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Thursday, August 16, 2018

Allan Harris Swings in with Music of Nat King Cole & Eddie Jefferson, Friday, August 24th

Allan Harris Quartet: Music of Nat King Cole & Eddie Jefferson

WHEN: August 24, 2018, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
WHERE:
Rutherfurd Hall, 1686 Route 517 - Allamuchy
TICKETS: $30 in Advance or $35 at the Door
(908) 852-1894 Ext 338
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Tickets available locally in Hackettstown NJ at Mama's Cafe, Baci &
Panther Valley Pharmacy

The outstanding and internationally renowned vocalist, guitarist and composer Allan Harris sums up his personal perspective on music in clear and straightforward terms. “There is nothing that I have found that defines and gives credence to my place in this wild and mysterious universe than this thing called music.”

Over the past 20 years, Harris has steadily developed his reputation as one of the finest vocalists of his era. Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with, “the warmth of  Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King' Cole,” the ample and aural evidence of Harris’ moving and magisterial artistry can be heard on his ten recordings as a leader; his far-flung and critically-acclaimed concerts around the world, from Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, and Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, to the 2012 London Olympics, and a number of prestigious bookings in Europe, The Middle East and Asia, and his numerous awards, which include the New York Nightlife Award for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist” – which he won three times – the Backstage Bistro Award for “Ongoing Achievement in Jazz,” the Harlem Speaks “Jazz Museum of Harlem Award”  and the DownBeat Critic’s Poll Award “Rising Star Vocalist.”

Drummer, educator, clinician, author and health coach, Shirazette Tinnin was born and raised in North Carolina. Her early influences were gospel music, R&B and soul music.  Her stylistic influences would eventually expand into jazz, rock and music from many parts of the African diaspora.

A graduate of Appalachian State University, Shirazette studied with Todd Right, Dr. Rob Falvo, Rick Dilling and Scott Meister. She studied and continues to be mentored by drummers Cindy Blackman, Lewis Nash, Terri Lynne Carrington, Ernie Adams and more. Shirazette received a full scholarship for drum set and jazz pedagogy from Northern Illinois University, where she studied under professor Ron Carter.

A 2008 recipient of The Sisters in Jazz Collegiate All-Stars for IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) Award, Shirazette has also taught on the collegiate level at Columbia College in Chicago. Currently residing in New York City, Shirazette was the house drummer for The Meredith Vieira Talk Show, Season 1 on NBC.

Known for her innovative ability to incorporate contemporary melodic, rhythmic and harmonic devices in both her playing and writing, New York-based jazz pianist, composer and educator Arco-Iris Sandoval hopes to promote environmental and social awareness through her music.

Born into a musical family, Arco-Iris began studying piano as a young child, giving her first recital of original compositions and Bach Preludes when she was 6 years old. At the age of 12 she orchestrated and performed an original composition with the Tucson Symphony and Tucson Pops Orchestra. By high school ArcoIris was performing regularly with professionals in the area and was the pianist for the Tucson Jazz Institute’s award winning Ellington Big Band. She was also featured twice in 2004 and 2007 performing original solo piano works in high school and then in college on a nationally televised event held at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix, AZ called "Cox Everyday Heroes.”

While attaining a bachelors degree in piano studies from the University of Arizona under the tutelage of jazz pianist Jeff Haskell and classical instructor Paula Fan, Arco-Iris had the opportunity to perform at major festivals throughout the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and China including the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Telluride Jazz Festival. She is a recipient of the 2013 and 2015 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award and she also participated in the 2013 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. under the artistic direction of Jason Moran. In 2016, she was awarded a Fulbright grant from the US Embassy for traveling abroad with Camille Thurman's stet.

Philly-born bassist Nimrod Speaks certainly has kept his ears open. According to Homer Jackson of the Philadelphia Jazz Project, “Speaks is one of the most in demand bassists in the Mid-Atlantic region and a powerful songwriter." Speaks started his musical progression at the age of 16 years old. First learning the electric bass with Ricardo Jackson and eventually adding the upright double bass upon entering college. While obtaining his Bachelor’s in Music from Kutztown University and a Masters in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, Nimrod continued his musical journey on the bandstand and honed his craft in not only jazz, but gospel, classical, soul, R&B and African Rhythms. Speaks splits his time between teaching privately, ministering with nonprofit organizations and traveling with Greg Osby, Ronnie Burrage, Doc Gibbs, Hanible Lokumbe, Jerry Topinka, Shirazette Tinnin, Dr. Matthew Clayton and others. Most recently, you can hear Nimrod as part of the Allan Harris Band or locally with the Leon Jordan Sr. Trio and also as part of the Luke O’Reilly Trio.

Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) was an American jazz pianist and vocalist. He recorded over one hundred songs that became hits on the pop charts. His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on Broadway. He was the first black man to host an American television series.


Eddie Jefferson (August 3, 1918 – May 9, 1979) was a jazz vocalist and lyricist. He is credited as an innovator of vocalese, a musical style in which lyrics are set to an instrumental composition or solo. Jefferson himself claims that his main influence was Leo Watson. Perhaps his best-known song is "Moody's Mood for Love", though it was first recorded by King Pleasure, who cited Jefferson as an influence. Jefferson's songs "Parker's Mood" and "Filthy McNasty" were also hits.