Born into a family of Venezuelan folk musicians, jazz pianist Benito Gonzalez has always had a deep-rooted appreciation for pastimes and traditions. Today, as a rising star of one of America’s finest musical traditions, Gonzalez has come to his current status by following in the footsteps of jazz’s ancestral forebears. The fusion of world rhythms […]

A tribute to the swinging and soulful pianist Pianist Gene Harris was born September 1, 1933 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. After serving in the Army where he played in a military band during 1951-54, Harris formed The Three Sounds, a trio with bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Bill Dowdy. The Three Sounds caught on, particularly […]

Singer Ruth Lee Jones was born on August 29, 1924 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Jones, who later went by Dinah Washington, moved to Chicago as a child. She joined a number of choirs and gospel groups, both as a vocalist and pianist. She rose to prominence as the female vocalist for Lionel Hampton’s big band. From […]

Blues in the closet Pianist Kenneth Sidney Drew was born on August 28, 1928 in New York City, New York. During the 1950s, Drew worked with some of New York’s most influential jazz figures, such as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, and Buddy Rich. In 1950 he made his recorded debut with trumpeter Howard […]

Guitarist Pat Martino was born on August 25, 1944 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his professional career at 15. After playing with a series of organists, including soul-jazz pioneer Jimmy Smith, Martino began recording as leader. Considered one of the premier guitarists of the post-bop era, Martino’s style expertly blends bebop, avant-garde, and “world” music. […]

Trumpeter and flugelhorn player Art Farmer was born on August 21, 1928 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Art is the identical twin brother of jazz bassist Addison Farmer. Finding the musical education in segregated public schools of the day useless he taught himself to read music and moved to Los Angles along with his twin brother […]

Pianist and bandleader William James Basie was born August 21, 1904 in Red Bank, New Jersey. He briefly played drums in a kid’s band before his mother gave him piano lessons. Basie was encouraged early on by Fats Waller, who was playing organ for silent movies and gave the youngster a lot of tips on […]

Smith learned to play violin from his father and was inspired to play jazz by the great Louis Armstrong. After moving to New York in the 1930s, he formed his own quintet and regularly played at the Onyx Club. The group is best known for the hit “If You’re a Viper.” At the onset of […]

Pianist and composer Sir George Shearing was born on August 13th, 1919 in London, England. Shearing first made a name for himself playing with the Harry Parry band in 1940. A popular member of the group, Shearing won seven Melody Maker polls in a row. Turing down several music scholarships Shearing preferred instead to continue […]

Guitarist Pat Metheny was born August 12, 1954 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The younger brother of trumpeter Mike Metheny, Pat began playing guitar when he was eight or nine due to his initial interest in the Beatles. After a few weeks, he discovered Miles Davis and jazz with his early guitar influences being Wes Montgomery […]