BIOS:
Dennis Mackrel was born, April 3, 1962. A child
prodigy, he began playing the drums when he was two. He became a professional
musician at the age of ten when he performed in the Anchorage Community
Theater's production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum".
Developing his craft in various playing
situations, Dennis received numerous awards such as "Who's Who in
Music", 1979; National Endowment For The Arts Grant for Composition
in 1983; and in 1992; "Outstanding Alumni" from the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
While attending the University of Nevada, Las
Vegas, he was 18 years old and one of the youngest members of a Las Vegas
showroom orchestra. His Las Vegas show performances include the Tropicana's "Follies
Bergere" on drums, and the Imperial Palace's "Bravo
Vegas" on drums and bass.
In 1981, at 19 years of age, Dennis moved to
New York City and landed a gig as the drummer in a New York Broadway
orchestra. His Broadway credits include "The First" and "A
Chorus Line".
During January of 1983, Dennis joined The Count
Basie Orchestra on the personal recommendation of Joe Williams and worked
alongside Mr. Basie until his death in April, 1984. Dennis continued with the
orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones."I think Dennis is one of
the finest young drummers I've ever heard. He is extremely knowledgeable and
he is also a very accomplished writer..." said Jones. Dennis stayed
with the band, when Frank Foster took over as leader, until December of 1987.
Dennis is a seasoned musician and clinician,
traveling extensively and performing with such ensembles as The Carla Bley
Very Large Band, Slide Hampton and the Jazz Masters, The
Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Band, The
Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Classic Jazz
Orchestra, The Hank Jones Trio, The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, The
Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, and The American Jazz Orchestra. In February of
1990, Mel Lewis chose Dennis as his successor for the drum chair in The Mel
Lewis/Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Dennis was also a featured soloist in the West
Coast Premier of Charles Mingus' Epitaph".
Russ Kassoff –
Piano
Russ
Kassoff is an accomplished jazz pianist, conductor, composer, orchestrator,
and arranger, whose varied talents are much valued and on display in the music
world. His 2nd solo/trio release "BIRD FLY BY" began its radio
flight on
June 14, 2010
followed by a release concert in NYC at Steinway Hall on
9/13/10
. His first solo/trio CD "SOMEWHERE" was released in concert also at
Steinway Hall on
September 12, 2006
. Visit www.cdbaby.com/artist/russkassoff for sample audio.
Russ
is one of the most highly regarded musicians in
New York
and was praised by the New York Times in 2004 as possessing a "precision
and enthusiasm that is riveting."
In
the words of the Chairman of the Board, "You are the best." -Frank
Sinatra, '87
Russ
recently concluded a successful run as music director/conductor pianist for
COME FLY AWAY, (www.comeflyaway.com) - Twyla Tharp's Broadway Show tribute to
Frank Sinatra featuring 15 magnificent world class dancers and a spectacular
17-piece live big band performing to the recorded Sinatra tracks, plus live
vocals by Hilary Gardner and Rosena M. Hill. Russ continues to be MD to Rita
Moreno, The RKBB (Russ Kassoff Big Band), Catherine Dupuis (JazzPA's Summer
Jazz Celebration, Sackets Harbor Jazz Festival and many varied club
appearances), French chanteuse Yvonne Constant, and numerous eclectic others.
In
recent years, Russ appeared as conductor/pianist to Rita Moreno on PBS as the
Mark Twain Prize was awarded to Bill Cosby. In the fall of 2009 Russ appeared
at the Alliance theatre in Atlanta as pianist with a fantastic Dennis Mackrel
- led 17 piece big band backing Twyla Tharp's critically acclaimed brand new
"Come Fly With Me" dance concert performed live to the vocals of
Frank Sinatra and Dee Daniels featuring 15 of the most magnificent and
accomplished dancers that you will ever see. The development of this piece led
to the recently concluded Broadway run retitled "Come Fly Away".
Also in 2009 Russ focused on composing Suite For Gerry - for the RKBB in
concert as a musical elegy, remembrance and tribute to Gerry Niewood, friend
and founding member of Russ's big band as well as a permanent member of the
musical family we all belong to. The Elegy movement - Part I concludes the new
CD release - BIRD FLY BY (June 2010), soulfully and beautifully performed by
Adam Niewood on soprano sax as part of the musical tribute we will forever
bestow to Gerry.
Russ
continues to perform in solo, duo, trio and the RKBB jazz settings as well as
varied shows in Cabaret throughout the NY Metropolitan Area with vastly
different vocalists such as Yvonne Constant, Debbie Gravitte and Lisa Dawn
Miller. 2009 brought Russ a MAC award nomination. On
June 14, 2010
Russ returned for what has become an annual week as solo pianist in the Piano
In The Park series at Bryant Park. In July 2010 Russ returned to the annual
JazzPA festival (
Bellefonte
,
PA
) with his trio including Jay Leonhart on bass and Dennis Mackrel on drums.
They backed Wycliffe Gordon - who's unlimited talents know no bounds. In July
2009 he also appeared at the JazzPA festival with his trio featuring David
Finck and Dennis Mackrel backing legendary jazz saxophonist Jerry Dodgion as
well as vocalist Catherine Dupuis. In 2008 a varied array of gigs had Russ
performing - Rita Moreno at the Rrazz Room in
San Francisco
, Piano in the Park - Bryant Park, NYC, The Sackets Harbor Jazz Festival with
Jerry Dodgion, and the JazzPA Festival with Tom "Bones" Malone and
Byron Stripling. In 2007, Russ appeared as a featured guest on Marian
McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR. Other live appearances in 2007 included
conducting and accompanying Rita Moreno at the Napa Opera House, performing
with Bucky Pizzarelli at Shanghai Jazz, Trio concert with Mark Murphy at the
8th Annual Sackets Harbor Jazz Festival (NY), Trio concert at the 3rd Annual
State College (PA) Jazz Festival with Martin Wind - bass, Dennis Mackrel -
drums, a duo piano concert with Bill Mays, also at the SCJF, a sensational 3
piano concert JAZZ IN JULY at Centenary College with Junior Mance and Jesse
Green, The Russ Kassoff Big Band in concert at the Bahai Center in NYC, in
concert with Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte at Zankel Hall in NYC, The RK
trio at The Kitano, conductor/music director for Rita Moreno with the Columbus
Symphony, and a four week engagement at The Carlyle Hotel in NYC with Rita
Moreno.
Russ
toured as pianist to Frank Sinatra by request from '80-'91, including The
Ultimate Event tour ('88-'89) televised nationally on PBS featuring Sinatra,
Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, and Liza Minnelli. Russ also served as Liza's
pianist/accompanist from '82-'01 and as Minnelli's music director and
conductor for the acclaimed Minnelli on Minnelli national tour ('00). In '98
Russ was also pianist/conductor on Broadway for Charles Aznavour in concert.
Jay Anderson -
Bass
Bassist/composer
Jay Anderson is among the most versatile and respected jazz artists performing
today. Born in 1955 in
Southern California
,
Anderson
began playing acoustic bass at the age of 12. Throughout junior high, high
school, and college,
Anderson
won numerous awards for excellence in both jazz and classical music. One week
after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance from
California
State
University
at
Long Beach
,
Anderson
was asked to join the Woody Herman Orchestra. After touring with the
“Herd” for a year, he was called by Carmen McRae and performed with the
legendary singer for the next two years.
In 1982
Anderson
made the decision to move to
New York City
. Since moving East, he has continued to perform and record with some of the
most important names in jazz.
Anderson
has been a regular member in the bands of Red Rodney & Ira Sullivan,
Michael Brecker, Toots Thielemans, Bob Mintzer, Michael Franks, Eliane Elias,
Bennie Wallace, Lew Tabackin, Steve Khan, Lynne Arriale, and was with Joe
Sample from 1992 to 2006.
Anderson
takes pride in his versatility and openness to different types of music. He
has been featured on over 300 recordings, including work with Paul Bley, Randy
Brecker, Bob Berg, Vic Juris, Mike Stern, Seamus Blake, Oz Noy, Adam Nussbaum,
Donald Byrd, Terumasa Hino, Joe Lovano, Mark Soskin, Lee Konitz, Warren
Bernhardt, Dalia Faitelson, Frank Kimbrough, Dave Stryker, Steve Slagle, Garry
Dial, Dick Oatts, Andy LaVerne, Frank Wess, Walt Weiskopf, Phil Markowitz, Joe
Locke, Joey Calderazzo, Bob Sheppard, Tiger Okoshi, George Cables, Jay
Clayton, Rich Perry, David Witham, Charles Blenzig, Jeremy Monteiro, Yosuke
Yamashita, Mark Isaacs, and many others. He has performed with the big bands
of Kenny Wheeler, Bob Mintzer, Bob Belden, Mel Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, George
Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, WDR Köln (
Germany
), and the critically acclaimed Maria Schneider Orchestra whose 2004 release
“Concert In The Garden” won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble
Album. He also performed on Maria's 2007 release "Sky Blue" that won
a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition, "Cerulean Skies".
Anderson
has also done numerous jingles and non-jazz recordings with Frank Zappa, Tom
Waits, Chaka Khan, Michel Legrand, legendary poet Allen Ginsberg, and the
Grammy Award winning 1997 Record of the Year “Falling Into You” by Celine
Dion.
In addition to being a
highly sought-after sideman,
Anderson
is a proven voice in his own right. His two original recordings on the DMP
label, “NEXT EXIT” and “LOCAL COLOR” have received critical acclaim
both in the
U.S.
and abroad.
Anderson
has been the recipient of the NEA grant for composition and two Meet the
Composer grants. Twelve of the recordings he has been featured on have been
nominated for the Grammy Award. He has conducted clinics around the world and
is a Professor of Jazz Bass Studies at the Manhattan School of Music in
New York City
.
