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| Juilliard Jazz Presents "A Tribute to Mulgrew Miller" Juilliard Jazz pays tribute to the late jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller (1955-2013) on Wednesday, October 2 at 8 PM in Juilliard's Paul Hall. Guest artists, pianist Donald Brown, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, and saxophonists Javon Jackson, Billy Pierce, and Steve Wilson perform with Juilliard Jazz's Artist Diploma Ensemble (members are tenor saxophonist Lukas Gabric, pianist Reuben Allen, guitarist Greg Duncan, bassist Paolo Benedettini, and drummer Jordan Young). Tickets for the October 2 concert are FREE and will be available on September 19 at the Juilliard Box Office. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 6 PM. For further information, call (212) 769-7406 or go to www.juilliard.edu/falljazz. The program features: Leilani's Leap (arr. Paolo Benedettini); Hand in Hand (arr. Jordan Young); Farewell to Dogma (arr. Greg Duncan); Grew's Tune (arr. Lukas Gabric); Song for Darnell (arr. Reuben Allen); Soul-Leo (arr. Lukas Gabric); Second Thoughts (arr. Greg Duncan); Waltz for Monk (arr. Reuben Allen and Greg Duncan); and Promethean (arr. Reuben Allen). Pianist Mulgrew Miller was born in 1955 in Greenwood, Mississippi. He played country, gospel, and R&B for dance bands and the blues until he saw the Oscar Peterson Trio perform on television at age 15. Although he also studied classical piano and formed a trio while in high school, he immediately dedicated himself to becoming a jazz musician. He studied at Memphis State University with Donald Brown and James Williams, pianists who would later work with him in the late 1980s/early 1990s as part of the Contemporary Piano Ensemble, along with Geoff Keezer and Harold Mabern, dedicated to the music of Memphis' native son, Phineas Newborn. One of Mr. Miller's earliest jobs was as a pianist for the Mercer Ellington Orchestra. Mr. Miller moved to New York to perform with vocalist Betty Carter. Following Mr. Miller's tenure with Betty Carter, he performed with Woody Shaw, Johnny Griffin, Art Blakey, and Tony Williams. He was a frequent collaborator with saxophonist Joe Lovano in the late 1980s, turning his priorities to his own trio and other ensembles in the 1990s. He performed with Diane Reeves, Rene Marie, Steve Turre, Kenny Garrett, and Gary Burton. Mr. Miller's discography included more than 400 recordings, and he moved easily from jazz standards to Brazilian to bebop to his own compositions. On May 20, 2006, Mr. Miller was awarded the honorary degree Doctor of Performing Arts at Lafayette College's 171st commencement exercises. Beginning in 2006, he became the director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, and was artist-in-residence at Lafayette College for 2008-09. Mr. Miller's last working trio featured Juilliard Jazz alumnus, bassist Ivan Taylor, and drummer Rodney Green. Mr. Miller spent the last years of his life in Easton, Pennsylvania. He died as a result of a stroke in Lehigh Hospital on May 29, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Tanya, and children, Leilani and Darnell. Guest Artists - Bios Pianist and educator Donald Brown, a native of Memphis, is also a prolific composer. He has played with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Henderson, and Donald Byrd. He has been on the faculty of the University of Tennessee since 1988; recorded albums as a leader for Sunnyside and Muse; and had his compositions performed and recorded by a wide variety of top modern jazz players. Saxophonist Javon Jackson came into international prominence as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. As a member, Jackson toured and made many recordings with the legendary drummer. In addition to Blakey, Jackson has toured and recorded with Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Donald Byrd, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, Curtis Fuller, and Stanley Turrentine. As a recording artist, Jackson has appeared on more than 125 recordings. Additionally, he has developed a formidable career as a leader, recording and touring throughout the world. His current musical group, The Javon Jackson Band, incorporates many styles, including jazz, funk, R&B, and rock. Vibraphonist Steve Nelson began his career in the 1970s in his hometown of Pittsburgh. After a year with guitarist Grant Green, he was playing and recording with his Rutgers professors James Spaulding and Kenny Barron before landing a spot in David "Fathead" Newman's quintet. Throughout the 1980s, he was the vibraphonist of choice among some of his generation's most talented up-and-comers, including Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Donald Brown, Geoffrey Keezer, and Lewis Nash, and performed with Dave Holland's award-winning band. In between he's recorded a half dozen dates as a leader that showcase his own personal voice on the vibes. Billy Pierce has performed with some of the masters of jazz – Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Art Farmer, Hank Jones, James Williams, and Art Blakey, to name a few. He has been a Berklee College of Music faculty member for more than two decades. He was raised in Florida by parents who were both educators. The household valued music, and Pierce and his siblings each learned an instrument. He took up the saxophone as a child and started listening to records by Dave Brubeck. Later he was drawn to the music of John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. Pierce attended Berklee and has made Boston his home base ever since. He has been on tour with Stevie Wonder, and then returned to graduate from Berklee and became a part-time member of the faculty in 1975. He focused on playing locally until he sat in with drummer Art Blakey's group. He joined Art Blakey's band and was on the road about ten months a year for nearly three years. He played all over the world - North and South America, Asia, and Europe. He teamed up with drummer Tony Williams and made five recordings with him. Saxophonist Steve Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 recordings led by such celebrated and wide-ranging artists as Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Bill Bruford, Gerald Wilson, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Karrin Allyson, Don Byron, Bill Stewart, James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller, among many others. He has seven recordings under his own name, leading and collaborating with such stellar musicians as Lewis Nash, Steve Nelson, Cyrus Chestnut, Greg Hutchinson, Dennis Irwin, James Genus, Larry Grenadier, Ray Drummond, Ben Riley, Nicholas Payton, and Juilliard's Carl Allen. He is on the faculty at Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, and SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music. PROGRAM LISTING Wednesday, October 2, 8 PM, Paul Hall Juilliard Jazz Presents "A Tribute to Mulgrew Miller" Juilliard Jazz's Artist Diploma Ensemble Guest Artists: Donald Brown, piano Javon Jackson, tenor saxophone Billy Pierce, tenor saxophone Steve Wilson, alto saxophone Steve Nelson, vibraphone Juilliard Jazz's Artist Diploma Ensemble: Lukas Gabric, tenor saxophone Reuben Allen, piano Greg Duncan, guitar Paolo Benedettini, bass Jordan Young, drums The program features: Leilani's Leap (arr. Paolo Benedettini); Hand in Hand (arr. Jordan Young); Farewell to Dogma (arr. Greg Duncan); Grew's Tune (arr. Lukas Gabric); Song for Darnell (arr. Reuben Allen); Soul-Leo (arr. Lukas Gabric); Second Thoughts (arr. Greg Duncan); Waltz for Monk (arr. Reuben Allen and Greg Duncan); and Promethean (arr. Reuben Allen). write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |