The Space Coast Jazz Society brings you a live jazz concert by multi-instrumentalist RICHARD DREXLER with THOMAS MILOVAC on bass and TRACY ALEXANDER on drums.
Richard is a composer, arranger and producer. He is an Illinois native and has been based out of Florida since 1985. He toured regularly with the Jeff Berlin Trio and, on occasion, with the Woody Herman Orchestra and trombonist John Allred, among others. He has accompanied singers such as Mel Torme’, Tony Bennett, Diahann Carroll, Frankie Laine, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, and many more. He is an adjunct faculty member in the jazz department of the University of Central Florida in Orlando and has his own private teaching studio.
Richard has appeared on or producing over one hundred CDs ranging from salsa, to avant-garde to country & western, to the thrash metal group Saigon Kick. He has assisted guitarist/composer/producer Richie Zellon on much of the Songosaurus label catalog, devoted to jazz fused with South American rhythms. He produced his first album of originals, “Flaming Spirit”, in 1978 with Dave Liebman, Tom Harrell, Steve laSpina and Clay Hulet.
You can sample his music at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq8djI2478LMJRiLJhYks8w
Bassist THOMAS MILOVAC is based out of Orlando, Florida. He has performed throughout the United States appearing with artists such as Ulysses Owens Jr., Wayne Escoffery, Ryan Devlin, Adam Nussbaum, Steve Cohn, Rashid Williams’s LFJ Orchestra, Alex Han, John Lumpkin, Zoh Amba, Dominick Farinacci, Steve Swell, Elizabeth A. Baker, Sean Hamilton, Majid Araim, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Renee Baker, and Jonas Van den Bossche.
He is also a member of the "pan-Florida improvisation syndicate" BONGUS, jazz rock group Creek, and the Jacksonville based ensemble Madre Vaca. He also leads his own ensembles performing his original works. These projects includes the Thomas Milovac Sextet and Trio, Large Ensemble, and the bass and drum duo, The Improjectionists.
In 2021, Thomas started his record label, Cosmo Sonic Collective, focused on releasing improvised music. Thomas released his debut studio album “Sun Ray” in February of 2022.
TRACY ALEXANDER is the son of internationally renowned Jazz Drummer Elmer "Mousie" Alexander. "Mousie" who was voted onto the list of Top Ten Jazz Drummers internationally for over 40 Years by The Downbeat Jazz Polls. Tracy studied with his Father from the age of 12 years old and two years later was accepted into Choate School's Jazz Performance Class where he played drums in The Mighty Midgets Of Jazz Big Band under the direction of Phil Wilson.
Tracy began playing professionally at the age of 15 on weekends and was invited to join The Nassau County Neophonic Lab Band which was composed of the finest high school level Jazz Musicians in the area. International Tours and Concerts include The Nassau County Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Brissago Jazz Festival, Brienz Jazz Festival, L.A. Classic Jazz Festival, Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Jane Jarvis Jazz Invitational, Sarasota Jazz Festival, KOOL Jazz Festival, Gainesville Jazz Festival, Cocoa Beach Jazz Festival, Daytona Beach Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival and The Clearwater Jazz Holiday.
Tracy has performed at numerous Jazz Society Concerts and Festivals with Clark Terry, Milt Hinton, Bill Watrous, Derek Smith, George Duvivier, Mike Longo, Buddy Morrow, Monty Alexander, Eubie Blake, Jessie Stone, Dakota Staton, Maxine Sullivan, Nathen Page, Bucky And John Pizzarelli, John and Bill Allred, Herb Ellis, Larry Coryell, Jane Jarvis, Kenny Drew Jr, George Duke, Freddy Cole, Frank Sinatra Jr, Billy Eckstine, Jack Sheldon, Billy Daniels, Ira Sullivan, Flip Phillips, Lew Tabackin, Holly Hofmann, Ray Gelato, Harry Sheppard, Paul Smith, Peter Appleyard, Lynn Seaton, Walt Levinsky, Bob Haggart, Johnny Varro and Miss Lilly Ann Carol, (the original female vocalist for Louis Prima in 1945).
Other Concerts and Tours include; Charlie Thomas and The Drifters, The Limelighters, The Four Freshmen, Melanie Safka, (a featured performer at Woodstock), The Wolfman Jack TV Show's Band, Rockin Robin and Michael Andrew's Swingerhead Orchestra. During 1986 through 1988 Tracy toured exclusively with The Tony Tillman Show, (Bill Cosby's opening act in Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe). In 1989 he joined Cold Fusion who entered and won The National Original Jazz Band Competition held in Nashville along with being voted Best Original Jazz Band in Florida, receiving Jam Magazine's Jammy Award for six years in a row. Tracy was honored by having a Drum Battle with Louie Bellson in 1990.
General Admission is paid at the door: $15 for Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center members, $20 for guests, students under 25 yrs of age are free. Bring your own food & drink. Tables, seating, great music and a beautiful view of the river are provided.
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