Dezron Douglas Quartet

The New Jazz Workshop or NJW was formed in September of 2000 by Dezron Douglas, and Lummie Spann. At the time they were both students of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the University of Hartford. At the university was where the first incarnation of the band was formed. Along with Htfd natives Damion Curtis, Ray McMorrin, DC native Marcus Jackson, and NY native James Burton the band began its journey into the hearts of all local and tri state musicians. They have had the pleasure of opening for Slide Hampton at Paul Browns Monday Night Jazz Series in hartford in the summer of 05. As well many of the members, old and new, have been performing, and making a name for themselves, with quite an impressive list of Jazz Luminaries including Michael Carvin, Pharoah Sanders, The Dizzy All Star Band, Winard Harper, Carl Allen, Ravi Coltrane, Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Steve Davis, and the LCJO. Soon NJW will be in the studio working on their debut record (long overdue) in hopes to let the world know what the deal really is. Be on the lookout for the return of unadulterated, cold blooded, hard pressed SWING. For those who want to know, the calendar represents the whereabouts of bassist Dezron Douglas, as well as NJW info. Weblinks: www.myspace.com/dezrondouglas This artist does not have a bio yet. Alto & Soprano saxophonist Jaleel Shaw is presently a member of the Roy Haynes Quartet, Mingus Big Band, and has performed with Christian Mcbride, Jason Moran, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Dave Holland, Jimmy Cobb, and more. Shaw grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where he was constantly surrounded by music. He picked up the alto saxophone when he was nine and joined a youth jazz band directed by jazz educator Lovette Hines about a year later. In addition to performing with Hines’ band for nearly six years, Shaw also immersed himself in Philly’s local jazz scene, studying and performing with some of the talented musicians that city has historically produced. Upon graduating from high school, Jaleel received a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. He attended Berklee for four years and earned a dual degree in Music Education and Performance in 2000. While attending Berklee, he received the Billboard Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Academic and Musical achievement (1998), two Woodwind Dept. Chair Awards, The Outstanding Student Teacher Award, and The Boston Jazz Society Award (1999). After graduating from Berklee, Jaleel received a scholarship to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he received his Masters in Jazz Performance in May of 2002. Jaleel’s debut CD, “Perspective” was released in June 2005 and received rave reviews from Jazzwise Magazine, The New York Times, and was named one of the top 5 debut CD’s of 2005 by All About Jazz Magazine, and Jazzwise Magazine. He was also awarded an Ascap Young Jazz Composer Award for his composition “The Heavyweight Champion”, featured on the CD. That same year, Jaleel joined the Roy Haynes Quartet and in 2006, Jaleel was featured on Roy Haynes’ Grammy Nominated “Whereas” recording. In 2008, Jaleel started his own record label - Changu Records, on which he released his second CD “Optimism”. That same year, Jaleel won another ASCAP Young Composer Award for the composition “The Flipside”, which is heard on “Optimism”. He was also nominated for Up and Coming by the Jazz Journalist Association later that year. Jaleel has recently been mentioned in Jazztimes Magazine’s 2011 Readers Poll for Alto Saxophonist of the Year along with Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Bunky Green, and Kenny Garrett. He has also recorded a new quartet CD that will be released in 2012 Weblinks: www.jaleelshaw.com www.facebook.com/pages/Jaleel-Shaw/7053226601 This artist does not have a bio yet. Over a career that has spanned more than two decades Oakland, California native Darrell Green has become a master drummer and prolific sideman, sharing stages with leading jazz artists; from Blue Note vibraphonist Stefon Harris to saxophonist Red Holloway. Though jazz is his primary focus, Green is conversant in every genre from straight-ahead jazz to Latin and West African music. He developed a style rooted in modern post-bop, but retains elements of his gospel and classical lineage. As a soloist, Green is known for his effortless, masterful technique and captivating rhythms that bring the music to life, taking audiences on a spiritual journey. In 1997 Green landed a scholarship to attend California Institute of the Arts, where he began a comprehensive study of Jazz and West African performance. After returning to the Bay Area to work with the dynamic Miss Faye Carol, he moved to New York and began working with trumpeter David Weiss, saxophonists Antoine Roney, Sherman Irby, and the Myron Waldon/Darren Barrett Quartet. Shortly thereafter he became a sought- after musician for both session work and live performances. Green currently works with his trio and quartet which has performed all over the world. He currently tours with Cassandra Wilson, Pharoah Sanders, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Antoine Roney, Charles Toliver, Sherman Irby, Steve Turre, Wallace Roney, Faye Carol, Amina Figarova, The Black Arts Collective, and Jeremy Pelt. He is one of the most in-demand drummers in New York, Europe, and Japan. For more information, visit www.darrellgreen.net