Michael Zilber Quartet
Michael Zilber is a San Francisco-based saxophonist
and
composer. Jazz legend Dave Liebman calls him “one of the best players
and composers around anywhere. Period!”
He has released 11 albums as a leader, the latest being Originals for
the Originals, his homage to saxophone giants, which has been hailed by
2015 Jazz DJ of the year Brad Stone as "one of the premier releases of
all time on Origin Records of Seattle." Featuring Dave Kikoski, James
Genus and Clarence Penn, the album was released in January 2017. In
late 2016, he and guitar virtuoso John Stowell released Basement Blues,
their 3rd recording together on Origin Records.
Zilber is currently a sideman in trumpeter/composer Erik Jekabson’s
Stringtet, as well as playing and composing for the highly regarded
Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, whose recent release Cheap Rent received
4.5 stars in DownBeat.
Zilber also teaches at the California Jazz Conservatory where his
student groups have won more than a dozen national DownBeat awards.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Michael Zilber Quartet,
the John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet, and MQW Trio with Michael
Zilber.
http://www.michaelzilber.com/
Listen to “Originals for the
Originals”
Pianist Keith Saunders spent his formative years in
Los Angeles where he studied with Charlie Shoemake and Horace Silver.
Keith worked extensively in L.A. with such well known artists as Eddie
Harris, Roy McCurdy, Bill Holman, and
Bill Watrous, as well as recording with Dick
Berk's Jazz Adoption Agency.
After moving to New York City in 1984, Keith worked and/or recorded
with Richie Cole, Richie Vitale, Hank Crawford, Mickey Roker, Ralph
LaLama, Frank Wess, and Valery Ponamarev. In 1991, Keith
became the leader of The NY HardBop
Quintet, a cooperative unit featuring Joe Magnarelli and Jerry Weldon,
which released four recordings for the TCB Montreux Jazz label.
Relocated to the Bay Area, Keith appears with Calvin Keys,
Noel Jewkes,
Jim Grantham, Chris Amberger, Patrick Wolff, Erik Jekabson, Smith
Dobson, Peppe Merolla, and Dave Rocha.
Keith appeared previously at Chez Hanny with the Robb Fisher-Keith
Saunders Trio, Frank Tusa, Peck Allmond, and the Keith
Saunders Trio.
Bassist Tommy Folen has been a freelance musician for over 10
years in the San Francisco Bay Area. After attending the CSUH Music Program he worked as a teacher in the
Oakland Unified School district as well as doing private lessons in the
East Bay from 2004-2009.
He has played everything from orchestral bass to jazz and blues, at
venues including The Fillmore, Yoshi's, various clubs all over Europe,
and New York's Summerfest. He has performed with the Electric Squeezebox
Orchestra and the Evan Francis Group.
Drummer Akira Tana has worked with Sonny Rollins,
Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert
Laws, Milt Jackson, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Tete Montoliu, Paul Winter,
Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, the Heath
Brothers, and Manhattan Transfer. He has appeared on over 150
recordings.
Tana co-led a quintet with bassist Rufus Reid, called TanaReid, which
released five CDs. A further five CDs followed with his own bands,
Otonowa, and The Secret Agent Men Band.
Akira appeared here previously with Larry Vuckovich, Jerome Sabbagh,
Jon Mayer, Knucklebean, and Tim Armacost/David Berkman.
http://www.akiratana.com/
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