The Delfeayo Marsalis Octet
presents “Sweet Thunder”
“…one of the best, most imaginative and musical of the trombonists of his generation.” — The San Francisco Examiner
Born in New Orleans, Delfeayo Marsalis was destined to a life in music. One of the top jazz trombonists performing today, Marsalis has won multiple Grammy Awards for his musicianship. He is equally accomplished as a producer and arranger having produced over 100 recordings for major artists including Harry Connick, Jr, Spike Lee, Nicholas Payton, and for his brothers Ellis, Branford, and Wynton Marsalis. As a bandleader, he has earned wide acclaim, especially for his albums Pontius Pilate’s Decision (1992), Musashi (1997) and Minions Dominion (2006). He brings all of his talents to bear on his most ambitious project yet: Sweet Thunder. Using the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn suite Such Sweet Thunder as the point of departure for his octet, Marsalis has created a fresh, new musical composition.
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
“A lush vocal style recalling both Bessie Smith and Dinah Washington.” — Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
With a singing style influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Little Esther Phillips and other legendary greats, Lavay Smith has become an internationally recognized Diva of Jazz and Blues. As the vocalist and leader of her 7-piece band, Lavay creates her own compositions and draws from a large repertoire of classics. The band features some of the world’s finest musicians and is comprised of four horns (trumpet, trombone, alto saxophone and tenor saxophone), piano, bass, and drums. These top of the class musicians have performed or recorded with Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Johnny Otis, Ray Charles, Big Mama Thornton and many, many more. The combination of world-class singing and musicianship provides the perfect recipe for dancing and good times.
Peter Lamb and The Wolves
“The Wolves’ appeal outstrips considerations of genre, or generation.” — Sylvia Pfeiffenberger, Indy Week
Peter Lamb & the Wolves is a North Carolina-based band formed by saxophonist Peter Lamb in 2008. The music features strange eclectic melodies and sounds from around the world, combined with a funky New Orleans groove. Lamb leads on tenor saxophone, aided by Al Strong on trumpet, Stephen Coffman on drums, and two musicians doing double duty-troubadour—Mark Wells on vocals and piano, and George Knott handling upright bass as well as the elephantine bass saxophone. Their repertoire reaches back to New Orleans’ earliest syncopaters, but also forward to hipster bards like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits; a tango might trip on the heels of a French waltz or a Russian folk song.
Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. & The ECU Jazz Ensemble (A)
“…one of the best college bands I’ve heard!” — Wynton Marsalis
An Associate Professor of Music and the Director of the East Carolina University Jazz Ensemble, Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. is recognized for excellence in the music industry as a bassist, musical director, and also as a composer/arranger. The award-winning East Carolina University Jazz Ensemble “A” (ECUJE) is the select touring group of the East Carolina University School of Music Jazz Studies Program. Under the tutelage of bassist Dashiell, who joined the ECU School of Music faculty in 1989, the ensemble has earned international recognition as one of the premiere university jazz ensembles from the state of North Carolina.
