Randy Johnston Quartet
Tickets
On sale smallslive.com
About
Randy Johnston is one of the most widely recorded and prolific guitarists of his genereation. He has released 14 albums as a leader for the Muse, Highnote, J Curve, Mel Bay, Random Act, and Small World labels and has appeared on dozens of recordings with other top recording artists.
In addition to his recording carreer, Randy has toured and played with some of the most acclaimed names in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Houston Person and Etta Jones, Lonnie Smith, and has played for 18 years as a regular member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. He has travelled the world concertizing, both as a bandleader and side musician, performing at the top clubs and festivals all over the United States, Europe, Japan, Thailand, and South America.
Already recognized the world over for his guitaristic prowess, Randy's live performances and last two recordings feature him as a vocalist as well, singing his original songs as well as standards and blues standards. His vocals have been favorably compared to those of Ray Charles, and the combination of instrumental and vocal performances make for an extremely varied and entertaining live set. Both his vocal and substantial catalouge of instrumental compositions enjoy frequent airplay, both in the traditional and internet radio formats.
Randy has also taught music at New York University, the Hartt School of Music in Hartford Connecticut, the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida, and several other major American universities of note, in addition to conducting master classes in such diverse locations as Wales UK and Helsinki Finaland.
New York-based pianist Addison Frei (“Fry”)has won first prize in several competitions including the 2017 Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, the 2016 UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa, and the 2015 American Jazz Pianist Competition in Melbourne, Florida. His latest album on TCB Records, No Defense (2018), was celebrated with solo piano performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Alhambra (Geneva), and Lucerne Piano Festival. His previous records include Intentions(2014) and Transit (2016), featuring frequent collaborator and Manhattan Transfer co-founder Janis Siegel. Frei also co-leads AMP Trio, contributing compositions to Three (2017),m(y)our world (2015), and Flow(2013). AMP Trio has toured extensively throughout China, Japan and North America. Alongside vocalist Tahira Clayton they were selected as the winner of the 2017 DC Jazz Prix and have performed at the DC Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Dazzle, and Tribeca PAC among others. Frei expanded his production palette and exploration of political themes in Future Speak (2017), a digital EP and original video. He currently holds the piano chair in the Juilliard Artist Diploma Ensemble and is presently a member of the Orlando-based Dr. Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Rodney Whitaker. He is a Yamaha Artist.
Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Yoshi began to play jazz bass at age of 20. Over the next few years, he emerged as a sought-after accompanist, with regular appearances at jazz clubs in Tokyo. In 1996, he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, where he was given Outstanding Performer Award. After graduation, he was on the tour for two years with the National Tour Company of Fosse, a Tony Awarded musical show. His rhythm-section mate was Bobby Economou, former drummer of rock group Blood Sweat & Tears. Yoshi currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and plays and tours with various groups in the city. Appearance includes some of the major venues and well known club in the city such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Knitting Factory, &c.
Yoshi performed with George Benson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Gary Burton, Big Apple Circus, Hal Crook, Dan Zanes and Friends, George Garzone, Deborah Harry, Randy Johnston, Victor Jones (A.K.A. Culter Versy), Angelique Kidjo, Simon Kirke (Bad Company), John Lithgow (Perfectly Ridiculous), Joe Lovano, Ben Monder, Shunzo Ohno, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, John Scofield, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, Suzanne Vega, Bill Ware Vibes, Frank Wes, Harry Whitaker, Jack Wilkins, Phil Wilson, &c.
Among the recordings he did, Catch that Train! (Dan Zanes and Friends) won the 49th Annual Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children.
Weblinks:
www.yoshiwaki.net
Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand rising star drummers in New York City. He has shared the stage with artists such as Freddy Cole, John McNeil, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin, Benito Gonzalez, and Shai Maestro among others. Jay is also a first call drummer for many up-and-coming musicians in New York including Itamar Borochov, Caroline Davis, Tomoko Omura, John Raymond and many more. He has toured extensively in the USA and Europe, including performances at the Montreal, Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France and more.
While attending Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois, respectively, Jay studied with some of the most well-respected jazz drummers including Billy Hart, Tim Froncek, Keith Hall and Dana Hall. Each nurtured his passion and skill for the art of jazz drums. As a result, Jay has become a passionate and gifted educator, both as a private lesson teacher as well as in a group setting.
In addition to his recording carreer, Randy has toured and played with some of the most acclaimed names in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Houston Person and Etta Jones, Lonnie Smith, and has played for 18 years as a regular member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. He has travelled the world concertizing, both as a bandleader and side musician, performing at the top clubs and festivals all over the United States, Europe, Japan, Thailand, and South America.
Already recognized the world over for his guitaristic prowess, Randy's live performances and last two recordings feature him as a vocalist as well, singing his original songs as well as standards and blues standards. His vocals have been favorably compared to those of Ray Charles, and the combination of instrumental and vocal performances make for an extremely varied and entertaining live set. Both his vocal and substantial catalouge of instrumental compositions enjoy frequent airplay, both in the traditional and internet radio formats.
Randy has also taught music at New York University, the Hartt School of Music in Hartford Connecticut, the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida, and several other major American universities of note, in addition to conducting master classes in such diverse locations as Wales UK and Helsinki Finaland.
New York-based pianist Addison Frei (“Fry”)has won first prize in several competitions including the 2017 Parmigiani Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition, the 2016 UNISA International Jazz Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa, and the 2015 American Jazz Pianist Competition in Melbourne, Florida. His latest album on TCB Records, No Defense (2018), was celebrated with solo piano performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Alhambra (Geneva), and Lucerne Piano Festival. His previous records include Intentions(2014) and Transit (2016), featuring frequent collaborator and Manhattan Transfer co-founder Janis Siegel. Frei also co-leads AMP Trio, contributing compositions to Three (2017),m(y)our world (2015), and Flow(2013). AMP Trio has toured extensively throughout China, Japan and North America. Alongside vocalist Tahira Clayton they were selected as the winner of the 2017 DC Jazz Prix and have performed at the DC Jazz Festival, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Dazzle, and Tribeca PAC among others. Frei expanded his production palette and exploration of political themes in Future Speak (2017), a digital EP and original video. He currently holds the piano chair in the Juilliard Artist Diploma Ensemble and is presently a member of the Orlando-based Dr. Phillips Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Rodney Whitaker. He is a Yamaha Artist.
Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Yoshi began to play jazz bass at age of 20. Over the next few years, he emerged as a sought-after accompanist, with regular appearances at jazz clubs in Tokyo. In 1996, he moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music, where he was given Outstanding Performer Award. After graduation, he was on the tour for two years with the National Tour Company of Fosse, a Tony Awarded musical show. His rhythm-section mate was Bobby Economou, former drummer of rock group Blood Sweat & Tears. Yoshi currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and plays and tours with various groups in the city. Appearance includes some of the major venues and well known club in the city such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Blue Note, Knitting Factory, &c.
Yoshi performed with George Benson, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Gary Burton, Big Apple Circus, Hal Crook, Dan Zanes and Friends, George Garzone, Deborah Harry, Randy Johnston, Victor Jones (A.K.A. Culter Versy), Angelique Kidjo, Simon Kirke (Bad Company), John Lithgow (Perfectly Ridiculous), Joe Lovano, Ben Monder, Shunzo Ohno, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, John Scofield, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, Suzanne Vega, Bill Ware Vibes, Frank Wes, Harry Whitaker, Jack Wilkins, Phil Wilson, &c.
Among the recordings he did, Catch that Train! (Dan Zanes and Friends) won the 49th Annual Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children.
Weblinks:
www.yoshiwaki.net
Born in Grand Rapids, MI, Jay Sawyer is one of the most in-demand rising star drummers in New York City. He has shared the stage with artists such as Freddy Cole, John McNeil, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Donny McCaslin, Benito Gonzalez, and Shai Maestro among others. Jay is also a first call drummer for many up-and-coming musicians in New York including Itamar Borochov, Caroline Davis, Tomoko Omura, John Raymond and many more. He has toured extensively in the USA and Europe, including performances at the Montreal, Detroit and Chicago Jazz Festivals, Festival Eclats d’Email in Limoges, France and more.
While attending Western Michigan University and the University of Illinois, respectively, Jay studied with some of the most well-respected jazz drummers including Billy Hart, Tim Froncek, Keith Hall and Dana Hall. Each nurtured his passion and skill for the art of jazz drums. As a result, Jay has become a passionate and gifted educator, both as a private lesson teacher as well as in a group setting.
Lineup
