From the event organizers:
The final concert for the 2016 Art of Jazz Concert Series is RAGTIME TO COOL: A TRIP THROUGH AMERICAN JAZZ, on Sunday, November 13, 4 p.m. in Hendersonville. The music will be performed by a great jazz quartet highlighting guest artist Brian “Breeze” Cayolle, saxophonist and vocalist in the New Orleans musical tradition. The other musicians are Will Beasley, bass, Rick Dilling, drums, and Michael Jefry Stevens, piano.
Jazz originated in the Big Easy, then spread to cities like Chicago, Kansas City and New York. Along the way, styles of jazz evolved – the blues, ragtime, stride, swing, improvisation and cool, to name a few. You can sample the joy and authenticity of this all-American art form by joining us on the 13th.
The concert is an important fund-raiser for the Arts Council of Henderson County, which is why a reservation is $45 instead of the usual $35 (and is tax deductible). It is the mission of ACofHC to support local arts organizations, local and regional artists, and art education in the schools.
“Ragtime To Cool” will be held in the dedicated concert salon at Freeburg Pianos on the Asheville Highway. Seating is limited to 70, so we recommend making your reservations now (see below for how to do this). An intermission will feature New Orleans inspired hors-d’oeuvre as well as wine and cider.
Thank you for supporting this worthy cause!
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
BRIAN “BREEZE” CAYOLLE, saxophone, clarinet, vocals. The distinctive sound and style of Breeze’s saxophone playing and vocalizing have taken him around the world, igniting crowds to standing ovations from the Montreux Jazz Festival to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Breeze studied music at the University of New Orleans while honing his craft in the Crescent City’s clubs. He performs with many of New Orleans’ finest musicians, including his own group called the French Quarter All-Stars. Allen Toussaint, R&B impressario and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has made Breeze a fixture in his band. Breeze’s achievements include two albums, Soul Time and State of My Heart; opening acts for Stevie Ray Vaughn, Roy Buchanan and Leon Russell; playing blues with Clarence Gatemouth Brown and Marva Wright; touring with Zydeco king C. J. Chenier; cameo role in Tina Turner’s biopic “What’s Love Got To Do With It”; appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien; backing an all-star lineup at the Newport R & B Festival (Bonnie Raitt, Billy Joel, etc).
WILL BEASLEY, bass. Will holds a masters’ degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois and a bachelors’ degree in Music Performance from UNC-Asheville. More recently, the talented musician has established himself in Asheville and surrounding region as an in-demand bassist, educator and music collaborator, composer and arranger. Will leads his own trio, and is a regular member of several groups, including Millie Palmer Trio, Jason Moore’s Trust Trio, The Fat Tuesday Trio, and Collective Quartet.
RICK DILLING, drums.Though he wanted to be a golf pro, lucky for us, Rick ended up with a degree in Music Industry Studies at Appalachian State University. He has played drums with the likes of Clark Terry, Herb Ellis, Billy Taylor, Margaret Whiting, Ernie Watts, and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Moving to Asheville in 2011, Rick now performs with the Todd Wright Quartet, Asheville Jazz Orchestra, and Wendy Hayes. Says Todd Wright about Rick, “He listens and supports the soloist like none other – and loves to swing.
MICHAEL JEFRY STEVENS, piano and composition. As a “Steinway Artist,” Michael performs extensively in Europe and North and South America. He has a master’s degree in Jazz Performance and Composition from Queens College in NYC. His prodigious musical output includes over 80 CDs, over 350 compositions for large and small ensembles, and performances and/or recordings with such jazz “greats” as Dave Liebman, Dave Douglas, Oliver Lake, Han Bennick, Valery Ponomarev, Cecil Bridgewater, Matt Wilson, Mark Feldman and many others. Michael lives in Black Mountain, N.C. where he gives private piano lessons and teaches at the Asheville Music School.
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