Join us for our new series, CoPA Artist Hour, featuring a performance and conversation with members of the New School's College of Performing Arts Music community.
E. .J. Strickland (drums)
E.J. quickly graduated into New York’s gigging jazz scene, playing with the greatest names in contemporary music. He has long stints with Ravi Coltrane, Russell Malone, Marcus Strickland, Manuel Valera and also had opportunities to work on occasion with artists like Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Herbie Hancock and many others. Influenced by wonderful drummers (Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Tony Williams, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Brian Blade), he rapidly developed his own eclectic and creative style. Variety of influence and interest might be the key words for E.J. in his musical approach. He reminds us: “You’re not going to hear a traditional jazz drummer. You’re going to hear someone who’s drawing from many different styles, many different approaches. That’s what my true voice is. And I always try to remember that music is fun!” These days, E.J. finds himself writing music more than anything else and focusing on being a bandleader and a musician, creating great vehicles for his band to play on. He is also touring all over the world with Ravi Coltrane, Manuel Valera, Brandee Younger, Reggie Washington, Dave Weiss, Christian Sands and others....
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Join us for our new series, CoPA Artist Hour, featuring a performance and conversation with members of the New School's College of Performing Arts Music community.
E. .J. Strickland (drums)
E.J. quickly graduated into New York’s gigging jazz scene, playing with the greatest names in contemporary music. He has long stints with Ravi Coltrane, Russell Malone, Marcus Strickland, Manuel Valera and also had opportunities to work on occasion with artists like Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson, Herbie Hancock and many others. Influenced by wonderful drummers (Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Cobb, Tony Williams, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Brian Blade), he rapidly developed his own eclectic and creative style. Variety of influence and interest might be the key words for E.J. in his musical approach. He reminds us: “You’re not going to hear a traditional jazz drummer. You’re going to hear someone who’s drawing from many different styles, many different approaches. That’s what my true voice is. And I always try to remember that music is fun!” These days, E.J. finds himself writing music more than anything else and focusing on being a bandleader and a musician, creating great vehicles for his band to play on. He is also touring all over the world with Ravi Coltrane, Manuel Valera, Brandee Younger, Reggie Washington, Dave Weiss, Christian Sands and others.
Marcus Strickland (saxophone)
Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Marcus Strickland is a charter member of the 21st century jazz vanguard. Similar to the torrent of artists that appeared on the jazz landscape in the early '80s to pull jazz out of the grasp of the Fusion Era, Strickland, his identical twin brother E.J. Strickland (drummer), and artists such as Jeremy Pelt and Robert Glasper breathed new life into jazz early in the new millennium, often erasing the boundaries between it and other musical genres, from hip hop to funk to soul.
Strickland signed to Blue Note in 2015 and in the spring of 2016, he released Nihil Novi, his full-length debut as a leader for the label. It was produced by Meshell N'Degeocello and featured an entirely new band called Twi-Life (from his 2006 album title) with trumpeter Harrold, bassist Kyle Miles, drummer Charles Haynes, organist Mitch Henry, and keyboardist Masayuki Hirano. The album also featured all-star contributions from vocalist Jean Baylor, bassist Pino Palladino, drummer Chris Dave, guitarist Chris Bruce, and pianist Robert Glasper (the latter played on the Twi-Life album). Two years later, Strickland's group issued its sophomore Blue Note date, People of the Sun. Self-produced, the band's personnel shifted a bit with Ghanaian born, U.S.-based percussion master Weedie Braimah. The single "On My Mind" featured guest appearances by Bilal, Pharoahe Monch, and Greg Tate.
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