Just Announced! » 8.19.12 Peter Erskine + Vardan Ovsepian + Ryan McGillicuddy + Artyom Manukyan

Peter Erskine began playing the drums at the age of four and has been at the forefront of world-class jazz ensembles for 40 years. His first major professional work was with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, which he joined in 1972. After a three year stint with Kenton and a two year stay with Maynard Ferguson, Erskine joined Weather Report in 1978. The excellence of the partnership between Erskine and bassist Jaco Pastorius was an integral part of that group’s success.

Following his four years in Weather Report (having recorded five albums with them – including the Grammy Award winning “8:30″), he began to play with Mike Brecker, Mike Mainieri, Don Grolnick and Eddie Gomez in the group Steps Ahead. Erskine’s other touring and recording credits (600 albums & film scores) include Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Burton & Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell, Kurt Elling, Sadao Watanabe, Eliane Elias, Mike Stern, Kate Bush, Miroslav Vitous and Jan Garbarek; the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, the ASKO, Avanti, Remix & Absolute Ensembles, Bass Desires (with John Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Marc Johnson), the John Abercrombie Trio, the Kenny Wheeler Quintet & Big Band, the Yellowjackets and the Bob Mintzer Big Band. He has also recorded with his own groups, including trios with John Taylor, Palle Danielsson, Rita Marcotulli, and bands with guitarist Nguyen Le and bassist Michel Benita (“Trio E_L_B”), as well as a trio he shares with pianist Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles, plus his “New Trio” featuring his nephew Damian Erskine on bass and pianist Vardan Ovsepian.

Erskine’s solo albums include: “Peter Erskine”, “Transition”, “Motion Poet”, “Sweet Soul”, “Big Theatre”, and his ECM recordings “You Never Know,” “Time Being”, “As It Is” and “Juni” as well as “History of the DRUM”, “Behind Closed Doors” and “Side Man Blue” on his own label FUZZY MUSIC. Peter is the co-leader of several albums, including “Prism” with Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band, “Cologne” with Bill Dobbins and John Goldsby, and “Dream Flight” with Nguyen Le and Michel Benita.

The latest releases on Fuzzy Music include “Joy Luck” with the New Trio, “Standards 2, Movie Music” with Alan Pasqua, Bob Mintzer and Darek Oles, & “The Trio” featuring bassist Chuck Berghofer and pianist Terry Trotter.

Erskine’s other playing ventures include The Lounge Art Ensemble with Bob Sheppard on saxophone — that group’s most recent CD is titled “Music for Moderns” — plus the piano trio with Alan Pasqua and (the late) Dave Carpenter. Their double CD “Peter Erskine & Alan Pasqua with David Carpenter – Live at Rocco” received rave reviews from the press and fans. Their last two CDs are called “Badlands” and the Grammy-nominated “Standards.”

Erskine won his second Grammy Award for his work on the Randy & Michael Brecker album “Some Skunk Funk” (with Vince Mendoza and the WDR Big Band). His CD titled “Worth The Wait,” recorded with trumpeter Tim Hagans and the Norrbotten Big Band (Sweden) won tremendous praise, and the follow-up CD “The Avatar Sessions” features Erskine, Hagans and the big band along with guest soloists Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, George Garzone and Rufus Reid.

Peter Erskine website

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“…There’s a pianist out of Boston who made a beautiful record for the Fresh Sound label called ‘Sketch Book’; his name is Vardan Ovsepian…” -Brad Mehldau (JazzReview.com)

“Vardan brings his own sound and ingredients… I have never heard any musician quite like him in terms of harmonic awareness and melodic power. I suspect that he will prove to be quite a sensation…”- Peter Erskine

“…Anyone with an allegiance to the ECM sound will find a great deal to like on these two quartet albums – the windblown pastels, the serious dramas and the clear thematic arcs…” - Greg Buium (Downbeat.com)

Vardan Ovsepian is an Armenia-born pianist/composer whose studies include Yerevan State Conservatory, Estonian Music Academy, Helskinki Jazz Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music.

Performs solo as well as with artists such as Mick Goodrick, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi and many others. In addition to teaching at The Musical Suite in Newburyport, MA, performed and taught master classes at Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Maine Jazz Camp (ME), Towson University (MD), Susquehanna University (PA), Bucknell University (PA), Wheeler School (RI), Estonian Music Academy (Tallinn, Estonia).

A “Fresh Sound New Talent” recording artist who has released 4 CDs with the Barcelona-based label, plus an independent release of Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (VOCE)

Vardan Ovsepian website

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Since moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Ryan McGillicuddy has forged a place for himself as a bassist/composer in the creative music scene. His vibrant organic approach has earned him work with many of the area’s finest musicians.
Growing up in Houlton, Maine, with a musical family, Ryan developed a love for music at an early age. Although he was largely self-taught on bass, Ryan began attending summer jazz workshops at age 13. It was here that he became familiar with the jazz tradition, receiving instruction from such notable musicians as George Garzone, Ben Street, and Chuck Findley. After graduating high school, Ryan furthered his studies at the University of North Texas, receiving his Masters in 2003. It was at North Texas that Ryan began playing the upright bass, which quickly became his instrument of choice. At North Texas he studied under noted bassists Fred Hamilton, John Adams, and Lynn Seaton. During his studies at North Texas he was able to accompany such jazz legends as Benny Green, Pete Christlieb, Matt Wilson, Bill Charlap, Ed Soph, Dan Hearle, Stephan Karlsson and many more. He continued his studies in Los Angeles with the legendary bassist John Clayton.Recently, Ryan has shared the stage as a sideman with Kate McGarry, Greg Osby, Anthony Wilson, Larry Koonse, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is a regular member of the Shelley Carroll Quartet. He has toured extensively in the United States as well as in Japan, Korea, Europe, and the middle east. Ryan currently performs and composes with the LA based trio ‘3 – ish’, among many other groups.

Ryan McGillicuddy website 

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Like most Armenian musicians, Artyom Manukyan is a full-time musician, in the true sense of the word. Music isn’t just something he does on the side, or in between part-time jobs – it’s his livelihood, his sole source of income, and his lifelong passion. “I think in musical terms,” says the young musician. “I see everything through music.” His latest project is a jazz quartet called Nooz, where he presents the cello, classically used in chamber music, as a modern instrument. I recently went to a Nooz show and was absolutely in awe of the sounds that the talented artist was able to produce from an instrument I always associated with Bach and Brahms.

From baroque to hip hop, Artyom Manukyan’s musical flair seems to have no limits. Somehow, between practices and gigs with three different bands, the multi-talented artist has found time to nurture yet another one of his musical passions, hip hop. He and a friend from Los Angeles are starting a productions company called New People in Yerevan. They have created arrangements for some of Armenia’s biggest hip hop and pop stars, like Hay Tgheq and Inga & Anush. It may seem a bit unusual for a classically trained cellist to branch into hip hop, but hip hop has been a driving force in Manukyan’s life for as far back as he can remember. Now that he is actually creating and working in the field, it’s like his childhood dreams are coming true. “Hip hop is my second life,” he says with a smile.

At 25, Manukyan still has a long career ahead of him, and considering he started playing cello almost by chance, who knows what exciting twists and turns the future will bring. Cello is one of those instruments that sort of got left behind with the classical era. With the rise of jazz and rock, it just didn’t make the cool list. There’s no shortage of drummers and guitarists out there, but when was the last time someone told you they played the cello? Manukyan, who started playing when he was nine, is something of an advocate for the versatility and modern relevance of the antiquated instrument, but his love affair with music and with the cello had a not so glamorous start.

Artyom Manukyan website

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Published:
August 4, 2012 / 12:22 am
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COMING UP !, Just Announced !, Performing This Month, Special Event
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