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Photo by Howard A. Gitelson
 Who has lived in the Twin Cities for the past 30 years, recorded with
many greats including Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Joe
Zawinul, Ron Carter? Who toured Japan with Weather Report and Europe
with McCoy Tyner (and will be touring with McCoy again this year)? Give
up? It is Eric Gravatt.
Many locals also fondly remember him as the powerhouse behind that
legendary Minneapolis fusion band Natural Life with the late great Bobby Peterson
and Bob Rockwell. He also runs a recording facility and a small publishing company, 1619 Music.
Eric has kept mostly out of the limelight to raise a family in
Minnesota for the past 30 years. Having retired from his 'day job' as a
prison guard, he
is diving back into music full time and recording again.
Those of us who have caught his band at the Artists' Quarter over the
past few years know what an intense and expressive player he his. Those
who haven't heard hin better hurry.
Sadly for us here in Minnesota, he plans to move back to Philedelphia
by this summer.
Catch him while you can, and you can catch him with his band, Source
Code this week-end, January 28th and 29th at the Artists'Quater in
Saint Paul.
In the software world, "Source Code" is the name of a collection
of intructions as written to generate the 'binary' executable
programs that run on our computers, PDA's, cell-phones and toasters.
This Source Code will generate unique and engaging music using the
music of the jazz maters like Monk, Coltrane, and Jackie McLean, among others as their source.
"The first time I saw Eric play was at the Keystone Corner in San
Francisco, and seeing him play changed my life. There isn't - and maybe
never will be - anyone who plays drums with that much intensity. I
never fail to mention Eric at my clinics.
I was greatly drawn to his aura behind the kit. And I tried to learn
everything that Eric played. His approach comes through in my playing
to this day - more than anyone else's". -Drummer Terry Bozzio says of Gravatt
Photo by Andrea Canter
 As Andrea Canter reported - His compatriots in Source Code are also veteran musicians: Saxman Dean Brewington
grew up in Brooklyn surrounded by jazz legends such as Thelonious Monk,
Errol Garner, and Curly Russell. His career has included performing
with Buddy Tate, Tina Brooks, Ernestine Anderson, Karrin Allyson, Roy
Hanes, Captain Jack McDuff, and Bobby Lyle. An actor as well as
musician, Brewington (who moved to the Twin Cities over 40 years ago)
toured with the Ordway Theater's musical production of "Buddy - the
Buddy Holly Story" in the role of "King Curtis." Vibist David Hagedorn
teaches percussion, jazz studies, and world music at St. Olaf College
in Northfield, MN. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he earned
an MM in Percussion Performance from the New England Conservatory of
Music. Hagedorn has recorded with the George Russell Living Time
Orchestra, Debbie Duncan, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and
locally performs with Apex, the Phil Hey Quartet, Pete Whitman X-Tet,
Low Blows, and Meantime. Trombonist Dave Leigh
directed high school band in Chicago for fifteen years. He's performed
with a wide range of artists from Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Tommy
Dorsey, and Ray Anthony to The Wolverines and "Irish" Jim Tolck. He has
also played shows for The Mills Brothers, Milton Berle, Mel Torme,
Frankie Avalon, and Elvis Presley. Bassist Ron Evaniuk plays
with the Americana Classic Jazz Orchestra (devoted to the big band
music of the 20s and 30s) and his own quartet, and recorded with Twin
Cities trumpet legend Gene Adams, in addition to his work with Gravatt
and Source Code.
"Gravatt's cymbal work is gorgeous... He always adds appropriate
accents and his playing accommodates the various styles of the
compositions -- whether it is a free-form escapade, a romantic waltz,
or a solemn march." - All music guide.
Full calendar and information available at the AQ website, www.mnjazz.com or call (651) 292-1359. |
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Friday, 29 August 2008
