon Christensen, Andy Milne, Ben Monder, George Colligan, Craig Taborn, Sheila Jordan, David Murray, Andrew Cyrille, Donny McCaslin, Matt Brubeck, Ted Nash, Billy Hart, Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford. Bill Carrothers, Cuong Vu and bassist, Mark Dresser. For many years, Geggie has hosted the Late Night Jam Sessions at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Previously, he has performed at various international festivals including in Rouen and Maubeuge (France), in Molde (Norway) and throughout the United States. This past summer, Geggie performed in the Composers' Collective at the Ottawa Jazz Festival as well as extensively during the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. In addition, he continues to maintain a busy concert schedule with the 13 Strings Chamber Ensemble and the National Arts Centre Orchestra and he is involved in many recording projects. John is on faculty at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York (SUNY Potsdam) and has students at both Carleton University as well as University of Ottawa. This fall will see the release of two new recordings under John Geggie's leadership. Pianist Jim Connerley has been an active member of the Midwestern US jazz community since 1990. He graduated, magna cum laude, with a master's degree from the Indiana University School of Music. He has performed with such internationally known jazz artists as Barry Ries, Don Braden, Othello Molineaux, Rich Perry and Delfeayo Marsalis. Since moving to the Cincinnati area he has been a member of some of its finest jazz groups including the Pat Harbison Quintet, the Cohesion Jazz Ensemble and the salsa band, Tropicoso. Along with his own jazz trio, Jim also leads the United Methodist Jazz trio, an exciting group who performs jazz treatments of gospel songs, hymns and spirituals. Their album, Spirit Songs, re-released in 2006 received critical acclaim from both jazz and liturgical circles. He also leads the Vintage Keys Project, a group dedicated to music showcasing the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos. The group performs classic arrangements by artists such as Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Cannonball Adderley and Dave Douglas. Jim has been a jazz educator on the university level since 1990. He has taught at Miami of Ohio University and the DePauw University School of Music. Currently he is a member of the jazz faculty at the University of Louisville School of Music Deemed 'one of the best guitarists working today' by Jazz Times, Dan Faehnle stepped into the guitar chair with Diana Krall in 2000, performing on numerous world tours, television shows, radio and media events. As an integral part of Krall's group for three years, Dan garnered accolades from such publications as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, JazzTimes and Downbeat magazines, as well as many international publications. While based in Portland, Oregon, Dan established relationships with such legendary jazz artists as Leroy Vinnegar, Chuck Israels, Dave Frishberg and Dick Berk. His ongoing association with these musicians has led to numerous live performances and CD recordings. Faehnle has also worked with such noted musicians as Joey DeFrancesco, Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, and Jeff Hamilton. Other significant colleagues have been Mel Brown, Ron Steen, Nancy King, Dave Friesen and Rebecca Kilgore. Faehnle's recording credits begin with his own debut release, "My Ideal", a straight ahead jazz CD which showcases Dan's strength of melodic content and groove. Other recording credits include CDs with Leroy Vinnegar, Chuck Israels, Dave Frishberg, Rebecca Kilgore, Ben Wolfe, Dick Berk and Tom Grant. More recently, he has been associated with the popular group Pink Martini as well organist Dr. Lonnie Smith. For a peak experience, on January 24, 2009, John will be joined by drummer, Matt Wilson from New York and welcomes back, pianist, Nancy Walker from Toronto. The concert of February 28, 2009 will feature modern and contemporary jazz by a true virtuoso, guitarist Vic Juris (member of the Dave Leibman Quartet) from New York joined by Montrealer John Fraboni on drums. The evening of March 21, 2009, will be filled with tango, baroque and improvised fusion with Montrealers Denis Plante on bandoneon, Pierre Tanguay on drums and Pierre-Yves Martel on the viola de gamba. On April 25, 2009, New York's hottest tenor sax player, Seamus Blake, serves up modern jazz and bebop with Vancouver's Chris Gestrin on piano and from Toronto, Nick Fraser on drums. May 23, 2009 offers sweet sounds from two talented Torontonians Kevin Turcotte on trumpet and Ted Quinlan on guitar. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |