“Mississippi” is that big river dividing the nation east and west. It’s also the name of a new local jazz ensemble featuring four of the top performers in the Twin Cities. Led by Pete Whitman, the band includes pianist Peter Schimke, bassist Jeff Bailey and drummer Kevin Washington. The band debuted at the Artists Quarter in June, and now flows into Jazz Central on Wednesday, January 15th, part of the "improvised music" series.Pete Whitman is a veteran performer, composer, and arranger. After launching his professional career in Kansas City, he completed his undergraduate and masters’ degrees in jazz studies at North Texas State University. In 1986, Pete began touring throughout Europe, Japan and Brazil with the Glen Miller Orchestra, moving to St. Paul in 1988 where he has become one of the most prolific members of the Twin Cities jazz community. Pete’s credits on tenor, alto, soprano, clarinet and flute include performing with Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, Curtis Fuller, the Woody Herman Orchestra and Andres Prado Quartet. Currently Pete leads his 10-piece X-Tet and Quartet, and is a member of the Laura Caviani Quartet, Blue Chi (with local aces Dean Magraw and Jay Epstein) and the Jazz MN Orchestra. With his X-Tet, he released the highly regarded Where’s When on Artegra (2002), earning four stars from Downbeat. Pete also composed and arranged the score for the independent film, Been Rich All My Life. A dedicated educator, Whitman heads the Woodwind and Brass Department at St. Paul’s McNally Smith College where he teaches saxophone, improvisation, and arranging....
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“Mississippi” is that big river dividing the nation east and west. It’s also the name of a new local jazz ensemble featuring four of the top performers in the Twin Cities. Led by Pete Whitman, the band includes pianist Peter Schimke, bassist Jeff Bailey and drummer Kevin Washington. The band debuted at the Artists Quarter in June, and now flows into Jazz Central on Wednesday, January 15th, part of the "improvised music" series.Pete Whitman is a veteran performer, composer, and arranger. After launching his professional career in Kansas City, he completed his undergraduate and masters’ degrees in jazz studies at North Texas State University. In 1986, Pete began touring throughout Europe, Japan and Brazil with the Glen Miller Orchestra, moving to St. Paul in 1988 where he has become one of the most prolific members of the Twin Cities jazz community. Pete’s credits on tenor, alto, soprano, clarinet and flute include performing with Randy Brecker, Jack McDuff, Curtis Fuller, the Woody Herman Orchestra and Andres Prado Quartet. Currently Pete leads his 10-piece X-Tet and Quartet, and is a member of the Laura Caviani Quartet, Blue Chi (with local aces Dean Magraw and Jay Epstein) and the Jazz MN Orchestra. With his X-Tet, he released the highly regarded Where’s When on Artegra (2002), earning four stars from Downbeat. Pete also composed and arranged the score for the independent film, Been Rich All My Life. A dedicated educator, Whitman heads the Woodwind and Brass Department at St. Paul’s McNally Smith College where he teaches saxophone, improvisation, and arranging.
Pianist Peter Schimke is a popular performer at the Artists Quarter and one of the busiest keyboardists in the Twin Cities. A member of How Birds Work, leader of his own trio, long-time member of Bruce Henry's ensembles, member of the Anthony Cox group Lex, and frequently collaborating with Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst, Schimke is a favorite of local and visiting vocalists and instrumentalists. He can be heard monthly with the PipJazz Sundays band at Landmark Center. Other projects have included tours with the Andres Prado Quartet, Estaire Godinez, Chris Morrissey, and an ongoing duo with local legend, Irv Williams. Currently Peter is working on a solo recording and a duo with Willie Murphy.
Jeff Bailey is well regarded as a bassist, composer, teacher and producer. He has performed with such local and international stars as Captain Jack McDuff, Craig Taborn, James Carter, Nachito Herrera, Eric Gravatt, Rodney Jones, Dave King, Brian Lynch, Wessel Anderson, Andrés Prado, Doug Little, James Moody, Ellen Lease and Pat Moriarty. Beyond jazz, Jeff has also toured and performed with Keri Noble, Joey McIntyre (NKOTB), Tommy Barbarella (Prince), Charles Lazarus (Minnesota Orchestra), Reverend Billy Steele and more. Jeff has also received accolades for producing a Minnesota Music Award-winning CD for Alicia Wiley, received a Best of the Twin Cities Award as a founding member of Moveable Feast, and a Minnesota Music Award nomination for best Bass Player of the Year.
In his mid-30s, drummer Kevin Washington already has nearly three decades of professional experience, from stages in Detroit to New York to the Twin Cities. A dedicated performer, composer and educator, Kevin was born in Detroit, the son of jazz artists/teachers Faye and Donald Washington. He started playing drums as a toddler, soon performing in local and regional jazz festivals. At thirteen, he moved with his family to the Twin Cities, and quickly became part of the local music community, spreading his talents across jazz, Latin, reggae and funk bands. Moving to New York to attend the New School in 1996, Kevin gained experience with Chico Freeman, Arnie Lawrence, Antonio Hart and James Carter, and taught rhythm at the Harlem School of the Arts. Since returning to the Twin Cities, Kevin has been in high demand to support such national touring artists as Steve Slagle, Dave Stryker, the late David Fathead Newman, Rodney Jones and James Carter; has played with Moveable Feast, Doug Little, the Heptones, Nachito Herrera, Bruce Henry, Andres Prado, and Jazz Is Now!, as well as leading his own bands. And following in his parents’ footsteps, Kevin has devoted considerable time to jazz education, as an instructor at McNally Smith College, Walker West Music Academy and the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, and through private lessons.
From its headwaters in northern Minnesota to its delta in Louisiana, the Mississippi is a symbol of natural power. Just as the river roars through the Twin Cities, the music of “Mississippi” flows with its own pulsating energy, courtesy of four talents who are continuously evolving new ways to explore music.
Featuring:
Pete Whitman - Saxophones
Peter Schimke - Piano
Andres Prado - Guitar
Jeff Bailey - Bass
Kevin Washington - Drums
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