Ben van Gelder Quintet "Among Verticals" CD Release
A native of the Netherlands, alto saxophonist Ben van Gelder
grew up in a family with a penchant for music. In 2006 Ben moved to New
York to study at the New School
University. He took lessons from revered jazz laureates such as Lee
Konitz, George Garzone, and Mark Turner.
He has since played or recorded with many contemporary jazz luminaries
including David Binney, Ambrose Akinmusire, Nasheet Waits, Mark Turner,
Aaron Parks, John Escreet, Ben Street, Thomas Morgan, Rodney Green, and
the Metropole Orchestra.
The National Foundation for Advancement in
the Arts selected him for the Stan Getz/Clifford Brown fellowship. Ben
was also winner of the
Deloitte Jazz Award, which is considered to be the most prestigious
jazz award in the Netherlands. Most recently he was selected as a semi
finalist for the Thelonious Monk Competition.
"Among Verticals", the latest of his three recordings as a leader will
be released in January 2017.
http://www.benvangelder.com/Peter Schlamb is a vibraphonist based in Kansas
City, MO. Peter
spent several years in New York where he graduated from
New School University. He recently released his debut album “Tinks”,
featuring his group Electric Tinks.
Peter has recorded and
performed with artists including David Binney, Mike Moreno, Alan
Ferber, Adam Cruz, Thomas Morgan, Doug Weiss, Logan Richardson, Jochen
Rueckert, and Ben
van Gelder.
http://www.peterschlamb.com/
Brooklyn based pianist Richard Sears possesses an
original voice as an
improvisor and composer. His composition has been recognized by grants
from the Aaron Copland Fund and the Los Angeles Jazz Society. As a
performer, Richard has appeared with Chick Corea, Mark
Turner, Joshua Redman, and Billy Hart.
In April 2016, Richard performed a solo piano concert in Tangier
presented by UNESCO in celebration of International Jazz Day. Most
recently, Richard released “Altadena” on Ropeadope Records, with his
sextet featuring the legendary drummer, Albert “Tootie” Heath.
Richard serves on faculty at the New School for Contemporary Music in
New York, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop in California.
http://richardsearsmusic.com/
Bassist Garret Lang studied at the Los Angeles
County High School for the Arts, and the New School for Jazz and
Contemporary music in New York City.
Garret has been fortunate to study and perform with many of his heroes
such as Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, Andrew Cyrille, and Bernard
Purdie. He has played the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Playboy Jazz
Festival, and has performed at venues including
Lincoln Center, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, and the Jazz Gallery in New
York City, and LACMA, the Dorthy Chandler Pavillion, the Blue Whale,
and Disney Hall in Los Angeles.
http://garretlang.com/
Drummer Adam Starkopf is a native of Los Angeles.
He began playing
drums at the age of 9, and started his jazz studies at Los Angeles
County
High School for the Arts. Adam received a scholarship to
attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City
and graduated in 2010.
In 2013 Adam moved to Oakland California where
he leads one of the Bay Area’s premier brass bands, Brass Magic, and
performs with the Electric Squeezebox Orchestra.
Adam is also very involved in the
dance community in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has
collaborated with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Edge
Performing Arts Center, David Herrera Performance Company, and Bay
Area Dance Collective.
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