One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing.
In New York City, Joe led the weekend jazz combos at Augie’s (now Smoke Jazz & Supper Club). He performed with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, John Jenkins and his brothers, John and James.
Joseph’s career includes well over 100 recordings as a leader and side-man, jazz festivals and world tours with Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Barry Harris, Curtis Fuller to name but a few....
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One of the most highly regarded jazz drummers on the scene today, Joe is known for his blazing speed, precision, musical, and melodic playing.
In New York City, Joe led the weekend jazz combos at Augie’s (now Smoke Jazz & Supper Club). He performed with Junior Cook, Cecil Payne, John Ore, Big John Patton, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, John Jenkins and his brothers, John and James.
Joseph’s career includes well over 100 recordings as a leader and side-man, jazz festivals and world tours with Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Harold Mabern, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, George Coleman, Johnny Griffin, Lou Donaldson, Benny Green, Barry Harris, Curtis Fuller to name but a few.
Farnsworth currently the drum chair for McCoy Tyner and is a member of the Pharaoh Sanders Quartet, Harold Mabern Trio, and a founding member of the renowned One for All Quintet.
"Is the pianist Sullivan Fortner ....the Oscar Peterson of the twenty-first century?....twenty-eight years he's on his way. And he certainly is not a copy of the great Oscar Peterson. And that is a good thing. - HiRes Audio
Lauded as one of the top jazz pianists of his generation, Sullivan Fortner is recognized for his virtuosic technique and captivating performances. The winner of three prestigious awards – a Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship, the 2015 Cole Porter Fellowship from the American Pianists Association, and the 2016 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists – Sullivan’s music embodies the essence of the blues and jazz as he connects music of all eras and genres through his improvisation.
As a leader, The Sullivan Fortner Trio has performed on many of the world’s most prestigious stages, and has been heard with Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, John Scofield, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Fred Hersch, Sean Jones, DeeDee Bridgewater, Roberta Gambarini, Peter Bernstein, Stefon Harris, Nicholas Payton, Billy Hart, Dave Liebman, Gary Bartz, Etienne Charles and Christian Scott.
One of the hardest working and swinging bass players on the scene, Rodney has recorded with Roy Hargrove, Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet, and has since been featured on over 100+ recordings, including film score for "China" directed by Jeff Wray (PBS 2002) and the Emmy-nominated "Malaria and Malawi" (PBS 2010).
Rodney Whitaker is an Origin Records recording artist, and one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the US. He is currently Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world.
Whitaker is the former Artistic Advisor of Jazz@Wharton Center, Director of Detroit Symphony’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
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