The Working Artist Project

In this episode of the Working Artist Project Gregory and Darrian find out why Marcus Miller decided to leave Wall Street to pursue a career in music.

Bio:

Marcus Miller wants to spread curiosity, imagination, and beauty through his work in music, mathematics and other fields of interest.

He began studying saxophone at age nine and, with the help of world-renown saxophonist Bruce Williams (Roy Hargrove, Juilliard, World Saxophone Quartet), developed a passion that put him on stage at 13. With gifts extending beyond music, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Mathematics. After a short stint at a major hedge fund, he moved to New York City to pursue music. He soon developed a reputation as a versatile and virtuosic player, while studying music production and engineering under Grammy-Winning Engineer “Bassy” Bob Brockman (Notorious B.I.G, Herbie Hancock, D'Angelo).

Marcus has performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, The World Economic Forum at Davos, The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert alongside Jon Batiste, and Carnegie Hall. In addition, he has worked with musical giants ELEW and Jazzmeia Horn and is a regular at Daybreaker NYC. He works as a teaching artist at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and was noted as an Artist of Distinction by the state of New Jersey. 

 Marcus maintains his interest in mathematics and physics by giving talks and performances that combine Math and Music. He has been featured at the Falling Walls 2020 Virtual Conference for Berlin Science Week, TEDSummit 2019, TEDxOttawa 2019, Brown University, University of Georgia, University of Michigan, and venues in Istanbul, Hong Kong. He has also held a residency at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City. He hopes to encourage people to become more aware of the beauty in mathematics and the power of imagination.

In this episode of The Working Artist Project Gregory, Darrian and Jeanette discuss the subtle differences between Equality and Equity in the arts space.

Bio: 

 Jeanette Berry is a singer songwriter, poet, educator, and band leader. She is a student of the Black American Music tradition citing Jill Scott, Carmen McRae, Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, India Arie and Donny Hathaway as influences. Not a stranger to different genres, Jeanette has worked with Hip Hop artists and producers, most notably Homeboy Sandman, Break Beat Lou, Grand Puba, Bishop Lamont, and many others. She has worked with her former original band Jeanette Berry and the Soul Nerds in the New York Tri-State area, New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the DMV area. She's toured singing background for Ms. Lauryn Hill and spent 7 years as a member of the Voice of the Pops with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. She's released One full length album, two EP's and a live compilation album. Her music has been featured on TV. Her latest single, "Space & Timing" can be found on bandcamp with the rest of her music. Later this month she will be celebrating the one year anniversary of her EP, Solivagant with a virtual event including poetry and stories from her and musicians a part of the recording. 

Emily Braden and Darrian Douglas discuss the importance of soulfulness and growth.

BIO 

With a new album currently in the works, vocalist Emily Braden electrifies NYC and international audiences with her fresh, soulful sound and striking stage presence.  Winner of New York City's 'Best of the Best' Jazzmobile Vocal Competition, this Idaho-born, Harlem-based vocalist keeps her feet firmly planted in the straight ahead tradition while fearlessly exploring the range and nuance of the human voice. Her original music, co-created with producer and pianist Misha Piatigorsky, blends heavy grooves and carefully-crafted lyrics with soaring vocals and off-the-cuff bilingual improvisations. Before the COVID-19 global pandemic, Braden toured regularly and could be seen every first Friday at NYC’s famed 55 Bar. See her live and she’ll make you a believer. The official video for “Strength of Love," the first single from the upcoming album, was released on YouTube on June 5, 2020. 

Currently mixing a new album. Folks can connect via IG (@songbody) or FB artist page under my name. 

Virginia, Gregory and Darrian dive into the complexities of creating and self-reflection during a time of hardship.

Virginia's Bio:

2019 Stingray Music Rising Star Award recipient and 2020 International Clarinetist Corona Competition first prize winner Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a respected and sought after musician in the Canadian jazz scene. Virginia has performed extensively as both a leader and side woman at several venues across the city of Toronto, where she is currently based, including Koerner Hall, The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, The Jazz Bistro, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, and has performed in several Canadian and American jazz festivals including The Cambridge Jazz Festival, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, the Beaches International Jazz Festival, the Kensington Market Jazz Festival, the TD Markham Jazz Festival and the Cape Breton Jazz Festival. Virginia has had the opportunity to work internationally in the United States, India, Spain, and France.

In 2018, Virginia received a $10,000 scholarship to take part in an exclusive five-week workshop at Berklee College of Music with Grammy Award-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. While at Berklee, she had the chance to work with Terri extensively, along with Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist Tia Fuller. She also had the opportunity to perform at the Cambridge Jazz Festival, alongside Carrington and Fuller. She appeared on Juno Award-winning saxophonist Kirk MacDonald’s 2013 big band release, Common Ground, and his latest 2018 release with the legendary Harold Mabern, Generations: Ballads & Standards. In addition to her busy performance schedule, Virginia is an in demand educator and has given masterclasses at universities and post-secondary music programs both locally and internationally, including workshops at McGill University (Montreal), the Global Music Institute (Delhi), and the True School of Music (Mumbai).

At this point in her career, Virginia is now focusing on composing and performing her own music. Her debut album is set to be released in 2021, and is comprised of original compositions written for jazz quintet.

In this episode of The Working Artist Project Gregory, Darrian and Loren discuss the path to self love through growth and music.

Bio:

Bay area native Smith sang his first solo at the age of 3 and never stopped.

Smith’s latest single “Can’t Wait”, produced by Colin Boyd (Mac Miller & Frank

Ocean) boasts over 750,000 Youtube views, and his first single “Break Free” was

featured on NBC’s Today Show.

Smith’s solo vocals have been featured in the motion pictures “GET OUT”,

“Lincoln”, and the CW’s “All American”. He’s lent his voice to the recording

projects of BTS, Nick Carter and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, shared the stage as

supporting vocalist for Arcade Fire, Erich Bergen, Heather Headley and Andy

Grammer and is currently tenor and vocal captain of Michael Buble’s Background

Vocalists.

Connect: Twitter, FB & Instagram @SangLorenSmith.

www.facebook.com/sanglorensmith

Spike Wilner, Gregory Agid and Darrian Douglas discuss the importance of Jazz Clubs and how they contribute to the arts community. 

Spike Wilner Bio: 

Michael "Spike" Wilner, was born in the city of Manhattan, New York. Spike was inspired to play ragtime piano at a young age. Spike entered into the first class of the, now legendary, New School For Social Research's Jazz and Contemporary Music Program, then led by the late Arnie Lawrence. Spike performed with and has led many bands in New York City at many famous, now closed, jazz clubs including The Village Gate, The Angry Squire, Visiones, Augies, The West End Gate and The Village Corner. Spike also toured with The Artie Shaw Big Band, The Glen Miller Orchestra, Maynard Furgeson & Lennie Cuje.

 In 1994, Spike began to work a regular gig at Smalls Jazz Club. This became his permanent musical home and led to his current position as partner and manager of the club. Spike now spends most of his time at Smalls making sure that it keeps on running. Each Tuesday he performs with his group.

Spike's company SmallsLIVE LLC is a digital media company with the purpose of distributing live recorded music from Smalls Jazz Club. SmallsLIVE currently has a catalog of 40 HD titles, broadcasts live shows every night on the internet via www.smallslive.com. SmallsLIVE has also documented every show at Smalls Jazz Club since September of 2007. The audio/video archive now has more than 7000 recordings and represents from than 550 prominent jazz artists.

The Working Artist Project presents Victor Goines. Victor Goines is a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. From 2000 to 2007, he was director of the jazz program at Juilliard. He has been a member of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the Wynton Marsalis Septet since 1993.

Jackie Harris is a cultural ambassador who has sought to it that the music that we call "Jazz" is passed along through education and culture. In 2013 Mrs Harris was named the Executive Director of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation. This foundation has a long-standing camp that goes by the same name. We hope that you tune in to learn more about Jackie and the many projects that she spearheads.

Jazzmeia, Gregory and I sat down to discuss her new album entitled Where We Are. Her perspective on life is the same as her music, riveting! In this conversation, you will gain some insight into Jazzmeia's to success. 

Connect with Jazzmeia:

www.artistryofjazzhorn.com/live

Ben Paterson website:  www.benpaterson.com, and Facebook / Insta at BenPatersonMusic

Combining a joyful swing feel with an impeccable touch, Steinway Artist Ben Paterson has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young pianists on the Jazz scene today, garnering international acclaim for his superb musicianship and engaging performances. Originally from Philadelphia, Ben studied both classical and jazz music before moving to the great city of Chicago, absorbing the unique blend of Jazz and Blues that can only be found in the Windy City.  Now based in New York, Ben is poised to bring his unique talents and style to a wider audience, performing regularly at top notch venues around town, and at clubs and festivals around the world.  In 2018 Ben was named as the First Place Winner of the Ellis Marsalis International Jazz Piano Competition, with judges including Ellis and Branford Marsalis, Arturo O'Farrill and Jonathan Batiste. Notable collaborations include work with NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman, Bobby Broom, Johnny O’Neal, Red Holloway, Eldee young, Jerry Weldon, Peter Bernstein and Ed Cherry to name a few, with performances opening for groups like Steely Dan and B.B. King. Ben has released 7 CD's under his own name: Breathing Space (OA2 Records 2007) Blues For Oscar (Meetinghouse Records 2012), Essential Elements (MAXJAZZ 2013), For Once In My Life (Origin 2015), That Old Feeling (Cellar Live 2018), Live at Van Gelder's (Cellar Live 2018), and I'll Be Thanking Santa (Meetinghouse Records 2019) Visit www.benpaterson.com for more information.