Harold Mabern
During his over half-century on the scene as sideman and leader Harold Mabern, one of jazz's most dazzlingly skilled pianists, has played with such greats as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Wes Montgomery, Blue Mitchell and Sarah Vaughan. He has been a member of the groundbreaking groups the Jazztet, MJT+3 and the Contemporary Piano Ensemble.
Mabern was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1936, and after an early attempt at playing the drums, he taught himself piano. Mabern moved to Chicago in the mid-1950s, where he studied with pianist Ahmad Jamal and played in the hardbop group MJT + 3, before going on to New York City in 1959. One of his earliest significant gigs was an 18 month stay with Art Farmer and Benny Golson’s Jazztet. After the Jazztet disbanded, Mabern played with Miles Davis in 1963, and he also worked with Sonny Rollins and J.J. Johnson. He played in a quartet with guitarist Wes Montgomery as well.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mabern led four albums for Prestige Records, performed with Lee Morgan, and recorded with Stanley Cowell’s Piano Choir. Harold Mabern has recorded as a leader for DIW/Columbia and Sackville and toured with the Contemporary Piano Ensemble (1993-1995). In more recent years, he has recorded extensively with his former William Paterson University student, Eric Alexander.
A longtime faculty member at William Paterson College, Mabern is also a frequent instructor at the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Mabern was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1936, and after an early attempt at playing the drums, he taught himself piano. Mabern moved to Chicago in the mid-1950s, where he studied with pianist Ahmad Jamal and played in the hardbop group MJT + 3, before going on to New York City in 1959. One of his earliest significant gigs was an 18 month stay with Art Farmer and Benny Golson’s Jazztet. After the Jazztet disbanded, Mabern played with Miles Davis in 1963, and he also worked with Sonny Rollins and J.J. Johnson. He played in a quartet with guitarist Wes Montgomery as well.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mabern led four albums for Prestige Records, performed with Lee Morgan, and recorded with Stanley Cowell’s Piano Choir. Harold Mabern has recorded as a leader for DIW/Columbia and Sackville and toured with the Contemporary Piano Ensemble (1993-1995). In more recent years, he has recorded extensively with his former William Paterson University student, Eric Alexander.
A longtime faculty member at William Paterson College, Mabern is also a frequent instructor at the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
Eric Alexander
In the last twenty years Eric has become one of the most well-respected, sought-after jazz musicians in the world. After placing second behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, Alexander threw himself into the whirlwind life of a professional jazz musician. He made his
recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland on Muse Records, and cut his first album as leader in 1992 Straight Up for Delmark. More recordings followed for numerous labels including Milestone and others, leading to 1997's Man with a Horn; the 1998 collaborative quartet session with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!; and, that same year, the first recording by One For All, Alexander's ongoing band with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine. Eric studied music at University of Indiana, Bloomington (1986-87), at William Paterson College in New Jersey he advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others. Eric has appeared in many capacities on record, including leader, sideman, producer, as well as composing a number of the tunes he records. In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Eric's most recent album, Don't Follow The Crowd, topped the jazz charts this summer. For an in depth look click here. Eric continues to tour the world over to capacity audiences. He can regularly be seen in NYC clubs. Official site.
recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland on Muse Records, and cut his first album as leader in 1992 Straight Up for Delmark. More recordings followed for numerous labels including Milestone and others, leading to 1997's Man with a Horn; the 1998 collaborative quartet session with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!; and, that same year, the first recording by One For All, Alexander's ongoing band with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine. Eric studied music at University of Indiana, Bloomington (1986-87), at William Paterson College in New Jersey he advanced his studies under the tutelage of Harold Mabern, Joe Lovano, Rufus Reid, and others. Eric has appeared in many capacities on record, including leader, sideman, producer, as well as composing a number of the tunes he records. In 2004, Eric signed an exclusive contract with the New York-based independent jazz label, HighNote Records where he has amassed a considerable discography of critically-acclaimed recordings. Eric's most recent album, Don't Follow The Crowd, topped the jazz charts this summer. For an in depth look click here. Eric continues to tour the world over to capacity audiences. He can regularly be seen in NYC clubs. Official site.
Joe Farnsworth
Joe is one of the most recorded drummers on the jazz scene with over 100 cd’s behind
him, for musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Cedar Walton, Pharoah Sanders, Eric Alexander and Benny Golson. His first recording as a leader, Beautiful Friendship (Crisscross Records) featured pianist Cedar Walton and trumpeteer Eddie Henderson while his second , It’s Prime Time (88 Records) included special guest artists Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson and Harold Mabern, Jr. Joe studied at William Paterson College in New Jersey. After moving to New York City he became the leader on Friday and Saturday nights at the infamous jazz club Augie’s (now Smoke) where he played with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, and John Jenkins. He began working with John Hendriks in 1992 and then Diana Krall off and on until he became a full member for a year a half from 1999-2000. He appears regularly at the Village Vanguard, The Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Also a
regular on the Jazz Festival scene Joe has played with Benny Green, Diana Krall, Curtis Fuller and Barry Harris, Pori Jazz Festival, Red Sea Festival, and Umbria just to name a few. Most recently Joe played with McCoy Tyner in NYC and on tour. Official site.
him, for musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Cedar Walton, Pharoah Sanders, Eric Alexander and Benny Golson. His first recording as a leader, Beautiful Friendship (Crisscross Records) featured pianist Cedar Walton and trumpeteer Eddie Henderson while his second , It’s Prime Time (88 Records) included special guest artists Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson and Harold Mabern, Jr. Joe studied at William Paterson College in New Jersey. After moving to New York City he became the leader on Friday and Saturday nights at the infamous jazz club Augie’s (now Smoke) where he played with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, and John Jenkins. He began working with John Hendriks in 1992 and then Diana Krall off and on until he became a full member for a year a half from 1999-2000. He appears regularly at the Village Vanguard, The Blue Note, Birdland, Iridium, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Also a
regular on the Jazz Festival scene Joe has played with Benny Green, Diana Krall, Curtis Fuller and Barry Harris, Pori Jazz Festival, Red Sea Festival, and Umbria just to name a few. Most recently Joe played with McCoy Tyner in NYC and on tour. Official site.
John Webber
Bassist John Webber was born in St. Louis, Missouri. By the age of ten having moved to Wheaton, Illinois he was already playing electric bass and by fifteen he had added contra bass to his musical skills. While still in high school he was already playing gigs in Chicago.
John began college at Northern Illinois University, switching to Roosevelt University after a year. He soon began working with Van Freeman and made appearances at the Jazz Showcase with such jazz notables as Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Harris, James Moody and Ira Sullivan. In 1987 John moved to New York City and began performing with Bill Hardman and Junior Cook; he played on Junior's last record date You Leave Me Breathless. His career has included long running collaborations with Johnny Griffin, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, and Jimmy Cobbs Mob as well as freelance work with Etta Jones, Horace Silver, Ryan Kisor, Lou Donaldson, Milt Jackson, Benny Greene, Barry Harris, Brad Mehldau and many, many others.
John tours internationally and can be seen regularly in the best New York City jazz clubs.
John began college at Northern Illinois University, switching to Roosevelt University after a year. He soon began working with Van Freeman and made appearances at the Jazz Showcase with such jazz notables as Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Harris, James Moody and Ira Sullivan. In 1987 John moved to New York City and began performing with Bill Hardman and Junior Cook; he played on Junior's last record date You Leave Me Breathless. His career has included long running collaborations with Johnny Griffin, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, and Jimmy Cobbs Mob as well as freelance work with Etta Jones, Horace Silver, Ryan Kisor, Lou Donaldson, Milt Jackson, Benny Greene, Barry Harris, Brad Mehldau and many, many others.
John tours internationally and can be seen regularly in the best New York City jazz clubs.
Linda Manning
In the spring of 2010 Linda worked with Eric Alexander and Joe Farnsworth on an arts benefit, fell in love with their music, and began producing and hosting a regular jazz gig. She is one of the founders of the Riverdale Festival of the Arts and produces the music for the festival twice a year.
Linda is also an award-winning playwright and performer. Her new play, Bite The Apple, was produced at the New York International Fringe Festival in August 2012. She is a 2011 BRIO (Bronx Council on the Arts) winner for her screenplay Learning to Drive. In 2007 her play GUY was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference. Her play DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF! The Life of Charlotte Brontë was published by Smith and Kraus, and has been performed around the country. She co-founded The Invisible Theatre in NYC, and has performed in numerous productions regionally and in New York. Linda received her B.A. from the University of Colordo, and her M.A. from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, RI. www.lindasmanning.com
Linda is also an award-winning playwright and performer. Her new play, Bite The Apple, was produced at the New York International Fringe Festival in August 2012. She is a 2011 BRIO (Bronx Council on the Arts) winner for her screenplay Learning to Drive. In 2007 her play GUY was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference. Her play DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF! The Life of Charlotte Brontë was published by Smith and Kraus, and has been performed around the country. She co-founded The Invisible Theatre in NYC, and has performed in numerous productions regionally and in New York. Linda received her B.A. from the University of Colordo, and her M.A. from Trinity Rep Conservatory in Providence, RI. www.lindasmanning.com