include Gary Wang (bass), Josh Ginsburg (bass), Anton Denner (alto & soprano saxophones, flute, & piccolo), Chris Bacas (tenor & soprano saxophones, clarinet), Terell Stafford (trumpet), Jon Cowherd (piano).
Influences
Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, "Philly" Joe Jones, Billy Higgins, Tony Williams, "Papa" Joe Jones, Big Sid Catlett, Louie Bellson, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Cobb, Billy Cobham, Cozy Cole, Alan Dawson, Jack DeJohnette, Baby Dodds, Al Foster, Steve Gadd, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Gene Krupa, Pete La Roca, Mel Lewis, Shelly Manne, Airto Moreira, Joe Morello, Idris Muhammad, Lewis Nash, Buddy Rich, Ben Riley, Max Roach, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade, Grady Tate, Art Taylor, Ed Thigpen, Chick Webb, Ed Blackwell, Lenny White, Victor Lewis, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Vernel Fournier, Shadow Wilson, Davey Tough, Sam Woodyard, Joe Chambers, Kenny Washington, Louis Hayes, Billy Drummond, Tito Puente, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, "Cannonball" Adderley, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Clifford Brown, Donald Brown, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Kenny Garrett, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffen, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Keith Jarrett, Robert Johnson, Wynton Kelly, Harold Mabern, Branford Marsalis, Jackie McLean, Brad Mehldau, Pat Methany, Mulgrew Miller, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery, Lee Morgan, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Smith, Art Tatum, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington, James Williams, Tommy Flanagan, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, James Brown, Brick, Cameo, Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, Fatback, Gap Band, Grandmaster Flash, Lakeside, Rick James, Sugar Hill Gang, Tom Browne, Teena Marie, Cachao, Los Van Van, Astrud Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Aaron Copeland, Bela Bartok, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Scriabin...and many more!
New York City-based jazz drummer and composer leading my own groups and working as a sideman on various projects.
Check out my CDs below!
You can pick them up directly from CD Baby or download tracks from iTunes and eMusic. You can also download them through the player above, or go to each individual CD page on my website (just click on the CD cover) to listen to longer tracks of each song.
features:
Terell Stafford (trumpet)
Anton Denner (alto sax, flute & piccolo)
Chris Bacas (tenor & soprano saxophones + clarinet)
Jon Cowherd (piano)
Josh Ginsburg (bass)
Recorded in late May 2005 at Bennett Studios (the studio in Englewood, NJ, run by Tony Bennett's son), this CD contains 11 original compositions by band members. The 12th track was written by the late, great, pianist, James Williams (to whom the CD is dedicated).
I produced this project and was keenly interested in each band member composing a song for the CD. Anton's tune, "Luftmenschen," is a bluesy, straight-eighths groove, while Chris' "Sputnik" is a quirky melody written on the changes of John Coltrane's "Satellite" (get it?). Josh Ginsburg wrote a beautiful ballad-like song, "Undertow," that moves through three different episodes, while Sheryl Bailey (who doesn't appear on this CD but is a good friend of mine) wrote "Fog," a hauntingly beautiful melody written in 12/8, with a Latin (bembe) feel.
The CD was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Frank D. Fagnano , while the artwork is by renowned artist, Sharon Louden. Also included is an essay written by me and entitled, "When We Fall Asleep, Democracy Suffers," which appears in the liner notes.
The sound quality on this recording is amazing (crystal clear with each instrument highlighted and balanced) and represents the fire and vitality that only comes from working New York City jazz musicians.
features:
Anton Denner (alto & soprano saxophones + flute)
Gary Wang (bass)
Recorded in August 2002 at the legendary Avatar Studios (Eric Clapton, Donald Fagen, Brad Mehldau, John Mayer, Diana Krall, etc.) in New York City. This chordless trio features originals and standards and breathes an airy aesthetic with a soulful groove.
The three of us have been making music together since 2000, playing hundreds of gigs together. Although there is a definite repertoire from which we choose our songs, each gig is an adventure, as the set list develops depending on the spirit of the moment. Usually, the set progresses from song to song with no breaks, as one member will suggest the next tune and off we go!
The songs on this CD represent just a small fraction of the band's repertoire, highlighting original songs by me and Anton. Check out the various episodes that take place during my tune, "Long and Wrong," or the beautifully evocative "Tide Pools," by Anton. "Stumble Monk," is my ode to Thelonious Monk, while the transition from Irving Berlin's "The Best Thing for You Would Be Me" to Roger and Hart's "You're Nearer" is indicative of what happens in a typical set by this trio. Finally, Anton and Gary's duet in "You Must Believe in Spring," reveals each musician's mastery of his instrument.
The sound we get on this recording is extremely clear and natural and very close to how we sound in live appearences.
This live recording was done over an 18 month period in 1998-99 in a now-defunct restaurant in New York City. The sound was so killing we just had to put it out! It was recorded on a portable DAT machine, and we just took the best takes over the many gigs we played there.
Vinson Valega Radio Interview
In July 2004, Anton Denner (alto sax) and I were interviewed while on tour in San Francisco. Alisa Clancy, the morning DJ at KCSM - 91.1FM - got us up at the crack of dawn for the morning jazz hour. Thank god for coffee!!
for your personal listening pleasure i just uploaded two new tracks to the SECOND audio player on my profile (scroll down the page/below the video clips). one's called "beyond dreams" the other "man behind the window." feel free to check them out if you got a minute. and if you got two minutes, hit me back and let me know how you like 'em.
thanx so much for your time, and have a most wonderful day!!!
Hi there, Vinson Valega!I wanted to let you know that we're running a 15% off promotion this week on ALL services! :) This INCLUDES MySpace design, Twitter design, album design, and promotional services! Message us now!-DanaOut(Loud) MySpace Design & More
Michelberger Hotel Presents. October, 17,09 22:00pm Saturday Night Showcase Hosted by Akanni. live on stage: 2 of berlins most talented female accustic soloist Dana Shanti + Elahi 3€
Location: Michelberger Hotel Warschauerstrasse 39/40, 10243 Berlin
Saturday Night Showcase: is an evening where artist from all over can perform there own personal songs and finish the night with an open jam session talor made for musicisns and vocalist show there spontainious skills and Every Saturday.
Desafio | Simply Bad | Most Wanted | MTV | Fly Society | Rafaga De Plomo PRO | Team Flight | Cool Kids | NYC's Finest PRO | Diskoteka | Xplicit | Team Dale Sexo | Stop That | Non Stop Coro |
P R E S E N T S HEAVEN OR HELL Good Girls Gone Bad
RED & WHITE GLOW STICKS GIVE AWAY
Saturday October 10th 2009
@ AAC HALL
ADDRESS; 442E 148th st BTW 3rd ave & Brook ave (Next to the mechanic shop)
Transportation: [ 2 or 5 train to 149th & 3rd ave ] walk to 148th street & Brook ave
Come join us for the 4th Annual 6th Street Smokeout, Saturday, October 17th, at Momo's Club, in Austin! We've got five bands, multimedia light show, and munchies from the Mellow Mushroom!! You can get more info, and tickets to the 6th Street Smokeout here: http://texasnorml.org/?page_id=408
Hi there, Vinson Valega! We'd love to design a custom MySpace profile for you! We also offer full website design, flyer/poster design, and more. Check out a few of our most recent MySpace Designs: myspace.com/thedeadenddropouts, myspace.com/thedollyrockers, myspace.com/chaunceymooremusic, myspace.com/thebfilmextras. We'd really would love to work with you, Vinson Valega! -Dana
