New
York Improv Collective To Share Stage with Jon Faddis at Town Hall
March 6, 2008
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Five of the
hottest young jazzmen on the New York scene today have come together to form a
new combo, New York Improv Collective.
Their mission is to revisit music of the great jazz masters and interpret it in
a 21st century way - and their goal is to educate new generations of
fans and musicians about the entire spectrum of jazz.
The founding
members of New York Improv Collective are Ray
Vega, trumpet; Rob Derke, saxophone; Ted Rosenthal, piano; Carlo
DeRosa, bass; and Quincy Davis,
drums. They will be joined for performances and master classes by such jazz
luminaries as Jon Faddis, Dave Liebman, Kenny Washington, Ralph
Lalama, and Justin DiCioccio.
As the jazz
ensemble-in-residence of Distinguished Concerts International New York, a
classical and jazz music presenter at New York's top venues, NYIC has signed on
to help launch DCINY's new series, "Jazz
at Town Hall," which begins on
Wednesday, April 23, 2008, at 8 p.m., and takes place at the historic home
of classic jazz from the 40s and beyond. .
The first concert,
titled "Monk in the 21st
Century: The Next Generation," will showcase performances by New York Improv Collective, and Jon Faddis performing with and
conducting the Vanguard University Big
Band (CA), featuring Ralph Lalama.
Tickets, ranging from $20-$60,
are available through Ticketmaster at 212-840-2824,
or at www.ticketmaster.com. Town Hall is located at 123 W 43rd
Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway in New York City.
Ray Vega, Trumpet
A native of the South Bronx, Ray Vega is a veteran of the
bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza, Luis
"Perico" Ortiz, Hector LaVoe, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Pete
"El Conde" Rodriguez, and Louie Ramirez. A multi-talented trumpeter,
percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents jazz from a refreshingly
original and contemporary perspective. His two recordings on the Concord
Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega," and
"Boperation," along with his first release on the Palmetto label,
"Pa'lante," have been well received by critics, audiences, and
musicians alike. Vega's second Palmetto CD, "Squeeze, Squeeze," has
also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine. Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two
vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning
these two musical styles from some of the great legends, he received his formal
training studying trumpet with Sydney Baker, Henry Nowak, Mike Lawrence, Stan
Shafran, Laurie Frink, Richard Brezowski, and Jerry Gonzalez. He studied Jazz
Harmony and Improvisation with Susan Winder, Bobby Rogovin, and Lonnie Hillyer.
He also studied Afro-Caribbean percussion with Luis Bauzo. Ray Vega is a
graduate of New York's legendary High School of Music and Art.
Rob Derke, Saxophone
Saxophone and woodwind performer, educator, composer,
arranger, producer, and conductor, Rob Derke has become known to a growing
audience for his artistic versatility. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was
educated at New York City's LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, received
his bachelor's degree from the Manhattan School of Music and his master's
degree from SUNY Purchase. Inspired by his first teachers, Dave Schildkraut and
Justin DiCioccio, Rob began his career by appearing with jazz artists,
including Red Rodney, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Turre,
Wallace Roney, and Dave Valentine. He has performed as a player, conductor, and
composer at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Radio City
Music Hall, JVC Jazz Festival, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and numerous
clubs and radio broadcasts throughout the country. As a result of his travels
over 20 countries, Rob developed an interest in exploring ethnic music
traditions with jazz and classical music. Most notably, his suite for
woodwinds, percussion, and strings, titled "Khyal" and based on the
Quwwali vocal tradition, was premiered at Carnegie Hall. Rob Derke has worked
as a studio composer and producer for Grammy-nominated projects associated with
hit TV shows and documentaries, with some of his recordings reaching the top of
the Billboard charts. He has also
spearheaded the creation of jazz education programs in numerous New York area
schools and has served as an active presenter at clinics and conferences.
Ted Rosenthal, piano
Ted Rosenthal entered the international spotlight by winning
first prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in
1988. He has since had a prolific
recording career and recently released his 10th CD as a leader, "The King and
I," featuring Rosenthal's jazz takes on songs from the classic musical. His
recent CD, "One Night in Vermont" (2004), is a duo with legendary trombonist
Bob Brookmeyer. All About Jazz called
this CD, "a stunning album complete with all of jazz's beloved nuances."
His most recent solo album, "The 3 B's" (2002), received Four Stars from Down Beat Magazine. The album features
renditions of the music of Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and his strikingly original
improvisations on Beethoven themes. Rosenthal toured and recorded
with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet, and has performed with the Art Farmer and Phil
Woods Quintets, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. A
member of the Juilliard Jazz Quintet, he teaches at The Juilliard School and
Manhattan School of Music. Rosenthal has received three NEA grants for
performance and composition projects.
Carlo DeRosa. Bass
Since moving to
New York City in 1993, Carlo De Rosa has worked with many great Latin and jazz
artists, including Ray Barretto, Ravi Coltrane, William Cepeda, Vijay Iyer,
Bruce Barth, Ed Thigpen, Nick Brignola, Mickey Roker, Steve Turre, Miguel
Zenon, Hilton Ruiz, Ralph Alessi, Candido Camero, Jason Moran, Papo Vasquez,
and the New York City Ballet. As a U.S. Jazz Ambassador in 1999, he traveled to
South Africa, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Other
performances abroad have taken place in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal,
Estonia, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Argentina, Chile, Romania, Slovenia, Denmark, and Ireland. His New York Club
engagements have included the Blue Note, Birdland, Zinc Bar, 55 Bar, Smalls,
Visiones, Fat Cat, Knitting Factory, Detour, Smoke, Kavehaz, Sweet Rhythm, Jazz
Standard, Nuyorican Poet's Café, Tonic, Satalla, CBGB's Lounge, Barbès,
Zebulon, Iridium, Cornelia Street Café, Makor, and the Jazz Gallery. Since
earning his master's degree at Manhattan School of Music, he has given clinics
and master classes around the globe. He has also developed teaching
affiliations with the Drummers Collective, National Guitar Workshop, Henry
Street Settlement, and Long Island University.
Quincy Davis, Drums
Born in 1977 in
Grand Rapids (MI), Quincy Davis comes from a musical family. He picked up the
drums at an early age and often played with his older brother in their
basement. In his elementary and middle school bands, he also played trumpet and
tuba. His formal musical studies began during the 11th grade at Interlochen
Arts Academy (IAA). After graduating from IAA, he began college at Western
Michigan University, where he studied with drum master, Billy Hart. In 1999, he
taught elementary and middle school instrumental music in Grand Rapids before
moving to New York City. Once in New York, he caught the attention of several
jazz greats, playing with Wynton Marsalis, Frank Wess, Russell Malone, Eric
Reed, Parquet D'Rivera, Lew Tebakin, Marcus Printup, Warren Vache, Ron Blake,
Jon Faddis, Stefon Harris, Peter Berstein, Roy Hargrove, Randy Johnston,
Laverne Butler, Paula West, Nicholas Payton, New York Voices, Ryan Kisor, and
Wessell Anderson. Davis has toured with Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter,
and Tom Harrell. He was also a member of the Tom Harrell Quintet for four
years. With these bands, he has played in more than 10 countries and in many
well known jazz clubs, including The Village Vanguard and The Blue Note in New
York City; The Jazz Showcase in Chicago; Paris' New Morning Jazz Club; and The
Jazz Bakery, Yoshi, and Catalina Bar and Grill in California.
Distinguished Concerts International New York was founded in early 2007 by Iris Derke, General Director; and Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director
and Principal Conductor. DCINY provides opportunities for choral, instrumental,
jazz, and chamber ensembles, as well as conductors and soloists, to perform at
such venues as Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall
at Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Jazz at
Lincoln Center, and Town Hall in New York City. A strong component of DCINY's
mission is to enhance the concert experience through educational programs and
incentives. These include support in meeting performance standards and optional
master classes and seminars.
For information about purchasing tickets to scheduled
concerts, e-mail
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,
call 212.707.8566 or 877.MYDCINY (toll free), or visit www.DCINY.org.
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