This past summer at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul, a new ensemble was born, featuring not one, not two, but three acoustic bassists – nothing more! In what was believed to be the first local performance of a three-bass trio, “Mountain King” proved that people will listen to the bass solo… or the bass trio, at least when their focus is solely on the instrument. With Graydon Peterson, Jeremy Boettcher and Brian Courage displaying a great deal of serious artistry amid playful interactions, Mountain King drew plenty of applause and calls for more. The group has since performed again at Jazz Central Studios and the Artists Quarter. Ready to go at it again, Mountain King takes the stage in the intimate Jazz Central Studios on Wednesday, March 12th at 8:30 pm....
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This past summer at the Artists Quarter in St. Paul, a new ensemble was born, featuring not one, not two, but three acoustic bassists – nothing more! In what was believed to be the first local performance of a three-bass trio, “Mountain King” proved that people will listen to the bass solo… or the bass trio, at least when their focus is solely on the instrument. With Graydon Peterson, Jeremy Boettcher and Brian Courage displaying a great deal of serious artistry amid playful interactions, Mountain King drew plenty of applause and calls for more. The group has since performed again at Jazz Central Studios and the Artists Quarter. Ready to go at it again, Mountain King takes the stage in the intimate Jazz Central Studios on Wednesday, March 12th at 8:30 pm.
Graydon Peterson played electric bass in his high school pep band and dabbled in rock music before finding his way into jazz. At the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, he was a member of UWEC’s Downbeat Award-winning Jazz Ensemble I and performed with such guest jazz artists as Lewis Nash, Ingrid Jensen, Jason Marsalis, Chris Botti, and Christian McBride. In Minneapolis, Peterson is a first-call bassist who often works with top area vocalists, including Debbie Duncan and Connie Evingson. He performs regularly with brass ensemble Snowblind, the trio Firebell with Park Evans and Jay Epstein, and a long list of instrumentalists. He’s also a frequent accompanist throughout the annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Peterson launched his own quartet in fall 2011 as a means of focusing on his own compositions, and will release the quartet’s first recording in two weeks.
Also a UW-EC graduate, Jeremy Boettcher studied bass with John Clayton and has played with such artists as Benny Green and Lewis Nash. After a year in New York, he returned to the Twin Cities, where he has played with Triosé, Zacc Harris, Bryan Nichols, the John Raymond Project, Aaron Hedenstrom Quintet, Laura Caviani Trio, and his own quartet with Josh Gallagher, Brandon Wozniak and Sean Carey. In fall 2012, he joined the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet for their gig at the Dakota.
Brian Courage graduated in 2012 from the Lawrence University Conservatory, and he’s been a busy first-call performer ever since moving to the Twin Cities, appearing at the Artists Quarter, Jazz Central, Icehouse and more, and co-leading Courageous Endeavors. He’s appeared with Lew Tabackin, David Hazeltine, Laura Caviani and many more at the Artists Quarter, Dakota, Jazz Central, Icehouse and beyond.
Mountain King performs new arrangements of less familiar standards as well as some original works. Their three-part harmonies and masterful interaction more than make up for the lack of chordal instruments or horns. This is definitely a Three-Bass Hit. – Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com
Featuring:
Graydon Peterson- http://graydonpetersonquartet.com
Jeremy Boettcher - https://myspace.com/jeremyboettchermusic
Brian Courage - http://youtube.com/BrianCourageMusic
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