The KEVIN BALES Quartet featuring Vibraphonist CHUCK REDD

Grammy Nominated Jazz Pianist & Composer ~ KEVIN BALES ~ Musician, Teacher, Performer ~ By some measures, Kevin Bales was a latecomer to jazz, already 17 when he encountered the sounds and structures and became captivated by the freedom and corresponding challenges of the music. But if late to the party, he wasted no time in immersing himself in the celebration, declaring total commitment to what would be his life’s work and backing his announcement by resigning his job and designated career in computer programming. Kevin could commit to jazz with a reasonable degree of expectation. He was already an accomplished pianist, with classical chops refined since the age of 10. So accomplished he was invited to audition for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, then under the direction of its most storied conductor Robert Shaw, at age 16. Kevin’s initial career move was to the University of North Florida and a budding if little-known jazz program. There he met and performed with, and went on to record and tour with, a number of monumental artists who had settled into that burgeoning North Florida jazz scene. Giants like Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben Tucker, Ira Sullivan, Sam Rivers, and Nat Adderley. He counts among his mentors bassist Ben Tucker, multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, guitar legends Nathen Page and Jack Petersen, and the fiercely individual saxophonist Bunky Green. His meeting with Bunky Green led to five years of tours. His encounter with guitarist Nathen Page blossomed into 15 years of spot tours and four albums. And his work with trumpeter extraordinaire Marcus Printup has become a lifetime association that has included recordings on Blue Note/Capital records. visit Kevin at www.kevinbales.com   Yamaha Artist CHUCK REDD is an internationally recognized jazz musician, performing on vibraphone and drums. Chuck began recording and touring the globe when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio at the age of 21. He also became a member of the Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Byrd and Herb Ellis.) To his credit are 25 European tours and six tours of Japan, with artists such as the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski and the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra, Terry Gibbs, and Conte Candoli. Chuck served as Artist-In-Residence at The Smithsonian Jazz Café in Washington, DC from 2004-2008. He was featured vibraphonist with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet from 1991 until 1996. In 2007, Chuck was featured with the prestigious Milt Jackson Tribute Band. Other engagements include jazz cruises, stints with Bucky Pizzarelli and Ken Peplowski at Dizzy’s Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center), headlining at Smalls Club in New York City, and jazz festivals around the U.S. He has toured and performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, and Tommy Flanagan. Chuck is featured on over 80 recordings. Releases include his Arbors CD All This and Heaven Too, featuring Gene Bertoncini and George Mraz, Chopin Jazz with Rossano Sportiello, You’re My Everything with Dick Hyman and Jay Leonhart, and Nice N’ Easy with Houston Person. He can also be heard on the sound track to the popular television series The Great Chefsand the NPR broadcast “Jazz Smithsonian.” Chuck’s career highlights include a concert with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa for the Namibian Independence Celebration, a recital at the White House with the Barney Kessel Trio, two concerts at Carnegie Hall with the Mel Torme Quintet, and The Tonight Show. In 2008, he was a featured soloist in the finale concert at The Lionel Hampton International Jazz festival with The Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. In February 2013, Chuck performed with the Dream Band co-leading with Jeff Hamilton in a salute to vibes legend Terry Gibbs. Chuck was the 2014 honoree at The Roswell Jazz Festival. In addition to leading his own groups, Chuck was a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra for 15 years. He frequently performs in New York City and tours nationally at festivals and clubs. Chuck is on the faculty at The University of Maryland School of Music and presents master classes, clinics, and lectures around the country. His Arbors CD Happy All The Time is a critically acclaimed tribute to his mentor Barney Kessel, and features Monty Alexander and Jeff Hamilton. Chuck’s The Common Thread features Rossano Sportiello and jazz legends Mickey Roker, Bob Cranshaw, Houston Person. Chuck produced and is featured on For George, Cole and Duke, led by Harry Allen for Blue Heron Records.     MUSIC CHARGE: $20.00REQUEST A RESERVATION