Chris Johansen Quartet

New York saxophonist Chris Johansen has immersed himself in the jazz tradition. He has gained experience on the New York scene, as well as such far away places as The Netherlands and his hometown of Seattle, WA. Focusing on the music of the bebop era as well as the Great American Songbook, Johansen has worked with such greats as Dutch piano legend Frans Elsen and Seattle’s trumpet master Jay Thomas, among many others. During his years spent in The Netherlands, Johansen toured Ireland and mainland Europe with the group Equinox. Since moving to New York in 2014, he has collaborated with many of the jazz capital’s top straight-ahead players, performing reguarly with drummer Fukushi Tainaka. Tardo Hammer is one of the most respected pianists on the scene today. He has played in bands led by Bill Hardman-Junior Cook, Lou Donaldson, Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan, Lionel Hampton, Vernel Fournier and many more. He's also been accompanist of choice for vocalists including Annie Ross, David Allyn, Abbey Lincoln, Chris Connor, Earl Coleman, Jon Hendricks and Marion Cowings. Tardo has performed at major clubs and venues throughout New York and the USA as well as Europe and Japan and has recorded 6 trio CDs, most recently "Swinging on a Star", released on Cellar Live. As a sideman he can often be heard alongside Annie Ross, Charles Davis, Warren Vache, Grant Stewart and many more. Active as an educator, Hammer is on the faculty of the Lucy Moses School as well as conducting classes and clinics worldwide. Neal Miner was introduced to the world of jazz by his first teacher – his father Bill Miner, a respected jazz record collector and discographer. Bill's love of jazz kindled a passion in his son from an early age. Bill shared the music of his vast record collection, took Neal to clubs and concerts, and ensured he received the best musical instruction. Born and raised in Manhattan, Neal received his high school diploma from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and attended the Manhattan School of Music. Most notable of his private teachers were classical bassist, Orin O’Brien of the New York Philharmonic, and jazz bassist, John Webber. Since the age of 19, Neal has been a solid fixture on the New York City jazz scene and is a favored bassist to a host of musicians, both rising jazz stars (Larry Goldings, Harry Allen, Russell Malone, Peter Bernstein, David Hazeltine, Dena Derose, Ann Hampton Callaway, Loston Harris), and jazz legends (James Moody, Frank Wess, David Allyn, Eddie Locke, Etta Jones, Bob Dorough, Warren Vaché). Neal has toured and recorded with Jon Hendricks since 1998, and has been backing Annie Ross steadily since 2005 at her weekly engagement at the Metropolitan Room in New York City. In 2007, Neal joined Jane Monheit’s band with which he has been performing at major festivals, jazz clubs and concert halls around the world. Neal has written arrangements for and plays on Jane's last two albums, The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me, and Home. Neal has four CD releases as a leader that showcase his compositions and arrangements. In 2000, his debut CD, The Real Neal, was released on the Juniper Records label. In 2006, The Evening Sound, was released on the Smalls Records label. In 2010, Neal released his CD, Happy Hour, on the Gut String Records label. In 2011 Neal's lastest release, Sweet Tooth, is on the Gut String Records label. “Miner’s uncontrived projection of this lexicon’s spirit raises the music appreciably above the generic.” —Bill Shoemaker, Downbeat In addition to performing, Neal teaches private jazz bass lessons through the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, the City College of New York and the New School. nealminer.com Steve Little has recorded with the big bands of Lionel Hampton(Newport Uproar), Charlie Barnett (Live at Basin Street), and Duke Ellington (two Grammy Award-winning albums, His Mother Called Him Bill and The Second Sacred Concert). He also recorded with Dave Brubeck, Ray Nance, Terry Gibbs, Sal Salvador, and played with Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Clark Terry, Weather report(on perc) The Smithsonian jazz orchestra and many others. Steve has worked and recorded with many singers including Teri Thornton, Joan Baez, Dick Haymes, Peggy Lee, Billy Ekstine, Pearl Bailey, Josephine Baker, Sara Vaughan, Anita O’day and Andy Williams. He has played a number of Broadway shows, in the pit orchestra at Radio City Music Hall, classical music concerts including The Stravinsky Festival at Lincoln Center, recorded George Antheil's Ballet Mecanique with Maurice Peress, Dialogues for Bassoon and Percussion by Alvin Brehm, and recorded many movie and TV films and television shows. His playing probably reached its largest audience during his 22 years in the studio band that recorded the music for Sesame Street and The Electric Company.