Panama Jazz Project

Santi Debriano

2010-11-22T02:08:00Z

Santi Debriano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Santi Wilson Debriano (b. 1955 in Panama) is a jazz bassist.

Debriano was raised in Brooklyn, having moved there with his family at age four. He studied composition at Union College in New York, then attended the New England Conservatory of Music and Wesleyan University. He worked with Archie Shepp in the late 70's and early 80's, then moved to Paris and played with Sam Rivers for three years. He returned to New York City and has since worked with Don Pullen, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Fortune, Billy Hart, Larry Coryell, Chucho Valdés, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, Randy Weston, Freddie Hubbard, Kirk Lightsey, and Attila Zoller.

Debriano has led several of his own units, including small groups in the late 1980s and Circlechant, a world music-influenced ensemble which has had among its members Helio Alves, Will Calhoun, and Abraham Burton.

Debriano was also the music director for arts at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, New Jersey, and was given an award for jazz education by New York University in 2001.

From Allmusic

The son of a renowned Panamanian composer, Santi Debriano is one of the busiest jazz bassists in the New York area. In addition to leading his own bands, including the multi-ethnic jazz ensemble Circlechant, Debriano has been a member of the Don Pullen Trio, the Pharoah Sanders Group, the Sonny Fortune Group, the Billy Hart Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, the Larry Coryell Group, and the Archie Shepp Quartet. As a sideman, Debriano has performed with Chucho Valdés, Hank Jones, Cecil Taylor, Randy Weston, and Freddie Hubbard.

Raised in the United States from the age of four, Debriano played guitar and bass by the age of nine. After studying composition at Union College in New York and bass violin at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, he continued his studies at Wesleyan University, where he earned a master's degree in music, with an emphasis on ethnomusicology and world music. A member of the Archie Shepp Quartet in the late '70s, he was featured on four albums and appeared in the documentary film Imagine the Sound. Moving to Paris, Debriano spent three years with the Sam Rivers Trio. Upon his return to the United States, he quickly made his presence felt on the jazz scene in New York.

As a bandleader, Debriano has presented his music in a variety of contexts. He led a two-bass quintet and a trio during the late '80s and played Latin music as a member of the Panamaniacs. He leads Circlechant, a culturally diverse group that includes Brazilian pianist Helio Alves, former Living Colour and Mos Def drummer Will Calhoun, and tenor saxophonist Abraham Burton.

Debriano has been equally influential as a music teacher. As the music director for the performing arts program at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ, he placed an emphasis on African, Afro-Caribbean, Latin American, and African-American music. He received a jazz educator award from New York University in 2001.

[hide]

1 Discography
- 1.1 As leader
- 1.2 As sideman
2 References

Discography

As leader

Soldiers of Fortune (Evidence Records, 1989)
Panamaniacs (Evidence, 1997)
Circlechant (HighNote Records, 1999)
Artistic License (Savant Records, 2001)
3-Ololy (Bellaphon Records, 2006)
Obeah

As sideman

Chico Freeman: Focus (Contemporary Records, 1994)
Louis Hayes: Louis at Large (Sharp Nine, 1996)
Oliver Lake: Compilation (Gramavision, 1982–86)
Charles McPherson: Come Play with Me (Arabesque, 1995)
David Murray: Black & Black (DIW Records, 1991)
David Murray: Long Goodbye: A Tribute to Don Pullen (DIW Records, 1996)
Jim Pepper: Dakota Sound (Enja, 1987)

References

Craig Harris, Santi Debriano at Allmusic

(c)Copyrigth PANAMANGO PRODUCTIONS

Alex Blake

2010-11-22T01:49:00Z

Alex Blake

When looking at his list of accomplishments. It is surprising that the creative bass stylings of Alex Blake have not reached the status of "household word". The range of Alex Blake's talent is bordering on phenomenal, as a plethora of musicians in virtually every style call upon him for truly unique bass playing.
		His recording and touring dates read like a "who's who" of all the "who's" that have ever played jazz.
	Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Sun Ra, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner The Last Poets, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Billy Cobham, The Manhattan Transfer, Astrud Gilberto, Pharaoh Sanders and Randy Weston, to name a few.... > more <
	They have all chosen Alex as a source of versatility, strength, and originality. This has been happening since he was a child, and with his background and experience, it is no wonder that many have called him a prodigy.
	Alex Blake was born in Panama where, as a child, he enjoyed the infusion of cultures common in Central America. Acting as a bridge between North and South America, Panama captures a little bit of each culture passing through. It only follows that as one of the building blocks to his character, this environmental influence would later be echoed in his uncanny ability to play every style of music. Alex moved with his family to the United States when he was seven years old, and continued to be influenced by his environment, which this time round was Brooklyn, New York.
	Alex's first instrument was the trumpet, for which he developed a real flourish. His father, also a musician, experienced a very strong premonition through a dream a few years later. His dream told him that his son's future would be with the bass, and that it would take him all over the world. With that, Alex's father became his first bass teacher. Between his fathers' instruction and his own natural and incredible reach for expression, Alex started his reputation for blowing people away with his talent.
	Alex began playing professionally by the time he was twelve. Alex's education did not end with success on the bandstand however. He continued to study privately with some of the great teachers of stringed instruments, composition, theory, as well as arranging. Reggie Workman and Harry Constant at The New Muse in Brooklyn, Melonie Punter and Akua Dixon at the String Reunion and composer / recording artist Richard Davis all helped to hone Alex's already accomplished and individual style.
	Alex began to collaborate creatively on the inception of some of the more recognized Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Latino Jazz artists including Mongo Santamaria. Machito (Maria Bauza), and Celia Cruz to name a few. By the time he was sixteen, Alex had reached the epitome of "outside" success by touring and recording with Sun Ra. From there, at the ripe old age of seventeen, Alex had moved on to play with Dizzy Gillespie, which catapulted the demand for his presence to an international basis. The calls poured in from Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston, Pharoah Sanders and many others who desired his inventive interpretations on the bass.
	After becoming one of the major players of the fusion movement in the late 70's (as evidenced in his writing and performances with Lenny White and Billy Cobham), Alex established himself as a drummer's bassist. His range and ability to flow between melodic, and extremely rhythmic playing, enabled all-star drummers to express themselves without having to worry about keeping somebody else's time. Many who work with Alex consider him an entire rhythm section on his own. With his evocation of rhythm guitar and steady drumming, along with lyrical bass lines emanating from his own two hands. If one counts the occasional scat singing over some of his solos, one might be inclined to call him the whole band and give him the horn chair as well!
	A perfect example would be of Alex's work with Randy Weston, who has changed the parameters of Afro-centric jazz with Alex's unlimited style by freeing up the rhythm section to work with only a hand percussionist. The band moves between complex polyrhythm and swing in a flawless manner, never losing the groove. In essence, by it's sound; the band's music explains the infusion of African influences that, throughout America, became jazz. The swing of it is firmly in the hands of the bass that walks right into flamenco riffs: global consciousness in a chorus.
	As a sideman without comparison, Alex continues to tour with Pharoah Sanders and Randy Weston. As a leader and composer, Alex Blake is doing what he always has done, create incredible music that infuses a myriad of cultures and experiences that almost define the world of music as being one.


		the individuality the completeness the expression it is all original it is all ALEX BLAKE

Alex Blake's solo

www.youtube.com

European jazz Expò 2007 - - Cagliari, italy

Alex Blake Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alex Blake
Alex Blake performing with Randy Weston, Billy Harper and Neil Clarke at the Jazz Standard, March 2007
Background information
Genres	post bop jazz
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Double bass
Labels	Bubble Core Records, Verve Records, Image Records, Sunnyside Records, Random Chance, Muse Records, Atlantic Records, WEA International, Rhino Records, CTI Records, Black Saint, Koch Records, Columbia Records, Tomato Records, Charly Records, Elektra Records, Raven Records, MCA Records, Blues Alliance, Waterlily Acoustics, Warner Bros. Records, Arista Records, Monad Records, A&M Records, In & Out Records, CIMP Records, Tum Records, Big Ox Records, Mercury Records, Hip-O Records, Arabesque Records, McKenzie Entertainment, Ubiquity Records, Red Ink Records, Downtown Records, Eagle Eye Media, J-Room Jazz, YOU Entertainment, Pho Records
Associated acts	Sun Ra, Arkestra

Alex Blake is a post bop jazz double-bassist who began his career with Sun Ra in his band Arkestra. A live performance compilation was released by Bubble Core Records in 2000 titled Now Is the Time: Live at the Knitting Factory. The album featured his own quintet that included Pharoah Sanders, Victor Jones, John Hicks and Neil Clark.^[1]

[hide]

1 Discography
2 References

Discography

As leader

Alex Blake

Album	Year	Label
Now Is the Time: Live at the Knitting Factory	2000	Bubble Core

As sideman

Randy Weston Album	Year	Label
Spirits of Our Ancestors	1991	Verve Records
Saga	1995	Verve Records
Khepara	1998	Verve Records
Live in St. Lucia	2003	Image Records
Spirit! The Power of Music	2003	Sunnyside Records
Zep Tepi, The Randy Weston African Rhythms Trio	2006	Random Chance
Carlos Garnett Album	Year	Label
Black Love	1974	Muse Records
Billy Cobham Album	Year	Label
Shabazz	1974	Atlantic Records
Total Eclipse	1974	Atlantic Records
Funky Side of Things	1975	Atlantic Records
Introducing Billy Cobham	2006	WEA International
Rudiments: The Billy Cobham Anthology	2001	Rhino Records
Airto Album	Year	Label
Virgin Land	1974	CTI Records
Don Pullen Album	Year	Label
Capricorn Rising	1975	Black Saint
Tomorrow's Promises	1977	Koch Records
Frank Lowe Album	Year	Label
The Flam	1975	Black Saint
Arif Mardin Album	Year	Label
Journey	1975	Atlantic Records
Sonny Rollins Album	Year	Label
The Way I Feel	1976	Milestone Records/OJC
Yusef Lateef Album	Year	Label
Autophysiopsychic	1977	CTI Records
Lenny White Album	Year	Label
Big City	1977	Nemperor Records
The Adventures of Astral Pirates	1978	Elektra Records
The Last Poets Album	Year	Label
Delights in the Garden	1977	Charly Records
Pharoah Sanders Album	Year	Label
Love Will Find a Way	1977	Arista Records
Beyond a Dream	1978	Arista Records
Save Our Children	1999	Verve Records
Ryo Kawasaki Album	Year	Label
Nature's Revenge	1978	MPS Records
Cory Daye Album	Year	Label
Cory and Me	1979	New York
Dizzy Gillespie Album	Year	Label
Endlessly	1987	MCA Records
Gabrielle Roth Album	Year	Label
Totem	1982	Raven Records
The Manhattan Transfer Album	Year	Label
Bodies and Souls	1983	Atlantic Records
Bop Doo-Wopp	1984	Atlantic Records
Man-Tora!: Live in Tokyo	1984	Rhino Records
Vocalese	1985	Atlantic Records
Manhattan Transfer Live: 1987	1987	Atlantic Records
The Offbeat of Avenues	1991	Columbia Records
Anthology: Down in Birdland	1992	Rhino Records
Janis Siegel Album	Year	Label
At Home	1987	Atlantic Records
Jimmy Buffett Album	Year	Label
Hot Water	1988	MCA Records
Joey DeFrancesco Album	Year	Label
All of Me	1989	Columbia Records
Brownie McGhee Album	Year	Label
Rainy Day	1989	Tomato Records
Blues Is Truth	1996	Blues Alliance
Earl Klugh Album	Year	Label
Whispers and Promises	1989	Warner Bros. Records
Dom Um Romao Album	Year	Label
Saudades	1993	Waterlily Acoustics
Norman Hedman Album	Year	Label
Flight of the Spirit	1994	Monad Records
Vertical Hold Album	Year	Label
Head First	1995	A&M Records
Chico Freeman Album	Year	Label
Sweet Explosion	1990	In & Out Records
Ahmed Abdullah Album	Year	Label
Dedication	1997	CIMP Records
Tara's Song	2005	Tum Records
Greg Bandy Album	Year	Label
Lightning in a Bottle	1997	Big Ox Records
Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Research Arkestra Album	Year	Label
Black Myth/Out in Space	1970	Mercury Records
Phyllis Hyman Album	Year	Label
One on One	1998	Hip-O Records
Andrienne Wilson Album	Year	Label
She's Dangerous	1998	Arabesque Records
Mac Gollehon Album	Year	Label
Smokin' Live	1999	McKenzie Entertainment
Babatunde Lea Album	Year	Label
March of the Jazz Guerillas	2000	Ubiquity Records
Stan Getz Album	Year	Label
The Final Concert Recording	2001	Red Ink
Roman Kunsman Album	Year	Label
Heavy Skies	1997	Downtown Records
Carmen McRae Album	Year	Label
Live in Tokyo/Vocalese Live, Vol. 1	2004	Eagle Eye Media
Kazumi Watanabe Album	Year	Label
Village In Bubbles	2004	J-Room Jazz
Cafe Soul All-Stars Album	Year	Label
Love Pages	2005	YOU Entertainment

Compilations

Album	Year	Label
Wildflowers: The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (Complete)	1976	Knitting Factory
Atlantic Jazz: Best of the '70s	1994	Rhino/Atlantic
Latin Jazz Experience	1996	Pho Records
Viva Cubop!, Vol. 2: Dance the Afro-Cuban Way	2000	Cubop Records

References

^ Taylor, Ken. "Alex Blake Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hjfqxqukldje. Retrieved 2007-06-25.

2. Alex Solo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y4Zllk7oeM

(c)Copyrigth PANAMANGO PRODUCTIONS

Jorge Sylvester

2010-11-22T00:06:00Z

JORGE SYLVESTER, alto saxophone: Bio

JORGE SYLVESTER Alto Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Teacher

Born in Colon, Panama attended the Panama Conservatory of Music and the University of Panama. He received a Bachelor of Science in Music from the State University of New York College at New Paltz in 1981. A unique innovator in the idiom of creative music, Sylvester’s sound is reminiscent of another time in jazz history when artists like Dolphy and Ornette were exploding on the scene and experimenting with concepts that would ultimately revolutionize music at large. A throwback to the future, Mr. Sylvester has been on the cutting edge of that scene since 1980 when he first came to New York City. His blend of African-Caribbean Rhythms with new music is what gives Sylvester his distinguished voice. An impressive composer and arranger, his music moves, entices and stirs the imagination, as visual as it is physical, his ability to transform colors into sounds and sounds into textures place him in the company of the great expressionist painters.

Beginning his professional career at age 14, Jorge was leading his own Caribbean dance band, and writing his own arrangements and compositions. He studied privately with renowned Panamanian jazz saxophonist, Euclides Hall, who took him along on gigs to observe from the bandstand in the “old school style”. When Jorge’s professor at the conservatory, Efrain Castro, sent him to sub for him in a band led by the great Panamanian pianist Victor Boa, Jorge was taken on as a regular.

Heading for Europe in his early twenties, Sylvester spent ten years touring and recording with his ensembles and freelancing throughout Europe. In 1979 he studied advanced Harmony with Argentinian Pianist, Composer Luis Vecchio in Las Palmas Canarias, Spain. It was during this period that Mr. Sylvester began to explore free jazz by playing and recording with the Luis Vecchio Quartet.

Upon his arrival to New York in 1980, he studied with Dave Holland, Oliver Lake, Steve Lacy, Ramsey Ameen, Marion Brown and many others at vibraphonist Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio in Woodstock. Since that time, Sylvester has performed with: Stefon Harris, Rodney Kendrick, Karl Berger, David Murray Big Band, poet Sekou Sundiata, the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra, Oliver Lake Big Band, Kuumba Frank Lacy’s Vibe Tribe, the Next Legacy Orchestra, Joe Bowie’s Defunkt Big Band and Nora McCarthy who is a member of his group The ACE (Afro-Caribbean Experimental) Collective and with whom he co-leads several groups, namely:

The ConceptualMotion Orchestra and A Small Dream In Red (voice and saxophone duet) a CD by the same name was released on the Sundown label in March, 2003. The ConceptualMotion Orchestra, conducted and orchestrated by Sylvester, is a 20-piece all original music orchestra with compositions contributed by both he and McCarthy, opened the renowned avant garde VISION FESTIVAL X in New York City, June, 2005.

In the Spring of 2006, Jorge Sylvester toured Europe and Israel with the World Saxophone Quartet filling the chair formerly occupied by its founding father Julius Hemphill, and later by Arthur Blythe, James Spaulding, Eric Person, John Purcell and Bruce Williams. Mr. Sylvester performed alongside luminaries David Murray, Oliver Lake and Hammiet Bluiett.

In January, 2007, Mr. Sylvester returned to his native Panama as a member of the Panamanian All-Stars led and directed by Danilo Perez at the fourth annual Panama Jazz Festival performing with Carlos Garnett, Santi Debriano, Billy Cobham and Renato Thoms.

In the Spring of 2007 he perform a series of workshops and concerts in Podgorica, Montenegro with A Small Dream in Red for Jazz Appreciation Month and appeared on the television show, Good Morning Montenegro.

Currently Mr. Sylvester performs regularly in and around the New York area with The ACE Collective, A Small Dream In Red, The Nora McCarthy Qu'ART'et, The Asymmetry Quartet, and most recently with Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio Orchestra.

DISCOGRAPHY:

New Double CD just released on Sylvester’s label Lizoka Music, Following The Line/ Live in New York City is the documentation of his 1999 quartet featuring Monte Croft, vibraphone; Jeff Carney, bass; Terreon Gully, drums; and, a special appearance by pianist James Hurt on the Bud Powell composition Willow Grove.

2008 release entitled Waldron Ricks with trumpeter, composer Waldron Ricks, Danny Grissett, Jaleel Shaw, Nashiet Waits and Vicente Archer, featuring Jorge's Quintet version of his composition "Playground."

As co-leader of the quartet Asymmetry with pianist, Lucian Ban, Sylvester recorded a CD for Jazzaway Records released in December, 2005 entitled Playground – which is also the name of the title track a composition written by Sylvester.

In The Ear of the Beholder, 2001 (Billboard’s Spotlight, Feb. 2001) Jazz Magnet Records, features: Donald Nicks, electric bass; and, Bobby Sanabria, drums, is Sylvester’s second release as a leader.

Critically acclaimed MusiCollage (Postcards, 1996, re-released on Arkadia Records) features: Claudio Roditi, trumpet; Marvin Sewell, guitar; Monte Croft, vibraphone; Gene Jackson, drums; Santi Debriano, acoustic bass; and, Bobby Sanabria, percussion. It received a **** rating from Downbeat Magazine and won a Billboard Critics’ Choice award.

In 1999, Jorge Sylvester appeared on BET Jazz “Live From the Knitting Factory" with his group, The ACE Trio.

ADDITIONAL DISCOGRAPHY:

Magic Night (Jazz Stop Records, Madrid Spain, 1989) with the Chastang/Sylvester Sextet;  Viriato Blue ( Jazz Stop Records, Madrid Spain, 1983 ); The Mass (Palmetto Records, 2000) with the Collective Identity Saxophone Quartet featuring Sam Newsom, Aaron Stewart and Alex Harding; Another Side (CIMP Records, 2000) with tenor saxophone Ken Simon Quartet featuring drummer Barry Altschul; The Blue Oneness of Dreams (Mouth Almighty Records, 1997) with Sekou Sundiata; The Essence Allstars featuring Doug Carn, Idris Muhammed and Josh Roseman (Hip Hop Records, 1997).

Two new recordings coming out in 2010. " Toward The Hill Of Joy" with trombonist, composer George Brandon's Septet and a live recording with legendary avant garde multi-instrumentalist and founder of Birth Records, Gunter Hampel and his European Trio recorded on October 5, 2009 in NYC.

UPCOMING NEWS:

* Jorge Sylvester will perform as a featured guest artist with The Nora McCarthy Qu'ART'et at the Marlborough Jazz Festival in Wiltshire, England followed by a two week tour of the UK in July, 2010.

*In December of 2010 Mr. Sylvester's ACE Collective will perform in Austria culminating in a CD to be released in 2011.

"Jorge Sylvester's distinctive alto saxophone sound is imbued with the volatility of Caribbean basin's complex mosaic, transformed and focused by the probing musical linguistics pioneered by the great saxophonists of modern jazz. Jorge's composer's imagination is the matchless structural coherence of his improvisational work".

Violinist, Composer Ramsey Ameen, 12/2005 Tribes Magazine

Sylvester website : www.jorgesylvester.com

(c)Copyrigth PANAMANGO PRODUCTIONS

Carlos Garnett

2010-11-21T23:36:00Z

Carlos Garnett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carlos Garnett (born December 1, 1938) is a Panamanian-American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and jazz group leader.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] Mr. Garnett was born in Red Tank Canal Zone in 1938, and at the age of 7, his parents moved to community of Paraiso where he grew into manhood. He first started playing the alto saxophone at the age of 16 years while in High School.

1 Biography
- 1.1 Early career
- 1.2 Later career
2 Discography
- 2.1 As leader
- 2.2 As sideman
3 References

Biography

Early career

He grew up in Panama, and started playing tenor saxophone in 1957. Early on, he performed calypso and Latin music. In 1962, Garnett moved to New York, working with rock groups and struggling a bit, but listening closely to free jazz saxophonists. He gained some recognition for his work with Freddie Hubbard (1968–1969), Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1969–1970), and Charles Mingus, and had an important stint with Miles Davis in 1972. Garnett also worked with Jack McDuff, Andrew Hill, Gary Bartz, and Norman Connors during the era and recorded five albums of his own for Muse during 1974-1977 that ranged from exploratory music to modest attempts at commercialism.

Carlos Garnett was musically inactive during much of the 1980s, and largely seemed to disappear from jazz, but started a comeback in 1991. In 1996, he made one of his finest albums (Fuego en Mi Alma, for the HighNote label) in a style little changed since the '70s. Some of his most notable appearances include playing tenor saxophone and soprano sax with Norman Connors, Herbie Hancock, and DeeDee Bridgewater on the 1974 recording "Love From The Sun" where his improvisations were consistently incisive and daring. His also appeared on his own recording called "Black Love" again playing tenor sax and soprano sax. Another notable appearance is as the only soloist with a hard driving Latin group on tenor sax, showing his Coltrane influences, on the recording called "Early Trane-The John Coltrane Songbook" playing an outstanding version of "Giant Steps". Other outstanding Garnett recordings are "Let This Melody Ring On", "Under Nubian Skies", and "Moon Shadow". He sometimes works in Panama on that particular jazz scene, appearing in clubs and at jazz festivals..

Not too long after that he formed a band while in high school, and was soon playing around town with various groups. He worked many years with the then famous group, the Gay Crooners, The Carlos Garnett/Vincent Ford quartet, Chachi Macias Ritmo Tropical orchestra, The Victor Boa quartet. He recorded many hits and worked with Black Majesty and the Mighty Bamboo band until he migrated to the United States in 1962.

Carlos arrived in the USA on one cold evening, on February 1, 1962. A few months later he landed a gig at the Baby Grand club in Brooklyn. He was playing jazz every Monday night at this club. Later he landed a job playing rock & roll with Rockin Wee Willy and his band on the weekends. Soon thereafter, he joined Paul Mondays’ organ jazz quartet in upstate Poughkeepsie and in Newburg, NY.

The later part of the same year, he was hired to play with Leo Price band, and was the band director. This group played at the then famous Celebrity Club in Freeport, Long Island. This group performed behind the likes of Gladys Knight and the Pips, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Reed, Jackie Wilson, The Supremes, Bobby Blue Bland, Rufus ‘Do the dog’ Thomas and his daughter Irma Thomas, and many more. This was one of the ‘Chittlin Circuits’ that catered to the top Afro-American acts. Remember, this was in the early to mid 60’s before the riots and the ‘Black Power movements’.

He joined the Freddie Hubbard quintet in the early part of 1978. This group featured Freddie on trumpet, Carlos on tenor and soprano saxes, Kenny Barron on piano, Juny Booth on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums. He was on Freddie’s “Soul Experiment” album. He later was called for the gig with Art Blakely and the Jazz Messengers. Woody shaw on trumpet, Carlos on saxes, George Cables on piano, Juny Booth on bass and Art Blakely on drums. He recorded 2 albums with the Jazz Messengers. “Art Blakely Live in Japan JVC,” and “Mellow Blues” live in Newark New Jersey.

During the mid year of 1970, he also was featured with the Charles Mingus sextet. Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Charles McPherson on also sax, Carlos on tenor, Jackie Byard on piano and Billie Higgins on drums and Mingus on bass. Carlos formed his 2nd group at this time. The Universal Black Force. This group played at most of the black colleges and universities on the East coast. Carlos was featured on Pharaoh Sanders “Black Unity” album, recorded live at the East Jazz jazz emporium.

He joined the Norman Conners group in the early part of 1971. This group consisted of Dee Dee Bridgewater and then Jean Carne on vocals. Carlos recorded 4 albums with Norman Conners. “Dance of Magic,” “Dark of Light,” “Slew Foot,” During this same period, Carlos recorded his first album for Muse records. “Black Love.” Later he did “Journey to Enlightenment,” Let This Melody Ring On,” Cosmos Nucleus Big Band,” and “The New Love.”

In the year of 1973/74, Carlos joined the Miles Davis band and worked, recorded and toured with Miles for approximately 2 years. During this period, he recorded on “On the Corner”, “Big Fun,” “Get Up with It” and “Live at the Philharmonic.”

Carlos Garnett returned to the jazz scene in 1991, after 9 years hiatus. At this point in time, he formed a small group, the CARLOS GARNETT QUARTET. This group consisted of some of the finest and youngest jazz musician around New York. The first group consisted of Jeff Lawrence on piano, Brad Jones on bass, and Taru Alexander on drums, later on, Carlton Holmes (piano) and Shingo Okudaira (drums) joined the group. Carlos performed around New York City with his new group at such notable clubs as Birdland, The Blue Note, the Five Spot, The Village Vanguard, the Village Gate, Sweet Basil, the famous Lenox Lounge, the Knitting Factory and the Up Over Jazz Club in Brooklyn, NY. Just to mention a few.

He recorded his first CD “RESURGENCE” (on Muse Records) after many years in 1995 and released in 1996. Special guest artists on this new CD were Steve Neal on bass, Taru Alexander on drums and Neil Clarke on percussions. His working and recording group include Carlton Holmes on piano, Brad Jones on bass and Shingo Okudaira on drums. His other releases are: “FIRE IN MY SOUL/FUEGO EN MI ALMA” (1997). “UNDER NUBIAN SKIES” 1999. (on High Note Records) Russell Gunn on trumpet was the special guest artist. His latest “MOON SHADOW,” was released on the Savant label in the year 2000.

Later career

Carlos also recorded a CD with the late great organist Charles Earland, “Slammin and Jammin” which was released on the Savant label Groove Series.

In May of the year 2000, Carlos relocated to Houston Texas, and lived in the suburb of Katy. He established himself there the tops saxophonist in the area. He has performed at such jazz clubs as The Red Cat Jazz Cafe, Cezannes, Ruggles, Iris Jazz Resort and others. Since relocating, he has performed at the Houston International Jazz festival, Kemah Boardwalk Jazz festival and the Texas International festival in Corpus Christi Texas, and Concerts at the University of Houston Downtown, and Rice University.

He has performed with the like of Joe Sample, George Thomas, Rick Porter, David Craig, David Marcellin, Erin Wright, Kyle Turner, Vernon Daniels, Paul English, Brennen Nase, Bob Henschen, Conrad Johnson, Marsha Frazier, Joe Carmouche, al Campbell, Phil Blackman, Carol Morgan, Carl Lott, Mark Townes, Sebastian Whitaker, Hamilton Loomis, Jerry Johnson, just to mention a few.

Carlos and percussion great, Will Cruz collaborated and formed a new group, the LATIN JAZZTET, the early part of the year 2002. The members of this awesome group are some of the best jazz and Latin jazz musicians in the Houston area. Eddie Lewis on trumpet, Jose Miguel Yamal on piano, Anthony McKinney on bass, Chris Axelrad on drums.

In the year 2003, Carlos moved back home to his native country, Panama, Republic of Panama. Since returning, he has formed a new quartet which features some of Panama’s best young jazz musicians. Juan Carlos DeLeon on piano, Mario Beccabunco on bass and Anibal DeLeon on drums.

Carlos was a frequent guest artist with the Carlos Ubarte’s group at the Casa Gongora upon his return to his country. Carlos Ubarte and his lovely wife Noris were instrumental in presenting Carlos to the jazz fans in Panama. The two saxophonists has worked together on many projects.

He has performed with his group at the Balboa Theater for the Carl Louis Russells Jazz concert, at the Atlapa theater and the Catedral Plaza in San Felipe for the Danilo Perez' Annual Panamanian Jazz Festival, also with the Fumio Karashima’s group from Japan at the balboa theater for the Centenario celebration

He has also been featured as a guest artist at the new Jazz club “TAKE FIVE JAZZ CLUB, ” with the Fidel Morales Trio. With the likes of Dino Nugent/Juan Carlos Deleon on piano Eusebi Dinza or Chispa on bass. He recently was featured at the new jazz club on Balboa avenue, The Fisch Jazz Grill.

Carlos and Guillermo Herrera also produced a new CD which features on of Panama’s musician, Mr. Victor Boa. This CD is called “LAS LEYENDAS DE TAMBO JAZZ,” (THE LEGENDS OF TAMBO JAZZ.)

Recently, Carlos Quartet performed at Danilo Perez 2nd Annual Panamanin Jazz Festival. Oterr jazz greats featured at this festival were Danilo perez, Jack DeJohnette, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Charles Hunter and Janis Seigel.

In 2007 Carlos also did play with Swedish saxophone star Jonas Kullhammar at the Sonny Rollins tribute when Sonny Rollins received the presigious Polar Music Prize in Stockholm.

Carlos still travels to New York to do gigs with the Carlos Garnett Quartet.

Carlos actually live and perform in Panamá.

Carlos is currently in the UK as he collaborated with Charley Anderson of The Selecter on their latest single Ghetto Child.

Discography

As leader

1974: Black Love with Mtume, Billy Hart, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Charles Sullivan, Reggie Lucas, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Norman Connors, Guilherme Franco, Ayodele Jenkins, Mauricio Smith, Buster Williams, Carlos Chambers, Onaje Allan Gumbs
1974: Fire with Kenny Kirkland, Reggie Lucas, Neil Clark, Wayne Cobham, Angel Fernandez, Anthony Jackson, Howard King, Charles Pulliam
1996: Fuego En Mi Alma with Neil Clarke, Brad Jones, Carlton Holmes, Shingo Okudaira
1999: Under Nubian Skies with Carlton Holmes, Russell Gunn, Shingo Okudaira
2001: Moon Shadow with Robert Trowers, Neil Clarke, Alvin Flythe, Derrick Gardner, Carlton Holmes, Shingo Okudaira

As sideman

With Andrew Hill

Lift Every Voice (1970)

With Miles Davis

In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall (1972)
On the Corner (1972)
Big Fun (1974)
Get Up with It (1974)

With Freddie Hubbard

A Soul Experiment (1969)

References

^ "Carlos Garnett at All About Jazz". http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=6958. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ Musto, Russ (6 July 2008). "Carlos Garnett". All About Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29644. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ Yanow, Scott. "Carlos Garnett Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wiftxqt5ldae~T1. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ "Carlos Garnett Biography". Oldies.com. http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Carlos-Garnett.html. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
^ Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Priestley, Brian (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz. Rough Guides. p. 283. ISBN 1843532565.

(c)Copyrigth PANAMANGO PRODUCTIONS

Panama Jazz Project

Santi Debriano

Santi Debriano

Contents

Discography

As leader

As sideman

References

Alex Blake

Alex Blake

Contents

Discography

As leader

As sideman

Compilations

References

Jorge Sylvester

JORGE SYLVESTER, alto saxophone: Bio

JORGE SYLVESTER Alto Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Teacher

In January, 2007, Mr. Sylvester returned to his native Panama as a member of the Panamanian All-Stars led and directed by Danilo Perez at the fourth annual Panama Jazz Festival performing with Carlos Garnett, Santi Debriano, Billy Cobham and Renato Thoms.

In the Spring of 2007 he perform a series of workshops and concerts in Podgorica, Montenegro with A Small Dream in Red for Jazz Appreciation Month and appeared on the television show, Good Morning Montenegro.

Currently Mr. Sylvester performs regularly in and around the New York area with The ACE Collective, A Small Dream In Red, The Nora McCarthy Qu'ART'et, The Asymmetry Quartet, and most recently with Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio Orchestra.

DISCOGRAPHY:

2008 release entitled Waldron Ricks with trumpeter, composer Waldron Ricks, Danny Grissett, Jaleel Shaw, Nashiet Waits and Vicente Archer, featuring Jorge's Quintet version of his composition "Playground."

As co-leader of the quartet Asymmetry with pianist, Lucian Ban, Sylvester recorded a CD for Jazzaway Records released in December, 2005 entitled Playground – which is also the name of the title track a composition written by Sylvester.

In The Ear of the Beholder, 2001 (Billboard’s Spotlight, Feb. 2001) Jazz Magnet Records, features: Donald Nicks, electric bass; and, Bobby Sanabria, drums, is Sylvester’s second release as a leader.

In 1999, Jorge Sylvester appeared on BET Jazz “Live From the Knitting Factory" with his group, The ACE Trio.

ADDITIONAL DISCOGRAPHY:

Two new recordings coming out in 2010. " Toward The Hill Of Joy" with trombonist, composer George Brandon's Septet and a live recording with legendary avant garde multi-instrumentalist and founder of Birth Records, Gunter Hampel and his European Trio recorded on October 5, 2009 in NYC.

UPCOMING NEWS:

* Jorge Sylvester will perform as a featured guest artist with The Nora McCarthy Qu'ART'et at the Marlborough Jazz Festival in Wiltshire, England followed by a two week tour of the UK in July, 2010.

*In December of 2010 Mr. Sylvester's ACE Collective will perform in Austria culminating in a CD to be released in 2011.

Violinist, Composer Ramsey Ameen, 12/2005 Tribes MagazineSylvester website : www.jorgesylvester.com

Carlos Garnett

Carlos Garnett

Contents

Biography

Early career

Later career

Discography

As leader

As sideman

References

Violinist, Composer Ramsey Ameen, 12/2005 Tribes Magazine

Sylvester website : www.jorgesylvester.com