News
Happy New Year Everyone:)
I know it's been a few months since I have put an update on the site, because I have just been so busy! However let me first welcome you into this wonderful New Year that I believe will be full of wonderful inspiration and happenings in all of our lives. Before I let you know what's coming up, let me update you on what was going on at the conclusion of 2011. In December I was fortunate to have a great showcase and toy drive with my non-profit Organization Don't Miss A Beat, Inc in which we donated of $10,000.00 in gifts to over 40 families in need. In collaboration with the toy drive, we also held a food drive the following morning and gave baskets of food to over 25 families in need. Continuing with the season of giving we tried to do our part and be a blessing to many people who are less fortunate than we are, and it was an amazing feeling. Right up until Christmas I was working hard in the studio with one of my favorite employers Christian McBride, and the very talented actress Ms.S.Epaitha Merkeson from Law & Order on her passion project "The Contradictions of Fair Hope", a documentary based on the town of Fair Hope, Kansas. Christian McBride was honored with the opportunity to score the music for this amazing documentary and of course he brought along as he affectionately calls us the "Dream Team":) The band consisted of Freddie Hendrix, Todd Williams, Mike Dease, Christian Sands, and yours truly! I was so honored and had an amazing time! So.... Goodbye 2011, and hello 2012:)
I started the year off running, with what would be some of my final performances with The Nicholas Payton Quartet and Big Band at Birdland for the APAP Conference. I had a great time with Mr. Payton and I am sure in the not too distant future we will work together again, and in the meantime you will get to hear some great tunes that he recorded with me on my upcoming CD "Unanimous" that will be released in February. After my time with Nick at Birdland, I took a short vacation with the family in Los Angeles and got a chance to meet and hang out with some of my very favorite people and great musicians, Rickey Minor, Teddy Campbell, and a great mentor the great drummer and producer Steve Jordan.
The next few months has some exciting things on the horizon:) Regarding the production side of my career; I am in pre-production with 2 very talented singers. First is a great Italian vocalist Olivia Foschi and we are going to be in the studio within the next couple of months recording her Debut project that will feature some amazing music and musicians! I am also in pre-production with another great singer, The Extremely soulful Brianna Jefferson who has been knocking me out every time I get to hear her the last few months at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, and her album will be one swinging affair! :)
On the education side, Don't Miss A Beat has some astounding initiatives and programs we are getting ready to start the year off with, allowing our students to create on a more dynamic and effective level. We also are on the verge of forming some new relationships with other local organizations in Jacksonville Florida that will continue to bring more visibility and exposure to our organization and purpose in the world which is to do greater good for the generation of tomorrow.
On the touring and performance front, I have decided to exit gracefully from the drum chair in Kurt Elling's Quintet and Quartet after almost 4 wonderful years of recording, and touring with Kurt, Laurence, John McLean, Harish Raghavan and Clark Sommers. I have learned so much being apart of that band and will continue to owe a great deal with Kurt for giving me an opportunity to work with him for these last few years. I still have a few remaining shows with he and the Band so please come and catch them if you can! I am sure Kurt will find someone that will do an amazing job and continue to enable him to captivate audiences in a way that only he is gifted to do! Love ya K.E.! As for my other associations, I have some great things coming up with Christian McBride! We will be heading into the studio and recording our first Trio CD featuring Christian Sands, McBride and myself and I am so excited about this! This is a really dynamic group, and it seems the world agrees as we are already starting to get many offers from all over the place for concerts this year! So the CMB trio will be venturing as early as Feb to Los Angeles, Russia, Europe, and we have some great performances coming up even at Tanglewood also later this year! So we'll be pretty busy with that group. I also have some touring and a new album coming out with the great Ted Nash of Wynton Marsalis' Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra in April coinciding with the Record Release! Also some road performances with Nnenna Freelon, and many others are on the horizon! Please keep checking the calendar for new tour dates.
Also be checking the stores for the new records that I am on that will be out over the next few months by these artists below: Ulysses Owens Jr. "Unanimous" -Criss Cross Records" Matthew Garrison (Tenor Saxophonist) - "D Clef Records" Tony Lustig (Baritone Saxophonist) - (Record Label TBD) Ted Nash " The Creep" -Palmetto Records Christian McBride Trio - Mack Avenue
Lastly on Feb 12th I'll be watching the Grammy's either from the audience or waiting to hear from someone about whether we won! Christian McBride's Big Band CD "The Good Feeling" was nominated for Best Large Ensemble Jazz CD! So we are keeping our fingers crossed and praying for what would be McBride's 1st Grammy for his project, and my 2nd Grammy!! Also please make your reservations for My CD Release Concert on the following night 2/13! I will be headlining that night with the band from the CD with the exception of Nicholas Payton, in his place we will have the great Marcus Printup on Trumpet! So come out and it will be a great night of music hosted by WBGO!
As you can see I have yet again been blessed to see another year and I look forward to many more exciting opportunities to spread the gift of love and humanity through my craft in the studio, on stage and in the area of philanthropy! Challenge yourself to be more positive this year and find the core of what makes your happy this year and pursue it with everything that is within u!
God Bless
U