Presented by Dwight Trible, Executive Director - The 'new' World STAGE Art Education & Performance Gallery non profit 501(c)(3) "Winter Jazz Concert Series +"
*Update(s)*
Music Professor - Billy McCoy aka "Teach" is the Coordinator of The 'new' World Stage Saturday Jazz Workshop. "lucky to have him" - Maestro Charles Owens
Presents: "Studies in Blue"
Personnel: Quintet* -
Billy McCoy, Leader - piano
Sal Crocker - saxes
Andrei Kvalil - bass
Marco Spodek - drums
*Tim Tietjen - guitar*
Performance Donation: "going toward items (printer ink, paper etc.,) we need in the Saturday Workshop. So if you have some time, please come and sip some tea, kickback and let’s enjoy the artistry of the musician I’ve asked to help me generate funds for sorely needed tools." - BMcC
Meet the artist in Studies in Blue
Seleno “Sal” Crocker manages TWO very successful careers during one lifetime. Along with being an award-winning Saxophonist, this artist also serves as a successful major airline pilot for the last 27 years. Yes, Sal has managed to equally master his Mark VI and the Airbus at the same time. Growing up, Sal always had a desire to fly but, once he picked up the saxophone at age 10, he defined his two passions: Flying and the Saxophone. So, instead of choosing one career over the other, he decided to tackle them both, simultaneously.
Born in New York City October 29, 1965, Sal moved to Memphis at the early age of four. While growing up in Memphis, the musical city exposed him to a rich heritage of music covering a broad and wide spectrum.
At 10 years old, Sal began playing the tenor saxophone under the direction of noted saxophonist and studio musician Jim “JT” Terry. JT set the bar extremely high for Sal at a young age. He worked tirelessly developing a diligent work ethic that would afford him the luxury of having two parallel careers.In the process of mastering his studies as a musician and airline pilot, at the tender age of 18, Sal reunited with his father musically on (J)azz festivals and cruises. He performed on the same billing with many greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Lou Donaldson, Etta James, Gerald Albright, Arthur Prysock, Charles Erlin and many more. Over the coming years, Sal found himself wearing many musical genre hats; performing music from R&B and pop to gospel to (J)azz. He played with artist such as the Diamonds, Marvels, Angels, Platters, The Temptations, James Williams, Phineas Newborn, Mulgrew Miller, Dinah Shore, Kenny Loggins and more, but realized (J)azz was his true passion.“I have a lot to prove musically now that I’m giving music my undivided attention this late in the game” he states. “I don’t want people to view me as a great pilot with a saxophone hobby. I want people to recognize that I am a great saxophonist who just happens to be a pilot. I have dedicated my entire life to the craft of music”. Sal Crocker has been characterized as a blend of soul and intellect. Jimmy Heath states, “Sal has the sound of music. He knows the meaning of music.”His music brings a wealth of soulful, spiritual and intellectual insights from a unique place. This is evident through his performances, where he frequently draws from his influences such as Bob Mintzer, Grover Washington, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Miles Davis, Eliane Elias, Don Grolnic, Joe Henderson and Kenny Garrett just to name a few.Currently Sal studies with Grammy Award Winner and Yellow Jackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer in Los Angeles, CA who is also head of Jazz Studies at University of Southern California
Andrei Kvapil is an Okinawan-Czech musician born and raised in Long Beach, CA. He began music at an early age, starting with violin at age 8 and then guitar at age 11, studying both until he moved to study music at Bard College in the Hudson Valley of New York State. It wasn’t until his second year there that he committed his studies to the bass, both electric and upright. For the next three years he immersed himself in the instrument(s) with the great bassist Ira Coleman. Alongside, he studied theory and composition with Erica Lindsay (saxophone) and John Esposito (piano); and worked with drummer/composer Dean Sharp and guitarist/composer Mark Dzuiba (SUNY New Paltz). He finished at Bard in May 2017, achieving the Nesuhi Ertegun !Scholarship in Jazz and the Larry McLeod Award in Jazz. After finishing school on the east cast, Andrei currently lives back in Long Beach where he is finding old friends and re-discovering the west coast vibe and music scene.
Marco Spodek is a drummer and aquatic scientist from New York. He has been studying music since age eight, and recently received his dual degree in environmental science and (J)azz studies from Bard College in New York. Marco has studied with the likes of Norman Edwards Jr., Zach Marks, Jerad Lippi, Billy Martin, and Peter O'Brien. He performed as the primary drummer for the Contemporary Jazz Composer's ensemble led by Erica Lindsay for four years, and has collaborated with artists such as Dwight Trible and Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez. Marco is also part of New York-based group Rattus Rattus (in which
Andrei plays bass). They are due to release their debut album "Phase In" !in the coming weeks. Marco now resides in Long Beach, California.
Tim Tietjen is excited to be making his LA debut at The World Stage. A native of Las Vegas, Tim discovered his love of guitar at a very young age. He studied privately for many years before going on to major in Jazz & Improvisational Music at the University of Nevada, Reno. After graduating, Tim began his professional career, working on both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line as a member of several international showbands, a solo intermissionist, and as Music Director and Bandmaster. Since leaving ships, Tim had been living in Chicago and just recently relocated to the West Coast with his wife Caroline.
*Admission: requested donation - was $20 now $15 *
♪ - Jazz is spelled, beginin' w/ a capital J most alwayz period exclamation
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