Jazz Week 2012 Bios

LOU DONALDSON – alto saxophone

"My first impulse is always to describe Lou Donaldson
as the greatest alto saxophonist in the world."
-- Will Friedwald, New York Sun

Jazz critics agree that “Sweet Poppa Lou” Donaldson is one of the greatest alto saxophonists of all time. He began his career as a bandleader with Blue Note Records in 1952 and, already at age 25, he had found his sound, though it would continue to sweeten over the years -- earning him his famed nickname --“Sweet Poppa Lou.” He made a series of classic records for Blue Note in the 50’s, and takes pride in having showcased many musicians who made their first records as sidemen for him: Horace Silver, Clifford Brown, Grant Green, Blue Mitchell, Donald Byrd, Horace Parlan, and others. After also making some excellent recordings for Cadet and Argo Records in the early 60s, Lou’s return to Blue Note in 1967 was marked by one of his most famous recordings, Alligator Bogaloo. Lou was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters by North Carolina A & T University and a scholarship was established in his name that is awarded to the most gifted jazz musician at North Carolina A & T University each year. He was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame and is the recipient of countless other honors and awards for his outstanding contributions to jazz, America’s “classical music.”
Lou was born in Badin, North Carolina on November 1, 1926 -- the second of 4 children born to father Andrew, a minister and graduate of Livingstone College, and mother, Lucy, graduate of Cheney University who was a teacher, music director and concert pianist who recognized Lou’s expert ear for music and introduced him to the clarinet. He matriculated to North Carolina A& T College at age 15 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and joined the marching band playing clarinet. After being drafted into the US Navy in 1945, Lou played in the Great Lakes Navy Band where, when playing for dances, he would also play the alto saxophone. After going into Chicago several times, he heard of Charlie Parker and, after checking him out, decided that this was the style of playing he would make his own. Lou moved to New York in 1950 or late 49 where he attended the Darrow Institute of Music and lived at 127th Street and 8th Avenue with his new wife, Maker, his longtime sweetheart from North Carolina who remained his wife and business partner for 56 years until her death in 2006. Together they raised two daughters, Lydia and Carol, and called the Bronx their home where Lou still resides and where he penned his signature tunes like Blues Walk that are still acclaimed classics today.

Today, at age 85, Lou continues to play at his very best, entertaining audiences worldwide with spirited performances that are always soulful, thoroughly swinging, and steeped in the blues. Lou’s hits on Blue Note Records are still high demand favorites and, today, he is the label’s oldest musician from that notable era of jazz.

Fábio Calazans Sexteto – 

Músicos Fábio Calazans - guitar

Fabio’s musical influences have come from Brazilian popular music and the North American Jazz. He was a member of the Sembatuta group for eight years and has worked with artists such as Moraes Moreira, Leny Andrade, Lobão, Elza Soares and Pedro Luis. His long career includes presentations in clubs, theaters and universities in Rio De Janeiro from 1994 to 2002. In 2002, moved to the city of Vitória, where he has been teaching acoustic and electric guitar, coaching combos and directing the Brazilian Music Ensemble at FAMES, College of music of Espírito Santo.

Anderson da Silva Paiva – Drums/Percussion

Anderson Paiva was first recognized for his work with band JAVA ROOTS who was popular during the decade of the 90’s until 2004. He has worked with numerous musicians and groups from Espirito Santo, such as Alexandre Lima, Marcelo Ribeiro, Amaro Lima, Marcela Lobo, Macucos and Herança Negra. Recently Anderson Paiva gave an Workshop on African Music in the Municipal Theater of Vila Velha. In the years of 2004 and 2005 he gave an workshop focused on instruments derived from recycled materials, where he talked about the environment and social inclusion in addition to the musical aspects of it. He also presented music courses in cities like Vitória and Cariacica.

Edu Szajnbrum - Percussion

The drummer and percussionist Edu Szajnbrum was born in Rio de Janeiro, and started playing professionally in 1984 with many Brazilian artists. In 2003 moved to Vitória, where he was a founder member of the AMP, Audio and Popular Music School, where he teaches drums and percussion. He presented courses “Brazilian percussion and rhythms” in the International music Festival at Domingos Martins, ES, in the years of 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2007. He is founding Professor of the Manguerê Percussion Ensemble, a project of social inclusion and point of culture of the Culture ministry. As a performer, he has played with many artists, such as Fábio Calazans, Fabiano Araújo, Peter Alcântara, Wanderson Lopes and Zé Moreira.

Turi Collura - Piano

Turi Collura is an Italian pianist, who was born in Sicily (Italy) in 1970. His notable professional background includes a piano course at Catania Conservatory and a degree in Music from University of Bologna and also from the Milanese School of Jazz. He..s been settled down in Brazil since 2002, where has worked as a pianist, music producer and, furthermore, has lectured at FAMES (Espirito Santo Music College), in Vitória. Turi teaches jazz piano and other subjects, such as Improvisation, area in which he's been working on for many years. On January 2007 Turi recorded his CD Interferências (Interferences) whith some of the greatest brazilian musicians of the Rio de Janeiro musical scene. ON 2010 recorded his CD Conversa na Vila, playing Noel Rosa's sambas. In 2003, he himself founded the Popular Music Department at FAMES, where he's been in charge of the Coordination Department and is also one of its lecturer. He published a method, based on 2 books + 2 CDs: "Improvisation. Creative practices for composing the melody in Popular Music" and recently a new method about brazilian grooves on piano (book + CD and DVD).

ANDREY JUNCA – BASS

Born in 1980, the brazilian bassist Andrey Junca concluded his bass studies in the Espírito Santo Music College and started working professionally in the music scenery since 2006, playing, recording, composing and teaching with lots of local and national musicians. His works are “brazilian rythms” oriented, focusing on samba, samba rock and chorinho. In the academic environment, he teached “Games Effects and Soundtrack” in FAESA College and coordinated the Bass Institute at EM&T (School of Music and Technology) in the city of Vila Velha. Andrey has also worked as Soundtrack Supervisor at Interama Games and, nowadays, is the bassist of the samba rock trio Tabacarana and sideman of the following artists: Edivan Freitas, Aline Pignaton and Tamy.

Sanny Souza - Cello

Sanny Souza graduated from Campbellsville University with a Master in Music Education. Previously he received a Bachelor of Music degree from UNI – Rio. He has performed as first cellist of the OFES (Filarmônica Orchestra of the Espirito Santo). Mr. Souza is currently Professor of Cello and Regente of the Symphonic Choir of the FAMES (College of Music of the Espirito Santo). He frequently performs with guitarist Fábio Calazans in the Espíirito Saint and other States of the Brazil.

EDDIE GOMEZ - bassist

Legendary bassist EDDIE GOMEZ has been on the cutting edge of music for over four decades. The Latin GRAMMY® award-winner’s impressive resumé includes performances with jazz giants such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan and Benny Goodman. Eddie’s unique sound and style can be heard on hundreds of recordings spanning the worlds of jazz, classical, Latin jazz, rhythm & blues, popular and contemporary music.

Born in 1944 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Eddie moved to New York City with his family at an early age. His love of music led him to the double bass as a precocious 11-year old student in the public school system. Two years later he was accepted to the High School of Music and Art and soon began private studies with the great double bass teacher Fred Zimmerman. During these years, he performed with many professional dance bands and was a member of the Newport Youth Band led by Marshall Brown. By 18, he had performed with such jazz luminaries as Buck Clayton, Marian McPartland and Paul Bley.

Eddie continued his studies at the Juilliard School of Music, where his contemporaries included Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, James Levine, Itzak Perlman, Paula Robinson and Gary Karr. By the end of his third year of school, he dreamed of a career as a performing jazz musician. Later that summer he joined with Gary McFarland and soon after the Gerry Mulligan Quintet.

In the spring of 1966, both Mulligan’s group (with Eddie on bass) and the Bill Evans Trio performed for a week at the famed Village Vanguard. That week at the Vanguard changed Eddie’s life forever. When Bill Evans heard the young phenom, he practically hired him on the spot. Bill called a few weeks later and Eddie’s dream had been realized. At age 21, he was the bassist with the Bill Evans Trio – and rose quickly to fame. TIME magazine declared in its review of the trio’s first recording, “Eddie Gomez has the world on his strings.”
Joining the Bill Evans Trio was indeed a turning point in Eddie’s career. He had arrived in a big way and the jazz community took notice. For 11 years, Eddie played an integral role in the Bill Evans Trio’s sound and evolution. This period of vast artistic growth with Bill Evans included performances throughout the United States, Europe, South America and Asia, as well as dozens of recordings – two of which won GRAMMY® awards. During this time, Eddie also realized another dream performing on many occasions with the great Miles Davis, in the Davis quintet that also featured Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams.

In 1977, Eddie left the Evans Trio to explore new musical territory. For the next decade, he performed in many diverse musical contexts, working with Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, George Benson, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Nancy Wilson, Tania Maria, Ray Barreto, the All Star groups “Steps Ahead” and “New Directions” and many others, as well as on GRAMMY®-winning recordings with Chick Corea.

In the classical music world, Eddie has been a guest artist with The Kronos Quartet, Tashi Ensemble, Japanese marimbist Mika Yoshida and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. His recordings with Stoltzman have included “Begin Sweet World” and most recently “The Goldberg Variations” and other pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach. At Carnegie Recital Hall, Eddie premiered a musical piece written specifically for him by William Thomas McKinley.

In popular music, Eddie has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby Darin, Tim Hardin, Carly Simon, Art Garfunkel, Mark Knoffler, Michael Franks, Judy Collins and Jennifer Holliday. He has also been a member of “The Gadd Gang,” Steve Gadd’s All Star R&B/jazz band.

Today, Eddie tours and records with his own group, which he formed in 1992 with pianist Stefan Karlson and legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb. The group’s recordings include “Live in Japan,” “Dedication” and “Uptown Music.” He is composing for his own projects as well as for film and television most notably for the prize-winning William Steig animation, “The Amazing Bone.” Eddie Gomez continues to enjoy an active, international career as a performer, recording artist, composer, educator and featured guest artist on many high profile projects.

Eddie’s recent recording “Duets,” co-led with Carlos Franzetti on piano, won Best Instrumental Album at the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards. His recordings as a leader include “Next Future,” “Outlaws,” “Live in Moscow,” “Street Smart,” “Power Play,” “Mezgo,” “Discovery,” “Gomez,” “Down Stretch,” “What’s New at F, “Palermo” and “Trio.” The recordings feature guest artists including Michael Brecker, Richard Tee, Randy Brecker, Al Foster, Steve Gadd, Chick Corea, Jeremy Steig, Jack McDuff and John Abercrombie. His recordings co-led with pianist Mark Kramer include “Entropy,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Art of the Heart.” In 2006, his DVD “An Evening with Eddie Gomez” was released – with Eddie and Mark Kramer performing and lecturing on the intricacies and dynamics of improvisation.

A sought-after educator, Eddie is Artistic Director at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico where he has been professor and artist-in-residence since 2005. He has been artist-in-residence and associate professor of jazz double bass at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and recently was resident artist at Stanford University, North Texas State University, Georgia State University, Jacksonville University, and the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He gives master classes at many of the major universities and conservatories throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and South America.

Eddie Gomez continues to enjoy an active, international career as a performer, recording artist, composer, educator and featured guest artist on many high profile projects.