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KEVIN
HAYS
Pianist/Composer
Kevin Hays has performed and recorded with some of the most prominent
and influential musicians in Jazz. These include Sonny Rollins, John Scofield,
Benny Golson, Roy Haynes, Joshua Redman, Freddie Hubbard, Al Foster, Joe
Henderson, Buster Williams, Chris Potter and Art Farmer.
Hays has
recorded 8 CDs as a leader and is featured on dozens of recordings as
a sideman. In 1994 he signed with Blue Note Records and made 3 critically
acclaimed recordings for that label. His 'Seventh Sense' was praised by
The New York Times and recognized as one of the 'Top 40 Jazz Releases
of the Year' by Musician Magazine. His trio recording 'Andalucia', which
featured bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jack DeJohnette was awarded 4
Stars by DownBeat Magazine.
Born on May
1st of 1968 in New York City and raised in Connecticut, he began studying
piano at the age of 6 and was playing professionally by 15. At 17 he began
playing with baritone saxophone great Nick Brignola. After spending a
year at The Manhattan School of Music, he began traveling in the U.S.,
Japan, and Europe with various bands including The Harper Brothers, Benny
Golson, Joe Henderson and Eddie Gomez. In 1995 Sonny Rollins invited him
to join his group; a year and a half later he began touring with guitarist
John Scofield in his celebrated 'Quiet' band.
Today, Kevin
continues to perform worldwide in solo concerts, with his trio which includes
bassist Doug Weiss and drummer Bill Stewart, and with a quartet which
features Seamus Blake, Larry Grenadier, and Bill Stewart. He also conducts
Master Classes in the U.S. and overseas.
LARRY
GOLDINGS
With his signature Hammond organ style and versatility on many keyboards,
Boston native Larry Goldings has traversed not only the wide spectrum
of jazz where he is perhaps best known, but also the worlds of funk, pop,
and electronic/alternative music. High in
demand as a sideman, Goldings' sound can be heard on scores of albums
by artists in virtually every musical genre.
Some of his more notable collaborations include tours and recordings with
Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Jim Hall, Jon Hendricks,
Pat Metheny, Maceo Parker, Madeleine Peyroux, John Pizzarelli, John Scofield,
Curtis Stigers, and James Taylor.
Under his own name, Goldings has made ten critically-acclaimed albums,
many of them featuring his well-known organ trio with Peter Bernstein
on guitar and Bill Stewart on drums. Goldings' most recent project, "Trio
Beyond" (ECM), earned him, John Scofield, and Jack DeJohnette a Grammy
nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album (2007).
Larry Goldings' musical compositions have been recorded by such artists
as Michael Brecker, Jim Hall, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Toots Thielemans,
Curtis Stigers, Till Brönner, and Sia. His songs and arrangements
have appeared in several motion pictures
including Clint Eastwood's "Space Cowboys" and John Madden's
"Proof."
"Quartet" (2006) is his newest recording for Palmetto Records.
It features Goldings on piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, organ, harmonium,
and accordion. The band is John Sneider (trumpet), Ben Allison (bass),
Matt Wilson (drums), and guest vocalist Madeleine
Peyroux.
Of the seemingly disparate nature of the album, Goldings comments:
In the past few years I have delved into such a wide variety of music
that denying those
influences in the making of this record would have been dishonest. In
fact, what interests
me most these days is the challenge of melding my disparate influences
into a cohesive
and personal sound.
I am excited by the idea of having a Björk song alongside Gabriel
Fauré, next to Chico
Buarque, next to an American folk song. And then in my own writing, I
like the freedom of
going anywhere I want. Eclecticism is really "in" now, and I
love it, but only when it's not
forced....only when it sounds honest. The idea is to show the connections
in music, how
different genres across the centuries are all so beautifully related.
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