Artista da Semana (dezembro 27, 2009 - janeiro 2, 2010) - Anke Helfrich

Artista da Semana - Anke Helfrich

http://www.anke-helfrich.de

sept. 2009 Concerts in Southafrika and Namibia with Anke Helfrich Trio (supported by Goetheinstitut
and Federal Foreign Office)

july 2009 teaching at the Jazzworkshop in Meran/l; Anke Helfrich Trio plays at Aarhus Jazzfestival/DK

may 2009 Anke Helfrich Trio plays on Jazzcruise in Spain

march 2009 Anke Helfrich Trio invited to "BMW World Jazz Award" in Munich; Nils Landgren Projekt
"Respect" Jazzfestival
jan./feb. 2009 JazzToDay -Tour: 14 Doublebillconcerts with Anke Helfrich Trio/Manu Katché Band
(Kammermusiksaal/Philharmonie Berlin, Gewandhaus Leipzig, Theaterhaus Stuttgart
a.m.m.) Anke Helfrich plays concerts in Mallorca/Spain

nov. 2008 Jazzfestival Cagliari/I; Mariann’s Jazzroom Bern/CH, Jazz in Ministergärten/Berlin

sept. 2008 Recording the CD “Stormproof“ for ENJA Records with Henning Sieverts (b), Dejan Terzic
(dr) and specialguest Nils Wogram (pos); Anke Helfrich Trio Musikfest
Bremen/Spiekeroog

july 2008 Jazzfestival Bingen, Jazzfestival Ettlingen and Flims-Klang-Festival/CH with Anke Helfrich Trio;
Jahrhunderthalle Bochum “Paul Kuhn-Geburtstagskonzert“

april 2008 German Jazzmeeting Bremen: Anke Helfrich Trio represents (among 9 other bands) the
German Jazzscene today

march 2008 Anke Helfrich Trio plays at Kurt-Weill-Festival, Dessau and Brestonias
Jazzfestival/Lithuania (supported by Goetheinstitut)

dez. 2007 Penang Jazzfestival/Malaysia, Cagliari/Sardegna with Anke Helfrich Trio

sept. 2007 with Jens Winther Quartet in Peking/China supported by the danish Cultural Institut;
Jazzfestival Viersen with Anke Helfrich Trio feat .J.Winther

juli 2007 Jazz im Park/Hamburg Anke Helfrich Trio (a.o. Madeleine Peyroux&Band, Reunion feat. Till
Bröner, Wolfgang Haffner&Band)

june 2007 Solokoncerts NDR/Hamburg, Philharmonie/Luxemburg

may 2007 Anke Helfrich playing at the finals of the “M.L.Williams Competition“ in Washington DC/USA

march 2007 Jazzfestival Emsdetten, BR-liverecording Anke Helfrich Trio concerts with specialguests
like Nils Wogram, Jens Winther and Claus Stötter

june 2006 on number 3 of the German Jazzcharts with the CD “Better times ahead“. proposed for
"German recordaward"

may 2006 Release of the CD "Better times ahead" Anke Helfrich Trio feat. Roy Hargrove, CD
Releasekoncerts in Germany and Switzerland, radiopresentations and reviews in all
jazzmagazins.

nov. 2005 CD-recording "Better times ahead" with Anke Helfrich Trio: Martin Gjakonovski (bass), Dejan
Terzic (drums) and Specialguest Roy Hargrove (trumpet & fluegelhorn)

sept. 2005 A.H.Trio in Cagliari/Italy

may 2005 Balticum Jazzcruise with Witchcraft, Paul Kuhn, Dave Glasser, Gianni Basso, Roman
Schwaller, Ack van Rooyen a.o.

feb. 2005 concert with Jimmy Woode in Weinheim; music for the film “Föhr.Insel.Mosaik” from Michael
Steuer with Martin Gjakonovski and Dejan Terzic.

july 2004 soloconcert at the Beethovenhouse in Bonn, A.Helfrich Trio at Jazzbaltica

april 2004 Mediterranean Sea-Jazzcruise with Witchcraft, D.Goykovich, Paul Kuhn, Charlie Antolini,
Jiggs Wiggham a.o.

march 2004 CD recording with Witchcraft in Weinheim, and with Barbara Jungfer in Berlin

nov. 2003 Anke Helfrich receives “Jazzaward of the city of Worms”

march 2003 Anke Helfrich Trio opens the Jazzfestival in Sofia/Bulgaria

nov. 2002 part of the “Jazz Lexikon“ ( Martin Kunzler, rororo-Verlag)

march 2002 tour through Germany (Jazzfestival Mannheim, Jazzfestival Emsdetten..)

dec. 2001 Anke Helfrich receives 2. price “Jazzaward Baden-Württemberg“, radiorecording at the
Theaterhaus Stuttgart.

nov. 2001 concert "Anke Helfrich Trio" in Cagliari/ Sardenia

march 2001 radioportrait in HR1; tv-liverecording at RNF, CD-presentationtour in Germany

feb. 2001 broadcast of a TV-special about Anke with interviews, rehearsals, concerts called SWR3 - "Kultur-Cafe"

sept. 2000 release of her debutalbum "You'll See"; CD-presentations in radiostations: BR, Radio
Bremen, Deutschlandradio Berlin, HR, WDR, MDR, SWR für den proposed for the
award of “german recordcritics“ (Vierteljahrspreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik").

feb. 2000 Anke Helfrich receives “Muddy's Club-Award 2000” in Weinheim.

1999 recordingsession for her first album as a leader "You`ll see" in New York: A. Helfrich (p), J.
Weidenmueller (b), J, Rueckert (dr), feat. Mark Turner (sax)

1999-2004 member of Jürgen Seefelder Quartett

since 1999 member of the faculty at the “University of music and performing arts” in Mannheim.
Teacher at jazzworkshops.

sept. 1998 Anke Helfrich Trio wins “Hennessy Jazz Search 1998” in Munich

1997-2002 Jazzpianoteacher musicschool Viernheim.

1997 touring Germany and Spain with her trio (Getxo Festival, Jamboree Barcelona, Subway
Cologne, Hessen Jazz Festival)

1996 Anke Helfrich Trio wins "European Jazz Competition" in Leverkusen.

1996 6 month-stay in New York with a dutch scholarship, lessons with Kenny Barron, Larry
Goldings, Dado Moroni a.o. Concerts in clubs and cafés.

1994-1996 concerts with C. Breuer-Fee Claasen Quintett and Saskia Laroo´s Color (North Sea Jazz
Festival, Jamboree Barcelona, radio and tv-productions. ).

1994 4 week workshop in Banff/Canada (with Jim Hall, Kenny Wheeler, John Clayton, Robin
Eubanks..)

1993 three week engagement “Anke Helfrich Trio“ in Istanbul/Turkey (feat. Carolyn Breuer and Özay)

1989 - 1994 studies in Hilversum/ Netherlands at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten“.
She recieves her “master in performing arts” and “master in teaching”

cd releases:
- Anke Helfrich: “Stormproof“ feat. Nils Wogram (2009)
- Anke Helfrich Trio feat. Roy Hargrove: “Better times ahead” (2006)
- Barbara Jungfer Quintett: “Berlin Spirits” (2004)
- Witchcraft: “Witchcraft live” (2004)
- Anke Helfrich Trio feat. Mark Turner: "You`ll see" (2000)
- Christian Eckert Quartet: "Up "(1998)
- Jens Bunge: "With all my heart "(1996)
- Christian Eckert Quartet: "Musing"(1995)

radio- and
tv-recordings SDR, HR, SR, WDR, BR, RNF, SWR, radio- and tv-stations in the Netherlands.

played with Johnny Griffin, Jimmy Woode, Benny Bailey, Roy Hargrove, Tony Lakatos, Johannes
Enders, Gianni Basso, Dave Glasser, Jens Winther, John Marshall, Thomas Stabenow,
Thomas Heidepriem, Stacy Rowles, Jürgen Seefelder, Keith Copeland, Thomas
Bramerie, Mark Turner, Johannes Weidenmueller, Jochen Rueckert, Wolfgang Haffner,
Christian von Kaphengst, Martin Gjakonovski, Dejan Terzic u.a.

concerts Germany, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Sweden, Netherlands, Bulgaria, USA

workshops: D. Thompson, K. Wheeler, J. Hall, M. Levine, H. Fraser, R.Beirach

Artista da Semana (dezembro 20 - 26) - Marilia Gabriela

Artista da Semana - Marilia Gabriela

MARÍLIA GABRIELA

BIOGRAFIA DE MARÍLIA GABRIELA, PARA O MUSEU DA TELEVISÃO BRASILEIRA

Marília Gabriela Baston de Toledo nasceu em Campinas, interior de São Paulo, em 31 de maio de 1948. Moça inteligente e irrequieta, formou-se como professora primária e então prestou vestibular para várias faculdades. Passou em todas ,mas logo resolveu ser modelo, pois era alta, elegante, esguia e fotografava bem, o que lhe rendeu uma curta, mas bem sucedida carreira como modelo. Logo, porém, conseguiu iniciar a carreira de jornalista. Era o ano de 1969, e Marília era bem jovem. Entrou como estagiária do "Jornal Nacional" da Rede Globo. Lugar ótimo para uma garota. Tanto que no mesmo ano, foi chamada para ser apresentadora do telejornal " Hoje", feito em São Paulo. Em 1972, estreou no "Fantástico", com uma reportagem sobre o aniversário de Carmem Miranda. Logo depois foi contratada para ser repórter especial do" Fantástico",e fazia viagens por todo Brasil.

Na década de 80, Marília foi âncora do programa "TV Mulher ", que foi um grande sucesso no Brasil, e ficou no ar até 84. Tinha como co-apresentadores o jornalista Ney Gonçalves Dias, a então sexóloga Marta Suplicy , que foi anos depois, eleita prefeita da cidade de São Paulo, o estilista Clodovil Hernandez e o cartunista Henfil. Nessa época, ela gravou dois discos pela Som Livre. Ainda na década de 80,Marília Gabriela foi correspondente da TV Globo na Inglaterra, durante seis meses. Foi se elevando muito no conceito nacional.

Em 1985, a jornalista apresentou o programa "Marília Gabi Gabriela", na TV Bandeirantes. De 1987 a 1994 apresentou o programa "Cara a Cara", onde entrevistou políticos e personalidades nacionais e internacionais. No período da primeira eleição para presidente, após o Golpe de 64, destacou-se por mediar o primeiro debate entre Lula e Fernando Collor de Mello, também pela Bandeirantes. Em 1997 foi contratada pelo SBT, onde apresentou o "SBT Repórter", durante quatro anos. Esteve ainda na TV Gazeta, onde conseguiu o maior salário de uma apresentadora, o que porém durou pouco tempo. No SBT apresentou ainda: "De Frente com Gabi", programa inicialmente semanal e que, a partir de maio de 2002, passou a ser apresentado de segunda a sexta-feira. Na primeira década do século 21, Marília Gabriela passou a apresentar o programa "Marília Gabriela Entrevista" no canal a cabo GNT, exibido no Brasil e em Portugal.

Embora sendo considerada a melhor jornalista televisiva do Brasil, Maria Gabriela, não satisfeita, estreou como atriz de teatro. Foi em 2001,quando protagonizou a peça:" Esperando Beckett", escrita e dirigida por Gerald Thomas.

Participou também, como atriz, de filmes e telenovelas. Na telenovela:" Senhora do Destino" da Rede Globo, escrita por Aguinaldo Silva, Marília Gabriela interpretou duas personagens em fases distintas: Josefa Magalhães Duarte Pinto, uma jornalista no período da ditadura militar, e sua filha, Guilhermina de Medeiros Duarte Pinto Lefevre. Em 2003, estrelou ao lado do ator Gianecchini o espetáculo;" Peça sobre o Bebê". Fez sucesso, quando estrelou a peça:"Lady Macbeth', que ficou em cartaz por uma temporada no Teatro do Sesc Pinheiros.

Marília Gabriela casou-se pela primeira vez aos 22 anos, com o empresário Reinaldo Haddad, mas ficou viúva. Foi casada por dez anos com o tenista Zeca Cochrane, responsável pela popularização das pulseiras Sabona no Brasil. Com ele teve dois filhos: o apresentador Christiano e o ator Theodoro. Maria Gabriela foi casada, por vários anos, com o ator Reynaldo Gianecchini, de quem se separou em outubro de 2006.
Ele é mais de 20 anos mais novo do que ela.

.Além de dois LPs gravados na década de 80, a apresentadora fez um disco em homenagem ao cantor Dick Farney em 2003. O trabalho teve direção musical da cantora Simone e contou com a participação de Gianecchini em uma das faixas.

Em seus quase 40 anos de carreira, Marília Gabriela já entrevistou bem mais de 10 mil pessoas.

Artista da Semana (dezembro 13-19) - Brenda Hopkins Miranda

Artista da Semana - Brenda Hopkins Miranda





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Brenda Hopkins Miranda is a talented pianist, composer, arranger, improviser, band leader, writer and educator born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

An exceptional and natural rhythmic inventor, she conjures up her own worlds - some jagged, others even more broken and interrupted. And she is good at it, putting the notes in the right places. Her repertoire includes original arrangements of traditional and contemporary Puerto Rican, Caribbean and Latin American songs and well as her own compositions. This music is about spirit, essence, intensity, passion, and honesty.

Hopkins Miranda has toured and/or recorded all over Latin America and the U.S. with international recording artists like Bob Moses, Oskar Cartaya, George Russel, Charlie Sepulveda, Peter Row, William Cepeda, Anthony Carrillo, Cachete Maldonado, Paoli Mejias, Endel Dueño, Juancito Torres, Polito Huertas, Oscar Stagnaro, Furito Rios, Eggie Castrillo, Luis Enrique Julia, Ricardo Montaner, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Pandora, Lucecita Benitez, Glenn Monroig, Ednita Nazario, Yolandita Monge, Roy Brown, Puya, Yeva, Choco Orta, Roberto Figueroa, Luis Angel, Jessica Cristina, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Lourdes Robles, Zorayda Santiago, Chucho Avellanet, Proyecto M, Hilda Ramos, Plena Libre, Tambo Tropical, Los Pleneros del Coco, Seres de Plasticina, Michael Bullock Quartet and many others. She was invited to play for the Dalai Lama during his first visit to Puerto Rico. Was the first woman musician invited to appear on the TV show En Clave de Jazz TV, included in the most important Puerto Rican Pianists list of the En Clave de Jazz radio show, performed at the first women in jazz concert in Puerto Rico E-Jazz and other jazz festivals such as Boriquen Jazz Fest, Mayagüez Internacional Jazz Fest, las Noches de Jazz del Hotel Marriot, las Noches de Jazz del Cafe de la Plaza en Santurce and the Festival de Jazz Chivas Regal. She was the keyboard player for four years for the TV show Marcano el Show which included performances with musical guests Tito Puente, Sheila E., Nestor Torres, Dave Valentin, Charlie Sepulveda, El Gran Combo, Franco de Vita and many others.

Also, Hopkins Miranda was Director of the Music Program at the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. She has been a faculty member at the Metro Interamerican University and the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. She also gives master classes, seminars and workshops at different institutions and teaches privately, since she is deeply committed to music education. Her music related articles have been published in various important newspapers and magazines.


Brenda Hopkins Miranda is the most important female pianist from Puerto Rico today. Pianist, improviser, composer, arranger, group leader and educator, she holds a solid international professional career that includes tours, recordings and concerts both as a band leader and guest musician for world renowned artists. She has performed all over the world, has composed and recorded music for several CDs and short films, has several articles on different musical themes, and has given out master classes, workshops and conferences on improvisation, personal style and creativity.

Her music is a melting pot that includes every place and experience in Brenda's life transformed through a modern musical language approach. Her piano's percussive push and energy, and her intense and expressive touch unite with a passion for creative improvisation, making every concert a unique experience. “…Brenda, who has recorded two CDs and has been the most consistent female exponent of jazz in the last years.”

www.myspace.com/brendahopkinsmiranda
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brenda-Hopkins-Miranda/71085646129

Artista da Semana (dezembro 6 -12 ) - Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Artista da Semana - Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers





Lavay Smith, vocalist and bandleader of the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, grew up in Southern California and the Phillipines. She has become an internationally recognized Diva of Jazz and Blues, with a singing style influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Little Esther Phillips and other legendary greats.


This sultry chanteuse evokes a sensuous era of Jazz queens and sexy pinups and adds a modern, feminist twist. No wonder Los Angeles Magazine chose her as one of the sexiest people around! Lavay’s big, bluesy voice, exciting stage personality, and glamorous approach attract crowds around the world. According to Fox TV, the band has become “a San Francisco Landmark”, winning numerous awards including a “Wammie” and a “Bammie”. In 1998, the reader’s of San Francisco’s two major newspapers, the Chronicle and the Examiner, voted Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers the “Best Band” in the annual readers poll.

Important publications have sung the praises of Lavay Smith and her band, including Downbeat, The Los Angeles Times, Jazziz, The Boston Globe, Blues Revue, The New York Press, Living Blues, and the Alternative Press (see attached pages for juicy quotes). Television and Radio appearances include Public Television’s “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer”, Fox TV’s “Fox Files”, and NPR’s “To The Best of Our Knowledge”. World famous celebrities have jumped on the Lavay Smith bandwagon as well. Johnny Otis says “Lavay is wonderful! She and her band are a breath of fresh air.” Dan Aykroyd, a.k.a. Elwood Blues, says of Lavay’s debut album, “One Hour Mama”, “...this CD is guaranteed to make you feel better.” Even President Clinton has seen the light, proclaiming, “I love this band - they’re great!”


Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers maintain a busy schedule, including extensive touring throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan. They have performed at many prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival, The Chicago Jazz Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Playboy Jazz Festival at The Hollywood Bowl, The San Francisco Blues Festival, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Santa Barbara Jazz Festival, The Ottawa Jazz Fesitval, The Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Salt Lake City Jazz Festival, The Doheny Blues Festival and Jazz Aspen/Snowmass. When not on the road, Lavay and her band are showcased in the San Francisco Bay Area's premier nightclubs, including the Cafe du Nord, Biscuits & Blues, Enrico’s, Jazz at Pearl’s, Ashkenaz, Rancho Nicasio, Kuumbwa Jazz Center and Moe's Alley.


Lavay’s latest CD, “Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Miss Thing” (Fat Note Records) incorporates a variety of classic American musical styles, including swing, bebop, salsa, jump blues, and New Orleans R&B. Enlisting the arranging talents of David Berger, arranger for Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the album includes six outstanding original tunes, many classics, and several obscure gems. Lavay and the band have produced an epic, best-selling album that is great for both dancing and listening.


Lavay approaches her material from the standpoint of an independent woman, combining world-class singing and musicianship with hilarious, provocative lyrics. Lavay’s musical stance is echoed in her real life role as owner of her own record label, Fat Note Records. Her debut CD, “One Hour Mama” received widespread critical acclaim and became a smash hit, outselling most independent releases. Her second CD, "Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Miss Thing!" received a prestigious 4 & 1/2 Star review from Downbeat Magazine, and remained on the Billboard Jazz Charts for 20 straight weeks, reachng number 10. Her red-hot stage presence and high musical standards ensure that this sexy diva will continue to be a best-selling independent phenomenon well in the new millennium.


For Booking, call Jim Cassell of The Berkeley Agency 510-843-4902, or send an email to mail@berkeleyagency.com


To contact Lavay Smith, send an email to lavay@lavaysmith.com

The Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Mike Olmos (Trumpet) was raised in Merced, CA. He moved to the Bay Area in 1997 to attend California State University, Hayward, to pursue a degree in music. Mike is currently the Trumpet player for the legendary Etta James. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, The Stan Kenton Alumni Big Band, Michael Feinstein, Jon Hendricks, Michael Brecker, Maria Schneider, as well as many other local Bay Area greats. He has recorded with Matt Catingub's "Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack", Rosemary Clooney, Mike Vax, Cannonball, Madeline Eastman and The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. Mike is regularly seen performing around the Bay Area with Madeline Eastman, the Contemorary Jazz Orchestra, and the Fil Lorenz Nonet/Big Band, as well as his own quartet.

Bill Ortiz (Trumpet) was born and raised in San Francisco. Bill is currently the Trumpet player for the legendary Carlos Santana. He has played/and or recorded with Tito Puente, Quincy Jones, En Vogue, Bobby Hutcherson, Bennie Maupin, Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble, Don Cherry, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Otis Clay, T.L.C., Pete Escovedo, Toni, Tony, Tone, Airto and Flora Purim, and Boz Skaggs. Bill played on Santana’s historic multiple-grammy winning album “Supernatural”, including the smash hit "Smooth”. That’s right-that was Bill performing with Carlos Santana at the Grammies! He has been touring with Santana ever since, and is featured on Santana's upcoming album. Bill’s hot new album is now available.

Allen Smith (Trumpet) was raised in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and played with the Navy Band during World War II, replacing Clark Terry. After World War II, Allen moved to San Francisco and worked with T-Bone Walker, Saunders King, and many others. He then went on the road with Johnny Otis in 1947. He has recorded with Duke Ellington, Gil Evans and Benny Goodman, and has performed with many of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Joe Williams, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and many others. Allen’s fantastic new CD, "Cornocopia" is now available on BluePort Records.

Danny Armstrong (Trombone & Vocals) was born and raised in San Diego. Danny has performed and recorded with many greats, including Rufus Thomas, Archie Bell and the Drells, Pete Escovedo, Elvin Bishop, Elouise Laws, Ann Peebles, The Legendary Sy Klopps Band, The Coasters, Bobby Freeman, and Lee Oskar. He performed with the legendary Johnny Otis’ working band for years in addition to his work with Lavay Smith. In addition to being the world’s greatest trombone player, you can hear Danny’s wonderful singing in duets with Lavay as well.

Jules Broussard (Alto and Tenor Saxophones) was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. He learned to play by listening to Louis Jordan, Illinois Jacquet, and Earl Bostic in the 1940's. He has played and/or recorded with Ray Charles, Little Esther Phillips, Johnny Otis, Big Mama Thornton, Earl Grant, John Handy, Santana, Boz Skaggs, Steve Miller, Van Morrison and many other music greats. Jules is a renowned bandleader in his own right with a superb brand-new CD out entitled “Jules Broussard...With Strings Attached”. You can find out about Jules and his band and order his CDs at broussard.com.

Howard Wiley (Tenor Saxophone) is a Bay Area native. He performed with Lauryn Hill’s band on her 2007 world tour. He has worked with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, David Murray, Faye Carol, Marcus Shelby, Bill Bell, Bishop Norman Williams, and many other greats. Howard has several superb CDs under his own name, including his latest CD “The Angola Project”, which features an exciting lineup that includes vocalists Faye Carol, Jeannine Anderson and Lorin Benedict, trumpet, tenor sax, two violins, piano, two basses and drums. You can find out more about Howard and order his CDs at his website, howardwiley.com.

Rhythm Section

Charlie Siebert (Guitar) grew up in New York City and Los Angeles. He has performed with Larry Vukovich, Mal Sharpe and the Blue Room Boys. Charlie was the co-founder of the Molasses Brothers along with his brother Chris. He is currently teaching English in Jinan, the capitol of Shandong Province in China, and plans to travel throughout Asia and beyond. You can reach Charlie at emailcharlie@yahoo.com. You can also visit Charlie and check out some great photos from China at facebook.

David Ewell (String Bass) hails from Berkeley, CA, and graduated from Berkeley High's nationally renowned music program. David toured the world with Lauryn Hill in 2007. He has worked with Arthur Blythe, Bobby Watson, Greg Tardy, Babatunde Lea, Mark Levine, Bishop Norman Williams, Randy Vincent and many other greats. David often performs in a trio format with New York-based Piano player Marc Carey as well as The Howard Wiley Trio. He is also a founding member of the excellent Brazilian band Vivendo de Pao and performs regularly with The Supplicants. You can visit David at myspace.

Darrell Green (Drums) grew up in Oakland, CA and lives in Harlem. Darrell tours with Sherman Irby from the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Steve Turre and Jeremy Pelt. He has performed with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stephon Harris, Marlena Shaw, Myron Walden, Tony Monaco, Faye Carol, Marcus Shelby, Howard Wiley and Dave Ellis. Darrell is also a Jazz educator, and he works with students of all ages at Jazz Camp West and The Young Musician's Program at UC Berkeley. You can visit Darrell at myspace.

Chris Siebert (Piano, Arranger, Bandleader) grew up in New York City and Los Angeles. In addition to founding the Red Hot Skillet Lickers with Lavay Smith in 1989, he has also played and/or recorded with Snooky Pryor, Taj Mahal, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, Little Charlie & The Night Cats, Big Bones, Los Lobos, The Turk Murphy Alumni Band, Bo Grumpus, Denise Perrier, Brenda Boykin, Ledisi and Sugar Pie DeSanto. A noted authority on swing, jazz, and blues music, Chris, along with Lavay, was a special consultant to MCA Records for their re-issue of the classic Decca recordings of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Lunceford and Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb. Chris is the musical director for the band, writes most of the arrangements and composes the original songs with Lavay Smith. You can visit Chris at myspace and facebook.

David Berger (Arranger) is from Long Island and makes his home in Manhattan. He is a renowned arranger, and is know as the world’s foremost authority on the music of Duke Ellington. In addition to his outstanding original arrangements and compositions, he is a noted transcriber. He has contributed a large percentage of the arrangements performed by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. David has written for John Hendricks, and his arrangements were featured in the Broadway show “Sophisticated Ladies.”

David’s leads his own orchestra, the Sultan’s of Swing, one of the finest Big Bands in the world, and has featured such legendary performers as Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Marcus Belgrave, Britt Woodman, Bill Easley, Art Baron and many others. The wonderful Aria Hendricks is the featured vocalist. They perform regularly in Manhattan, and go on the road as the house band for the acclaimed jazz ballet “The Harlem Nutcracker”.

David travels the world as conductor, presenting his own music as well as programs of the music of Duke Ellington. He often conducts his own transcriptions of Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, featuring all-star ensembles that include performers such as Jessye Norman.

David Berger & The Sultans of Swing have 3 CDs available on Such Sweet Thunder Records: “The Harlem Nutcracker”, "Doin' the Do!" and their latest release, "Marlowe", which Dan Morgenstern of the Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University call "some of the best big-band writing and playing you're likely to hear".

David has contributed many arrangements to the Lavay Smith repertoire, including 7 charts on our CD “Everybody’s Talkin’ ‘Bout Miss Thing!” David's chart for our original tune "The Busy Woman's Blues" from that album is now available from Smart Chart Music in an expanded Big Band version which includes lyrics. You can hear it and order it at smartchartmusic.com.

For more information about David Berger & The Sultans of Swing, check out sultansofswing.com.