Ron Blake
The origins of saxophonist Ron Blake’s tradition-honed
eclecticism can be traced back to the Virgin Islands, where he
was born and raised. At the age of 8, Blake took guitar lessons,
followed by a switch to alto saxophone two years later. He would
later attend Northwestern University, where he received the Presidential
Award for Outstanding Artistic and Academic Achievement.
Blake
has appeared on more than 50 recordings as either a guest or sideman
with leading artists. They include Roy Hargrove, Art Farmer, the
Christian McBride Band, Spirit Music Jamia, Red Hot + Riot, and
the Grammy-nominated Latin pop group, Yerba Buena. Blake has also
recorded soundtracks (most recently on El Cantante starring Marc
Anthony and Jennifer Lopez) and is entering his third season as
a member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band. He has also recorded
four albums as a leader: Up Front and Personal (2000), with special
guest Johnny Griffin; Lest We Forget (2003); Sonic
Tonic (2005);
and Shayari (2007), his third release for Mack Avenue Records.
Geoffrey Keezer
Born into a musical family in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Geoffrey Keezer began studying
piano at the age of three. He has since gone on to work with virtually all of
the living legends of jazz and has appeared on countless recordings both as a
leader and as an accompanist.
In addition to his 11 solo releases and constant touring, Keezer has been commissioned
by the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Saint Joseph Ballet, Mainly Mozart Festival in
San Diego, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, the Zeltsman Marimba Festival, and
was a recipient of Chamber Music America’s 2007 New Works grant. He has also
played bass in a rock band and contributed artwork to David Mack's comic Kabuki.
Keezer continues to work in partnership with world-class musicians from all genres.
Recent outings include Sublime: Honoring the Music of Hank Jones (2003), Wildcrafted (2005),
and Yasukatsu Oshima with Geoffrey Keezer (2007), a groundbreaking album
of duets. Keezer’s latest musical adventure, ÁUREA, is a multinational Afro-Peruvian/jazz
recording project featuring some of today’s hottest players from New York City
and Lima, Peru.
Terreon Gully
A native of East St. Louis, Illinois, Terreon Gully began
his musical journey performing drumset as a child in church. Pursuing
his love for music, he later joined the world renowned Lincoln Senior
High School Jazz Ensemble under the leadership of Director Ronald Carter
and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance.
Known
for his authenticity and versatility, Gully has performed, toured,
and recorded with many of today’s leading artists, including the Benny
Green Trio, Charlie Hunter, Real Live Band, Dianne Reeves, Abbey Lincoln,
Marc Cary, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Jacky Terrasson, Common, and
a host of other artists. In addition to live performances, Gully is
known for his exceptional work in the studio, recording for albums,
films, and commercials.
Gully continues to perform and record extensively.
When not busy with Christian McBride, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn
or Yerba Buena, Gully also works with such artists as Burning Spear,
Lauren Hill and Roy Ayers, to name a few.
Warren Wolf
According to vibraphonist Warren Wolf, the only thing you
need to know about him is that he’s “a musician who wants to make harmony
with anybody who's serious.”
Still, it’s hard to ignore the fact that
Wolf began playing drums at the age of three, took up vibraphone a
few years later, toured with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra when
he was 9, wrote his first tune when he was 10, was hired for his first
professional jazz gigs by the time he was 12, and went on to study
music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Wolf has played
and recorded with many of the leading figures in jazz, including Wynton
Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Nicholas Payton, Mulgrew
Miller, Lewis Nash, Christian McBride, Terri Lyne Carrington and Bobby
Watson, to name just a few. He has also recorded one album as a leader,
Incredible Jazz Vibes (2005), which featured Mulgrew Miller on piano.
