Don’t Miss Tom Harrell Quartet @ Jazz Forum!

Praised by Newsweek for his pure melodic genius, Tom Harrell is widely recognized as one of the most creative and dynamic jazz instrumentalists and composers of our time.

Harrell all but transcends musical labels. His music runs the gamut from the modal and melodic to uncommon modernisms that sonically broach the film soundtrack and/or the avant-garde. He is a frequent winner in DownBeat and JazzTimes magazines’ Critics and Readers Polls and a multiple Grammy nominee. Along with the late saxophonist Bob Berg, Tom opened the second Jazz Forum loft in 1981. Don’t miss the Tom Harrell Quartet featuring Danny Grissett on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums at the Jazz Forum, March 15 and 16.

Guitarist, composer and arranger Bob DeVos is hailed as a brilliant, knowing bebop player, a master with a sound to die for–rich, full, deep, positive, round and warm. With long, blues-drenched melodic lines and a horn-like approach, he has a signature style of groove and sophistication. A modern player with strong traditional roots, DeVos is at home with straight-ahead jazz, blues, Rhythm & Blues, funk, Latin and more. DeVos performs in every setting from solo to big band.

Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982.

He spent many years as Etta Jones’ musical partner, recording, performing and touring. There are more than 75 albums recorded by Houston Person as a bandleader, on Prestige, Westbound, Mercury, Savoy, and Muse, and he has most recently been recording on HighNote.

Gerry Malkin is a leader and tenor saxophonist who has performed with Tito Puente, Lew Soloff, Adam Nussbaum, George Colligan, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Ray Vega and Dave Weckl among others.

On stage, Gerry Malkin and Scott Wendholt will be joined by pianist Jeff Pittson, who has worked with many jazz musicians, among them Joe Henderson, Eddie Henderson, Kenny Garrett and Ruth Brown. Also featured will be bassist Mike McGuirk, who’s performed with Billy Drummond and Rob Sheps, and drummer Bobby Leonard who has played with Dave Liebman and The Woody Herman Orchestra. Don’t miss the Gerry Malkin Sextet featuring Scott Wendholt, trumpet, Chris Morrison, guitar, Mike McGuirk, bass, Tony Jefferson, drums and Tito Marrero, percussion at the Jazz Forum!

A select member of jazz’s piano pantheon, Fred Hersch is a pervasively influential creative force who has shaped the music’s course over more than four decades as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator and recording artist. He has been proclaimed “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair, “an elegant force of musical invention” by The L.A. Times, and “a living legend” by The New Yorker.

A twelve-time Grammy nominee, Hersch has regularly garnered jazz’s most prestigious awards, including recent distinctions as a 2016 Doris Duke Artist, 2016 and 2018 Jazz Pianist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2017 Prix Honorem de Jazz from L’Acádemie Charles Cros for the totality of his career.

Sergio Pereira is visiting the Jazz Forum on his upcoming “Nu Brasil” CD release tour!

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sergio Pereira started playing acoustic guitar (violao) at the age of 8 years old, influenced by his older brother who played the guitar and helped him with his first chords. He was also influenced by the music of bossa-nova giants at the time such as Joao Gilberto, Tom Jobim, Carlos Lyra, Joao Donato, Marcos Valle and many more. Growing up in Rio in the 60’s and 70’s has contributed tremendously to the energy, groove and rhythms reflected in his music today.

His latest album ”’Nu Brasil,” released by ZOHO Music of NYC, includes some of the most well known musicians in the world, such as pianist Helio Alves, flutist Oriente Lopez, harmonica player Gabriel Grossi, Spanish saxophonist Perico Sambeat, singer Paula Santoro, guitarist Marcus Texeira and others.