MUSIC - DC Scene -
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  Vocalist Lena Seikaly
Lena is a native of Falls Church, Virginia. She is the regular singer for several traditional jazz, swing dance, straight-ahead, Latin jazz and fusion groups in the D.C. area, and has appeared at numerous national and international festivals and venues.
Her sound is immediately reminiscent of the great jazz vocalists mixed with the interpretive ingenuity of bebop and modern jazz, while peppering influence from her Arabic heritage.
She has had the pleasure of working and studying with some of the world’s top names in jazz, as well as classical voice (she is a classically trained mezzo-soprano) and Arabic music.
Lena released her first solo album, "Written in the Stars", a collection of standards and original compositions in 2009, "Lovely Changes" in 2011 and "Looking Back" in 2013. Lena can be found entertaining in numerous venues and music festivals in the DC area. Links:
Website,
Reverbnation,
Facebook and
DC Bebop page.
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 Kristine Key, jazz vocalist
- Kristine "began her performing career at age 10 when she sang
"O HOLY NIGHT" for her elementary school’s Christmas Program." She followed her musical interest by taking voice lessons in high school and later private lessons, which included instructions at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. She is noted for and complimented on her singing and performance versatility and has performed "in formats ranging from a piano vocal duo to a big band." Kristine "has shared the stage with such talents as Nancy Wilson, Branford Marsalis and Arthur Prysock. In Boston she was nominated for Outstanding Jazz Vocalist-Boston Music Awards." While living in Boston,
she received positive press in articles that spoke highly of her talents. In one it was written that she is "an accomplished performer in the fullest sense of the word, in the manner of Josephine Baker and Mae Arnette. She sings with great warmth and ease and ingratiates herself with an audience with her breezy, sophisticated air." Kristine is now living in the Washington DC/Baltimore area and performs at a number of local functions and jazz venues. Links: Website, Reverbnation and MySpace.
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  FRAMEWERK BAND -
Performing R&B, jazz, blues, soul and neo-soul
- FrameWerk, is a troupe of multi-talented musicians with
Spoon, Charnetta, Paul,
Sonja, Tony and KC laying down their groove. Their "signature sound reaches into the R&B, jazz, blues, soul
and neo-soul catalog, with solid arrangements that remind you of the first
time you heard it. FrameWerk is being called the sound that excites the soul. Mixed with
original selections, soothing ballads, and funk that will get you on your
feet, it's a journey that will spur a series of emotions and memories."
Links: Reverbnation, Facebook, Twitter, Website and DC Bebop page.
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 Larry Brown
is a straight-ahead jazz pianist, performing in the Mid-Atlantic region. He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Theory from Towson University, where he studied with arranger/composer Hank Levy. He earned his Masters of Music degree from Catholic University in Washington, DC, where he studied Composition and Electronic Music with Professor Emeritus H. Emerson Meyers, who died in 1990. Larry released, “Hard Bop Café” which "reprises the hard-bop style of the legendary Blue Note era"
in 2006, and later that year the group received the WAMA (Washington Area Music Association) award for "Best Jazz Recording
for 2006" and a Wammie award for "Best Jazz Group". He launched his
next album, “Peace” (Lush Life Records in 2008), with a CD release party at Blues Alley in Georgetown. Larry is noted for his "rendering of ballads”, and his unique style again brought him to the attention of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA), which awarded his band "the Best Jazz Group for 2008".
Larry and his group can be heard performing at many venues in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Links: DVD, "Live
At The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival" (2011), CD, "Peace" (2008),
CD Review, Discography, Website and
his DC Bebop page.
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 Margot MacDonald, Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist
- Margot is from Washington DC and released her debut album
"Rising" (2004) at the age of 12. "Rising" received MASC honors and two Wammie
nominations for Best Vocalist and Song of the Year. She released her second
album "TORN" (her sophomore album in 2007). She was awarded the Young
Artist Award from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for her song "Serendipity".
The song "Quiet Hero" also placed in the Rock category. Margot
recently graduated from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts high school in
Washington DC, and says she has switched from being a full-time
student/part-time musician to full-time musician/part-time student to study
graphic design. She has a new NYC-based manager but will continue to
be based out of DC. She released her latest album "Walls"
in 2009. About her new CD, On Tap Magazine wrote "She sings like she has 40 years of life experience. On “Walls,” she showcases a voice that can bring to life a song that is
almost twice her age..." Margot says her music, "is less
modern rock and more indie. I use a loop pedal to do live vocal harmonies
and other fun toys like bottles onstage". She tours as a solo artist and
with a full band.
Links: Reverbnation, Facebook, Website, YouTube,
Sonicbids, MySpace and Discography
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Kevin Peter Jones - Drummer, songwriter, producer, arranger and educator. Born and raised in
Chicago, Illinois, he began playing drums at the age of ten. During kevins musical career he has met and
performed with many music legends. Pianist Roger Smith; Grammy Award winning drummer William Kennedy;
percussionist Alex Acuna; Keyboardist Bernard White; Bassist Wayman Tisdale; Club Nouvou and Pianist
Dave Brubeck. More recently, Kevin has recorded with numerous Grammy Award winning
musicians from Pieces of a Dream, Sypro Gyra and the Yellowjackets. As an
educator, Kevin is a dedicated drum
instructor and mentor to many promising musicians. In September 2009, Kevin released his exclusively produced debut-album, "Magnetic Journey" on on Sakestyle Entertainment,
which is available through CD Baby. Links to Kevin's website, YouTube, Facebook, and
MySpace page.
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Chris Grasso, Jazz Pianist.
Chris is a Washington, D.C.-based jazz pianist who specializes in working with vocalists. He is the Music Director for Sharón Clark, one of DC's most in-demand jazz vocalists. They can be seen and heard performing regularly at Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., and have appeared together on many stages, from the National Mall, as part of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, to the Cape May Jazz Festival.
Chris has performed with Denise Thimes, Matt Wilson, Avery Sharpe and Albert Rivera, closing the show after Dave Brubeck’s performance at the 2010 Litchfield Jazz Festival. He has performed live on WPFW, Washington, D.C.'s jazz station, with jazz greats Keter Betts and Buck Hill. He has appeared with the Ken Peplowski/Chuck Redd Quartet, and with New Orleans' historic jazz family, the Jordans.
Chris has made multiple appearances at what was formerly the the East Coast Jazz Festival, and continues the tradition through what is now the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival. He has performed at a number of closed historical venues like the One Step Down and the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe in DC. He continues to perform at major venues in the Washington, D.C. area, including Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, Bohemian Caverns, the Kennedy Center, and the Music Center at Strathmore. Chris serves as Music Director for Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., and performs regularly with a number of local vocalists such as Sharón Clark, Lena Seikaly, Kristine Key, Sara Jones and others. Links: Website, Facebook, YouTube and DCBebop page.
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 Amanda
Lee, Singer, Songwriter
Amanda is originally from the DC area, born in Towson, Maryland. Her attraction to music and the performing arts began when she was 15 years old. This was when she began dreaming about becoming a "pop star." From that time to the present, she has steadfastly stuck to her path within the musical arts.
Over time, she became skilled with the guitar and numerous other acoustic instruments like the kazoo, xylophone, and looper pedal to augment her performance, and she began writing original songs.
In 2002, Amanda was awarded 1st place in the Korean/American Music Contest (KBN Talent Competition) for young adults, during this event she met her bass player, Posido Vega, who became her bandmate and and eventually her husband. Also to her musical credit, Amanda was awarded 2nd place in the first annual Kollabortion DC competition in 2010.
In 2010, in the midst of her busy schedule, she was also working on a fund raiser project with Pledge Music to finance her first album titled "Go," which was released as a four song EP in 2011.
Amanda can be seen and heard performing in the DC area at a number of clubs, coffee houses and other venues.
Links: Website,
MySpace,
Facebook,
Twitter,
YouTube and DC Bebop page.
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 Paul Carr - Saxophonist, Educator, Bandleader, Composer, Producer .
Paul is a tenor saxophonist from Houston, Texas, who has been living and performing in the Washington DC area for more than 25 years. Growing up, he studied and played with local heroes in his home state, "including saxophonist Don Wilkerson, the fabled educator Conrad Johnson, and the legendary Arnett Cobb. He studied two years on a full scholarship to Texas Southern University and completed his degree in music performance Howard University in Washington, DC." In the DC area, Paul had performed at "Blues Alley, Twins Jazz, Takoma Station, and the now-defunct (but once vibrant) One Step Down. He has also performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe (now closed), and in the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s jazz series. Paul has shown his life-long commitment to jazz through his teaching of music,
in 2002 he established
The Jazz Academy of Music Inc, a non-profit 501c3 organization, which
fulfilled "a longtime dream" and became, "its Music Director. The
academy has allowed Paul "to extend the music education opportunities afforded him, as an inner city youth, to others."
Paul In 1993 Paul released his first album titled "PC-10", in 2006 he returned to the studio, composing and leading his own group to record “Just Noodlin’”, featuring trumpeter Terrell Stafford, and pianist Andrew Adair. In 2008, Paul recorded "Musically Yours--remembering Joe Henderson". He released "Straight Ahead Soul" in May 2010, to good reviews and "STANDARD DOMAIN" in 2012. Links: Website, Reverbnation, DC Bebop - MAJF and
Paul's DC Bebop page
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Amy Shook - Bassist, composer and songwriter.
Amy holds two bachelor's degrees (performance and composition) and a master's degree (performance) from the University of Idaho in Moscow, ID. She is currently on the jazz faculty at Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland. She performs and teaches with the Jazz Update, a quartet led by saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk. The group is an integral component of the Washington Performing Arts Society's (WPAS) Capitol Jazz Project in affiliation with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center. Since settling in the Washington DC area in 2003, Amy has become "one of the most in-demand upright bassists" in the metropolitan DC and Maryland area. She is a versatile musician, able to play "jazz standards as well as new music." Amy co-leads "The Amy Shook Quartet" with drummer Frank Russo, and her husband, Pat. In 2009, they released "So Far From Home" on Summit Records, which features original music by Amy and Pat. She and Frank also co-lead the FAB Trio with jazz pianist, Bob Butta. She is featured on singer/songwriter Felicia Carter's 2008 double CD release Feather/Step Lightly, as both a performer and an arranger of the music. She has performed at numerous East Coast Jazz Festivals, including the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and has shared the stage with Lionel Hampton, Jane Jarvis, Claudio Roditi, Al Grey, Bill Watrous, John Stowell, Greg Gisbert, Ingrid Jensen, Ethel Ennis, Slide Hampton, Paquito d'Rivera, Ali Ryerson, Maureen McGovern, Dee Daniels, Lanny Morgan, Jim Snidero, Frank Lacy, Walt Weiskopf, Greg Boyer and Bobby Watson." Links to - MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and DCBebop page.
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Sharon Thomas tenor and soprano saxophonist.
From Washington DC, Sharon is also a flautist and keyboardist. The piano was her first instrument. From this start, she began playing drums, the flute, and ended with the sax. She began playing sax in high school and said "believe it or not I wanted to hang out with the sax players after hearing Grover Washington and several funk songs that had horn sections". She started a career in computers as a programmer and a web designer, but after being laid off several times due to riffs, realized that she had the sax to fall back on. She says "its a struggle, but I love performing and touching others through my music and I have been doing it full time as a career for 4 years. Since starting her musical career, Sharon has jammed with a number of well-known bands. More recently she has been performing locally with the band "Uncharted Waters", which features flautist Arch Thompson. Her band, The Sharon Thomas Experience, has performed with Ginuwine, Ralph Tresvant, Dawn Robinson of EnVogue, Mr. Cheeks, Tony Terry, and Teena Marie just to name a few. Sharon is committed to her musical journey and to sharing her musical talents with the world. Sharon can be seen and heard performing at numerous venues in the DC area. Link to - MySpace Music and Images on dcbebop.com Link to - MySpace Music, Reverbnation, Facebook, YouTube and DCBebop page.
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 Drew Davidsen is a multi-talented composer/guitarist
- Drew is a classically
trained cellist who studied at the Peabody Conservatory, but he was drawn from the classics by his
ever growing interest in rock and jazz. He plays several instruments, but
while in the Navy, he returned to the guitar, and that became his instrument
of choice. During his career, Drew has been part of nearly 30 high profile projects. He
has received high praise for his musical talents from his playing of urban jazz
to his gospel music. Drew was named one of the “Ten Hottest New Guitarists”
in Guitar Player Magazine’s influential Reader’s Poll. In 2008, Drew
self-produced his first solo album, "This Journey".
On the heels of the release of "This
Journey", he wrote, recorded and released two preview tracks online. “Astro”
and “Bounce”, which were both well received, the tracks feature Dan Needham on drums,
Gary Lunn on bass and pianist Jay Rowe. In 2009, Drew released "Around Again", which has attracted a lot of
attention and good reviews. "We3Stringz" CD was
released in 2010 and "Spin Cycle" in 2011. Drew can be seen and heard
at venues around the U.S. and numerous festivals.
Links: Reverbnation, MySpace, Website, and DC Bebop page.
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 Singer, songwriter, Natalie York, is originally from Vienna,
Virginia. She says she developed an
interest in songwriting early in life. She remembers writing lyrics in the
5th grade. In the summer following the 8th grade, she attended a UVA Young Writers
Workshop, and her path was found. She says she returned to the program each
year until graduating from high school.
In college, she studied jazz at the University of Miami and in December
2010, released her first album of songs, "Threads" as senior project for her
Hornsby program at the University of Miami. "Threads" was praised by the
Washington Post as being "one of the best local releases of 2010". Natalie's
style has been compared to several well known female vocalists, but "she
credits a Washington artist for inspiration: I grew up listening to Eva
Cassidy and am just in awe of her.”
On December 16, 2010, Natalie was honored to be the first graduate from the UM Bruce
Hornsby Creative American Music Program. Armed with her degree and a
will to sing and write, Natalie returned to the DC area to launch her music
career. Locally, she might be heard singing at the Hard Rock Cafe, the Rock
& Roll Hotel, Jammin Java, IOTA Club & Cafe, Madam's Organ and at the
Birchmere Music Hall, to name a few.
Links: CD, "Threads" (2010),
Reverbnation, Website, Facebook, Sonicbids, MySpace and
her DC Bebop page.
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 Proverbs Reggae Band
is a rootz reggae band known for performing music with "strong lyrical content and musical expressions to uplift Rasta livity."
The band specializes in performing socially conscious roots music and the band
"endeavors to promote Ancient Wisdom through the art of music, thereby spreading the spiritual message of JAH RASTAFARI through word power and sound."
When the band performs, their "MUSICAL POETRY, ROOTZ RASTA STYLE", it compels
the audience to get up and dance.
The band is diverse musically. Collectively, the band's members bring
their own unique musical gifts to transform Proverbs into an "eclectic, spiritually, and socially conscious reggae band with a profound cultural base and deep rooted sound."
Proverbs performs an extensive range of genres, which include "SKA, ROOTZ REGGAE, GOSPEL, JAZZ, R&B, COMPAZ, ZOOK, SOUL, and a splash of CALYPSO."
Proverbs has shared stages with a host of international artists over the years.
They include Half Pint, Freddie McGregor, Chuck Brown, Collie Bud, Wyclef
and Luciano, to name a few. Proverbs has performed in the D.C. area since
2000 and have won several Reggae awards. Links:
Website,
Facebook,
MySpace,
Reverbnation,
YouTube, and DC Bebop page. |
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Earl Carter - Guitarist, songwriter, arranger and producer
- When Earl was 11 years old he bought a couple of books and began teaching
himself to play the guitar. At 15 years old he began learning to play
saxophone and performing in the school band, marching band and jazz
ensemble. His bio says he practiced both "diligently" but eventually chose
the guitar to be his main focus. He was a member of the "14 Karat" band and
later played with "EU", recording music on the soundtrack of Spike Lee's "Do
The Right Thing" movie soundtrack. In "1999 he laid several guitar tracks for many artists at
Diddy's New York City recording facility, 'Daddy's House'." Earl has
performed with many groups and played many styles of music from dance/go-go
to jazz. He has been a studio musician, co-produced dialogue recordings for
motivational speakers and sports stars, and he has performed with a host of
local and world-renowned artists. To name a few, he has performed with Bobby
Lyle, Marcus Johnson, Jaared, Alyson Williams, Nick Colionne, Bob Baldwin,
Michael Lington, Angela Bofill, Regina belle, Gerald Veasley and opened for
Pieces of a Dream, Spyro Gyra, Bona Fide and many others. He released "My
Paradise"(2007) and "X Project" 2009. More recently, Earl has released two EP's in 2011 "Yeah Mon" and "Summertime", which can be purchased on CD Baby. Links:
Website, Private Music Lessons, Reverbnation,
MySpace Music, CD Baby.com and DC Bebop page.
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 Ron Kearns is a performer, conductor, composer/arranger, record producer and educator.
Ron received his bachelor's degree in music education from Knoxville College in Tennessee and later a
Masters at Catholic Univ. in DC..
He taught music at schools in Baltimore and
also in the DC area at JFK High School in Silver Spring and
Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda. For his commitment and
dedication to teaching music, he received the Down Beat magazine's "Achievement in Jazz Education Award" in 2005.
Also in 2005, Ron was honored
at a reunion concert of his students. Some of his well known returning students are alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, trumpet and flugelhorn
player Terell Stafford, Keyboardist Marcus Johnson and Saxophonist Matt
Rippetoe. Ron is an educator. He is also a dedicated and
consistent performer of music in
the DC area Jazz scene. He is noted as being a fan of the old style Blue Note Records recordings.
He and his group perform Bebop and Hard Bop standards and originals. Ron has five CD's that are on the Foxhaven label and are available from towerrecords.com, cdbaby.com, amazon.com, itunes.com, napster, rhapsody and other digital outlets.
Ron's latest CD is "Introspective" (2007). Links: Reverbnation, Facebook,
MySpace , Website. and DC Bebop page.
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 David Dyson - Bassist, Songwriter, Arranger and Producer
born in Rapid City,
South Dakota but raised in Washington DC. David began playing the bass when he
was 12. Early in his career, he was the bassist for Saxophonist Walter Beasley.
He auditioned for and eventually became musical director for "New Kids On the
Block". Since then he's worked with artists such as Kirk Whalum, Bob James,
Jonathan Butler, Me'shell N'degeocello, Rick Braun, and Najee to name a few.
More recently, he can be heard on his 2008 release titled "Unleashed" on
CDBaby.com. David often performs with Pieces of a Dream and is featured
on several of their CD's. Link to Facebook, David's MySpace Music page,
his Soulmate CD and CD Universe discography. |
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 Cedric C. Givens - composer and multi-instrumentalist. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Cedric's passion for music began when he was a child. First with
playing drums in the school band in elementary and high school, later his interest evolving into playing
both the guitar and piano. While growing up, he says his most significant musical development originated
amidst his "garage band" experience when he and his musical friends would gather at his house for jam
sessions. They played R&B, Rock, Fusion and Jazz. They tapped into the "essence of the funk" and played
the music of groups like the Parliament Funkadelic and the Ohio Players. This is the musical life force
that energized him and the other members of the band. After graduating from high school, Cedric attended
and graduated from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL where he obtained a degree in Business. Out
of college, he returned to St. Petersburg where he taught himself how to play the piano. He says this
instrument "became the foundation for much of his songwriting and performing". He began collaborating
with guitarist Roberto Tyson to write songs together to record their first album "Nemesis Bleu" (1997).
Cedric says he went on hiatus for a few years, but "got the spark again after having an opportunity to
sit in on stage with musical giant George Duke". Cedric and guitarist Roberto Tyson reconnected on new
material for a new group "N-GROOVE" which resulted in the creation of the “It’s who we
are” (2008) CD. This CD features Senegalese bassist Cheikh Ndoye who collaborated on the project.
Cedric is working on the next N-Groove CD which he says revisits his R&B and Funk roots.
Links - Reverbnation, CD Baby
and DC Bebop. |
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 Darlette Gayle - Singer, songwriter
from Washington DC. While growing up, Darlette would write songs and always surrounded herself with things musical. It is not surprising that she would eventually
share her passion with the world. At one point, she was asked to "lay some tracks" for a local rapper. They collaborated and released the songs,
which launched her career as an artist. Darlette has shared the stage with many well known musicians, and has hosted a local TV show,"HCM Production Talent Showcase". Darlette
has released her independent CD, "Whyte Chocolate"
(2005).
Also available on June 21,2008, the new singles "I KNOW U WANT IT" and "DONT
STOP" at CDBaby.com.
Links to Darlette's MySpace page and Website.
New Single, "Got Me Crazy" out November 10, 2010 |
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 Killer Stilts - Susan Faucon, Pam Parker and Liz Briones are the Dames of Killer Stilts.
Susan, Pam and Liz are three Divas who "sing, squabble and laugh out loud
about Beauty, Money, Sex, Love and Conspiracy." They "perform a diverse collection of original jazz, funk, blues and pop blended with provocative dialogue, a large dollop of humor and the meaning of life as seen through the eyes of three crazy dames".
Susan Faucon
- "composer, playwright, band leader and producer for Killer Stilts - is a
native Washingtonian who has had a lengthy career as a performer and writer. Pam Parker - A native Washingtonian, She has become
a fixture on national progressive and local jazz radio and has a reputation
for sweet soulful vocals. She and her band mateshave played at Blues Alley, Signature Theater, Twins, Bangkok Blues and
other venues of note in the DC area.
Liz Briones - is a native of Ecuador who grew up in DC. With her own Latin blend of blues, jazz and R&B, Liz captivates her audiences with her talent for making you feel her music. She has performed from South America to Southeast Asia. She can be heard at venues in and outside DC. Also
performing with "Killer Stilts" Diva's, are
Ro Cube on Keyboards,
Wardell Howard on Bass, and
Eric Haskins on Drums.
Links: Reverbnation, Website, and DC Bebop page.
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 Matt Rippetoe, Saxophonist
from Washington, DC. Matt began playing the
sax at age 15. He left DC for a while to freelance in Pittsburgh and travel the world as a cruise ship musician, but eventually returned to DC
to pursue his music. These days, he may be heard and seen at local venues performing with the
Dan Roberts Band, Joe Herrera's Landscaping Crew,
The Vampire Monkeys, Dog Fashion Disco,
Touch Acoustra,
Will Rast & Friends, and also
the Oscillators. From experience gained by working with funk groups to metal bands to straight-ahead jazz quartets, Matt has
cultivated a unique sound and musical approach. Check out Matt's
latest CD, "BOINK
" (2007), his MySpace
page and
Website. | |
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 The Lovejoy Group
is a versatile ensemble serving up energetic jazz, funky blues and smooth Latin rhythms. Karen Lovejoy, vocalist and bandleader, fronts the group.
She migrated from the Midwest where she began singing contemporary ballads, rhythm
and blues, and top 40 songs, but when she discovered jazz, "she found a home". The Lovejoygroup has won a number of awards including, the 2006 Jazz Jammie Award. Each member
of the group brings a wealth of experience to the ensemble. Jazz
Historian Herb Smith with saxophone and woodwinds. Drummer, Lawrence “Bubbles” Dean, brings fire to the group's
musical body and texture with his multi-genre style of play.
"The Maestro", Jerry Allen, is pianist and musical director for The
LovejoyGroup. Guitarist, Tony Harrod moves seamlessly from genre to
genre, mastering nuances of sound without missing a beat. Bassist Bill
Branch contributes his solid bass lines with a hard-hitting, foot stomping
groove and traditional down home blues. Collectively, they are the Lovejoygroup.
Link to Lovejoy Group
Website,
Reverbnation,
Facebook Bandpage and purchase songs on
Bandcamp.
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 Tony Harrod, Guitarist and Bassist
DC born Rhythm and Bass Guitarist Tony Harrod has been performing with a band since his 9th grade girlfriend convinced him to play with a group at a social club dance. The band (The Mar-Tribs), had three solid songs. Two fast and one slow; "Baby Baby Don't Cry" by the Miracles. This performance launched Tony's professional career, but interestingly enough, it was not Tony's first public performance.
Back in the day, Tony started his musical career at a very tender age on a Mickey Mouse wind-up guitar, but the artist in Tony would not allow him to wind it. Tony strummed and sang "Blue Suede Shoes" while standing on the front porch of his house and people walking by would give Tony money for his performance. Tony knew he had a career in music ahead of him.
Tony has played with many bands over the years. He released his own CD under
"THP" Tony Harrod Project on CDBaby.com in 2004. He performs as a studio musian backing bands in the DC area. He is the consummate guitarist performing with many local musicians - from Reggae tunes with "Englishman", to Jazz with the Karen Lovejoy & The Lovejoygroup, and R&B with "One Nite Stand", Tony lays down the
rhythm. CD: THP
(CDBaby.com), MySpace Music
and Facebook
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 The Shango Band
is a D.C. area reggae group that sings about real life and current world issues.
The Band has been performing since the late 1980's. In 2001 they won the award for
"Best Reggae Band" in the D.C. Annual Reggae Music Awards. Englishman, the band's bass-player, lead singer, songwriter and producer, has performed with reggae bands
for more than 30 years. He has received many awards for his music over the
years, and he has been a Master Artist in the D.C. Folks Arts Program for the Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Other
award winning artist in the band are Eric (Spiduki) McDermott (drummer/singer) and Jackson (Professor) Briscoe, a graduate of Howard University and MIT. The Shango Band performs
in venues all over the world. Links - MySpace
and also ENGLISHMAN AND THE SHANGOBAND |
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 Walter
Tates Jr. and the One Nite Stand Band - this four piece ensemble, featuring D.C.’s own Walter Tates Jr. mastering both tenor and soprano saxophones, keyboards and vocals, veteran guitarist Tony Harrod manning lead guitar and vocals, B.T.
Richardson rocking the bass and vocals and Rick Payton Jr. keeping the pulse
flowing on drums, this four piece ensemble turn Madam's Organ night club in Adam's Morgan in
downtown DC into a bonafide house
party when they perform. Links to One Nite Stand on Reverbnation, Facebook and
in DC Bebop Gallery |
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 John Lewis, Guitarist
and vocalist - Is originally from Indiana,
and says his musical journey began shortly after high school when he took
his guitar in hand and headed west to pursue his first passion - music.
He lived in San Diego performing first as a soloist in coffee houses and
lounges, and then with other musicians in and around the city. The
music of the groups he performed with covered the spectrum of
genres, Rock, Reggae, Calypso, Funk, and Jazz. While exploring his
musical side, John was also working towards another goal. He graduated
from San Diego State University with a French Major. He moved to the
South of France for a year where he says he "drank wine, studied French and
jammed with the locals". France is where he developed his "love for the
international grooves of East and West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and
South America". He returned to San Diego and organized the band
"Tropical Madness", which performed Soca, Reggae, and Brazilian Jazz.
In 1992, John moved from San Diego to Washington, DC. In DC, he
obtained a degree in Linguistics, with an emphasis on American Sign Language
from Gallaudet University. In step
with his academic goals, John said he was also
motivated to be "innovative" about his musical direction. To this
end, he developed a unique guitar style and sound. He says this unique
sound is a result of how he "employs a nylon string guitar and a Guitar
synthesizer", which produce a "rich bass bottom end".
John can be seen and heard performing with the 'Tropical Jazz duo' , which is
John performing with flautist Arch Thompson, and also as the 'Tropical Jazz Trio' at local venues in the DC area.
Link - Facebook, MySpace,
DC Bebop and Website |
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 Drummer, Percussionist Names Thompson
is from Ann Arbor, Michigan. His musical styles are Latin rhythms, funk,
hip-hop, reggae and jazz. He grew up in a musical household where his father, a Haitian conga player, performed
Latin and Haitian music. Names first drums were crafted from his bedroom dresser and coffee pots at age
11 - to the chagrin of his mother, who then purchased him his first drum kit. He began playing drums in
1983 in local rock bands and in Church. In 1990 he moved to Phoenix, Arizona
to attend school and in 1992 he relocated to the DC area and began playing drums with local
musicians. Seeking to expand his craft, he purchased a set of congas and timbales and began studying and
learning from local Cuban and Puerto Rican percussionists. His professional debut came in 1997 and has
since performed with Abraxas, Mama Jama, Clones Of Funk, FanFan, Noche Latina, Latin Jazz Allstars,
AT (Flautist Arch Thompson) and his band Flute Visions, Bill Davis, Nayas, and Patrick Desantos. He can be seen
and heard these days, performing in live venues with a group from PA called
"Second Sky", rhythm & culture, See-I, and Soul Brazil.
Link to
MySpace page. |
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 Bassist/Composer/Lyricist/Vocalist BT Richardson
and his band the Black Coffee Experience has been playing Music full time since 1995. He has also performed with Jazz vocalisy/Percussionist VINX, El DeBarge, (Blind Pig recording artist) Deborah Coleman and the Thrill Seekers. With the legendary Bo Diddley, the James Solberg Band, the late great Son Seals and A.C. Reed!! "Nocturnal Rage, Daddy-O (Stetsasonic), Marva Wright "the Blues Queen of New Orleans." His Recordings include: "Don't Sing No Blues For Me" by Bt Richardson, Funkin A, by Tyrone Shuz, Nocturnal rage and Way Out Your Mind by Nocturnal Rage. All available on dbaby.com and itunes as well as other digital e-music services.
Link to BT's MySpace Music page. |
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  N-GROOVE, The principles in the group are Cedric Givens, who plays drums, guitar, keyboards and other instruments.
Roberto Tyson on Rhythm Guitar and Cheikh Ndoye on Bass. Cedric and Roberto have known each other for many
years. They grew up in the Tampa Bay area and have shared a constant love of music. Cheikh Ndoye is from
Senegal and he has studied, written and played the bass most of his life. All three of them share a common
point of understanding. They all want to create and share their music. Cedric, Roberto and Cheikh are
"N-GROOVE" and they can be heard on their recent CD release "It's Who We Are" on iTunes, Napster and can also be
sampled and purchased on CD-Baby.com. Link to N-GROOVES's MySpace
page, website, CD
Baby. and DC Bebop. |
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 Bill "Bumblebee" Davis - Alto Saxophonist, Pianist, Composer, Arranger and Producer.
Bill, a Washingtonian, has been a fixture in the DC music scene for over 20 years, playing with numerous gospel, blues, jazz, and Latin
groups. A prolific writer and arranger, Bill has recorded and produced numerous local artists as well as his own
musical projects. He has performed with Art Blakey, Tito Puente, Chico Mendoza, Steve Turre,
and Branford Marsalis to name a few. He has toured with Ruby Hayes, Skip
Mahoney and the R&B duo Peaches and Herb. Link to
Bill's MySpace page. |
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 Inner Loop is a collective of DC Jazz musicians
blending jazz influenced Improvisation with programming and looping. Charles Ostle drives the band with his deep grooves on a hybrid electric/acoustic drumset, while Marc Blackwood provides the bottom with his live-looped basslines
adding textures and beats with his array of samplers, sequencers, laptop and effects. Joe Herrera, a major compositional figure in the band, layers lush trumpet lines through looping and effects. Anthony Pirog completes the mix with
his diverse approach to the guitar, creating thick walls of sound with his arsenal of stomp boxes and free-form loopers. The band is currently working on their first Album. Link - Inner Loops's
MySpace Music page. |
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 PostModern Blues, a Washington DC-based Jazz-Fusion group featuring
Brad Booth (keyboards); Scott Hedges (guitar); Cheikh Ndoye and Josh Patani (bass); Adrian Green, Damiene Connor, Solomon Ekwukoma (drums), have performed together for several years. The majority of the group released a CD in 2007 titled "The Many Designs." In 2011, the group released "Electric Vector," with several tracks featuring guest vocalists.
Link:
Discography with bio
and MySpace
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 Art McKinney, Drummer
Straight-ahead Bebop, Rock, Smooth Jazz, Fusion, and Blues.
Can be heard performing with the Jazz Poets, a
Jazz Trio featuring: Henry Gold on Guitar, Eric Shramak on Bass, and Art
McKinney on Drums. Website:
Drummers Corner |
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