Rudresh Mahanthappa

Rudresh Mahanthappa represents a new generation of American jazz musicians by portraying the culture of his ancestry through his music. Jazz is an indigenous American art form; yet Rudresh, having been raised as a first generation Indian American by immigrant parents, has fused his various cultural influences to create a truly unique saxophone style. At the age of 26 he has already made appearances with Steve Coleman, Joe Lovano, Jack DeJohnette, David Liebman, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Tim Hagans, Claudio Roditi, Harry "Sweets" Edison, George Garzone, Willie Pickens, Howard Levy, Fareed Haque, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Recently, Rudresh has participated in several international jazz festivals including India's Jazz Yatra, the Chicago Jazz Festival, and Jazz in the Sangres. Rudresh has his Bachelors of Music degree in jazz performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston and his Masters of Music degree in jazz composition from Chicago's DePaul University. Return to Schedule

Jacky Terrasson
Pianist Jacky Terrasson has always avoided predictability, and he continues that tradition with What It Is. On What It Is Terrasson's fourth album as a leader, the French-American pianist composer changes his trajectory. After rearranging standards with Cassandra Wilson on Rendezvous, and tweaking the piano trio format on his previous date as a leader, Alive, Terrasson offers a set that highlights not just his formidable piano abilities, but also his skills as a composer and arranger. "You're seeing a more personal side of me on this album," the 33-year old pianist said. "It's a much more compositional side."
Terrasson first served notice to the music world in 1993, when he won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Piano Competition. Soon after that, the New York Times Magazine tabbed Terrasson as one of the artists under the age of 30 most likely to change American culture over the next 30 years. After winning the Monk Competition, he became a member of Betty' Carter's band, later Terrasson recorded with vocalist Dianne Reeves. Similar stints with Jimmy Scott, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Arthur Taylor followed. Return to Schedule

Frank Morgan
	Frank Morgan's life since he was a teen could be summed up in two words: "setbacks" and "comebacks." So's it's no great surprise the 65-year-old bop alto saxophonist would be in the midst of another comeback following yet another setback: a debilitating stroke last summer that left the right side of his body partially paralyzed but his embouchure unaffected. Morgan, by his own admission, doesn't play as many notes as he once did,nor does he have quite as much stamina - not yet, anyway - but his fluid tone, creative juices and impeccable taste are intact. And those who have heard him play recently say Morgan is till miles ahead of other alto saxophonists. That he's playing at all, however, is amazing, since doctors told Morgan that recovery might take a year or more and "maybe never." But within two months after his stroke, which came last year in mid-August on a flight between Santa Fe and St. Louis, Morgan was well enough to play an abbreviated gig.
"You bet it's a miracle," said Morgan. "It's a miracle of medicine and a miracle of the Creator. I had nothing to do with the fact I'm playing again." "But I am a better person for having gone through it (the stroke). I'm more compassionate now, and I have far more respect for the medical profession. I saw what doctors could do for me, things I never thought possible." Morgan appears to be a person who never views a water tumbler as half empty, but half full instead. Therefore, he considers his troubled past somewhat of a blessing in that it gave him strength to cope with his present condition. Or in his words: "You have to be prepared for whatever comes along and then deal with it the best you can. What I went through in the past certainly gave me strength for the present." Morgan's past has been well documented. His early childhood was a normal one though a musical one. He learned to play a guitar as a youngster, mainly because his father, Stanley Morgan, played a guitar as leader of one version of the Ink Spots. But after moving to Los Angeles from hometown Minneapolis and watching Charlie Parker blow his horn and meeting him, "the experience changed my life." "Charlie was the greatest alto saxophonist ever," said Morgan, "and everything he did, I wanted to do." "The night we learned Charlie died, Wardell and a few others of us went out and got stoned. That was a dumb thing to do, especially since Charlie warned me against becoming a user. But I wouldn't listen. If Charlie was hooked on 'H,' I felt I had to be, too, if I wanted to play like him." In 1955 Morgan went to New York to record for the first time, but it would also be the last time for 30 years. For the next three decades, Morgan would serve lengthy stretches in California penal institutions without ever kicking his dependency completely. Instead, he said that being a celebrity - Morgan performed in a Warden's Band that included other noted jazz men Art Pepper and Frank Butler - made it easy for him to get drugs from other prisoners. But when he emerged from confinement in 1985, Morgan's determination to stay clean paid off and his once moribund career took on a new life at a time when there was a renewed interest in bop. Moreover, his comeback from hell became the subject for national print and broadcast news as well as jazz journals, and in 1991, he reclaimed lost glory when and international critics poll conducted by Downbeat magazine placed Morgan at the top of the heap among alto saxmen. Plainly, Morgan was back all the way. And he's enjoyed mostly a steady diet of good fortune in recent years until being hit with a stroke. His records for Contemporary and Telarc have sold well. His latest is "Bop," on the Telarc label. Club dates have been plentiful and so have concert dates. And he's happily married to a woman who stood by him during his periods of incarceration. He's also made time to find himself, a time-consuming project Morgan said is never ending. That explains why he hasn't become involved in campaigns to wipe out drug abuse. "I don't have the time for things like that," Morgan said. "I am still finding who Frank Morgan is, and it's not something I can do overnight. I believe I can teach by example I'm living proof that a guy who has had drug problems can kick the habit and make something of himself. And I thanks God I can say that." Cam Miller Return to Schedule

Bird of Paradise Orchestra

The 14-piece Bird of Paradise Orchestra (BOPO) was established in 1989 by Ann Arbor bass virtuoso Paul Keller. Making their home at the Bird of Paradise Club in Ann Arbor, BOPO has become one of Metro Detroit's most visible big bands -- with a huge repertoire ranging from well-known standards to classic and obscure compositions and arrangements by members of the band. BOPO was a hit at the 1996 and 1997 Flint Jazz Festivals. Visit BOPO's Web Site Return to Schedule

Sherman Mitchell

A hometown jazz institution, trombonist-flutist-saxophonist Sherman Mitchell achieves new heights every time he performs. Although "semi-retired," Sherm still manages a healthy itinerary playing special bookings nationally and throughout the Great Lakes. A prolific composer ("Once Upon a Lifetime," "Far From Tranquil") and educator (Michigan State University), explores mainstream, Latin, Brazillian, and his own works, equally at home with ballads and up-tempo jazz. He's performed at jazz festivals worldwide -- from Europe to Montreux-Detroit. Return to Schedule

Paul Keller

Matthew Keller was born March 11, 1962.  he began studying the string bass at age 12 and played his first gigs in his hometown of Grand Rapids, MI.  Continuing his classical music education at the University of Michigan, Paul moved to Ann Arbor in 1986 to work with pianist Eddie Russ.  His affiliation with Russ led him to join alto saxophonist Larry Nozero, with whom he recorded three albums featuring Keller's original compositions and arrangements. Today, Paul is one of the busiest bassists in the Detroit area.  He leads the 16-piece Bird of Paradise Orchestra (BOPO) which plays original, obscure and classic big band material collected from all periods of jazz history.  Under Paul's expert leadership, the BOPO has garnered critical and popular acclaim, winning the 1995 Ann Arbor Annie arts award, as well as the 1995 Detroit Music Award for Best Traditional act.  the bird of Paradise orchestra has recorded two live albums on Schoolkids Records label, one featuring boogie-woogie pianist Mr. B, entitled "Hallelujah Train", and "Project X", released in 1996.  Both recordings spotlight Paul's finest compositions and arrangements. Paul is co-leader of the popular Keller/Kocher Quartet.  Formed in 1987, the band's first album, "Midnight Sun", was released in 1993, and their second album, "Pipe and Slippers", was released in 1996 on Schoolkids Records.  The Paul Keller ensemble is a three horn sextet featuring some of the best Ann Arbor and Detroit area musicians.  Paul is a prolific composer and arranger for these three groups and they are all regulars at the Montreux Detroit Jazz Festival.  In addition, Paul plays with many different groups at the festival and was voted MVP in 1994. When in Michigan, Paul works frequently with pianist Bess Bonnier, cornetist Tom Saunders, Mr. B, and guitarist Ray Kamalay, recording extensively with all of them.  He appears on 2 CDs, one with trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso, and Tom Saunders' "Wild Bill" Davison tribute, "Call of the wild", both in Davenport, Iowa, the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Classic Festival and the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.  While working with Tom, Paul has played with Tommy Newsome, Warren Vache, Eddie Higgins, Johnny Varro, Jake Hannah and Spiegle Willcox. He has also played with jazz greats Joe Williams, Cab Calloway, Panama Francis, Oliver Jones, Guido Basso, Mark Murphy, Jeanie Bryson, Doc Cheatham, Hal Galper, Gene Bertoncini, Norris Turney, Eddie Daniels, Mulgrew Miller, Jay McShann, Don Thompson, Branford Marsalis, Barry Harris, and James Moody. Return to Schedule     Bess Bonnier Visit pianist Bess Bonnier's Web Site ! Return to Schedule     Designated Hitters     Phil Lasley Leader and pianist Pat Cronley thought this name appropriate for his group as he uses different musicians constantly.   Be sure to check them out because he always has the best of the best!   Award-winning saxophonist Phil Lasley is a "musician's musician. "  His tone is bright and his phrasing uniquely his own.  Demanding the most of himself each time he plays, whether a beautiful ballad, blues, bop, or swing, Phil's compositions are exciting, creative, honest, and mature. Return to Schedule     Paul VornHagen   In  1972, while living in Ann Arbor, Paul entered  the world of instrumental music. He selected the flute as his instrument. Inspired by Thelonius Monk and Yusef  Lateef, decided  to  pursue the improvisational  freedom  of  jazz. Initially  playing by ear and then learning  saxophone,  he enrolled  at  the City College of San Francisco to study sight reading, music theory and to play with the big  band. One  of the first combos Paul joined, was a late  70s  jazz quintet, called "Natural Elements." The group performed on the streets of San Francisco. Paul  returned to Ann Arbor in 1980 and performed  with  various jazz  and R&B groups including the wildly popular "Domino"  from Detroit.  From 1987 to 1989, he recorded three albums for  Inner Light  Records,  a  new-age  label.  These  efforts   received national  air play  and  favorable reviews  in  Jazziz  Magazine. During  this period, Paul won the Best instrumentalist award  in the  Metro-Times Poll. In   1990, Paul decided to  devote  himself full-time to his own jazz group, honing his vocalizing style, as well  as,  his sax and flute playing. In 1992, he  recorded  his first  mainstream  jazz album for  Strawberry  Records  entitled "Variations." The  following  year, he won  the  Detroit  Music Awards category for Best Jazz Reed. 1995 saw the release of Paul's first album for Schoolkids Records, "MERCY!," followed by "Parisian  Protocol" in 1997. This second release on  Schoolkids was  the  popular on jazz radio, being played on more  than  160 stations  nationwide.  In September,  1997  "Parisian  Protocol" reached  #30  on the national charts (Gavin Report).  Since  the late  80s, Paul has expanded his performance venues  to  include jazz  spots in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,  Cincinnati, Toledo, New York, New Jersey, France and of course Michigan.  He has  performed  with such jazz greats as  Louis  Smith,  Charles Earland,  Earl  VanRiper, Bruce Forman,  Mark  Levmne,  Laurence Hobgood,  and  Paul Wertico. He has headlined at all  the  major festivals  in  Michigan  including  Detroit  Montreaux,   Flint, Birmingham,  Lansing, Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz, Kalamazoo and  the Michigan Jazz Festival in Farmington. In  April, 1998, Paul was nominated by the Detroit Music  Awards in  two  categories: Outstanding Jazz Vocalist  and  Outstanding Jazz  Album. All of Paul's recordings are straight ahead  jazz, featuring  the Detroit areas' finest players, including  pianist Gary Schunk, bassists Paul Keller and Kurt Krahnke and  drummers Randy Marsh and Gerald Cleaver.   Return to Schedule   Rick Matle   Rick  Matle began his professional career in 1980 at the age  of 17. His formative studies included jazz and classical guitar, jazz  piano  and composition/arranging. Rick earned a  B.A.  in Music  Performance from Oakland University in 1986. During  his studies  he  performed  with the Afram  Jazz  Big  Band,  Guitar Ensemble and the West African Drum Ensemble. Influenced  by  jazz guitarists Kenny Burrell and Joe  Pass,  as well  as, by classic blues/rock artists, such as,  Jimi  Hendrix and Carlos Santana, Rick's performance history is extensive  and varied. He has worked in musical theater, toured with  national show  groups and performed for two years in an east  coast  jazz trio.  Recently  Rick  has performed rock,  blues  and  jazz  at numerous  local  clubs  and venues, as  well  as,  appearing  in concert  at  major  Michigan festivals  including  the  Montreux Detroit  Jazz Festival, The Flint Jazz Festival, The  Ann  Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival and The Birmingham JazzFest. Rick's recent studio work includes radio and TV jingle work,  as well as, producing and engineering musical partner and  vocalist Sheila  Landis'  three  recent CD releases.  Sheila  and  Rick's recent  release  "The  Bird Inside" received  a  nomination  for "Outstanding Jazz Recording" in the 1998 Detroit Music Awards. A man  with  a  true love of music,  Rick  currently  maintains  a schedule of guitar instruction, live performances and  dedicates much  of  his time to recording and producing  in  his  16-track studio.       Return to Schedule   Ramona Collins Ramona has a strong, satiny voice with a lot of blues and soul seasoning and a very hip sense of humor.  Her band is expert as well:  Mark Lemle - sax, Kevin Eikum - bass, Bobby Welch - drummer, and Eric Gickey - piano.  Ramona appears regularly at Rusty's Cafe and Murphy's Place in Toledo.  She appeared at the 1998 Flint Jazz Festival and was instantly loved by the audience.  She has a CD out "Live from Rusty's" and is currently working on a new one. Return to Schedule   Rev. Jones & Anointed for Christ     Stephenie Rev. Roger Jones was born in Flint in 1971 and graduated from Carman-Ainsworth High School. He attended the Oberlin Conservatory from 1989 to 1992. Playing professionally since the age of 17, Roger has performed with Marcus Belgrave, Bobby Watson, Wallace Roney, Dwight Adams, Joe Henderson, and J.J. Johnson. In 1997 he made Manhattan his base of professionally operations, where his career continues to grow.   Flint singer Stephenie's soul-tinged vocal inflections sail through jazz, pop, Top 40, or musical show tunes with emotional gusto. Always backed by a versatile rhythm section she is a popular fixture on the Flint scene. Return to Schedule     Ursel Schlicht - Tony Romano Quintet   Pianist Ursel Schlicht and guitarist Tony Romano write fresh contemporary jazz, drawing from the sing/bop/latin traditions. Formed in 1997, the group quickly built a large following in New York and Germany. In 1998 they recorded their first CD "Deadlines & Commitments" featuring their original compositions. German-born pianist Ursel Schlicht moved to New York in 994 and quickly established herself on the music scene as an accomplished improviser and composer. She appears regularly at the Knitting Factory and Toulette, and performed in Germany, France, Russia, and Mexico.   Tony Romano is a native New Yorker who has been active in the jazz and latin music scene for many years as a guitarist, composer, and musical director. His performance and recording credits include latin legend Joe Bataan, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Thomas Chapin, and Carla White. For the past ten years, tenor and soprano saxophonist Virginia Mayhew has been an active participant in the New York Jazz scene. She has worked with jazz legends such as Kenny Barron, Al Grey, and Clark Terry.   Return to Schedule   Return to Jazz Festival Home Page Schedule Artist Info About the Festival Sponsors MasterPlan, Inc. How to Get There Past Festivals Please send inquiries and feedback to: jazzfest@mitchcon.net