TJG Joyce Wein Mentoring Series: Marcus Gilmore & Ryoma Takenada

Marcus Gilmore - drums Ryoma Takenada - bass Fabian Almazan - piano Marcus Gilmore is a multi-Grammy award winning drummer, composer, producer, and educator who has been recognized with numerous awards, residencies, and fellowships – including becoming a 2018 – 2019 Protege in the Rolex Arts Initiative. Gilmore, in all his playing, integrates a unique style where he is musically expanding rhythm, while supporting the great musicians with whom he plays. He has had the distinct privilege of performing/recording with Mulatu Astatke, Chick Corea, Pharoah Sanders, Savion Glover, Pat Metheny, Ambrose Akinmusire, Ravi Coltrane, Common, Flying Lotus, Robert Glasper, Natalie Cole, Steve Coleman, Zakir Hussain, Vijay Iyer, Derrick Hodge, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, Thundercat, Brad Mehldau, Cassandra Wilson, Nicholas Payton, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Sanford Biggers, Black Thought, The Cadillacs, Bilal, Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Terrace Martin, Taylor Mcferrin, and Fred Armisen. With 25 years as a professional musician and performances in over 60 countries throughout his career – Marcus is just getting started. His latest projects include: the release of his critically acclaimed album “Journey to the New”, his innovative Marcus Gilmore Solo, Trio, and Quintet engagements, and the continued exploration of percussion with new sound compositions and rhythms thrilling music audiences worldwide. Born in New York City, bassist Ryoma Takenaga began studying piano at the age of five before turning to the upright bass at nine. His introduction to jazz at Jazz House Kids, where he studied under the guidance of Christian McBride, played a formative role in shaping his musical direction. Now twenty-one and pursuing Jazz Studies at New York University, Takenaga is active internationally as a performing and recording artist. He is a member of the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet and has also works in ensembles led by Chief Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott) and Lenny White. His collaborators have included Jack DeJohnette, Al Foster, Dianne Reeves, Ravi Coltrane, and Marcus Gilmore. Takenaga is featured as bassist on Immanuel Wilkins: Live at the Village Vanguard, released on Blue Note Records. He has also appeared with the quartet on NPR’s Tiny Desk and performs regularly at major venues including the Carnegie Hall, Village Vanguard, and Blue Notes around the world, as well as at international festivals and concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the United States. His honors include the National YoungArts Award and the James Moody Jazz Scholarship. Through consistent work on bandstands and recordings, Takenaga has established himself as part of a new generation of jazz musicians grounded in tradition and engaged with the evolving language of the music. About TJG Joyce Wein Mentoring Series Mentorship has always been a key theme in jazz history. Most of today’s great jazz musicians were raised through informal channels and gained invaluable experience working alongside their heroes. Future generations of great jazz will depend on the continuation of this community-minded mentoring tradition that is, unfortunately, becoming less common as jazz education has become more formalized in conservatory and university settings. The Jazz Gallery developed its Mentorship Program to cultivate a group of senior-level jazz musicians as mentors and to provide aspiring musicians with the opportunity to learn the music and business of jazz under the guidance of their contemporary heroes. These young musicians will have the opportunity to learn by preparing for and performing in 4 concerts that are booked as a mini-tour, which will provide mentees with the opportunity to deepen their creative practice and performance skills. This will also teach mentees more practical skills of being working artists—skills set that are not taught in conservatory classrooms. The Jazz Gallery is a not-for-profit arts organization presenting emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks, and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. We provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world. We rely on the generosity of our members and community to keep the music playing, thank you for your continued and much appreciated support! If you would like to sponsor a Livestream Concert, please use the links above or be in touch with our Executive Director, Janet Luhrs, here. SPONSORSHIP