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 Eric Alexander © Andrea Canter
Jazz at Pearl's will present the New York tenor Titan, Eric Alexander from Friday, March 16th through Sunday, March 18th with sets at 8:00 and 10:00 PM. Eric Alexander's Quartet for this engagement will include a solid, swinging West coast rhythm section consisting of pianist Joe Gilman from Sacramento, Akira Tana on drums and Michael Zisman on bass.
With 19 CD's out under his own name and appearing as sideman on countless others, Eric Alexander has made his mark on the jazz world and documented his progress as a tenor master. He has a rich tone and an aggressive, confident, driving style that grabs the listener's attention and doesn't let go. One can hear the influence of Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean and George Coleman in his playing. A mainstay of the New York jazz scene, Alexander appears regularly at the hip, uptown nightclub, Smoke.
 Eric Alexander © Andrea Canter
During the 1990s, after placing second behind Joshua Redman in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition, Alexander threw himself into the whirlwind life of a professional jazz musician. He played with organ trios on the South Side of Chicago, made his recording debut in 1991 with Charles Earland, and cut his first album as leader in 1992 (Straight Up for Delmark). More recordings for Delmark, Criss Cross, and Alfa followed, leading to 1997's Man with a Horn; the 1998 collaborative quartet session with George Mraz, John Hicks, and Idris Muhammad, Solid!; and, that same year, the first recording by One For All, Alexander's ongoing band with Jim Rotondi, Steve Davis, Joe Farnsworth, Peter Washington, and Dave Hazeltine. His most recent releases on High Note include Nightlife in Tokyo (2003), Dead Center(2005), and It’s All in the Game (2006) [click here for a Jazz Police review].
 Joe Gilman
After completing his studies at William Patterson College in 1989 under the direction of Todd Coolman and Rufus Reid, Michael Zisman moved to New York City where he lived until moving to the Bay Area in the year 2000. Michael has performed with Jazz leaders such as; Cecil Payne, Junior Cook, George Coleman, Harold Maybern, Clark Terry, Eddie Henderson, Jerome Richardson, Benny Golson, Tootie Heath. Michael also performs with some of the rising jazz stars such as; Eric Alexander, Jim Rotundi, Joe Farnsworth, Steve Davis, David Hazeltine, Anthony Wonzy, Steve Wilson, Mike LaDonne and others. Aside from performing, Michael Zisman is currently the Faculty Director at the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
 Akira Tana
Drummer Akira Tana was born in San Jose, California. He received degrees in East Asian Studies from Harvard University in 1974 and percussion from the New England Conservatory in 1979. Then moving to New York, he established himself as one of the most sought-after drummers on the international jazz scene, working with jazz greats such as Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, Hubert Laws, Milt Jackson, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, The Paul Winter Consort, Paquito D'Rivera, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, Lena Horne, and The Manhattan Transfer, just to name a few. Tana co-led a quintet for approximately 10 years with the bassist Rufus Reid, called TanaReid. They had 6 CD's released five of which were produced by Tana. Recently relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area after 20 years in New York City, Tana continues to be active on the international jazz scene touring extensively as well as performing locally in and around San Francisco with his own groups and groups led by others. He also conducts clinics and masterclasses sponsored in part by Yamaha Drums and Vic Firth Sticks.
Jazz at Pearl's will present the Eric Alexanders Quartet from Friday, March 16th through Sunday, March 18th with sets at 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Make reservations early, this is a small, intimate club and is bound to fill up for this outstanding show. Make reservations online at www.jazzatpearls.com or at 415-291 8255. Jazz at Pearl's is located at 256 Columbus Ave (at Pacific), San Francisco, CA 94133. |
Saturday, 05 July 2008
