- Genre :: Jazz
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- View :: Band Website
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Alvin Atkinson & The Sound Merchants integrate heavy jazz and blues influences with inflections of rhythms and melodies from around the world. The group's mission is to share their spirit and music with audiences worldwide as literal merchants of sound.
Alvin Atkinson, Jr. (drums) has played alongside artists such as Houston Person, James Carter, Cecil Bridgewater, and Reggie Workman, Miguel Zenon, Maceo Parker, Luis Perdomo, Steve Turre, Vanessa Rubin and Wycliffe Gordon. He has also performed at the White House for President George W. Bush and as the house drummer for the Emeril Live television show on the Food Network. Mr. Atkinson participated in a U.S. State Department tour of Africa and South America in 2004. He currently teaches at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Middle School Jazz Academy and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
Paul Beaudry (bass) enjoys a career as a performer, composer, producer and educator, playing with such jazz legends as Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Cecil Bridgewater and Wycliffe Gordon. He was selected as a member of Jazz Aspen's JAS Academy, the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Music Festival, and the Kennedy Center's Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program. A committed educator, Mr. Beaudry has taught at York College, Hunter College High School, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Sean Higgins (piano) earned his B.M. in Jazz Performance at University of North Carolina-Wilmington and his Master's Degree at Northern Illinois University. He has played at the 2004 Iowa City Jazz Festival, the 2004 Lima Jazz Festival in Peru, and at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City. Mr. Higgins has also performed with his group as the opening musical act for such headliners as Dave Holland, Fourplay, Talib Kweli, Ryan Cohen, and Stefon Harris and Blackout.
Stacy Dillard (saxophonist) attended college at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio before moving to New York to join its vibrant musical scene. His touring history includes performances in South Africa and Russia. Mr. Dillard has played with Wycliffe Gordon, Eric Reed, and Frank Lacy, among others, and he currently leads three bands of his own: cPhyve, cPhour and The Other Side.
