Press Release Summary = Hear Boston masters salute songwriters and composers of Americas own music. Ray Santisi brings together Boston's finest musicians in a special concert of traditional and contemporary jazz, including Santisi originals and new releases.
Press Release Body = On Thursday evening, April 26th, Ryles Jazz Club presents a jazz collaboration with living jazz legend and Berklee College of Music Professor Ray Santisi [piano], Marshall Wood [bass], Gary Johnson [drums] and Mike Monaghan [tenor sax]in a thrilling and unique performance. Club doors open at 8:00 pm. The music begins at 8:30 pm and continues until 12:30 am. This performance is a highlight of Boston Jazz Week's celebration, sponsored by www.JazzBoston.org.
Initiated by the Smithsonian Institution, "the purpose of Jazz Appreciation Month is to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. In addition, JAM is intended to stimulate the current jazz scene and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz-to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and support institutional jazz programs.\"
From April 21 to 29, JazzBoston.org brings the first Jazz Week to Greater Boston in 25 years. Hundreds of musicians of all generations will perform jazz of every style in more than 40 venues throughout the Greater Boston area - from clubs, museums and churches to libraries, universities, hotels, and community centers. In recognition of the citywide nature of this celebration of the music that has made Boston a destination for artists and fans of every stripe, Mayor Thomas Menino has officially proclaimed the 8-day event "Jazz Week."
\"Talking to [Berklee] piano professor Ray Santisi, one is immediately struck by how his conversation mirrors his playing, it\'s humorous, hip, and a bit elusive. Listening to his recent CDs, Spellbinder, and Live At Ryles Jazz Club, one hears some of those same lively qualities in Santisi\'s playing. Whether interpreting the standard, \"Teach Me Tonight,\" or grooving hard on \"One Note Samba,\" this fixture of the Boston music scene and longtime Berklee faculty member betrays bemusement, a bit of Zen-like detachment, even as he\'s sitting at the keys. It\'s the sound only a man who has been playing professionally and teaching for 50-plus years could produce.\" Peter Gerstenzang, Berklee \'77, BERKLEE TODAY, Fall 2006
Ryles Jazz Club is located in the heart of Inman Square at 212 Hampshire Street in Cambridge, MA. There is a $10 cover charge at the door,for this fabulous event. Ryles Jazz Club offers two complimentary parking lots and a delicious snack menu. For directions, log onto www.rylesjazz.com. For more information, call 617 876 9330 .
About The Band: RAY SANTISI is an internationally known jazz pianist who has played as featured soloist with Charlie Parker, Donald Byrd, Charlie Mariano, Stan Getz, Mel Torme, Irene Kral, Natalie Cole, and countless other well-known jazz greats. Diana Krall and Chick Corea are former students.
Teaching with Stan Kenton\'s summer jazz clinics on college campuses throughout the country, and performing in Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia, Santisi also received two grants for composition and performance from the National Endowment for the Arts attest to the fact that Santisi is a sought-after jazz pianist worldwide.
An Alumnus of Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory of Music, Santisi is the author of \"Jazz Originals\" for Piano. He was a founder of the early Jazz Workshops in Boston. As professor of music at Berklee, students flock to his fourth floor studio where he may play piano duo\'s on his twin Steinways with one student, accompany another on guitar and work with vocalists. Saturday mornings find him with a full student roster.
Santisi\'s discography includes \"Spellbinder\" and \"Live @ Ryles\" both available through on-line and digital distributors, including www.cdbaby.com/all/raysantisi and Apple-iTunes in the US, Europe, Canada, Austraila and Japan.
He brings his vitality of fresh, contemporary arrangements to the classic music of the Great American Song Book. Including fine vocalese, Santisi collaborations always create a unique ensemble effect. EMAIL: RSantisi@Berklee.edu
MORE BUZZ !!!! \"I wonder if the folks who run the Copley Marriott Hotel in Boston know what a treasure they have on their property every Sunday evening. . . . reveling in a weekly event that a growing number of sonic art lovers are discovering--the 7-11 pm Ray Santisi session every week in the Terrace Lounge. Mostly, it\'s a trio date put together from a small but variable personnel list (including such reliables as Marshall Wood and Gene Roma). Occasionally, its a foursome; Jerry Seeco offered vocal and flugelhorn work when I was there on 5/7 (with Patricia Adams sitting in for a couple tunes). But whatever the configuration, good stuff happens because Ray plays the piano and he refuses to pick bland sidemen. Also, the gig offers three bonuses--plenty of material written by Parker, Dameron, et al (because Ray began playing that material shortly after it was penned), a surprisingly fine sound system, and no cover charge. Ray Santisi and friends perform every Sun Evening at the Terrace Lounge of the Marriott Hotel at Copley Place (617 236 5800) and every Sat afternoon at the Caravan Club, Revere from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm (781 284 9559) . . . \" CADENCE Magazine, July 2006
" . . a substitute gig at Ryles 8/5 turned out to be quite a highlight in August. In a town having more than its share of superb bass players John Repucci may be the most underrated. Just try to come up with a note that's closer to perfection than the one he just chose on the gig. And if that wasn't enough, John was operating in a trio setting with Ray Santisi and Bob Moses, both performing up their substantial reputations. Was there a better straight-ahead piano trio gig anywhere else in or outside Boston on 8/5? I don't see how it would be possible. And when they weren't working in a triangle, they were backing up Patricia Adams who was telling stories to a very attentive audience. A special evening . . . " CADENCE Magazine, October 2006
MARSHALL WOOD has enjoyed a comprehensive jazz education at the hands oftrue jazz masters for over twenty years. A mere example of this tutelage(while working on the bandstand with these greats) would include multiple performances with: Big Joe Turner, Anita O\'Day, Tony Bennett, Joe Pass, Gene Bertoncini, Gray Sargent, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Ruby Braff, Urbie Green, Phil Wilson, George Masso, Al Cohn, Bud Freeman, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Randy Brecker, Tommy Flanaghan, Monty Alexander, John Bunch, Makoto Ozone, Nelson Riddle, Ralph Sharon, Phil Woods, Joe Williams, Dorothy Donegan, Marian McPartland and a host of others. MarshallWood\'s recording credits include CDs with Carol Sloane, Anita O\'Day, ScottHamilton, Dave McKenna, Tommy Flanagan, Bucky Pizzarelli, Michael Moore, George Masso and Donna Byrne.
GARY JOHNSON (drums), has been keeping time for 37 years with, among others, Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Ken Peplowski, Ray Santisi, Keely Smith and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra. For four years, he traveled extensively with the Artie Shaw Orchestra under the direction of Dick Johnson. While touring, he accompanied artists such as Buddy DeFranco, Dizzy Gillespie, Rosemary Clooney, Frankie Laine. Helen Forest, Connie Haines and Ruby Braff. Currently, Johnson freelances in the New England area, including playing every month with The Ray Santisi Trio at Ryles Jazz Club and the Terrace Lounge, Marriott Copley on Sundays. Johnson studied with Bill Flanagan, Fed Buda of the Boston Pops and Alan Dawson. He attended the Berklee College of Music.
MIKE MONAGHAN (tenor sax) has been a member of the Boston Pops for years and, in fact, he has performed under all its conductors-Arthur Fiedler, John Williams and the present conductor, Keith Lockhart. Monaghan has been a featured player on all of Keith Lockhart's Pops recordings. He's been a long-time popular Festival guest. He wrote Alaska Is A Rainbow in 1985. He is a regular with the Ray Santisi trio at the Terrace Lounge, Marriott Copley Sunday evenings in Boston. Reviewers say, " . . . personality in this trio of performances is accentuated by flautist Mike Monaghan, who also lends his considerable talent to the rocking "Winter Wonderland," where his double-time playing amazes. "Christmas Time is Here" is offered both as a lilting samba and a warmly sensuous ballad, affording two wonderfully juxtaposed melodies." All About Jazz
Contact Info: Ryles Jazz Club 212 Hampshire Street, Inman Square Cambridge, Massachusetts 617 876 9330 www.rylesjazz.com
Web Site = http://www.rylesjazz.com
Contact Details = Ryles Jazz Club 212 Hampshire Street, Inman Square Cambridge, MA 02139 617 876 9330
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