JAM 2010: 156 Artists for a New Jazz Experience (Part VI)

Good morning  to everyone!

This is the half-way point; Part VI of XII to the "156 Artists for a New Jazz Experience" series. If you'd like me to do a full blog on an artist that you discovered here, please send me an email via the contact form. Thank you.

Today you will read about artists like guitarist Joyce Cooling, trumpeter Jason Parker, saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, Kairos 4tet, vocalist José James and electric bassist Janek Gwizdala.

Enjoy ~

1. (66) As a teen, saxophonist Jaleel Shaw performed, jammed and sat in at the many clubs in Philadelphia. Jaleel also had many mentors there including violinist John Blake; saxophonists Bootsie Barnes, Odean Pope, Grover Washington Jr., and Byard Lancaster, and pianist Alfie Pollit.

Jaleel received a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He attended Berklee for four years and earned a dual degree in Music Education and Performance in 2000.

After graduating from Berklee, Jaleel received a scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he received his Masters in Jazz Performance in May, 2002. During his time at the Manhattan School of Music, Jaleel was recruited by both the Mingus Big Band and Count Basie Orchestra. Jaleel appears on two Grammy Nominated CDs by the Mingus Big Band - "Tonight at Noon" and "I Am Three ".

 In the beginning of 2008, Jaleel launched his on record label - Changu Records, on which he released his second CD - "Optimism". In the Summer of 2008, Jaleel was nominated as one of the Up and Coming Jazz Musicians of the year by the Jazz Journalist Association. Today Jaleel continues to perform primarily in 3 groups - The Roy Haynes Quartet, the Mingus Big Band, and his own Quartet and Quintet.

2. (67) Saxophonist James Carter was born in Detroit, MI and learned to play there before moving to New York City. He has been prominent as a performer and recording artist on the jazz scene since the mid-1990s, playing saxophones, flute, and bass clarinet.

As a young man, he attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and was a member of the group Bird-Trane-Sco-Now. On his album Chasin' the Gypsy (2000), he recorded with his cousin Regina Carter, the jazz violinist. Carter has won the critics' choice award for baritone saxophone three years in a row from Down Beat magazine. He has played on albums with Cyrus Chestnut, Wynton Marsalis and the Mingus Big Band.

3. (68) Vocalist Jamie Davis was named the ‘chocolate baritone’ by Sir Michael Parkinson, the BBC’s arbiter of important international jazz, after Jamie’s performance in London with the BBC’s sixty-four piece Orchestra and Big Band. Clint Eastwood enthused by Jamie’s performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival said “...Jamie Davis is one of my favorite singers”.

4. (69) Janek Gwizdala (born 19 November 1978) is an English jazz bassist and record producer from London. Having studied briefly at The Royal Academy of Music in London, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Janek moved to New York City in 2000.

Gwizdala has been playing on the international music scene with some of the most respected musicians in the business. His Performance, Production, Recording and Touring credits include:

Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Airto Moirera, Flora Purim, Pat Metheny, Delta Goodrem, Bob James, Bob Mintzer, Bob Malach, Hiram Bullock, Kenwood Dennard, Wayne Krantz, Eric Johnson, Ronny Jordan, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jojo Mayer, Gary Husband, Mark Turner, Arturo Sandoval, Danny Gottlieb, Rick Margitza, Richie Morales, Scott Kinsey, Gregoire Maret, Lew Solof, JEM, NERVE, Dapp Theory, and many more. 

5. (70)  It was a visit from Dizzy Gillespie and band to Jason Parker’s elementary school that started him on the path to becoming a musician.  8 year-old Jason worshiped at the feet of Diz for 30 minutes, and immediately asked his parents to buy him a trumpet.  He played in jazz and rock bands all throughout high-school and college, but put down the horn after graduation to focus on a career in radio. 

Starting on the midnight-6am shift at his college radio station in Los Angeles, Jason worked his way through better and better shifts in LA, Eugene and Denver, finally working his way to Program Director of a major adult rock station in Seattle.

After winning the prestigious Gavin Award for A3 Major Market Program Director of the Year, Jason walked away from his promising career to turn his attention back to the horn.

6. (71) As a recording artist, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson has appeared on over 125 recordings. Additionally, he has developed a formidable career as a leader, recording and touring throughout the world. Javon’s current musical group, The Javon Jackson Band, incorporates many styles including jazz, funk,R&B and rock. His most recent release is "Once Upon A Melody”.

7. (72) J.D. Walter is a progressive jazz vocalist that lives in New York City. He was born on 2 July 1967 in Abington, PA. Walter's style has drawn comparisons to Betty Carter, Nat King Cole, and Milton Nascimento. Walter is also recognized as a pioneer in the use of electronic effects and looping devices, implementing them in live performance situations with his ensembles, as well as solo work.

8. (73)  Since his arrival on the international scene in 2008 vocalist José James has consistently dazzled critics and audiences alike with his deft combination of soul, hip-hop and jazz.

Using his musical mentors John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye and Billie Holiday as compasses, he continues to successfully blur the lines between musical genres through his love of connecting to audiences worldwide and in the sheer joy of creation.

Blessed with a warm rich baritone reminiscent of artists of the caliber of Terry Callier, Jon Lucien and Gil-Scott Heron, José has toured internationally at venues such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Vitoria Jazz Festival, Billboard Live Tokyo, Centro Cultural Sao Paolo, the Hermitage St. Petersburg, Central Park Summerstage New York and London's Royal Festival Hall.

9. (74) Southern California native Josh Nelson maintains a busy schedule as a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist. In his early 30s, he has established himself as a strong voice on the local and international jazz scene.

10. (75) Saxophone player Joshua Redman was born on 1 February 1969.  He started his recording career the same year he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone competition [1991].

He   continued to develop his style throughout the 1990s, beginning with a sideman appearance on Elvin Jones' Youngblood alongside Javon Jackson (recorded at Van Gelder studios in April 1991), and following up with an appearance on his father Dewey's 1992 record Choices. On his second album as a leader, Wish, he was joined by a notable lineup consisting of guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Billy Higgins.

Redman was the artistic director of San Francisco's SFJAZZ Collective from 2004-2007.

11. (76) Jowee Omicil, a native of Montreal, Canada with roots of the island of Haiti plays the saxophone-alto, tenor, soprano- flute, and clarinet. He plays his wind instruments in a poetic and harmonious style couple with a stance that makes one wonder if he is equipped with four lungs. Kenny Garrett and many other Jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane and Miles Davis influenced his sound.

12. (77)  Contemporary Jazz guitarist Joyce Cooling is a San Francisco-area contemporary jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter. Growing up in New Jersey and New York, she absorbed a wide variety of music, and developed a personal style of fingerpicking that has given her playing a unique sound.

Cooling has recorded 7 CDs (4 major labels and 3 indies) - five of which charted on Billboard. She has to her credit two #1 radio singles, six top 10 and 13 charting singles in all, and has garnered multiple music awards including the Gibson Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year and Best New Talent in the Jazziz Reader’s Poll. She was a nominee for the California Music Awards, the Oasis Awards and the Gavin Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Year.

She has played with Al Jarreau, Joe Henderson, Lee Ritenour, Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz.

13. (78) Kairos 4tet is based in the UK. Saxophonist Adam Waldmann is the bandleader. “Waldmann’s luxurious tenor sound and poised phrasing are both traditionally rooted and restlessly contemporary. ✩✩✩✩✩” – John Fordham, The Guardian.  If you live in England, check them out.