Monty Alexander @ Jazz Forum This Weekend!

Monty Alexander Trio
In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty Alexander has built a reputation exploring the worlds of American Jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. He’s toured the world relentlessly with various projects falling under the genres of calypso, blues, reggae, bebop, etc. His endless melody-making, effervescent grooves, and sophisticated harmonies and rhythms set Monty Alexander apart from almost all other artists.

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Mauricio de Souza’s Bossa Brasil
Born in Brasília, Brazil, drummer Maurício de Souza performs both traditional Jazz and Brazilian Jazz exceptionally well. His finesse has allowed him to play in numerous settings with various accomplished musicians. De Souza was a pupil of world-renowned jazz drummer Joe Morello and is strongly influenced by Buddy Rich, Airto Moreira and Roy Haynes. De Souza’s group Bossa Brasil® performs a wide range of Brazilian jazz styles including Bossa Nova, Samba, Baião, Maracatú, and Chorinho. The group’s repertoire features arrangements of compositions by Brazil’s most outstanding artists including Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, Marcos Valle, Roberto Menescal, Ary Barroso, Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal, Baden Powell, Luiz Eça, and Pixinguinha.

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Brian Q. Torff & New Duke
Brian Q. Torff is a renowned bassist, harmonica player, composer, author and educator.  New Duke is his new project – an acclaimed eight-piece band that performs Torff’s updated arrangements of Duke Ellington’s music and other more eclectic repertoire. The band features Darryl Tookes, vocals, Jamie Finegan, trumpet/flugelhorn, Rick Sadlon, alto sax/flute, Steve Moran, tenor, soprano, and baritone saxes and clarinet, John Fumasoli, trombone, Dave Childs, piano/keyboards and Greg Burrows, drums.

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Bill Charlap Trio
Grammy award-winning pianist Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time including Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole and Houston Person. In 1997 Charlap formed his trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, now recognized as one of the leading groups in Jazz. In 2000, he was signed to Blue Note Records and received two Grammy Award nominations, for Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein and The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard. He is known for his interpretations of American popular song. In 2016, Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining, The Songs of Jerome Kern, was awarded a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album. In April, the Bill Charlap Trio released, Notes from New York, their debut recording for the Impulse label. See the Bill Charlap Trio featuring Peter Washington, bass and Kenny Washington, drums at the Jazz Forum!

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Wesley Amorim Quartet
Wesley Amorim, a guitarist, composer, and arranger from São Paulo, Brazil, started his musical journey at the age of 11 years old. At 17, he began playing and recording professionally using a wide range of music genres, from Brazilian to jazz, rock, pop, and gospel. he has performed in Broadway musicals, including Jesus Christ Super Star and The Lion King, and with countless artists. Amorim recently moved to the US and has already shared the stage with renowned artists, including Alcione, Oriente Lopez, Luiz Simas, Nanny Assis, Leo Maia, Arthur Lipner, Gene Perla, Eleanor Dubinski, Jackie Ribas, Vanessa Falabela, Itaiguara Brandão, Maurício Zottarelli, among others. 

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Garry Dial Trio
Garry Dial has firmly established himself as one of the most prodigious and respected talents in Jazz today, always broadening his artistic horizons as a pianist, composer, producer and teacher. Throughout his remarkable career, he has performed with a wide range of Jazz artists including Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan, Dick Oatts, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Roy Haynes, Mel Lewis, Nat Adderley, Joe Lovano, and Jerry Bergonzi. As a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Dial has passed on his vast musical knowledge to many of today and tomorrow’s rising musical stars.

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Paquito D’Rivera Quintet
Paquito D’Rivera, iconic Cuban American virtuoso of the clarinet and saxophone, composer and fourteen-time Grammy winner in both Jazz and classical categories brings his unique blend of a global sensitivity to the Jazz Forum. He is the winner of fourteen Grammy Awards, is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin Jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. His widespread and eclectic musical tastes include Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies, influences encountered in his many travels, and back to his classical origins. Paquito D’Rivera’s discography includes over 30 solo albums and he is the first artist to win Grammy Awards in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories. The Paquito D’Rivera Quintet consists of Peruvian bassist Oscar Stagnaro, steel pan virtuoso Victor Provost, American drummer Mark Walker, and pianist Alex Brown. Together, they were awarded the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for the album Live at the Blue Note.

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Vanessa Falabella Trio
Brazilian vocalist Vanessa Falabella has a repertoire as great as her charm and charisma, singing everything from traditional samba and bossa nova, to jazz, MPB (Brazilian popular music), soul, and R&B. She has been featured at New York’s top venues including SOB’s, Town Hall, Joe’s Pub and Zinc Bar. She has performed and recorded with Cyro Baptista, Sadao Watanabe, Gato Barbieri and Hiram Bullock among others.

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Sarah Jane Cion Trio
Sarah Cion was the 1st Place Winner of the 17th Annual Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Ms. Cion has performed with renowned musicians including Clark Terry, Anita O’Day, Carmen Leggio, and Bucky Pizzarelli. Sarah’s debut CD features Antonio Hart and Tony Reedus. Her second CD was released on the Naxos Jazz label, featuring ChrisPotter and Billy Hart, and her third features saxophone giant Michael Brecker. 

Cion’s articles and transcriptions have been published in Piano Today Magazine, and her book Modern Jazz Piano was released by Hal Leonard in 2005. Sarah is a contributor to the Steinway Library of Piano Music. She has also penned the Pianist’s Jammin’  Handbook and A Baker’s Dozen: 13 Contemporary Jazz Etudes, and her music was featured on the ABC daytime soap All My Children. See the Sarah Jane Cion Trio feat. Earl Sauls, bass, and Andy Watson, drums at the Jazz Forum!

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