Berkeley Agency - Jazz - Artist Roster

Eddie Daniels Quartet Clearly a Renaissance musician---a virtuoso of both jazz and classical clarinet---Eddie Daniels demonstrates that in the hands of a master, Mozart is as accessible to jazz lovers as the music of Charlie Parker. His vision is to enlarge the audience for both jazz and classical music by tearing down the walls separating the two genres. "A thoroughly well-bred demon," as Leonard Bernstein once said.

Marlena Shaw Quartet The first female vocalist signed by Blue Note Records in 1972, has never strayed far from her jazz roots. A former singer with the Count Basie Orchestra, "she swings with ease and authority, has a mastery of space and timing . . .[and] every phrase she utters has a delightfully improvisatory feel,' notes critic Richard Chon. She has the ability to highlight the dramatic possibilities of the simplest lyric. Her sassy, humorous onstage presence is as entertaining as her singing

Toshiko Akiyoshi Trio Toshiko Akiyoshi's unique contributions to the jazz world have evolved through a series of events that started with a piano-loving little Japanese girl in Manchuria. She was discovered by pianist Oscar Peterson in 1952 playing jazz at a club in Tokyo. Oscar brought her to the States to study at Berkelee in 1956 her talent brought her to prominence as an unparalleled pianist, composer and leader. Akiyoshi draws on Japanese musical traditions, adding hypnotic, Eastern atmosphere and swirling textures to traditional jazz figures Considered one of today’s top jazz pianists, she has received over 13 Grammy nominations for her compositions and arrangements.

Toshiko Akiyoshi awarded Jazz Master Award from the NEA.

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet The Brubeck Brothers are an exciting new jazz group that has been playing together all their lives. If there is such a thing as "born musicians," then the accomplished sons of famed jazz pianist Dave Brubeck definitely qualify. The talented brothers, Dan on drums, and Chris on trombone & bass, have brought audiences to their feet all over the world, creating dynamic music that gives a glimpse of the future of jazz, while honoring their background, so rich in the tradition of innovative jazz.

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are considered one of the top swing and jump blues bands in the country. The sultry vocals of chanteuse Lavay Smith and her all star 8-piece band, perform a large repertoire of classics by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Dinah Washington, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Louis Jordan. They are an instant recipe for good times.

Lew Tabackin Flutist and tenor saxophonist, is an artist of astonishing vision. His electrifying flute playing is at once virtuosic, primordial, cross-cultural, and passionate. His distinctive tenor sax style includes the use of wide intervals, abrupt changes of mood and tempo, and purposeful fervor, all in the service of showing the full range of possibilities of his instrument – melodically, rhythmically, and dynamically. Without copying or emulating jazz greats of the past, Mr. Tabackin has absorbed elements into his style, ultimately creating his own sound and aura.

The Cookers A dream team of forward-leaning hard-bop all-stars, this ensemble features the trumpeters Eddie Henderson and David Weiss, the saxophonists Billy Harper and Craig Handy, pianist George Cables, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Billy Hart.

Drawing their inspiration from “The Night of the Cookers”, recorded at Club La Marchal for the Blue Note label in 1965. No single album captures the mystique of the hard-bop era better. The Cookers recreate the possibilities of such incendiary nights by combining some of the greatest musicians from that era, with some of this generation more fiery players. This is what jazz is all about…

Jazz

Roster of Jazz Artists