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NY Guitarist Greg Skaff at the Artists' Quarter, January 25th & 26th |
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Written by Don Berryman
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Monday, 21 January 2008 |
“Greg is the most versatile and imaginative guitarist I’ve ever worked with.” - Bobby Watson
 This weekend, the Artists' Quarter welcomes guitarist Greg Skaff, a New York-based musician and composer whose skills and reputation place him among the premier guitarists in jazz. His ascension began shortly after moving to New York in the 80's when the late Stanley Turrentine, who was returning to the hard-bop/soul-jazz genre that had made him a superstar in the 60's, chose Skaff to take the place that George Benson, Kenny Burrell, and Grant Green held in Turrentine’s earlier groups. For five years he toured with Turrentine and honed his skills in that bluesy soul-jazz tradition. Since then Greg has flourished as both a sideman and bandleader and played and recorded with, among others, Bobby Watson, Ruth Brown, Freddie Hubbard, David “Fathead” Newman, Kevin Mahogany, Gloria Lynne, Jim Rotondi, David Hazeltine, Bruce Barth, Mike LeDonne, Joe Farnsworth, Matt Wilson, Ben Allison, Orrin Evans, and Victor Lewis. Skaff has released two acclaimed albums under his name, the newest titled Ellington Boulevard. He still performs regularly with Bobby Watson (an association that has lasted over a decade), plays in a trio with drummer E. J. Strickland, and organ player George Colligan, and also contributes to several other ensembles—including James Rotondi’s Electric Band and a collaboration with drummer Matt Watson and bassist Ben Allison.
This weekend he brings his inventive compositions and teams up with the Artists Quarter's own swinging stalwarts of bluesy soul-jazz, "Downtown" Bill Brown on Hammond B3 organ, and Kenny Horst on Drums.
Greg Skaff especially shines when collaborating with Hammond organ and drums, and should be heard on the wonderful album Ellington Boulevard in the company of B-3 specialist Mike LeDonne and ace drummer Joe Farnsworth. Organ player George Colligan has recently teamed with Skaff and drummer E. J. Strickland in an exciting trio that has quickly become a favorite of audiences in NYC and Italy. His current working group, of which there is a recording project in the works, teams him again with George Colligan on organ and with E. J. Strickland on drums; also slated is a recording that will include the legendary Dr. Lonnie Smith on organ.
"Downtown" Bill Brown is very well known in the hammond organ community. Bill knows hammond organs inside and out. In addition to being versital player, he is also the owner of BB Organs in Fridley and has a world-wide reputation as one of the finest hammond organ techs in the world (his client list reads like a who's who of jazz organ and icluded: Jack McDuff, Joey DeFrancesco, the late Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Tony Monaco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Larry Goldings, Jon Medeski, etc.). A long-time crowd pleasing player in the world of r&b, soul and funk - Bill has had a long standing gig as organist in Dr. Mambo's Combo every Monday night at Bunkers. He has also become a first rate jazz organist while building a loyal following over the past several years as the anchor of the Artists' Quarter's popular Tuesday Night Band on the Hammond B3. Kenny Horst © Andrea Canter
Kenny Horst, in addition to being the owner - manager of the Artists' Quarter and pillar of the Twin Cities jazz community, is frequently a drummer on the bandstand. A highly musical drummer, Kenny is the powerhouse behind the popular and funky soul-jazz oriented Tuesday Night Band. Kenny can also play with incredible subtlety while gently coaxing sweet tones from the drums, and his unparalleled brush work is almost magical - evoking the organic rhythm of the surf. Kenny has played with innumerable jazz greats including Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller, Frank Morgan, and Harry 'Sweets' Edison. Kenny has toured with Mose Allison and Bobby Lyle and has recorded with Lee Konitz, Ira Sullivan, Ben Sidran, and David Hazeltine. among others.
Come catch Greg Skaff lead this dazzling trio at the Artists' Quarter this week-end, January 25th and 26th. Show time is at 9:00 p.m.The Artists' Quarter is located at the corner of St. Peter Street and the 7th Place Pedestrian Mall in downtown St Paul, (651) 292-1359. Visit www.artistsquarter.com for more information.
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 Sunday, 20 July 2008
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