Altoist Miguel Zenon was born and raised in Puerto Rico, was classically trained, discovered the music of Charlie Parker when he was around 16, and in 1996 began studying at Berklee. During the past 20 years he has played adventurous jazz with the SF Jazz Collective and such notables as David Sánchez, Charlie Haden, Fred […]

Drummer Roy Haynes was born on March 13, 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts. Haynes has had one of the longest careers of any jazz musician, performing for over 75 years, beginning when he was 17 in 1942 in Boston. He made his first recordings with the Luis Russell Orchestra in 1946 (although he can be heard […]

Paul Motian’s “Electric Bebop Band” are featured in Brazil performing at the 2003 “Chivas Jazz Festival. Drummer and composer Paul Motian was born March 25, 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Motian grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, where he played guitar and drums in school. After serving in the Korean War, Motian got his start as […]

Bassist Gary Peacock was born May 12, 1935 in Burley, Idaho. In his late twenties he was active on the west coast playing with Barney Kessel, Bud Shank, Paul Bley and Art Pepper. Then he moved to New York where where he worked with the Bill Evans Trio and Albert Ayler’s Trio with Sunny Murray. […]

Bassist Raymond Brown was born on October 13, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brown took piano lessons from the age of eight, switching to bass while in high school. He at first worked often in Pittsburgh, freelancing with bands before moving to New York when he was 20. On his first day in New York, he […]

Guitarist Charlie Christian was born on July 29, 1916 in Bonham, Texas. As a child, he learned guitar to support his sick father. By the mid ‘30s, Christian had made a name for himself playing eclectric guitar in Oklahoma City, where he was raised. Christian received national acclaim as the guitarist for Benny Goodman’s sextet […]

George Benson performs the classic tune “Take Five” in front of a live audience for TV broadcast. Guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson was born March 22, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Benson gave his first concert on ukelele when he was 7, and at age 8 he started playing guitar in nightclubs. He was 10 when […]

In rare early 1950s studio footage Charlie Parker is featured performing with his rhythm section. Parker is rather remarkable for having four different compositions drafted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Today he is widely celebrated for his ground breaking musical achievements, receiving of a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Personnel: Charlie Parker – alto […]