Steve Carter Trio plus Special Guest Marquinho Brasil
Steve Carter starting playing piano at age seven. He has toured all over the world both as a sideman with some of the most important artists of his generation and with his own bands.
Steve is a prolific composer with over 50 compositions that have been released on his own and other artists’ CD’s
including a co-write that went gold on a Huey Lewis and the News CD as well as songs in numerous movies and TV shows.
Steve has performed or recorded with Sheila E., Bobby Womack, Michael Franti, Jay Lane, Tom Scott, Samba Ngo,
Taj Mahal, Pete Escovedo, The Headhunters, Love and Rockets, Bill Summers, Ray Obiedo, Don Cherry, Benny Rietveld,
Will Kennedy, George Benson, Mickey Hart, Malo, Sapo, Billy Cobham, Charo, John Faddis, and Los Mocosos.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Dave Haskell Group, and Steve Carter Trio.
Fretless electric bassist, composer and producer, Dennis Smith is from Oakland, California.
His career highlights include recording session work with Motown producers Harvey Fuqua and Norman Whitfield, and Leon Sylvers (various labels).
Dennis recorded with artists Sylvester, Jeannie Tracy, Cynthia Robinson and others.
He also performed with Pharoah Sanders, Art Lande, Bill Bell, Ed Kelley, and David Murray.
Dennis has recorded and toured extensively with Melvin Seals and JGB and Melvin Seals’ Melting Pot.
Recorded and toured with international artists Samba Ngo (Congolese), Ze Manel (Guinea-Bissau/Portugal) and Henri-Pierre Koubaka (Senegal).
He has performed with The Avalon All-Stars featuring Napoleon Murphy-Brock and Ike Willis (Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention), Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Tal Morris and Wil Bernard.
Performed and toured with The Latin Legends featuring Jorge Santana and Richard Bean (Malo), Freddie Sanchez and Bobby Espinosa (El Chicano), and Steve Salas (Tierra).
Dennis has
recorded and performed with the crème de la crème of Bay Area drummers and percussionists:
Will Kennedy, Joel Smith, Kenneth Nash, Billy Johnson, Marquinho Brasil, Richie Aguon, Tommy Bradford,
Thomas Pridgen, Brian Collier, Charles Moffett, Sr.(NYC), Cody Moffett (NYC), and Arsene Kounde (Sierra Leone).
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Steve Carter Trio.
Drummer Billy Johnson was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began playing drums at the age of six.
While living in Philly, he worked with Patti Labelle, Noel Pointer, and producer Dexter Wansel.
Working with Dexter Wansel provided the opportunity to record with Donny Hathaway playing drums on Donny’s song “You Were Meant for Me”.
During this period he also played with guitarist Kevin Eubanks and trombonist Robin Eubanks.
Billy moved to the Bay Area in 1980 joining Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly, recording the albums “Joy and Pain”, Live in New Orleans” and “We are One” with the band.
From there, Billy went on to work with Santana, MC Hammer, George Howard, and Joyce Cooling.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Vernon Ice Black, and Steve Carter Trio.
Marquinho Brasil, percussionist, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was raised in Brazil’s climate of samba and Afro-Brazilian rhythms.
Marquinho spent his early childhood parading and performing with samba schools, Portela & Imperio Serrano.
His talent led him to perform with such Brazilian stars as Martinho da Vila and Joao Nogueira.
He moved to the U.S. in 1982 to join an acclaimed Brazilian dance troupe, Batucaje. The group toured the U.S., Europe and Canada and performed for several years at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival.
In 1984 Batucaje won the “Jammies” Music Award for Best Brazilian Group.
Marquinho went on to perform and record with Taj Mahal, Narada Michael Walden, Angela Bofill, the Neto Band with Steve Winwood,
Al Jarreau, Regina Bell, Booker T, Ray Charles, Mariah Carey, Craig Chaquico and rising European instrumentalist, Praful.
His work with The Mariah Carey Band has included performances such as The World Music Awards in Monaco, MTV Spring Break,
The Blockbuster Video Awards, and VH1 Divas Live with Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, and Mariah Carey.