| |
Please find band photos, sound clips and bios below.
Ensembles
Brian Horton Quartet
Chris Byars Quartet
Duende Quartet
Eli Yamin Blues Band
Hoppin' John String Band
Helen Sung & NuGenerations
Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet
Ryan Cohan Quartet
The Student Loan
Vice Verse All Stars
Brian Horton Quartet
Durham, NC
Listen!
Visit Brian Horton's website.
THE BRIAN HORTON QUARTET is deeply rooted in the blues, groove and tradition of jazz music. The ensemble explores multi-cultural rhythms and encourages improvisation. Through these channels, musicians revisit jazz standards with fresh ideas and craft original, spontaneous composition. The band developed through the study of masters—such as jazz greats Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus—as well as through exploring new, global urban grooves and improvisation.
Brian Horton (saxophone) is a composer, saxophonist, producer and jazz educator from Kinston, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a BA in jazz performance in the spring of 1997. Two years later he obtained his MA at the Aaron Copeland School of Music in Queens, New York under the direction of Jimmy Heath and the late Sir Roland Hanna. Since that time he has worked as a bandleader, sideman and composer/arranger for such renowned jazz musicians as Hanna, Winard Harper, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, and Delfaeyo Marsalis. Horton is known for his attention to detail and melody, especially in his ballads. As a composer and arranger his music has been featured in several independent documentaries for Columbia and Stanford Universities, ESPN, FootLocker and director Spike Lee. Horton currently is a visiting professor at North Carolina Central University, alongside artist in residence Branford Marsalis.
Jaimeo Brown (drums) is emerging as one of the pre-eminent new drummers on the jazz and creative music scene. Comfortable in any setting from jazz club to arena concert, Jaimeo began his drum career at age 16 with his father bassist, Dartanyan Brown, and mother pianist and woodwind specialist, Marcia Miget, and drum teacher, Sly Randolph, himself a Bernard Purdie protégé from Harlem. In only 10 years, he has performed with a wide range of musicians including Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Wynton Marsalis, Kaamal (aka Q-Tip), Carl Craig, Kenny Garrett, Steve Turre, Pharoah Sanders and Bobby Hutcherson. Jaimeo’s second album with Steeplechase recording artist and tenor saxophonist, Greg Tardy will soon be released.
Ameen Saleem (bass) has toured South American countries such as Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico as a Jazz Ambassador through the U.S. State Department and the Kennedy Center. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Saleem studied bass with the District of Columbia Youth Orchestra Program and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. In addition, Saleem graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Central University and he earned his Master of Arts from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College. Saleem today resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Ernest Turner (piano) has been an active member of the New Orleans and North Carolina music scenes since 1999. Turner received his bachelor’s degree in jazz studies from Loyola University and later obtained his master’s degree in jazz studies from the University of New Orleans. While in New Orleans, Turner had the pleasure of playing with and befriending many great jazz musicians, including Delfeayo, Jason and Ellis Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Adonis Rose, Ed Peterson, Harold Batiste, Steve Masakowski, Tony Dagradi, Johnny Vidacovich, Brice Winston, John Mahoney and Michael Pellera. Turner currently serves as instructor of jazz piano at East Carolina University and is also involved in various musical endeavors in the North Carolina area.
The Chris Byars Quartet
Bronx, NY
Listen!
Visit Chris Byar's website.
THE CHRIS BYARS QUARTET plays original music based on a lifelong study of great jazz masters. The members of the band have been performing together for two decades, most frequently at the New York City jazz club, Smalls. The quartet has also toured extensively, most recently to Russia and Central Asia as part of the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Program in 2006-2007. Their newly released CD is on Smalls Records entitled Photos in Black, White and Gray.
Chris Byars (saxophone) is a native New Yorker who began playing saxophone at age 12. He has toured Europe, Asia and South America and has performed as a featured soloist with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Harry James Big Band, Glenn Miller Orchestra and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Also a noted arranger, Byars has written for the bands of John Pizzarelli and Jerry Dodgion. He and Ari Roland co-lead the group Across 7th Street, which brings jazz into the New York City public schools. Byars graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music.
John Mosca (trombone), a native New Yorker and The Juilliard School graduate, has performed with Pierre Boulez and the Metropolitan Opera, as well as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams and Stan Getz. In 1975 he joined the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra which won a GRAMMY® the following year for the Live in Munich album. Mosca currently co-leads The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, whose latest release, Up From the Skies, received two 2007 GRAMMY® nominations. Mosca has been actively involved in jazz education for over twenty years, having served on the faculty of numerous university jazz programs, most recently as Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Connecticut.
Ari Roland (bass) was born and raised in New York City. He began playing bass at the age of 12 and was working professionally by age 16. He studied at The Juilliard School and has played in the bands of jazz legends such as Lou Donaldson, Barry Harris and Betty Carter. Sketches From a Bassist's Album, his recent CD on Smalls Records, has received widespread critical acclaim. In 2008, Roland performed in Cyprus, India, Montenegro, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia as part of the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Program. .
Stefan Schatz (drums) was born in New York City. Trained as a classical percussionist at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and Manhattan School of Music Prep, Schatz continued his jazz studies at The New School in New York. Since graduating in 1995, Schatz has worked with many notable artists, including Jon Hendricks, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Mark Morris Dance Group, among others. Active in education, Schatz has been involved in arts outreach programs for the Mark Morris Dance School, Bronx Jazz Series, Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Lincoln Center Institute.
Duende Quartet
Silver Springs, MD
Listen!
Visit Duende Quartet's website.
DUENDE QUARTET is devoted to playing Latin jazz in the style of Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader and Willie Bobo with a taste of the legendary Blue Note Records sound of the 1960s. In a unique small group setting, Duende Quartet captures the vibe of the jazz combo, with piano as the lead instrument, while using the rhythms of a Cuban conjunto.
Harry Appelman (piano) has performed on five continents. Appelman visited Egypt in February 2008 with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and he participated in a U.S. State Department tour of the South and Central Americas in 2002. In addition, Appelman has toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Orchestra. He is a member of the Latin Jazz group Afro Bop Alliance, and plays frequently with Palmetto recording artist Rumba Club. Appelman graduated from the New England Conservatory with a master’s degree in music and from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree.
Mark Merella (percussion) is a seasoned jazz professional—his career spans over 25 years and covers a wide range of styles. Merella has performed with Fred Foss, Rene Mclean, Tom Williams, Eva Cassidy, Mary Wilson and percussionist Steve Berrios, co-founder of the Fort Apache Band. Merella has played at many embassies, the White House and the Kennedy Center. His educational experience includes residencies, workshops, private lessons and recording for the Warner Bros. band method series, which is used in high schools across the country. Merella notes that his career highlight was playing with the Latin Jazz All Stars alongside Steve Turre, Ray Vega and Andy Gonzalez.
Josh Schwartzman (bass) has performed extensively throughout the East Coast Latin and jazz scenes. Schwartzman is best known as founder, bassist and contributing arranger and composer for Rumba Club since its inception 22 years ago. He has performed in D.C.-area musical theater—most recently Schwartzman appeared in the 2008 Israeli operetta David in Shadow and Light. Schwartzman has studied at Towson State University, the Creative Music Studio, and the Peabody Institute of Music.
Sam “Seguito” Turner (percussion) has worked nationally and internationally with Machito, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Charles Mingus, Alvin Ailey Dance, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, Don Pullen and others. Turner is a recipient of the United Nations Peace Award. Residing in Washington, D.C., Turner performs with Rumba Club and works with the Prince George's Arts Council teaching and performing in schools.
Eli Yamin Blues Band
New York, NY
Listen!
Visit Eli Yamin Blue Band's website.
Eli Yamin Blues Band’s program welcomes audiences of all ages into the varied and rich world of America’s primary musical art form, the blues. The band explores the range and healing power of the blues – from spiritual to classical, from bebop to folk. In 2004-2005 the quartet performed over 50 concerts in the New York metropolitan area. Venues ranged from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and jazz clubs to universities and elementary and high schools. In 2006-2007, performances included the WBGO children’s concert series at The New School of Social Research, the Viscardi School for Children with Severe Disabilities and concerts at Flushing Town Hall in Queens, New York
Eli Yamin (piano and vocals) is a jazz pianist, composer, educator, broadcaster, bandleader and Steinway artist. Yamin has performed at top concert halls and festivals in the United States, India, China, Mali, Japan and throughout Europe. As a jazz educator, Yamin designs and delivers trainings for business leaders, middle school students, music teachers and college professors. He has recorded many CDs, including You Can't Buy Swing (2008) with the Eli Yamin Quartet, and Suns of Cosmic Consciousness (2005) with Solar. Yamin has played, recorded and taught with Barry Harris, Wynton Marsalis, Illinois Jacquet, Walter Perkins, Perry Robinson, Mercedes Ellington, Kate McGarry, Claire Daly and Bob Stewart. Yamin holds a master’s degree in Music Education from Lehman College, City University of New York and has appeared on CBS Saturday Morning, PBS, Fox News and National Public Radio.
Bob Stewart (tuba) is a freelance concert artist, studio musician and educator. As a professional tuba player, he has recorded with groups led by Gil Evans, Frank Foster, Carla Bley, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, McCoy Tyner, Sam Rivers, Henry Threadgill, Arthur Blythe, Lester Bowie, Howard Johnson, Don Cherry and Nicholas Payton. In addition, Stewart has taught in the public schools of Philadelphia and New York for over 25 years. He has recently retired as the Director of Jazz Studies at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts where he taught for the last ten years and is a faculty member of The Juilliard School. Stewart received bachelor’s degree in music education from the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and his Master in Education at Lehman College Graduate School.
Kate McGarry (vocals) grew up in Hyannis, Massachusetts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Afro American Music and Jazz from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she studied with Dr. Horace Boyer and Archie Shepp. She tours nationally and internationally, and recently was invited to the San Sebastian and Ezcaray Jazz Festivals in Spain, as well as Tanglewood and Cape Cod Jazz Festivals in the United States. In August 2008, McGarry released her fourth CD on Palmetto Records, If Less Is More, Nothing Is Everything. McGarry is a faculty member at Manhattan School of Music.
LaFrae Sci (drums) moved to New York City in 2000 to pursue her music career. Since then, Sci has participated in countless workshops both locally and overseas that foster jazz education. She has toured France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Switzerland, among others, with noted artists. Before moving to New York City, Sci was the program director for Instrument for Kids, a program sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Jazz Society. Sci graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political theory and economics from Oberlin College in Ohio.
Hoppin' John String Band
Brooklyn, NY
Listen!
Visit Hoppin' John String Band's website.
THE HOPPIN' JOHN STRING BAND brings to life the history and dialogue of American folk music with animated artistry and community commitment. Ensemble members have hosted workshops on the tradition of this art form internationally and actively educate and perform for local audiences. The ensemble is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Alicia Jo Rabins (fiddle and vocals) brings the history of traditional American music to audiences nationally and internationally. With a flair for bluegrass, old-time, Cajun and klezmer tones, Rabins has toured countries such as Guatemala, England, Israel, France, Poland and Canada. In addition to performing, Rabins teaches the culture and technique of traditional American music to children and adults. Rabins released Sugar Shack, a solo album of traditional American fiddle music, in 2003. Rabins earned her master’s degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she studied Jewish women and music. Rabins received a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and she has studied at the Peabody Conservatory.
Sarah Alden (fiddle and vocals), a Brooklyn, New York resident, is an avid performer and community educator. In addition to her work with the Hoppin’ John String Band, Alden has worked with Dan Zanes, The Woes and Jose Flatfix Stringband. For five years, she toured internationally with the Luminescent Orchestrii and hosted workshops in Romanian and Hungarian Violin. Alden earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Brooklyn College, and has travelled to Eastern Europe, The Balkans and the United States’ Appalachian region to study and collect traditional folk music.
Sean Condron (guitar, banjo and mandolin), born and raised in Sunnyside, Queens, is skilled in many instruments. Condron has performed with several ensembles, such as The Wooster Street Trolley Jazz Band, Tin Pan and his own Brooklyn Rhythm Masters. A spirited instructor, Condron teaches in New York Public Schools through CREATE! and works with special education programs through Hospital, Inc. Condron is the musical director of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Wild West Jamboree. In addition to his work in the tri-state area, Condron has toured Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Russia, Guatemala, Belize, Canada and Mexico. Condron has studied at New York University, S.U.N.Y. Purchase and the Manhattan School of Music.
Taylor Bergren-Chrisman (bass) is accomplished in many musical forms, including klezmer, Pan-Latin American and traditional jazz. He has toured internationally through Canada, Japan, Poland, Spain and Taiwan. In New York, Bergren-Chrisman has instructed students in bass technique and music theory, among other things. Bergren-Chrisman attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the Centre Informatique Musicale in Paris, France.
Helen Sung & NuGenerations
New York, NY
Listen!
Visit NuGeneration's website.
NUGENERATIONS fuses jazz tradition with artistic, musical adventure. In addition to honoring jazz roots, this ensemble is dedicated to pursuing risky musical angles and sparking fresh composition. Collectively, members explore how the voice functions as an instrument. This New York City band encourages audiences to interact with their music and soak in American jazz culture—here, rhythm, harmony and melody serve as a universal language. Helen Sung & NuGenerations members each represent a distinctive age, or generation, of existence.
Helen Sung (piano), a New York City resident, is an accomplished performer and educator. She has worked with masters such as Slide Hampton, Benny Golson and Buster Williams, and her distinctive style has earned her spots with the Mingus Big Band and Clark Terry's "Big Badd" Big Band. Sung’s experiences as an inaugural class member of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory of Music inspired her commitment to jazz instruction. Today, Sung performs for arts organizations such as JazzReach and she presents workshops at colleges and universities. Sung attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and she earned degrees in music from the University of Texas at Austin.
Quincy Davis (drums) discovered his appreciation for music at an early age through playing the drums, trumpet and tuba. Davis began his formal training at the Interlochen Arts Academy (IAA) in his 11th grade. Following his education at the IAA, 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 merited performances 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 Helen Sung & NuGenerations. Silliman has performed in several venues across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In addition, Silliman has appeared as “Billie Holiday” in Lady Day & Prez at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and as “Ms. Griot” in Sing on Ms. Griot. She enjoys teaching children in music enrichment programs, choral direction and Musical Theater. Silliman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in vocal performance from San Jose State University.
Ben Williams (bass), a Washington, D.C. native, began playing bass at age 11. Williams is a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Music, where he majored in music education with an emphasis on jazz. Currently, Williams is pursuing a master’s degree from The Julliard School. He has succeeded in several competitions and scholarships—most recently, Williams won the 2005 International Society of Bassists (ISB) competition in the jazz category. Williams has performed nationally and internationally with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard and Mulgrew Miller.
Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet
New York, NY
Listen!
Visit Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet's website.
THE ROSEANNA VITRO QUARTET draws from a variety of jazz styles. From Texas blues to Brazilian tones, this ensemble is comfortable playing just about any type of jazz. In addition to performing, all band members are dedicated educators—while touring, they aim to illustrate jazz as a universal language and a unifier. Several members have toured internationally. Quartet members have performed previously together in many capacities and they are based in New York City.
Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band (vocals) is a singer and a storyteller—she sees jazz education as “giving back” what she has learned to others. Vitro has performed with Kenny Werner, Fred Hersch, David 'Fathead’ Newman, Eddie Gomez and many more. Most recently, Vitro released The Delirium Blues Project: Serve or Suffer on Half Note (March 2008). In 2004, Vitro served as a Jazz Ambassador with the U.S. Department of State and presented performances and workshops internationally. Vitro has been the vocal chair of the New Jersey City University since 1998 and the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame welcomed Vitro in 1998.
Bob Bowen (bass) has lived in New York City since 1996. He has with internationally known musicians and singers such as Lee Konitz, Richie Cole and Mark Soskin. Bowen teaches at the Queens College CSPM program and the Manhattan School of Music Summer Jazz Workshop. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Dayton and he studied on the master’s level in the classical double bass program at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Bowen earned master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music.
Joel Holmes (piano) blends traditional and contemporary jazz, gospel, R&B, soul, hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, classical and pop. After graduating the Baltimore School for the Arts High School, Holmes attended the acclaimed Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University and earned a degree in jazz performance. Holmes has studied with Bobby McFerrin, Roy Hargrove, Gary Thomas and has toured several countries. He currently teaches at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and he is head of the jazz department at the Baltimore School of the Arts.
Tim Horner (drums) began playing the drums at the age of ten and cites his parents as primary musical influences. Horner set his personal goal of being a professional jazz drummer when he entered Berklee College of Music in 1974. After spending six years in Boston, Horner relocated to New York City. While in the city, Horner has earned the distinction has being one of New York City’s premiere drummers. Horner has traveled the U.S., Europe, the Balkans, Asia, North and South America, while performing, recording and teaching. In 2004, Horner travelled with the Roseanna Vitro and The JazzIAm Band Quartet as part of the U.S. State Department’s Jazz Ambassadors. Horner currently teaches jazz ensembles and jazz drumming at New Jersey City University
Ryan Cohan Quartet
Chicago, IL
Listen!
Visit the Ryan Cohan Quartet website.
THE RYAN COHAN QUARTET constantly searches for new musical territory to explore while remaining deeply rooted in jazz and blues traditions. Conversant in a variety of world-music styles and rhythms, the Chicago-based quartet has distinguished itself on major stages throughout the U.S. and Canada by balancing dynamic and tight ensemble playing with explosive, expressive solos.
Ryan Cohan (piano), Chicago, Illinois resident, has led the Ryan Cohan Trio, Quartet and Sextet since 1994. National and international jazz club and festival appearances have included The Green Mill, The Jazz Showcase, Symphony Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Fat Cat and others. As an educator, Cohan is the director of large and small music ensembles at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and he has been a faculty member of the Skidmore Jazz Institute. Cohan received the Encore Award in 2008 from Chamber Music America. In 2000, The Illinois Arts Council awarded Ryan an artist's fellowship grant for his work as a composer. Cohan attended DePaul University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in jazz performance.
Geof Bradfield (saxophone) has a diverse collection of jazz teaching, recording and performance expertise. Bradfield has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, including appearances at the Chicago Jazz Festival, South by Southwest, Jazz in Nice and the Vienne Jazz Festival. From 2007 to 2008, Bradfield toured Eastern and Central Africa as part of The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad. Also a seasoned educator, Bradfield is a Columbia College faculty member in Chicago. He has also instructed at Washington State University, Whitworth College, the University of Idaho and Concordia College. Bradfield graduated with a master’s degree in jazz reeds from the California Institute of the Arts and he earned his bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Lorin Cohen (bass), a Chicago native, is fluent in a variety of jazz, Latin and popular music styles. Cohen has toured with The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad to Africa, Jordan, Rwanda and Southeast Asia. In addition, he has toured Europe and Canada with Monty Alexander. Cohen is a recipient of the 2006 Community Arts Assistance Program Grant from the City of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council. He is currently based in Chicago.
Kobie Watkins (drums and percussion), a Chicago native, has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to jazz music and education. He has performed with several distinguished artists in the United States, including Sonny Rollins, Curtis Fuller and Arturo Sandoval. In 2007, Watkins recorded Song and Dance & The Way I Play with Bobby Broom, as well as One Sky with Ryan Cohan. In addition, Watkins has taught with Chicago State University and Northwestern University. He has acted as a Ravinia Mentor for the Chicago Public School Jazz Scholars. Watkins earned a master’s degree in jazz pedagogy from Northwestern University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music.
The Student Loan
Portland, OR
Listen!
Visit The Student Loan's website.
THE STUDENT LOAN is an eclectic four piece bluegrass/newgrass band, originally from Bowling Green, Ohio and now based in Portland, Oregon. Mixing elements of traditional bluegrass and folk music with elements of rock, jazz and blues, The Student Loan has a sound that defies genre and is both familiar and new. With original songs and a vast library of covers from groups as diverse as Bill Monroe, The Beatles, Phish and Sublime, the Student Loan presents rooted in the grass roots tradition.
Liz Chibucos (guitar, violin and vocals) was classically trained on piano from a young age. Chibucos earned a bachelor’s degree in World Music and was exposed to many new sounds, including bluegrass and folk music. She wrote a number of papers on American music while she was in school, including ''Grass Roots Politics: Bluegrass and Newgrass Aesthetics as Expressions of Political and Social Activism," which she presented at the Midwest Society for Ethnomusicology conference in 2008. Chibucos served as recording and mixing engineer for both of their albums and has also written several songs for the band, including "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Rufus" off of the band's debut album, Wake Up to The Student Loan, and "Insomnia" off of their sophomore release, A New and Different Life.
Mark Gerolami (banjo, guitar and vocals) received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of Arts and Sciences at SUNY Potsdam. He completed a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology at Bowling Green State University focusing his research on issues of class and music. Gerolami has traveled to Ghana where he studied traditional West African drumming and dance. His performance credits include such groups as the BGSU Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble and the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, the Crane School of Music Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band, the Finger Lakes Community College Symphonic Band, the Jazz trio Avogadro and the Moles, and the folk music group Norton and the Anthologies.
Julio Appling (bass and vocals) was born in Bakersfield, California and raised in Tacoma, Washington. Appling plays double bass, bass guitar, classical guitar, trombone and piano. Recently, he has played with the jazz fusion group Macumba Macamba, the rock band Oneiria and The Harlequin Jazz Quartet, his jazz trio. In addition to his work with The Student Loan, he has appeared alongside artists, composers, and performers of all styles and genres including singer-songwriters Joel Smith, Megz Small, and Jordan Ross; bluegrass artists Larry Keel, Mark Schmick and Jason Flournoy; and jazz artists Ron Stout, Clay Giberson, Gary Hobbs, Dave Tippett and Gene Parker. Appling holds a bachelor's degree in music from the University of Redlands in California; he recently completed his master’s degree in Musicology from Bowling Green State University.
Chad Kimbler (mandolin and vocals) was born and raised in West Virginia. Around the age of 10, Kimbler started composing music for both the garage bands and classical ensembles. Since then, Kimbler has received two collegiate degrees in music composition, a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia, and a master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Kimbler composes music in both classical and vernacular styles. Kimbler now lives in Portland, Oregon.
Vice Verse All Stars
Spring Valley, NY
Listen!
Visit Vice Verse's website.
VICE VERSE ALL STARS is a crew of musicians and educators that encourages audiences to explore the intersection of jazz, poetry and hip-hop. Members have roots in The Bronx and Brooklyn, and perform throughout New York City venues. Two musicians return from previous Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad tours.
Christopher Rel (vocals), born in The Bronx and raised in Spring Valley, New York, has been rapping since age 12. In 2007, Rel participated in The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad by teaching hip-hop workshops, and performing in cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur and Rangoon. In addition, Rel has performed at the Redstar in London and the Swedish Music Festival in Malmo. Rel’s rhymes and writing have been influenced by the likes of De la Soul, Ras Kass and The Roots. He served with the National Guard and he attended Stony Brook University. Rel is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Denny Jackson (vocals) has been a solo R&B artist since 1995. Jackson has appeared at Long Island University, Sultana NYC and the 2007 West 4th Street All Star Game. In 2007, Jackson travelled to India, Malaysia and Myanmar for the Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad tours. Jackson recorded The Voice of Truth with Chris Rel and is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Gerald Trotman (voice/guitar), a Brooklyn, New York native, is a skilled keyboardist, guitarist, bassist, singer, emcee and producer. Currently, Trotman is the lead for 2 Shades Darker. While in the hip-hop group KENEK, Trotman performed at Nuyorican Café, Fat Baby and Solomon’s Portch, among other venues. Trotman has produced several studio recordings and is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. From 2001 to 2008, Trotman was a science teacher in the New York City Department of Education.
Pierre Aime (DJ), DJ PrettyNYCE, spins at several venues in New York City and Brooklyn, including Club Fahrenheit, Club Vesta, Club Secrets, Club Dv8, Ragtop, Elite Ark and The Lab. In addition, he has appeared on 99.3 Star FM. Aime lives in Brooklyn, New York.
For the Summer 2007 press kit, please click here.
For the 2006-2007 press kit, please click here
For the 2005-2006 press kit, please click here.
|
