Artist Profiles cont.

Rufus Reid, Dizzy Gillespie, Pharoah Sanders, Dewey Redman, Andy Bey, Melba Liston, Patti Bown, Chico Hamilton, Carl Allen, Stefon Harris, Randy Brecker, Regina Carter, Bobby McFerrin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jimmy Scott, Jayne Cortez, Benny Powell, Mal Waldron, Winard Harper, Russell Malone, Gregoire Maret, Etienne Charles, Candido Camera, Bobby Sanabria, Steve Turre, Mulgrew Miller, Warren Wolf, Monty Alexander, and Arturo O’Farrill, just to name a few.

In 2017 T.K. released Amour, his 11th CD as a leader, cited as one of the best jazz recordings of the year by DownBeat magazine (four stars). Deeply indebted to organizations such as Jazzmobile, Jazz Interactions, The Henry Street Settlement, and The Muse, for his own jazz studies, Blue remained committed to music education from Pre-K to the graduate level. Having received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Psychology from New York University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Blue taught at Roosevelt Pre-K, Suffolk Community College, Montclair State University, and Long Island University LIU-Post where he was the director of jazz studies from 2007 to 2014. T.K. was commissioned by NYSCA and Transart Incorporated to compose a new suite dedicated to the early presence of African-Americans in the upstate New York Hudson Valley area. The result was a CD titled Follow The North Star, based on the life of Solomon Northup and his memoir, 12 Years A Slave. Having lived close to 10 years in Paris, Blue was hired by the USIA to embark on three state department tours of Africa. »

Nat Reeves, bass

For more than 40 years, Nat Reeves has been one of the top bassists in jazz. His supportive and stimulating playing has uplifted a countless number of sessions and recording dates (most notably with the great alto saxophonists Jackie McLean and Kenny Garrett) and he has led his own recordings, State of Emergency and Blue Ridge. Both as a performer and an educator, he has made a strong impact on the jazz world.

“As a bassist it is my function to concentrate on the band’s foundation. To become a better bass player and learn more about the instrument, I started listening to jazz. In jazz there is much more freedom to create one’s own bass part and develop a distinct sound. It is my job to project more than my notes and always sound fresh and alive.”

In 1979, Nat moved to New York City. “I listened, played on the streets, listened some more, and learned.” He first toured with Sonny Stitt in 1982 in Japan during what would be the great saxophonist’s last tour. The same year he met Jackie McLean, who became his mentor. Soon after, he began teaching at the University of Hartford and touring the world with Jackie McLean and other Jazz masters, including Kenny Garrett, Harold Mabern, Eddie Henderson, Steve Davis, Eric Alexander, Rene McLean, and most recently Pharoah Sanders.

In 2001 Nat began a full-time teaching career at The Hartt School, Jackie McLean Institute. “I build on what my students already know and try to convince them to be more aggressive with learning. I think of teaching like playing a gig: being well organized, accomplishing goals and solving problems. It is a lot of fun, and it makes me a better musician.” Although Nat retired from the University in 2021, he continues to perform and teach. Nat’s performance career is supercharged. “I’m excited for what is ahead.”

» natreeves.com

Zaccai Curtis, piano

Zaccai Curtis regularly performs with artists such as Donald Harrison, Cindy Blackman Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Lakecia Benjamin, Ray Vega, and Chico Freeman, amongst others. Most recently, Curtis became a Chamber Music America “New Jazz Works” grant recipient (2017).

Zaccai, owns and operates an independent label, TRRcollective, which produced the Grammy-nominated album Entre Colegas (Andy González, 2016.) Zaccai has created the first ever music news app developed for record labels, titled The Riff: Music News. Zaccai is currently a professor of jazz studies at University of Hartford and University of Rhode Island.

» zaccaicurtis.com