Regional Favorite Gerald Veasley Performs Jazzy Christmas Celebration with his Quintet at the Kimmel Center December 11
November 30, 2007
Philadelphia native, bassist and WJJZ 97.5 on-air personality Gerald Veasley performs a special Jazzy Christmas program with his quintet and special guests at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 8pm. Joining Veasley on stage are special guests vocalist Maysa, guitarist Chuck Loeb, pianist Bobby Lyle and saxophonist Kim Waters for a jazzy, gospel rendition of holiday favorites. Veasley narrates the story of a gift with winter’s promise to audience members, to then return to the true meaning of Christmas –spending time with loved ones –through musical selections. The program includes holiday hits such as "Wonderland," "Let it Snow," "Baby It’s Cold Outside" and "Best Gift I Ever Got," as well as Stevie Wonder’s "If it’s Magic," "Holy Night" and "This Christmas."
This concert is the twelfth concert in the World & Pop Series scheduled for the Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season. The next concert in the series will be Daryl Hall and John Oates with "Home for Christmas" on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 8pm in Verizon Hall.
Tickets for Gerald Veasley’s Jazzy Christmas are $34, $43, $49, $55 and $65, and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
Gerald Veasley has performed with world renowned artists including the late Grover Washington Jr., McCoy Tyner, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Special EFX, Joe McBride, Teddy Pendergrass, Dianne Reeves, Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, and many more. Jazziz magazine’s annual readers’ poll recently deemed him "Best Electric Bassist," and Philadelphia Magazine has named him and his supporting cast "Best Jazz Band." In addition, he has taught the history and fundamentals of the electric bass to musicians and educators, both privately and at the university level. He has been artist in residence at the Artist-Teachers institute of Stockton State College; guest lecturer at Dartmouth; instructor at Philadelphia's University of the Arts; and video instructor on "Solo Bass Techniques" released by CCP Baldwin. Veasley currently hosts Smooth Jazz WJJZ 97.5 from 3-7pm every Saturday and Sunday.
Ramona Hunter is a Philadelphia native who credits her expressive vocal style and dynamic stage presence to her gospel music roots. Hunter has performed throughout the United States and abroad, and collaborated with many celebrated concert performers including Celine Dion. Hunter has also performed in several local theater productions including A, My Name Is Alice.
Kenny Pitt began his career as a as a singer and actor with the Young Americans Theatre, touring throughout the United States and Western Europe. Along with Zahmu Sankofa, Pitt was featured in the film Liberty Heights as a back-up singer for James Brown. He currently performs with vocal trio The Three, which includes fellow West Philadelphia natives Sankofa and Ramona Hunter.
By the age of ten, Zahmu Sankofa had toured Europe and the former USSR with the Philadelphia Boys Choir. In 1993, his song "More Than a Month," inspired by African-American contributions to history, was made into a music video by HBO and recognized by Mayor Ed Rendell who declared February 17th the "More Than A Month Day." Recently, Sankofa performed his song "We Can Do It for Presidents Clinton, Carter, and Bush," at the Presidential Summit for Volunteerism held in Philadelphia, and appears as one of James Brown's back-up singers in Liberty Heights, a new movie by Academy Award winning director, Barry Levinson.
Maysa Leak began her career as a singer/songwriter performing with Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove for a year, during which time she also appeared on such television shows as Oprah and The Tonight Show. In the early 1990s, Leak joined British band Incognito, appearing on more than seven Incognito recordings before beginning her solo career with the 1995 release of her self-titled debut. Leak’s most recent CD, Feel the Fire, was released in 2007 to rave reviews. Leak has also collaborated with Rick Braun, Will Downing, Jason Miles' Soul Summit, Rhythm Logic, Jonathan Butler and Pieces of a Dream.
Keyboardist Will Brock graduated from the University of the Arts with a Bachelors degree in jazz piano. A singer, songwriter and producer, he has played and performed live with Marion Meadows, The Stylistics, Miles Jaye, The Emiril Live Band, Grover Washington, Jill Scott, Chieli Minucci, Kirk Whalum, Joe McBride, Kenny Blake, Pamela Williams, Bob Baldwin, among many others. Brock appears on more than 10 albums as a keyboardist and/or vocalist.
More than just a jazz guitar player, New York native Chuck Loeb’s career spans four decades. A versatile composer, arranger and producer, Loeb has also performed with Gary Burton, Dave Samuels and many others including the Petite Blonde group featuring saxophonist Bill Evans; Metro with Mitchel Forman; and the Fantasy Band. Loeb made his first solo record in 1988 kicking off his nine-year solo career, which includes his 2007 release Presence, celebrating the importance of the human element in the creative process.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Bobby Lyle has established himself as a songwriter, producer, arranger, music publisher, sideman, bandleader, musical director and world-class performer in a career that has spanned some three decades. Lyle received an Emmy nomination for his musical direction on Bette Midler’s HBO Special, "Diva Las Vegas," in 1997. His 2004 project, Straight and Smooth, was a groundbreaking two-disc effort that made him the first artist to ever appear on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Traditional Jazz Charts. Lyle’s most recent album, Hands On, was released in June 2006. He has collaborated with renowned performers such as Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Al Jarreau, and Anita Baker.
Maryland-born saxophonist Kim Waters debuted in 1989 with the LP Sweet and Sexy. His ability to transcend the musical boundaries of jazz, pop and R&B have made him one of the most sought-after musicians in contemporary jazz. In 2007, Waters featured timeless R&B hits and funky dance-inspired grooves on his albums You are My Lady and Streetwise Sexy Love. He ranks among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz. His 2004 CD, In the Name of Love, remained in the top 25 of Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts for six months and stayed on that chart for an entire year.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Chris Farr has performed as a sideman in various Philadelphia jazz clubs in addition to performing with Gerald Veasley. Farr collaborated with the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band, traveling in Europe and across the United States. He has recorded and performed with Teddy Pendergrass, Terrell Stafford, Lou Rawls and John Swana. Farr is currently an adjunct assistant professor of jazz in the school of music at University of the Arts, his alma mater.
A percussionist for over 31 years, Pablo Batista was a recipient of the distinguished Pew Fellowship Award in Folk Arts in 2000. He has performed and recorded with notable artists including Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, George Howard, Diane Reeves, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Eddie Palmieri, Regina Belle, among others. Batista has toured as a percussionist for five-time Grammy® recipient Alicia Keys worldwide. He performed alongside Keys at the 2002 Grammy® Award show, and was also a featured artist on the 2003 release, Diary of Alicia Keys. In addition, Batista has performed with Norman Brown on his 2003 Grammy® award winning CD, Just Chillin. He has been teaching percussion for the Latin American Music Association’s (AMLA) esteemed Latin School for the Arts in Philadelphia for the past 15 years.
An acclaimed world-class producer, songwriter and musician, Donald Robinson has collaborated with an array of artists such as Grover Washington, Jr., Nancy Wilson, Rachelle Ferell, Phil Perry, Gladys Knight, Regina Bell, Phyllis Hyman, Miki Howard, among others. Robinson is a multi-faceted composer whose first production was Eugene Wilde’s smash R&B hit "Gotta Get You Home Tonight." He has also written for big bands and orchestras. His songs have been featured in major motion pictures and hit TV soap operas including "All My Children," "One Life To Live," and "The Young and The Restless."
Producer, drummer, percussionist, and vocalist James (Biscuit) Rouse, has played drums on tours and spot dates with Karen Benard, Triad, Kelis, Lady Alma, Bilal, Kelly Clarkson, J.T. Taylor from Kool and the Gang, Chubby Checker, among others. In 2000, he was the Philadelphia 76er's house band drummer. From January 2001- June 2004, Rouse worked for the School Board of Philadelphia, teaching general music, band, orchestra, jazz and serving as choir director. In addition to studio work, performing, and teaching, Rouse is currently finishing his first EP with Defected Records company.
Kimmel Center Presents 2007/2008 season is sponsored by Citi. Support for the Mellon Jazz Series comes from The Bank of New York Mellon. The Great Orchestra Series is supported by ARC Wheeler. Additional support is provided by the University of Pennsylvania Health System and American Express. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Mellon Jazz, Mellon Jazz Up Close and World & Pop.
The Kimmel Center also receives support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The William Penn Foundation, The Wachovia Foundation, Verizon Foundation, PNC Foundation, The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and the Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents, and additional media sponsors include WDAS, WRTI, WJJZ, Afro-Pop, WXPN and WXPN's Kids Corner 20th Anniversary.
Free in the Plaza programming and subsidized tickets offered to the community and social service groups for $10 are made possible through the Wachovia Gateway to the Arts Community Access Program, supported by a generous grant from Wachovia Foundation.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS SPONSORED BY CITI
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 | 8pm
Verizon Hall
World & Pop Series
Gerald Veasley’s Jazzy Christmas
Gerald Veasley, bass
Special guests:
Maysa Leak, lead vocals
Kim Waters, saxophone
Chuck Loeb, guitar
Bobby Lyle, piano
Gerald Veasley Band:
Will Brock, keyboards and vocals
Chris Farr, saxophone and musical director
Donald Robinson, keyboards
James Rouse, drums and vocals
Pablo Batista, percussion and congas
Background vocals:
"The Three"
Ramona Hunter
Kenny Pitt
Zahmu Sankofa
FREE AT THE KIMMEL:
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 | 6:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
WJJZ 97.5 Event
Get in the mood for the smooth sounds of Gerald Veasley’s Jazzy Christmas with a surprise on-air host, station music and prizes provided by WJJZ.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 | 10pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
WJJZ 97.5 Event
The holiday fun continues with music, prizes and more!
> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, please
send us a message online.