2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: JOE ALTERMAN TRIO (@JoeAlterman)

JOE ALTERMAN TRIO

In a recent interview with Brian Lehrer on WNYC, legendary journalist Nat Hentoff stated, "The last piece I did for them [The Wall Street Journal] - I'm so glad I had a chance to do it - is about a 24 year old pianist [now 27] and composer named Joe Alterman, who is really the personification of the past of jazz - he's really deep into that -, the present of jazz - he has his own voice - and that leads him into the future of jazz, and he's so important in terms of the validity of jazz...[Joe Alterman & one of his mentors, tenor saxophonist Houston Person] make recordings that - to use the phrase that Duke Ellington really had a chance to use - are 'beyond category' because they're timeless." 

Born and raised in Atlanta,Georgia, Alterman moved to New York in the fall of 2007 to study music at New York University, where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees in Music. While there, he had the opportunity to study with greats including Don Friedman, Joe Lovano and John Scofield. 

He has headlined at venues around the United States including the Blue NoteJazz Club in New York, Blues Alley in Washington, DC, Germantown PerformingArts Center in Memphis, Rialto Center For The Performing Arts in Atlanta, Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Earl Klugh's Weekend of Jazz in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, among others; in addition to New York's Blue Note Jazz Club, Alterman has also headlined at other venues in New York City including the Iridium, the Kitano, 21 Club, Le Cirque, and Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and has performed overseas at venues that include the Blue Note Jazz Club in Milan, Italy. 

Among many others, Alterman has performed with Les McCann, Houston Person, Tony Middleton and bassist James Cammack, with whom Alterman also works frequently with in a duo setting. In addition, he and his trio have performed multiple times at the Blue Note Jazz Club as an opening act for greats including Les McCann, Ramsey Lewis, Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire), John Pizzarelli and Hiromi, among others.

 

Alterman’s most recent recording, Georgia Sunset, which was produced by Houston Person, garnered much critical praise and reached #6 on the Jazz Week radio charts. 

Speaking about Alterman, legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis stated, "When listening to Joe Alterman perform, it is obvious that he has studied the history of jazzpiano. However, his own style of playing is appealing, challenging and quite satisfying."

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                            Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                                JOI                                         

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                 Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm                                Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                              Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm               Joe Alterman Trio                                                       
6:30 pm                                        Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter

 

2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: Theo Croker (@TheoCroker)

Theo Croker is a trumpeter, vocalist, composer, and bandleader whose powerful and eclectic take on modern jazz pays respect to the tradition of the music while moving the genre forward.  A native of Leesburg, Florida, Croker is the grandson of the late great jazz trumpeter Doc Cheatham.

Croker began playing trumpet at age 11 after hearing Cheatham play in New York City, and by his teens was studying music formally at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville followed by the music conservatory at Oberlin College.  Croker's musical training has taken him all over the world including Shanghai, China where he took up residency at the House of Blues and refined his style.

Shanghai is also where Croker met his mentor, Dee Dee Bridgewater, whom he performs with often.  In 2014, Croker released his debut album AfroPhysicist on DDB Records via Sony Music Masterworks/OKeh Records. The follow-up, Escape Velocity, will be released in May 2016.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                                Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                                Joi 

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm           Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                                Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm                                Joe Alterman Trio                                                                         
6:30 pm                                        Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter

2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE (@HypnoticBrass)

HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE

The HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE is a family band consisting of seven blood brothers who began their musical training at the tender ages of four and five by their father, jazz trumpeter/band leader Kelan Phil Cohran (EARTH, WIND, & FIRE, CHAKA KHAN, SUN RA). The boys went on to form the PHIL COHRAN YOUTH ENSEMBLE in 1990. The family toured the United States performing the complex original written jazz compositions of Cohran and other greats such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and even the music of classical greats Bach & Beethoven. Although the group’s early musical training encompassed primarily elements of instrumental performance, the brothers were personally being exposed to the music of their own generation (hip-‐hop, rock, reggae to name a few) and absorbed these components into the cosmic jazz style of their father.

By 1999, the band of brothers discontinued playing with dad in order to find their own sound, growing into the band now known as HYPNOTICBRASS ENSEMBLE or HBE.

In 2001 HBE independently cut and released their first LP Satin (for which they received an American Author’s Award). Using street performance as way to broaden their audience and hone their now distinctive sound, they found success at the grass roots level, garnering over 50,000 in sales nationwide. It was around this time that Island DEF JAM offered Hypnotic Brass a feature collaboration with renowned producer NO ID (mentor to KANYE WEST & GHOSTFACE KILLAH) as well as an accompanying artist /in‐house band recording contract. The band decided to stay indie and moved to New York City and followed up their debut album with the release of their second LP Jupiter. The album caught the ear of BLUR lead DAMON ALBARN and led to distribution in the UK by Albarn’s imprint Honest Jons. By now the musical style of HYPNOTICBRASS ENSEMBLE “had blossomed and come into its own.” (Lily Koppel/New York Times)

The group’s sound was best put by Fader Magazine’s Edwin Stats who called the band’s music: “a huge brass bridge of hypnotic polyphony connecting the cosmic jazz of Sun Ra’s Arkestra with the urgency of hip-‐hop and the sweeping emotional scale of a Curtis Mayfield blaxploitation opus.” News of the ensemble’s sound spread throughout the industry, and after Emcee/actor Mos Def caught a live HBE show, the brothers were asked to join him onstage as part of the MOS DEF BIG BAND (including Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, Casey Benjamin). The group graced many stages around the globe including JAZZSTAGE at LINCOLN CENTER and SHEAPHERDSBUSH in London.

At the same time HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE inked an outfitting deal with Dutch denim giant GSTAR RAW, and began their foray into international touring with a European tour that featured headlining performances at NORTH SEAJAZZ fest, BREAD & BUTTER BARCELONA, and the GOOD THE BAD THE QUEEN Victoria Park.

By 2008 HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE had performed their original tunes in every corner of the world to audiences as big as 110,000 (GLASTONBURY. ROSKILDE) and premiered music at venues around the world including London’s RONNIE SCOTTS, Australia’s SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and New York City’s CARNEGIE HALL. In 2009; following a tour in Lagos, Africa with Damon Albarn & Africa Express; HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE recorded a full LP in London and released it under UK Honest Jon’s label. One of the songs on the album, “War,” became a featured song in the international blockbuster movie HUNGER GAMES. HBE signed on with The Agency Group for international touring and set out to blow away audiences at WOMAD AU: BIG CHILL: NOVARRA JAZZ: BERMUDA JAZZ FEST: PERCPAN in Brazil: POHODA in Czech Republic: COACHELLA: & many others.

The brothers were living in London when they recorded the Gorillaz record with Damon Albarn Welcome to Plastic Beach and joined the “Plastic Beach 2010 World Tour” upon its release performing alongside BOBBY WOMACK: MICK JONES from the CLASH: DE LA SOUL: & SNOOP DOGG. HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE gave their signature dose of hard brass to every audience on the four-month international tour and earned a spot backing up PRINCE at the NEW POWER GENERATION FEST in Denmark the next year, coming personally requested by THE ARTIST himself. Since then HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE has grown into an even newer sound with their latest efforts BulletProof Brass and Fly released by their very own imprint PHEELCO ENTERTAINMENT.

In 2015 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble signed with KOSSON TALENT to expand their US Touring. They are now gearing up to release a new installment entitled Bad Boys Of Jazz.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                            Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                                JOI                                         

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                            Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                 Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm                                Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                              Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm                             Joe Alterman Trio                                                         

6:30 pm                                        Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter      

2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: CHARGAUX (@Chargaux)

CHARGAUX

From the moment they met serendipitously near Berklee College of Music in Boston, Charly & Margaux formed a string duo that alters the reputation of classical instruments and the people who play them. These dynamos, better known as CHARGAUX (pronounced “shar-go”), do everything from musical composition to the visual curation of their brand, all while making it look beautiful and effortless, truly taking renaissance women to a new standard. 

Within a year of meeting, Chargaux contributed a distinctive string arrangement for "Don't Kill My Vibe" for Kendrick Lamar's Grammy nominated Good Kid m.a.a.d. City (Interscope). Experimenting with Youtube as a platform, Chargaux quickly started a buzz that inspired their move to Brooklyn. The pair is now recognized by their emotionally moving performances, whether down in busy New York City subway testing their audience or at gala held in the White House playing for the First Lady, Michelle Obama and her honored guests. 

Utilizing their diverse skills sets, the mission for Chargaux is multifaceted and unique; always integrating their versatile visual aesthetic with their dynamic soundscapes. Chargaux's love for fashion and visual art has inspired collaborations with Red Bull Studios NYC, Opening Ceremony and Thom Browne. 

In 2013 CHARGAUX released the Gallerina Suites, a succinct instrumental EP with a soulful take on classical composition. Their 2014 release, Broke & Baroque features candid interview excerpts that describe their journey as rising artists interwoven with songs that capture both their unique orchestral sound and vocal arrangements. 

Highlights of Chargaux’s career include performances at the Lincoln Center in DC and Perez Art Museum in Miami, as well as features in Vogue’s summer issue and in the Adidas StellaSport Campaign.

Career Highlights:

- Featured in Vogue’s Summer Issue

- Arts.gov Interview

- Adidas StellaSport Campaign

- Museum Gigs 

- Performance at Lincoln Center Out of Doors

- Perfomance at Elizabeth Stewart Gardner Museum

- Perez Art Museum Miami

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                            Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                                JOI                                         

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm                                Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                              Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm                             Joe Alterman Trio                                                         

6:30 pm                                        Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter

2016 Atlanta Jazz Festival: ETIENNE CHARLES (@etiennejazz)

ETIENNE CHARLES

Etienne Charles is the Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Michigan State University.  Hailed by New York Times as "an auteur" and by Jazz Times as "A daring improviser who delivers with heart wrenching lyricism."  According to DownbeatMagazine "Charles delivers his ebullient improvisations with the elegance of a world-class ballet dancer."  Etienne has received critical acclaim for his exciting performances, thrilling compositions and knack for connecting with audiences worldwide.  In June 2012, Etienne was written into the US Congressional Record for his musical contributions to Trinidad & Tobago and the World. 

Perhaps more than any other musician of his generation or Eastern Caribbean origin, Etienne brings a careful study of myriad rhythms from the French, Spanish, English and Dutch speaking Caribbean to the table.  Crucially, as a soloist, he fully understands the New Orleans trumpet tradition (which is readily discernible in his trademark instrumental swagger) and what famed Crescent City Pianist, Jelly Roll Morton so succinctly captured in the now immortal phrase, 'The Spanish Tinge'. 

His latest recording, Creole Soul has received critical acclaim worldwide for it’s fusion of root grooves from the Afro-Caribbean. His previous release, Kaiso (Culture Shock Music 2011), features his arrangements and interpretations of the music of calypso legends Lord Kitchener, Mighty Sparrow & Roaring Lion.

As a sideman he has performed and or recorded with Monty Alexander, Roberta Flack, Frank Foster, Ralph MacDonald, Johnny Mandel, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Roberts, MariaSchneider, Count Basie Orchestra, Eric Reed, Lord Blakie, David Rudder and many others.  He holds a Master's degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor's degree from Florida StateUniversity.  

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE 2016 ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE UP 

Friday, May 27

Main Stage:

7:00 pm                           Next Collective                                                                                

9:00 pm                                JOI                                         

Saturday, May 28

Local Stage:       

12:30 pm                              Rialto Jazz for Kids All Stars

2:30 pm                                The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO)  

4:30 pm                                Mabu’s Ark Band                            

6:30 pm                                Alex Lattimore                                                                 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                Camila Meza     

3:30 pm                                TATRAN                                                              

5:30 pm                                Mette Henriette                                                             

7:30 pm                Etienne Charles                               

Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Chargaux

3:00 pm                                Tomeka Reid                                                     

5:00 pm                                Theo Croker      

7:00 pm                                Jamison Ross                    

9:00 pm                                Hypnotic Brass Ensemble                                            

                               

Sunday, May 29

Local Stage:

12:30 pm                              Band Room Nation                                         

2:30 pm                              Anonymous DaBand                                                      

4:30 pm                             Joe Alterman Trio                                                         
6:30 pm                               Chandra Currelley 

International Stage:

1:30 pm                                TBD     

3:30 pm                                Tumi Mogorosi                                                              

5:30 pm                                Daby Toure                                                             

7:30 pm                                Eliane Elias

 Main Stage:

1:00 pm                                Navy Band Southeast: V.I.P. Protocol Combo

3:00 pm                                Eugenie Jones

5:00 pm                                The Headhunters    

7:00 pm                                Benny Golson               

9:00 pm                                Gregory Porter