 Ross Margitza  Mike Gurrola  Kevin Kanner | Jazz for the City: The Ross Margitza Trio Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an early summer’s evening program of relaxing jazz with the Ross Margitza Trio. Dr. Ross Margitza is a pianist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator. As a young musician, he studied with his father and grandfather, who were professional pianists in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Ross started playing piano at six years old and trumpet at age ten. He decided he wanted to become a jazz musician after listening to the recording “West Side Story,” by pianist Oscar Peterson. Ross earned his Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University, his Master of Music from Northern Illinois University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. He has performed with such musicians as Russell Malone, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Gerald Wilson, Patti Austin, Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Antonio Hart, Lynn Roberts, and Christian McBride. He also performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He plays frequently in the Los Angeles area with several different groups, including the Roy McCurdy Quartet, and Mark Z Stevens’ Trio. Ross has become a “regular” for Friends of Music’s Music at Noon series (two of his recent performances can be heard on FOM’s YouTube channel and Facebook page), and we’re truly “jazzed” to welcome him and his Trio to the an appearance on the Friends of Music evening series. Mike Gurrola has become an in-demand bassist to musicians on the international jazz-scene who have come to know him for his solid technique, attentive musicianship, and his strong passion and love for the music. Music rooted in the traditions of blues and swing inspired Mike to focus on the bass as a high school student, and he soon found himself under the mentorship of renowned bassist, composer, arranger, Grammy winner, and protégé of the great Ray Brown, John Clayton. Since 2013, Mike has toured and recorded with pianist and recording artist Eric Reed and also stays busy with other jazz A-listers including Benny Green, Jeff Hamilton, Mary Stallings, Ralph Moore, Willie Jones III and Roy McCurdy. The Los Angeles native never fails to impress with maturity, musicianship, and experience that are beyond his years, a walking example of Clayton’s mantra: “If you’re good to the music, the music will be good to you.” Southern California native Kevin Kanner has already amassed a large number of jazz credits including recordings with Paul Anka, Bill Holman (including 2006 and 2007 Grammy® nominated recordings), Gilbert Castellanos, Melissa Morgan, Annie Sellick, Gail Wynters, The Bud Shank Big Band, Josh Nelson and Michael Bublé. He has toured with John Pizzarelli, Maureen McGovern, The Gilbert Castellanos Quintet, The Bill Holman Band, The Gerald Clayton Trio, The Clayton Brothers, The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Larry Goldings, Charles McPhearson, Benny Green, Bob Hurst, Peter Washington, Terell Stafford, Russell Malone, Stefon Harris, Johnny Mandel, Larry Koonse, The Eric Reed Trio, Mary Stallings, Bill Henderson, Anat Cohen, Dominic Faranacci, Carolyn Leonhart, Larry Goldings, Anthony Wilson Nonet and Trio, Laurence Hobgood, Bob Hurst, Joe Magnarelli, Helen Sung, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Patrick Cornelius, Randy Napoleon, Walter Smith III, James Morrison, and many others. City of Pasadena COVID protocols that are current as of the date of the concert will be observed. Artists:
|
