Stacy Dillard - Keigo Hirakawa Group at BOP STOP

Saxophonist Stacy Dillard and pianist Keigo Hirakawa team up for an amazing night of music at the BOP STOP! They have assembled a stellar group featuring George Delaney on bass and Cedric Easton on drums.

Stacy Dillard, raised in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, started playing the saxophone at a rather late age. In his hometown, there isn't much music happening, but only Robert Moore, Stacy's band instructor, and a host of close friends. Athletics was a big part of his life, leading to the late start on the instrument. Stacy attended college at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio to study with Dr. William Denza, Jim Smith, Chris Berg, and Lenard Moses. Very quickly, Dillard acquired the necessary knowledge that would soon put his name out on the local scene. It was a run-in with Wynton Marsalis in Dayton, Ohio that would turn his attention to the New York Scene. After graduation, Stacy took the act to Cincinnati, where he stayed for a short time and made his first recording appearance with Mike Wade on trumpet, drummer Melvin Broach and pianist William Menefield. Maturation was very rapid, finally leading the way to New York....

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Saxophonist Stacy Dillard and pianist Keigo Hirakawa team up for an amazing night of music at the BOP STOP! They have assembled a stellar group featuring George Delaney on bass and Cedric Easton on drums.

Stacy Dillard, raised in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, started playing the saxophone at a rather late age. In his hometown, there isn't much music happening, but only Robert Moore, Stacy's band instructor, and a host of close friends. Athletics was a big part of his life, leading to the late start on the instrument. Stacy attended college at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio to study with Dr. William Denza, Jim Smith, Chris Berg, and Lenard Moses. Very quickly, Dillard acquired the necessary knowledge that would soon put his name out on the local scene. It was a run-in with Wynton Marsalis in Dayton, Ohio that would turn his attention to the New York Scene. After graduation, Stacy took the act to Cincinnati, where he stayed for a short time and made his first recording appearance with Mike Wade on trumpet, drummer Melvin Broach and pianist William Menefield. Maturation was very rapid, finally leading the way to New York.

Over the period of 20 years as a professional jazz pianist and 7 full-length album appearances (3 as leader), Keigo Hirakawa has transformed himself from a student of the jazz masters to an artist with vision and unique sense of expressions. His jazz piano trio is well-known throughout the Midwest for their willingness to be musically spontaneous on stage, exploring original compositions and redefining jazz standards to make it their own. Hirakawa has appeared on stage alongside Donald Byrd and Joe Lovano, and his latest album “Pixel” from Origin Records (2023) features Robert Hurst. Hirakawa can also be heard on Summit Records and Unamas Label. He is a graduate of New England Conservatory and was a student of Danilo Perez, Stephen Scott, Alan Pasqua, Jerry Bergonzi, Cecil McBee, and George Garzone.

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