By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Edmar Castaneda, the Colombian harp player is arguably one of the most original players hailing from the Big Apple. Castaneda pursued jazz trumpet once moving to New York from Bogota; but, he soon realized that he wanted to apply the jazz techniques he had learned to his original instrument, …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Larry Fuller, based in New York City, is a hard swinging mainstream jazz pianist. Floyd “Candy” Johnson helped Fuller to start a professional musical career at the age of thirteen in Toledo, Ohio. Fuller obtained the position of musical director and pianist for Grammy-nominated vocalist Ernestine Anderson by his …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern One of the most influential Afro-Cuban jazz percussionists is without a doubt, Poncho Sánchez. Sánchez has been performing for more than three decades. Apart from his solo career, Sánchez has been featured on many albums including Tito Puente, Freddie Hubbard, Terrence Blanchard, and many others. His “Latin Soul,” received …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Vijay Iyer, Grammy-nominated composer and pianist, has been called “one of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today,” by Pitchfork. In 2014 he began a permanent appointment as the Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts in the Department of Music at Harvard University. …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Marquis Hill, a Windy City native, recently won the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Chicago’s jazz scene is what shaped Hill to be the fine musician that he is today. Hill’s early studies came from the Ravinia Jazz Scholar Program. He did his undergraduate work at Northern …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Phil Hey, a drummer from New York, currently teaches drum set at St. Olaf College and resides in Minnesota. He was privately instructed by Edward Blackwell while he attended the University of Minnesota. Hey has worked with many professionals including Benny Carter, Charlie Byrd, and Kenny Barron to name …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern The North Corridor All-Star Big Band, a newer addition to the festival, will be joining the lineup again this year. This group is similar to a group the IC jazz festival is very familiar with, the United Jazz Ensemble. The group is comprised of some of the most skilled …
By Laura Eckles, KCCK Programming Intern Allison Miller is highly regarded in the NYC jazz hub as a drummer, composer, and teacher. She is known for backing an array of artists like Ani DiFranco, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Merchant, and others. Recently, she has been a guest artist playing with NBC’s Late Night Seth Meyers house …
