Drums – DCjazz

Chuck Redd

washingtondcjazz7 — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 21:44:58 +0000

Chuck Redd is an accomplished performer on both drums and vibraphone. Chuck began performing and recording internationally when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980 at the age of 21. That year, he also joined the Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis.) To his credit are thirteen extensive European tours and five tours of Japan, with the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski, Terry Gibbs and Conte Candoli. He served as Artist-In-Residence at The Smithsonian Jazz Café in Washington, DC from 2004-2008.

Chuck was featured vibraphonist with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet from 1991 until 1996. While appearing in New York with Torme, Ira Gitler of Jazz Times said: “Redd’s vibes were equally notable for vigor and melodiousness.”

The Washington Post recently admired his “melodic sparkle.”

Jazz Times also praised Redd’s playing calling his vibes work, “Exquisite! “

In 2007 Chuck was featured with the prestigious “Milt Jackson Tribute Band”. Other recent engagements include jazz cruises in the Mediterranean, stints with Bucky Pizzarelli and Ken Peplowski at Dizzy’s Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center) and headlining with his trio at The River Room of Harlem. He has toured and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Tommy Flanagan, Dick Hyman, Ray Brown, Monty Alexander, Laurindo Almeida, Tal Farlow, Red Norvo, Scott Hamilton, Mickey Roker and Frank Vignola.

Redd is featured on over 70 recordings. Recent releases include his Arbors CD, “All This and Heaven Too”, featuring Gene Bertoncini and George Mraz, and “The Swing Kings”, an all-star session featuring Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Ray Kennedy and Ken Peplowski. He can also be heard on the sound track to the popular PBS television series, “The Great Chefs, and the NPR broadcast “Jazz Smithsonian.”

Performances by Chuck include a concert with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa for the Namibian Independence Celebration, a recital at the White House with the Barney Kessel Trio, concerts at Carnegie Hall with Mel Torme’s Quintet, and The Tonight Show. In 2008, he was featured in the finale concert at The Lionel Hampton International Jazz festival with The Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

In addition to leading his own groups, Chuck was a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra for 15 years. He frequently performs in New York City and headlines nationally at festivals and clubs. Chuck is on the faculty at The University of Maryland School of Music and presents master classes, workshops and lectures around the country.

Chuck’s newly released Noteworthy CD, “When Redd is Blue” is a collaboration with his brother Robert, featuring saxophonist Harry Allen. His Arbors CD “Happy All The Time,” is a critically acclaimed tribute to his mentor, Barney Kessel and features Monty Alexander, Jeff Hamilton and Howard Alden.

Visit ChuckRedd.com

Wes Crawford

washingtondcjazz7 — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 18:31:17 +0000

Wes demonstrated an interest in drums since the age of four and began his professional career after graduating with a B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Tech where he studied percussion with Dr. John Floyd. Soon thereafter, he began performing drumset with the extraordinary Jazz /R&B singer Jane L. Powell, a musical association that lasted eleven years and continues as a managerial relationship. The group toured throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean performing at festivals, universities, resorts, nightclubs, and on cruise ships. They opened for acts such as Ray Charles, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson, Lou Rawls, The Crusaders, Joan Jett, Ernie Watts, and Paula Poundstone, occasionally performed alongside artists such as Tony Bennett, O.C. Smith, and Dorothy Moore, and were featured with various symphonies. The 1,300 colleges and universities comprising the National Association for Campus Activities voted the group Entertainer of the Year in 1990, their highest honor, and Jazz Artist of the Year for 1990-1992. Wes recorded two albums with Ms. Powell as well as several outside recording projects. Wes also conducted electronic percussion seminars at VA Tech and at the Virginia Governor’s School for the Gifted.

In 1992, Wes settled with his family in the Washington, D.C. area as an independent artist on drumset and percussion where he has performed and/or recorded with acts such as Shahin and Sepehr (Higher Octave/Virgin world music artists), Cocktail Nuts (aka “C-Nuts” – jazz versions of rock classics, on WildChild/ Mapleshade Records), mrudangam virtuoso Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman (including a clinic at PASIC 2000 and a featured performance at Baltimore Drum Day 2000), Seth Kibel & Bay Jazz Project, Humayun Khan (including two Gnaoua Festivals in Morocco), and BeatsWork! corporate teambuilding group. Wes has also performed and/or recorded with Squeeze Bayou (1998 winners of the “Best Non-Louisiana-Based Cajun Band Recording” awarded by the Cajun French Music Association), Aisha Kahlil (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), Eva Cassidy, Al Williams, Zydeco Crayz, children’s artist “Oh Susannah!,” Mystic Warriors (winner of the 2008 Best Latin Video WAMMIE award), Classical and Jazz pianist Jeffrey Chappell, Arshok Sirunyan, Wynne Paris, and Armadillo recording artist Daryl Davis. His other noteworthy performances and recordings include those with the David Bach Consort (where they placed 2nd in the 1998 BET unsigned band video contest), Hennesy Jazz Search regional winner Jerry Gordon, African Continuum Theatre Company’s “Hubert & Charlie,” and performances with Milestone recording artist Ron Holloway. Additionally, Wes has also recorded for The History Channel and for PBS.

Wes considers education to be an important link to the future of the percussive arts and teaches drumset privately and at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. He also performs in school assemblies, private events, and festivals with his Enviro Drum-Maryland group. Wes was the creator/director of the Drumset and Percussion Camp, a part of the annual Goucher Summer Arts Institute, from 2005-2013 and has been the Staff Drumset faculty member for the Augusta Heritage Center’s “Blues & Swing Week” camp since 2014. His latest Music And Games 4 U label projects are his interactive “A Rhythmic Murder Mystery” DVD, which he also performs live, as well as the “Wes Crawford’s Drumset Play-Along” DVD. Wes served as Vice-President (2005-2010) and President (2011-2013) of the MD/DE chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and worked as a musical consultant for Sustainable Environments for Health and Shelter (SEH+S) 2005-2007.

Wes endorses Dream Cymbals, Baltimore Drum drumsets, and ProLogix Percussion, and he plays exclusively on electronic drums by Roland US. Wes is on the Vic Forth Education Team and has written articles for Percussive Notes and DrumPro magazines.

Visit http://www.wescrawford.com/

Greg C. Holloway

washingtondcjazz7 — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 18:15:11 +0000

Drummer/percussionist Greg Holloway is a native of Washington, D.C. where he received an undergraduate degree in Music Education and Percussion Performance from Howard University (1980). He also participated in the Jazz Studies summer program at Eastman School of Music. Greg later pursued Masters in Education with an emphasis in Jazz Drumming/Percussion Methodology and Masters in Science (Counseling Psychology) from University of LaVerne in Southern California.

Greg with mallets Greg has returned to the Metropolitan area after completing a career in various prestigious Air Force Field Bands. While in the Air Force, Greg advanced to percussion section leader, Musical Director and leader of Jazz Ensembles, Rock Bands and various trios. These groups have backed major performers that appeared on national television and radio shows. Before transitioning to the civilian sector, Greg was instrumental in developing the percussion-training standard for Air Force Field Band Percussion and produced the CD “Midnight Sun” which features Ellington alumnus Freda Payne.

As a civilian, Greg has performed with Hank Jones, Freda Payne, Carl Fontanna, Rob McConnell, Chuck Israel, Jim Pugh, Gene Bertincinni, Maguire Sisters, Blackstone the Magician, Sheri Lewis, Bruce Conti, Rich Little, sista Monica Parker, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Heath, Master Chorale of Washington DC, Nena Freelon and Vanessa Rubin. He has also played various shows in Palm Springs and served as Timpanist with the Anchorage Symphony 1993 – 1995 seasons. His latest recordings are “Turns” and “Midnight Sun” on the G-Bop label.

Snare and CongasGreg endorses Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals, REMO Drum Heads, Ayotte Snares (Jazz Only), Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets. He is also a member of the Pearl Drums regional drum set artist and Vic Firth Education Team.

Greg is currently the staff drummer/percussionist for Metro Stage, performs at various venues in the Metro area and is Director of Percussion at Flint High School. Greg has recently joined the adjunct jazz faculty at American University. Greg is also available for lessons, Pyramid Percussion Studio and performances. Tel/Fax: (301) 583-7800.

Visit http://greghollowayjazz.com/ for performance schedule and news.