Jon Faddis

Performers

• David Hazeltine, Piano
• Dion Parson, Drums
• Jon Faddis, Trumpet
• Todd Coolman, Bass

Program

Program is approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes, and will be performed without intermission

Bios

• David Hazeltine
  
  David Hazeltine is one of a handful of young pianists who has successfully forged his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the accumulated greatness and weight of a modern piano tradition. His influences extend from Art Tatum and Bud Powell to such great living masters as Barry Harris and Cedar Walton.
  
  Hazeltine made his professional debut at age 13 in Milwaukee, and later worked extensively in and around Chicago and Minneapolis. In Milwaukee, he served as house pianist at the famed Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, working with such greats as Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams, and Chet Baker.
  
  Since moving to New York City in 1992, Hazeltine has made a name for himself as a "musician's musician." In addition to his working trio (with drum legend Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington), Hazeltine is in constant demand as a sideman. Recent credits include work with Freddie Hubbard, James Moody, the Faddis-Hampton-Heath Sextet, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, the Louis Hayes Quintet, and Marlena Shaw (for whom he serves as pianist, arranger, and musical director).
  
  Hazeltine's debut CD in 1996 as a leader, Four Flights Up (featuring Slide Hampton), received high praise from critics and musicians alike. His most recent recordings include The Inspiration Suite and Blues Quarters Vol. 2.
  
  As a dedicated teacher, Hazeltine's career reflects his intense commitment to the advancement of jazz culture and awareness. In Milwaukee, he was co-founder and director of The Jazz School, and department chairman at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He recently served as associate professor at Berklee College of Music. Hazeltine is currently on the piano faculty at Purchase College-SUNY.

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• Dion Parson
  
  Dion Parson is one of New York's finest young drummers. Born in 1967 in St. Thomas, Parson's musical foundation includes classical, reggae, calypso, jazz, African, and pop music.
  
  Parson's first musical instrument was the trombone, but at the age of 15, he began playing drums and was awarded a grant from Virgin Islands Council on the Arts to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Parson later attended Rutgers University, where he studied percussion with Keith Copeland and William Moersch. In 1994, he began studying with master drummer Michael Carvin-a relationship he maintained for 14 years.
  
  After graduation, Parson moved to New York, where he quickly became part of the jazz scene, performing with such greats as the late Milt Jackson, Monty Alexander, Steve Grossman, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard, Geri Allen, Donald Harrison, Don Byron, David Sanchez, Ray Anderson, Stephen Scott, Marc Cary, Lee Konitz, Ernest Ranglin, Ron Blake, Terell Stafford, Cyrus Chestnut, Wycliffe Gordon, Babatunde Olatunji, Baaba Maal, Joanne Brackeen, Dianne Reeves, Bill Salter, Bill Saxton, and Steve Turre. His association with these musicians has taken him well beyond US borders on tours to such places as Japan, Europe, Canada, the West Indies, Africa, and the Middle East.
  
  Parson's recording experience and close association with fellow St. Thomas native Ron Blake led to the birth of Tahmun Records, which housed his first recordings as a leader, 21st Century (co-led with Blake), and his first solo effort, 2001's People Music.
  
  Always interested in giving back, coupled with his desire to ensure a continuous crop of talented musicians, Parson began his teaching career at Rutgers University in 1992 as an adjunct professor. In 2007, Parson became Creative Director of the new international music organization United Jazz International, founded by Branford Marsalis and Steve Coleman.

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• Jon Faddis
  
  Jon Faddis is a complete and consummate musician-conductor, composer, and educator. As a trumpeter, Faddis possesses a virtually unparalleled range and full command of his instrument, making the practically impossible seem effortless.
  
  Born in 1953, Faddis began playing trumpet at age seven, inspired by a television appearance by Louis Armstrong. Meeting Dizzy Gillespie at age 15 proved to be a pivotal beginning of a unique friendship that spanned almost three decades. Shortly before his 18th birthday, Faddis joined Lionel Hampton's band, moving from Oakland to New York. Faddis worked as lead trumpet for the Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra at the Village Vanguard (and on tour all around the world), formed his own quartet, and soon began directing jazz orchestras and big bands. The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, which celebrated its 40th anniversary at Columbia College Chicago in 2005-2006, named Faddis as its Artistic Director in August 2004. Faddis has also served as guest conductor and featured guest with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.
  
  Faddis's distinctive trumpet appears on hundreds of records and numerous soundtracks for film and television. His original compositions include the jazz opera Lulu Noire (1997); other Faddis works are available on his Grammy-nominated Remembrances (1998), Hornucopia (1991), Into the Faddisphere (1989), and his newest release, TERANGA (2006).
  
  Faddis's TERANGA features new compositions by the trumpeter, joined by members of the Jon Faddis Quartet together with special guests Alioune Faye (sabor), Abdou Mboup (djembe and talking drum), Russell Malone (guitar), Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone), Frank Wess (alto flute), and Clark Terry (flugelhorn and vocals).
  
  Faddis remains true to the tradition of honoring mentors, regularly leading master classes and clinics worldwide, and also teaching as a full-time faculty member at the Conservatory of Music, Purchase College-SUNY (where he is Director of Jazz Performance) and as a guest lecturer at Columbia College Chicago. Visit jonfaddis.net and terangajazz.com for more information.

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• Todd Coolman
  
  Grammy Award-winning bassist Todd Coolman is among the more in-demand musicians on the New York music scene today. Since moving to New York in 1978, Coolman has performed and/or recorded with such jazz artists as Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Stan Getz, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Tommy Flanagan, Ahmad Jamal, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, and numerous others. Coolman has recorded three CDs as a leader, most recently Perfect Strangers (2009), an ArtistShare fan-funded project.
  
  In addition to his busy performing schedule, Coolman is a jazz educator. He is a professor of music and is Director of the Jazz Studies Program at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College (SUNY). He was selected for the 2001-2003 Doris and Karl Kempner Distinguished Professorship at Purchase and has received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The author of two books, The Bass Tradition and The Bottom Line, Coolman is also in demand as a clinician and lecturer at universities throughout the world, and is frequently sought after as a writing and research consultant for jazz history and CD liner-note projects. Visit toddcoolman.com for more information.

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