A MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL JAZZ NETWORK
An edutainment resource for Baltimore's Jazz community to share and exchange Jazz pleasure globally.
BALTIMORE JAZZ SCHOOL
1907 Cab (Cabell) Calloway III was born on Christmas Day in Rochester, NY to Cabell Calloway II, a lawyer, and Martha Eulalia Reed, a teacher and church organist.
1918 The family moves to Baltimore, Maryland, the original home of Cab Calloway's parents.
1922 Cab Calloway's mother arranges for him to begin vocal lessons with Ruth Macabee, a former concert singer and family friend. Macabee forbids Calloway to sing jazz.
1924 Cab Calloway enters Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore and studies voice with Llewelyn Wilson where he also excels in sports. Spends his spare time at local speakeasies and jazz clubs. His mentors are Chick Webb (drummer) and Johnny Jones (pianist).
1925 CabCalloway's older sister Blanche Calloway became a singing and band-leading star in Chicago. Louis Armstrong, Vick Dickenson, Cozy Cole, and Ben Webster all record with “Blanche Calloway and Her Joy Boys”. Cab plays drums in the Chick Webb style and sings with a four piece jazz combo at the clubs Gaiety, Baily’s and Goodlows in a style that includes both Dixieland and straight jazz. Joins “Johnny Jones and his Arabian Tent Orchestra” at the Arabian Tent Club playing the “Baltimore version” of New Orleans Dixieland jazz. Performs in revues and vaudeville shows at his high school and at the Regent Theatre.
1926 Cab Calloway plays basketball with the “Baltimore Athenians” a team of the Negro Professional Basketball League in his senior year of high school.
1927 Cab Graduates from Douglas High School in Baltimore. Joins his sister Blanche in a summer tour of the popular black musical revue “Plantation Days” as tenor in a quartet. Cab in Chicago with Blanche at the close of the show in the fall.
1928 Calloway's first Chicago nightclub gig is at the “Dreamland Café”, where he plays drums and sings. Cab lands a steady gig performing with Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines at the “Sunset Café”, the Chicago equivalent of the “Cotton Club” in Harlem and becomes the “house” singer. Shares the stage there with Louis Armstrong and the Carroll Dickerson band 5 nights week for 6 months. Cab Calloway takes over at of the “Sunset Café” with club owner Joe Glaser’s encouragement when Louis Armstrong departs for New York.
1929 Cab Calloway Becomes leader of the 11-piece Chicago band the “Alabamians” when Louis Armstrong and Carroll Dickerson leave the “Sunset Café” for “Connie’s Inn” in Harlem. Calloway quits Crane College to pursue his music career. Cab signs with MCA and begins a tour ending at Chick Webb’s “Savoy Ballroom” in Harlem. Calloway is chosen as the favorite bandleader and by the crowd. Cab accepts an offer by Charles Buchanan, the manager of the “Savoy”, to take over as leader of the house band the “Missourians.” Calloway the touring B’way show “Connie’s Hot Chocolate’s” at the Hudson Theatre with the help of his old partner Louis Armstrong who stars in the show. It is here that Cab popularizes Fat’s Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin”, and Cab first noticed by Irving Mills who is in the audience.
1930 Cab Calloway and the Missourians open at the “Cotton Club” to replace the “Duke Ellington Orchestra” while it is on tour. The Calloway debut at the “Cotton Club” is a huge success. The shows are broadcast twice a week on national radio (NBC) and locally on WMCA. Cab is featured as a guest artist on Walter Winchell’s “Lucky Strike” radio program and with Bing Crosby on his show at the “Paramount Theatre.” Cab Calloway breaks the major broadcast network color barrier and becomes a symbol of jazz throughout the country.
1931 Cab Calloway and his band begins its residency at the “Cotton Club”. The name of the band is changed to “Cab Calloway’s Cotton Club Orchestra”. Saxophonist Eddie Barefield joins the band. Cab writes his first big hit and theme song “Minnie the Moocher”. Cab and his band make their first recordings. Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra becomes the first African American Jazz Orchestra to tour the south.
1932 Famed trumpeter Doc Cheatham joins the Cab Calloway Cotton Club Orchestra. Cab is featured in his first film “The Big Broadcast of 1932” by Paramount Pictures, with Bing Crosby, The Mills Brothers and others. Cab is featured in Betty Boop animation short “Minnie the Moocher” by Fleischer Studios. The Orchestra travels and performs throughout the country in ballrooms, theatres, concert halls and clubs as the headlined attraction, breaking box office records nationally.
1933 Calloway is featured in Betty Boop animation shorts “Snow White” and “The Old Man of the Mountain” by Fleischer Studios. Featured in film comedy with WC Fields, “International House” by Paramount Pictures. Stars in musical short “Cab Calloway’s Hi-De-Ho” by Paramount Pictures. Cab names a style of Lindy Hop Dancing "the Jitterbug"
1934 Popularizing the term Jitterbug, Cab stars in musical short “Cab Calloway’s Jitterbug Party” by Paramount Pictures.
1935 Cab Calloway is in film “Great Jazz Bands of the 30’s” by Paramount Pictures.
Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra begins its first tour of Europe. They perform in London, Manchester, Amsterdam, The Hague, Antwerp, Brussels and Paris.
1936 Cab Calloway is featured in the Hollywood film “The Singing Kid”, with Al Jolson by Warner Brothers. The most recorded bassist in history, Milt Hinton, joins Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra.
1937 Award winning tenor sax player Chu Berry joins Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra. Cab stars in musical short “Hi-De-Ho” by the Vitaphone Corp. Featured in film “Manhattan Merry-Go-Round” by Republic Pictures Corp.
1938 The first edition of “Cab Calloway’s Hepster Dictionary: The Language of Jive” is published. Hit drummer Cozy Cole joins Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra.
1939 Legendary trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, who later goes on to create a whole new form of jazz, joins Cab Calloway and his cotton Club Orchestra.
1940 “Cotton Club” closes. Cab takes his orchestra to the “Club Zanzibar” where they make some of their finest live recordings.
1941 Trumpeter Jonah Jones, saxophonist Hilton Jefferson, and Andy Brown, joins the band. Cab stars on national radio in his own show called “Quizzacale” an African American parody of the Kay Kaiser “College of Musical Knowledge” radio show. NBC airs it for nearly a year without a sponsor.
1942 Cab Calloway continues national tours to standing room only crowds ending in a two week run at the “Paramount Theatre” in NYC that breaks all attendance records. Calloway stars in the film “Stormy Weather” with Bill “Mr. Bojangles” Robinson, Lena Horne, Fats Waller, The Nicholas Brothers, Ada Brown and others, by 20th Century Fox. Saxophonist Illinois Jacquet joins the band.
1944 Cab is featured in the musical revue film “Sensation’s of 1945” by United Artists.
Calloway records numerous “Soundies”, (three minute music films) which are screened on Panorams all over the country.
1946 Historic "Texas Tenor" Ike Quebec joins the band.
1947 Cab stars in film “Hi-De-Ho” by All-American. Featured in film musical “Ebony Parade” with Count Basie and Dorothy Dandridge by Astor Pictures Corp.
Calloway records and performs with seven or eight pieces as “Cab Calloway and his Cab Jivers” or “Cab Calloway and his Cabaliers.” Cab later performs with a trio consisting of Jonah Jones on trumpet, Milt Hinton on bass, and Panama Francis on Drums. Cab Calloway tours Havana, Cuba.
1948 Cab disbands his salaried big band in April, it becomes a “contract” band.
1950 Calloway plays “Sportin’ Life” in a hit revival of the Gershwin Broadway musical “Porgy & Bess”. The show runs for 3½ years with one year in London and Paris.
1951 Cab Calloway Re-establishes the big band for a tour of South America, appearing in Montevideo, Uruguay during Carnival.
1953 Cab moves to London followed by a short stay in Paris with the “Porgy & Bess” production.
1954 Calloway tours South America, Mexico, Cuba, CA and the Caribbean.
1955 Cab tours Britain as a solo artist. Featured in film musical revue “Rhythm and Blues Review” with Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughn, Nat “King” Cole and others for Studio Films, Inc. Cab continues touring nationally and internationally.
1956 Cab is featured in film musical revue “Basin Street review” with Count Basie, Sarah Vaughn, Lionel Hampton, Nat “King” Cole and others for Studio Films, Inc.
1957 Calloway is featured in film musical revue “Jazz Ball” with Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, The Mills Brothers, Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw and others. Cab featured in stage production “Cotton Club Revue of 1957” in NYC.
1958 Cab Calloway is featured in film “St. Louis Blues” with Nat “King” Cole, Pearl Baily, Eartha Kitt, Ruby Dee, Ella Fitzgerald and others for Paramount Pictures. Cab records two songs as vocalist on “Porgy & Bess” Columbia LP with orchestra conducted by Andre Previn. Cab tapes “Person to Person” CBS-TV show with Edward R. Murrow as host, at his home.
1965 Cab is featured in film “The Cincinnati Kid” with Steve McQueen and Edward G Robinson for MGM. Cab travels with the Harlem Globe Trotters and performs at half-time intermissions to audiences of 15,000 to 20,000 people.
1967 Cab Calloway stars in a hit revival of the Broadway musical “Hello Dolly” as “Horace Vendergelder” in an all black cast including Pearl Baily. Cab tours with the production for over 3 yrs. Ending in Milwaukee.
1973 Cab stars in Broadway production “The Pajama Game” with Barbara McNair.
1975 Cab leads the Woody Herman Orchestra on tour.
1976 Cab Calloway publishes his autobiography (with Bryant Rollins) “Of Minnie the Moocher and Me” with the Thomas Y. Crowell Company, NYC. C. Calloway Brooks is accepted by, and enters, New England Conservatory of Music.
1977 Cab’s first public performance with his grandson C. Calloway Brooks.
1978 C. Calloway Brooks is featured in the first-ever Jazz Concert at Italy’s Rome Opera House. Cab is featured in three episodes of “Sesame Street.” Cab stars in the national touring company “Bubbling Brown Sugar.” C. Calloway Brooks releases his first L.P. “Ikenne Rainbow”.
1980 Cab featured in film “The Blues Brothers” starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd with James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles for Universal Pictures. Cab tours with the national company of “Eubie.” C. Calloway Brooks graduates New England Conservatory of music on the Dean’s List. National Radio and Records reports that Brooks’ “Ikenne Rainbow” tops jazz charts in the northeast for 3 months.
1982 Cab in documentary film “The Cotton Club” which includes interviews, vintage film clips and an impromptu performance.
1983 Cab Calloway and his grandson C. Calloway Brooks appear together in concert at the Kennedy Center on behalf of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.
1984 Cab Calloway leads the Count Basie Orchestra, finishing it’s contractual obligations after Count Basie dies. Cab appears with his grandson C. Calloway Brooks in Brooks’ concert at New England Conservatory of Music’s Jordan Hall in Boston.
1987 Cab is featured in documentary film “Minnie the Moocher and Many, Many, More”, a nostalgic tour of the Harlem clubs of the 30’s and 40’s. He shares footage of Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Bill Robinson and himself as leader of the Cotton Club Orchestra.
1989 Cab is featured in Janet Jackson’s music video “Alright.”
1992 C. Calloway Brooks last appearance in concert with his grandfather Cab Calloway, in Baltimore MD, at a benefit for the Associated Black Charities.
1993 The 1993 “National Medal of Arts” is awarded to Cab Calloway by President Clinton at a White House ceremony.
1994 Cab Calloway dies on November 18th in Hockessin, Delaware as a result of a stroke in June of that year. C. Calloway Brooks appears with other Orchestra alumni at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
1995 Cab is posthumously inducted into the “International Jazz Hall of Fame.” C. Calloway Brooks appears along with Wynton Marsalis at first “Remembering Cab” concert.
1996 Cab’s grandson, C. Calloway Brooks begins pre-launch preparations for the Cab Calloway Orchestra.
1998-Present Cab Calloway Orchestra directed by C. Calloway Brooks is launched, performs for 2 months at Birdland, releases CD and Video, begins touring nationally to great acclaim. C. Calloway Brooks begins work on his biography of Cab Calloway.
The Calloway Family Legacy Marches On!
PUBLISHER/CHIEF EDITOR NOTES
Greetings! Jazz World
Welcome to Baltimore Jazzine the source for Baltimore's Jazz worldwide and much more...
Post your events and share your thoughts in the forums, blogs, and chatroom. Build your own personal web page and showcase your music and videos for FREE !
Baltimore Jazzine, is published by New Jazz Audience multimedia entertainment & media consultants.
Our purpose and mission is to proliferate and celebrate the African-America Classical Music that is America's indigenous music and original artform.
An unsung mecca for entertainment. Baltimore is among the top cities in the Mid-Atlantic region (DC, DE, MD, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA) is arguably the "Greatest city in America for Jazz" with its many venues and gifted and talented "Young Lions", edtablished and emerging musicians and singers, producers, venues and educational institutions.
About Us
BALTIMORE JAZZINE The Source Magazine is the premiere and most comprehensive periodical reference about jazz in Baltimore and beyond, designed to inform enthusiasts and improvisers alike. Baltimore Jazzine is a magazine for all Jazz enthusiasts.
In-depth Exclusive interviews, excerpts from books about jazz supply insights into the ever-evolving lives, events, ideas and contributions of Baltimore's jazz music's most well know Jazz contributors. Also, you will find detailed jazz CD reviews. These comprehensive and insightful reviews will help you make informed buying decisions. ( Soon, we will be selling independent artist CDs form our BALTIMORE JAZZINE ONLINE MUSIC SHOPPE)
Filled with BLOGS of philosophical and motivational articles, perspectives and quotations, each BLOG of Baltimore Jazzine will assist you in developing a deeper appreciation and intimate understanding of America's African-American Classical Music & Art form and Baltimore's contribution.
If you have a Jazz passion, each edition of Baltimore Jazzines BLOG is a local,regional,national,international resource
Mission Statement
BALTIMORE JAZZINE is dedicated to support the growth and perpetuation of BAltimore's and America's Original Classic Art Form - Jazz. The organization is committed to promote Jazz in Baltimore and beyond as a vital approach to sustaining and creating music. Baltimore Jazzine seeks to supporting, expanding and promoting the growth of the art form of Jazz in Baltimore.
BALTIMORE JAZZINE seeks to assist educators teach jazz history, improvisation, and to make it easy for all jazz lovers to participate and to make viable music, by helping them increase their knowledge, skills and repertoire.
BALTIMORE JAZZINE's goal is to provide music, ideas and motivation, to help jazz enthusiasts, students and musicians develop their skills, understanding, ability to communicate and make music, and to encourage musical participation, interest in, and support of jazz.Book excerpts, reviews of recordings, interviews and related information about Baltimore Jazz.
Keep On Swingin'!
Tamm E Hunt
publisher/chief editor
DISCLAIMER: BALTIMORE JAZZINE GLOBAL NETWORK & BALTIMORE JAZZINE is an original entity and brand of New Jazz Audience multi-media entertainment & marketing consultants and is an original idea and creation of Tamm E Hunt and is a member of the The Global Jazz Network and is not affiliated with any other Worldwide Jazz Network or Jazz Network other than memberships through the NING.COM network and has no other interface of any kind other than membersip. Any similarity(s) or resemblance(s) of any kind is purely by coincidence.
Visit THE GLOBAL JAZZ NETWORK
Members
Music
Videos
-
Added by Carole Boston Weatherford
-
Photos
RSS
Loading feed
Forum
What Is The State of the Art of Jazz in Baltimore?
What is the state of the art of Baltimore's Jazz? Where is it going and how will it expand or shrink?
Tagged: jazz
Started by Baltimore Jazzine May 29.
RSS
Loading feed
BALTIMORE JAZZ BYTES!
FOREVER PHYLLIS
A Musical Tribute to the Music of Phyllis Hyman
Celebrate Phyllis Hyman!
(July 6, 1949 - June 30, 1995)
A Musical Tribute to the Music of Phyllis Hyman
with DC vocal sensation
SHANG
and her 10 piece ensemble
Saturday, July 11, 2009, 8 p.m.
Eubie Blake Cultural Center, 847 North Howard Street, Baltimore
Tickets: $25/Advance; $30/At the Door
Complimentary wine and dessert included
Purchase online at www.foreverphyllis.net
Space is limited. Reserve space at ArtsII@aol.com
GARY "PRIMETIME" ELLERBE
Likes His Jazz Strong and Straight Ahead
THE NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR GARY “PRIMETIME” ELLERBE’S STOLEN MOMENTS
By Tamm E Hunt
Baltimore- It was Dizzy's (John Birks Gillespie) birthday (October 21,1990) when Baltimore's "Primetime"Gary Ellerbe first rode the air waves on 88.9, Morgan State University's public radio station WEAA. Wannabe Ellerbe was given a life changing opportunity after Alfie Williams, program director at the time along with general manager, Dr. Preston Blakeley came up with the brilliant idea of inviting local radio announcer wannabes to bring their own library of recordings and the station would provide the engineer, the audience and one hour of air time.
Ellerbe was a hard hit, his cutting edge one hour Jazz programming rocked Baltimore, creating a deluge of phone calls that prompted the management to take notice. They had discovered a charm who they would groom and empower in broadcasting and radio technology. Armed with new skills and polish, rookie announcer Ellerbe eagerly cut his broadcasting teeth on the MOrgan State University radio station and rapidly moved front and center as a volunteer, availing himself to fill in for veteran announcers Bill Harvey, Joe Lee and the late Jazz aficionada, Jackie Lanier.
Soon the night time became the right time to be with Ellerbe. His Saturday overnights were compelling and his popularity became so widespread that Williams and Blakely saw a value added opportunity to increase the listening audience and created a spot for the Baltimore native and launched a daily drive time treasure called "Jazz In The Afternoon". Ellerbe proved the administrators made the right decision and choice. Ellerbe charmed Charm City once more with Bebop, Swing, Latin mixed with fusion and vocals galore. His infectious vibe went viral and set a precedence that lured a diverse and loyal following. Jazz and Blues lovers were talking about Gary Ellerbe, and that meant your radio was not on if you didn't tune into the jam master whom Joe Lee dubbed “Primetime”.
For unrevealed reasons, Ellerbe abandoned the air waves and quit in 1994. At the end of a five year hiatus he returned to 88.9 only to begin a bitter sweet romance with WEAA and its new chain of command. Clashing with personalities whose visions of Smooth Jazz didn’t include Ellerbe’s eclectic style of programming, he was relegated to the graveyard shift.
The Jazz & Blues aficionado says “I always wanted a radio show that would serve as a meeting place for the generations.” With a twinkle in his eye and his boyish grin, Ellerbe beams as he declared ”An on air classroom where the young lions meet the masters.”
Keeping his public entertained with interviews featuring iconic jazz luminaries from across the country on any given day at any time during his magic carpet ride, Ellerbe would have in studio guest from the late saxophonist, Grover Washington to vocalists Vanessa Rubin and yours truly. Making it personal, Primetime gave the public open invitation to call and talk to him and his guest. Baltimore loved it!
October 2, 2004, unexpectedly Ellerbe received his walking papers. Shocking Ellerbe’s devotees, his afternoon Sets & Sessions was handed over to the velvet voiced Marcellus “Bassman” Shepard. A very disgruntled following protested and petitioned for the return of Primetime Gary Ellerbe. It would take nearly two years to bring him back home to his beloved microphone. Now, once again he rules the night time at WEAA with “Stolen Moments” from midnight until 6 AM Sunday through Wednesday and Thursdays 3 Am until 7 Am until another fate filled day comes along and Ellerbe gets his walking papers again! in 2008.
Stay tuned to find out what Baltimore's priemier Jazz Broadcaster is up to.
Resolution Jazz group leader/composer Darius Scott was born in Ithaca, New York, grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and has been living in Baltimore since 1983. Though he never studied music in traditional academic setting, he has drawn from the knowledge and encouragement offered by members of Baltimore's jazz community (both musicians and enthusiasts) and worked to learn the piano styles and to maintain the grooves so critical to a solid jazz rhythm section.
Although his folks both enjoyed music, especially jazz, Darius never learned to play the piano as a child. He always liked music, but in secondary school seemed more interested in athletics as an extra-curricular activity. This trend continued into college where he studied engineering and played division 1 soccer. But college was also where he found out it might actually be possible for him to learn an instrument. When an injury sidelined him from soccer for a season, he signed up for a "keyboard awareness" class and accidentally discovered the ragtime piano music of Scott Joplin. Having learned just enough from the class to be dangerous, Darius found that he could memorize a number of Joplin’s rags and find true enjoyment in playing them over and over until no one else around him could stand it. Joplin's music was so enjoyable and intricate that it was enough to keep him occupied for several years. It was during this period that he discovered he had an interest in learning more about the piano and jazz music.
After he had begun to listen to his parents old jazz records and to go to the Jazz Closet on Franklin Street in Baltimore, Darius let several years pass before making a move to study the piano, and when he finally did, he went straight to jazz. He took lessons for about 2 years and performed for the first time ever in an ensemble in 1990.
Since then he has been privileged enough to learn from and perform with many east coast jazz musicians, including Bob Butta, the late Ruby Glover, Gary Thomas, Ed Wiley Jr., Mike Carrick, Allen Houser, George V. Johnson, Fred Foss, Paul Carr, Antonio Parker, Chris Bacas, Phil Cunneff, Sam Turner, Rudy Morales, Alex Norris, Tom and Whit Williams, Dontae Winslow, Steve Novosel, James King, Michael Thomas, Michael Hawkins, Tom Baldwin, Paul Gill, Gary Bartz and Talib Kibwe, to name hardly a few. He has even performed with the veteran R&B group The Drifters.
In 1993 he founded the Resolution Jazz Group , which was born at the former Funk's Democratic Coffee Spot in Baltimore's Fell's Point. With his group and others, Darius has performed at various local and out of town venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Millenium Stage, Lisner Auditorium, Twins Jazz and Lounge, Blues Alley, The old One Step Down, HR-57 and the historic Bohemian Caverns in D.C., The King of France Tavern in Annapolis, The New Haven Lounge in Baltimore, Pearl's and Pier 23 in San Francisco, S.O.B.'s and the Bahai Center in New York City, The Balcony in Pittsburgh, and Dazzle in Denver.
Darius has made several appearances behind the piano in the HBO series "The Wire" and in late 1998 he played in several scenes with Brenda Russell in Barry Levinson's film "Liberty Heights".
Darius has worked regularly and recorded with several regional groups. These include a 2 year engagement with the legendary Allen Houser Quintet at Bertha's in Fell's Point, a privileged 3 years in the piano chair rotation with Baltimore's piping hot latin-jazz group Rumba Club, and 7 years as the regular pianist with a creative Baltimore jazz ensemble, the Al Maniscalco Quartet.
It is Darius' good fortune to have contunied as a regular sideman for several very busy and high quality groups in the Baltimore-Washington area. Notably he performs regularly with the Baltimore hard-bop quintet the Todd Butler Group, D.C.'s Popular Latin Jazz Group La Jazz lead by Timbalero Paul Hawkins, and swinging hard in D.C.'s Michael Thomas Quintet, and is also often in the house rhythm section at HR-57 or Westminster Church in D.C. Since Fall of 2003, the Resolution Trio has been performing on most Thursday and Friday nights at Sascha's 527 in Baltimore. Please check the schedule, stop in and support the group.
Strongly inspired by the 'comping and solo styles of Horace Silver, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Bobby Timmons, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Barry Harris, Thelonious Monk, and a host of local Baltimore and D.C. musicians, Darius continues working toward developing his own voice on the instrument and to always "improve the groove".
"Always improve the groove..."
-Darius
BALTIMORE JAZZ BYTES & NEWS:
BASSMAN & KYLE LA RUE SMOOTH JAZZ COUNT DOWN!
JAZZ GIANT PIANIST/COMPOSER/PRODUCER LARRY WILLIS PLAYING & LIVING IN BALTIMORE CITY
LARRY WILLIS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawrence Elliott Willis (born December 20, 1942 in New York, NY) is an American jazz pianist and composer. He has performed in a wide range of styles, including jazz fusion rock music, Bebop and Avant-Garde After his first year studying music theory at the Manhattan School of Music he began performing regularly with Jackie McLean. After he graduated he made his first jazz recording, McLean's Right Now!, which featured two of Willis' compositions. His first recording of any type, however, was as a singer with the Music and Arts Chorale Ensemble, performing an opera by Aaron Copland under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. He decided to concentrate on jazz because of the difficulties African American musicians had in finding work in concert music. He is still recording and touring around the world. Throughout his illustrious career he has performed with a wide range of musicians, including a stint of seven years as keyboardist for Blood, Sweat & Tears (beginning in 1972). His latest recording with Paul Murphy, Exposé , demonstrates the high energy fusion principals of Bebop and Avant-Garde Jazz. Their brilliant blending of Bebop and Avant garde jazz is astounding, creating extraordinary compositions that have been described as a ‘fantastic masterpiece of modern jazz’ leaving extraordinary representational images of vast dream state emotions. Discography
[edit] As leader
A New Kind of Soul, 1970
Inner Crisis, 1973 (Groove Merchant)
My Funny Valentine, 1988
Just in Time, 1989
Solo Spirit, 1992
Tribute to Someone, 1993
Heavy Blue, 1994
How Do You Keep the Music Playing, 1994
Let's Play, 1994
Unforgettable, 1995
Serenade, 1995
If Trees Could Talk with Hamiet Bluiett, 1999
Every Rung Goes Higher, 2001
Sunshower with Kash Killion, Steve Novosel, Paul Murphy, Steve Berrios, 2001
Sanctuary with Joe Ford, Ray Codrington, Steve Novosel, Steve Berrios, Artie Sherman and the Rick Schmidt Strings, 2003
The Powers of Two 1+2 with Paul Murphy, 2004 und 2006
The Big Push, 2006
[edit] As sideman
With Lee Morgan
Infinity (1965)
With Carmen McRae
Carmen Sings Monk (1988)
The release date of Gail Marten's new CD, IN LOVE AGAIN, featuring pianist Larry Willis, bassist Herman Burney and percussionist Eric Kennedy will be announced this summer.
JAZZ VOCALIST/SONGWRITER
ASCAPlus Award 2007-2008 and 2008-2009
Born in Philadelphia, Gail Marten (Divac/Hurlbrink/Cooke) began her singing career in 1980 shortly after moving to Maryland. Performing throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Marten has captivated audiences at music festivals, concert venues, jazz clubs and private social events. In 1983, she met world famous saxophonist Benny Waters at an engagement at the Hilton Hotel, and they established an on-going musical association and friendship until his death in 1997 at the age of 96. Waters was a great source of inspiration and encouragement to Marten and they performed concerts together in the mid-Atlantic area.
During the 80's and 90's, Gail held long term engagements at many premier area hotels and bistros and has sung with many jazz notables including Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Waters, Reuben Brown, Dick Durham, Greg Hatza, Billy Colucci, Bob Diener and Charles Covington at venues that include Baltimore's Pier Six Concert Pavilion and Ethel's Place, New York's West End Club and Rita Dimitri's, Charlie's-Georgetown and The Hilton in Gatwick, England.
Marten met Clem Ehoff at the Renaissance Hotel in Baltimore where they worked together for the first time in the early ’90s. Soon after, they joined forces with bassist Alfonso Rondon and drummer Marty Knepp, and the quartet has been making beautiful music ever since, performing at premier jazz and concert venues including Blues Alley and Bohemian Caverns. Three CDs have been recorded, Beyond The Rainbow, Pure Joy and Is It Love with award-winning original music composed by Ehoff and Marten. Hundreds of social events have been brightened by their original music and vibrant arrangements of standards. Their unique musical style incorporates jazz and latin jazz. The music of this stellar group, which is based in the Baltimore/Washington area, is rich in color, rhythm and style. It runs the gamut from “on the edge Latino” to “caliente” and quietly percussive!
CURRENTLY:
April 2009
A new CD, IN LOVE AGAIN, featuring pianist Larry Willis, bassist Herman Burney and drummer Eric Kennedy is currently in production at Lion and Fox Recording Studios.
AWARDS:
Marten and Ehoff have recently won several international songwriting competitions for their original compositions and lyrics, Is It Love, Big Girl Blues, We Can Learn To Fly from their CD IS IT LOVE and Heaven On A Tropic Shore, Always There, One of Those Tomorrows and A Lovely Dream from their CD, PURE JOY. Their CDs have been nominated Best Jazz CD by JPF in 2004 (PURE JOY) and again in 2006 (IS IT LOVE). The title track, "Is It Love," was also nominated as Best Vocal Jazz Song.
OTHER AWARDS:
ASCAPlus, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Billboard Songwriting Contest, Broadjam's Summer Music Challenge, Lyric Awards Global Contest, Song & Film, Finland’s Vantaa Jazz Heritage Assn., Film Music Network...
DISCOGRAPHY:
Foreign Affairs, Here I Go, Beyond the Rainbow, Pure Joy, Is It Love
The release date of Gail Marten's new CD, IN LOVE AGAIN, featuring pianist Larry Willis, bassist Herman Burney and percussionist Eric Kennedy will be announced this summer.
Events
June 4
Thursday
-
CATON CASTLE JAZZ
June 4, 2009 at 6pm to December 31, 2012 at 12pm – Caton Castle
The ORRIN EVANS QUINTET!!! $15 in advance! $20 at the door! Caton Castle features some of the best jazz musicians in the country. Saturday 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM $5.00 Cover Charge...Unless otherw...
Organized by Caton Castle | Type: orrin, evans, caton, castle, tamm, e, hunt, the, global, jazz, network
-
JAZZWAY 6004 Bookings
June 4, 2009 at 6pm to December 31, 2009 at 12am – Jazzway 6004
A NOTE TO ARTISTS ABOUT FUTURE BOOKINGS - April 28, 2009We are currently booked through March 2010. Because we are in a residential neighborhood, we present only one concert (sometime 2) per month,...
Organized by Baltimore Jazzine | Type: jazz
The Baltimore Real Book
THE BALTIMORE REAL BOOK is published by the Baltimore Jazz Alliance and includes 54 original compositions in a variety of styles by 18 Baltimore jazz artists. Members can purchase copies directly from the BJA for $8 (20% discount). Or you can buy your copies of the from one of the establishments listed below:
* Peabody Bookstore, 5 E. Centre Street, Baltimore
* Ted’s Musician Shop, 11 E. Centre Street, Baltimore
* The Guitar Center (C Book only), 1524 E. Joppa Road, Towson, 6320 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie
* Baltimore Brass & More, 99 Mellor Avenue, Catonsville
* Bill’s Music, 743 Frederick Road, Catonsville
* Coffey Music, 31 E. Main Street, Westminster
* Dale Music, 8240 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring
* Reisterstown Music Center, 519 Main Street, Reisterstown
* Stu’s Music, Rt. 140, Westminster
* Appalachian Bluegrass, 643 Frederick Road, Catonsville
* Rosso Music Center, 5600 Ritchie Hwy., Brooklyn Park
* Music Go Round (‘C ‘ Book only), 10112 York Road, Cockeysville
* Washington Music Center, 11151 Veirs Mill Road, Wheaton
* Dundalk Music Center, 15 Center Place, Dundalk
WEAA JAZZ 88.9 FM
BECOME A WEAA CLUB 88 Member TODAY!
DON'T DELAY PLEDGE TODAY!
WEAA 88.9 FM is a commercial free, professionally staffed, public radio station, and a broadcast service of Morgan State University. Your generous contribution to WEAA 88.9 FM is a tax-deductible investment in showing your support of the programming that you enjoy on the station. The financial support that we receive from our members is a significant percentage of our annual operating budget.
When you become a member you will receive our quarterly email newsletter which includes information on member only events, articles on your favorite artists and more. Thank you gifts are also available.
To find out more information on how you can become a WEAA Club 88 Member, (click here) or please call our Membership Department at (443) 885-2075.
How to Become a Corporate Sponsor
Corporate Support
WEAA Corporate Underwriting
Did you know that over 70% of listeners say a company’s support of public radio is a positive influence on their purchasing decisions?
WEAA 88.9 FM is an award winning jazz public radio station that has served the Baltimore Metropolitan area for over 30 years. Each week over 90,000 listeners are entertained, enlightened and informed by our locally produced music, news and public affairs content, which are complimented by syndicated programs from NPR and PRI including Tell Me More with Michel Martin, News & Notes and The Tavis Smiley Show.
WEAA welcomes the opportunity to work with your business through a variety of options including on-air announcements, event sponsorships and website advertising.
We are committed to helping your company meet your marketing objectives by designing an effective underwriting campaign that connects with your target audience and stays within budget.
To learn more about underwriting opportunities please contact James K. Barbour, Jr., Development Director, at (443) 885-4508 or by email at jbarbour@moac.morgan.edu.
RSS
Loading feed
ALL ABOUT JAZZ CD REVIEW
Loading feed
About
RSS
Loading feed
Badge
Baltimore Jazzine featured Artist ~ BRIAN KOOKEN
Guitarist and Composer Brian Kooken, a native of the Baltimore-Washington area, studied classical and electric guitar at Towson University where he received a B.A. Degree in Jazz and Commercial performance. He has performed at a variety of Baltimore/Washington venues and recently headlined at the internationally famous Blues Alley for a CD Release Party of his new CD “Visions”. “Visions” features original compositions with Brian on Guitar, Jeff Reed on upright bass and Jeremy Blynn on Drums. Brian has performed and recorded with many local musicians, including Greg Thompkins, Steve Swan, and Ron Warren. When not performing, he teaches electric and classical guitar at his private studio in Cockeysville, Maryland.
Drum solo during GLR Blues, a tune by Brian Kooken of Baltimore. Musicians: Scott Tiemann drums, Greg Thompkins Sax, Brian Kooken Guitar, Ashton Fletcher Bass.
MOE. The Painter
Groups
-
BALTIMORE JAZZCASTERS
2 members
-
BALTIMORE JAZZ WOMAN
5 members
-
Baltimore Office of Pr...
5 members
-
JAZZWAY6004
5 members
-
The Chamber Jazz Socie...
4 members
Blog Posts
A Woman's Place Is In The Groove
March 9 - March 15, 1995
A Woman's Place Is In The Groove
By Yvonne Ervin
SINCE THE EARLY 1800s when they began drumming in New Orleans' Congo Square, women have been a major part of the development of blues and jazz. The first vocal blues recording, "The Crazy Blues" was by a… Continue
Posted by Baltimore Jazzine on June 15, 2009 at 11:01pm — 3 Comments
BALTIMORE CHAMBER JAZZ HISTORY @ www.chamberjazz.org
About Our Organization
History of The Chamber Jazz Society
The Chamber Jazz Society of Baltimore had its origin in the winter of 1990-1991 when three Baltimore area friends were talking around the dinner table about the dearth of opportunities in Baltimore to hear jazz. The… Continue
Posted by Baltimore Jazzine on June 4, 2009 at 8:19pm
"IN TRIBUTE" featuring LARZINE TALLEY
Date From June 20, 2009 8:00 PM
Until June 20, 2009 10:00 PM
Location Milton Theatre
110 Union Street
Milton, DE 19968 [map it!]
Price $15.00 - $18.00
Info Line (302) 684-3400
Website http://www.miltontheatre.org
Contact John C. Warrener
110 Union Street
Milton, DE 19968
(302… Continue
Posted by Baltimore Jazzine on May 28, 2009 at 11:58pm
BALTIMORE JAZZ VENUES
An Die Musik Live
Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society
Bertha’s Restaurant
Cafe Hon
Cafe Troia
Caton Castle
Cat’s Eye Pub
Club 347
Della Notte Ristorante
Donna's Restaurant/Columbia
Eden’s Lounge
Gordon’s Bar & Lounge
Ixia
Jazzway 6004
LeftBank Jazz Society
Lexington Market Jazz
Mace… Continue
Posted by Baltimore Jazzine on May 27, 2009 at 4:36am
JESSE POWERS/JOHNNY JONES/ DAWOUD SAID ~347 JAM HOUSE BAND: BACK TO MONDAY & TUESDAY NIGHTS
Awesome turnout!!!! Once again, we have experienced a wonderful evening of music and friends! It was truly a Memorial Day celebration! There were SEVEN servicemen in the house. Four actively serving, one US Navy Gulf War Vet, two retired, and one Vietnam War Vet. Thank you… Continue
Posted by Baltimore Jazzine on May 27, 2009 at 12:17am
Thank you for being my friend...
Dear friend,
Thank you for your well wishes, prayers, holiday season greetings and happy birthday celebration. I have received them all with love, gratitude and admiration from some of the greatest minds and friends I know in the jazz world. I am humbled to share this space and time with you, as you continue to explore and engage with your learning journey toward personal mastery. Please continue to share your greatest with the world we live in. Also, I am aware and I want to improve upon havin… Continue
Thank you for your well wishes, prayers, holiday season greetings and happy birthday celebration. I have received them all with love, gratitude and admiration from some of the greatest minds and friends I know in the jazz world. I am humbled to share this space and time with you, as you continue to explore and engage with your learning journey toward personal mastery. Please continue to share your greatest with the world we live in. Also, I am aware and I want to improve upon havin… Continue
Posted by Wali Mutazammil on March 31, 2009 at 10:23pm
WORLD MAP
Posted by JAJA MATSIMELA on November 20, 2008 at 2:30am
View all Philadelphia events at Eventful
Posted by JAJA MATSIMELA on November 18, 2008 at 12:06am
IN THE GROOVE
Loading feed
© 2009 Created by Baltimore Jazzine on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
