- Genre :: Jazz
- Listen :: In Walked Bud
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Helen Sung & NuGenerations fuses jazz tradition with musical exploration. Its jazz roots firmly established, this ensemble takes creative risks, sparking new works and innovative performances. A project of bandleader Helen Sung, each member of this New York City-based band represents a different generation of life and musical experience. With diverse backgrounds including classical music, R&B, funk and world-music, and from varied origins across the United States—from the Bay Area to Michigan to Texas to Chicago—Helen Sung & NuGenerations collectively create distinctive music and inspire audiences to participate in and learn more about this great American art form, jazz.
Helen Sung (piano) has been called “one of the brightest emerging stars in jazz today.” Challenging stereotypes as an Asian-American, female jazz pianist and composer, Sung’s training in classical music and subsequent studies in jazz and popular music make for a fascinating mix. As a graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Sung studied with great jazz masters and has since worked with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Buster Williams and the legendary Wayne Shorter, as well as with luminaries Steve Turre, Steve Wilson, T.S.Monk and Regina Carter. She is an active bandleader, performing extensively in the United States and internationally and remains involved with music education through clinics and residencies. NuGenerations is one of Sung’s latest projects and she continues to craft her unique musical vision through the venture.
Quincy Davis (drums) discovered music at an early age, playing the drums, trumpet and tuba. Davis began his formal training at the Interlochen Arts Academy in 11th grade. Following his education there, Davis studied at Western Michigan University with drum master Billy Hart and taught elementary and middle school students. After moving to New York City in 2000, Davis has performed with greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Frank Wess, Russell Malone and Eric Reed. Davis has toured more than ten countries and performed in several celebrated jazz clubs. In 2007, Davis toured with The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad to West Africa.
Saundra Silliman (vocals) has trained with Bobby McFerrin, Patti Cathcart and Brenda Miller. She brings years of performance, theater and education skill to NuGenerations. She has worked with jazz masters Herbie Hancock, Buster Williams and Larry Coryell. In addition, Silliman has appeared as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day & Prez” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and a cast member in the work shop production of "Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope" at the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C. She enjoys teaching children through music enrichment programs, choral direction and musical theater. Silliman graduated with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University.
Lonnie Plaxico (bass), a Chicago-native, inherited a musical gift from his family that was discovered and nurtured early. At age 14, having already performed alongside prominent Chicago jazz figures, Plaxico turned professional. At a young age, he played the electric and acoustic basses with equal facility. In 1980, Plaxico moved to New York and soon appeared with Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon and Wynton Marsalis. Plaxico’s first extended tenure was with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In 1986 he joined Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition, continuing with that group until 1993. Plaxico was the musical director and featured bassist for Cassandra Wilson; their critically acclaimed and award-winning collaboration spanned 15 years. He has recorded or performed with many well-known artists, including Alice Coltrane, Abbey Lincoln and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as Steve Coleman, Rachelle Farrell and Dianne Reeves. Plaxico has recorded five critically acclaimed albums as leader, including Live at the Jazz Standard (2003) and Rhythm & Soul (2003). Plaxico's musicianship is best exemplified in his masterful integration of different forms—combining the rigorous technique of classical music, the improvisation of jazz and the rawness of funk into one exhilarating musical experience.
