Honoring a Legend - The Music of Grover Washington Jr

Honoring a Legend The Music of Grover
Washington Jr
Jason Miles
as Musical Director
Grover Washington Jr. 2
Biography 4
Awards & Nominations 5
Contact 6
Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr was one
of the great instrumental
artists of the 20th century.
His music from Mr magic, Just The 2 of
Us, Winelight and many others have had an
effect on a couple of generations of music
fans. Grammy winning producer/keyboardiat
Jason Miles honors his music with a great
cast of guest artists as they take you
through the music of a master who’s music
provided the soundtrack to many lives over
the years and at the same time introducing
this music to another generation. The show
has been performed in front of thousands of
music fans all over the world.
Jason Miles has made two very successful
albums dedicated to Grover. To Grover With
Love (2000-artistry music) sold in excess of
125,000 copies and his follow up 2 Grover
With Love (2008 E1 Entertainment) made
many 10 ten lists in various publications.
In 2010 Jason Along with Grovers wife
Christine released “Grover Live. Grover
Washington Jr Live at the Paramount Center
For The Arts.” a live recording from 1997
that was an immediate hit showcasing Grover
and his band at the height of his brilliant
creative powers. It was his first release in
over ten years and his first live recording
in 33 years.
Some of the material featured in the show
“Honoring a Legend The Music of Grover
Washington Jr”: Winelight, Just the Two
of Us, Inner City Blues,Let it Flow, Mr
Magic,In the Name of Love,Sassy Stew,Take
Me There, Moonstreams.
Critics
“To Grover With Love,” Jason Miles’ tribute
to the late saxophonist Grover Washington
Jr., brought the full house to its feet
over and over in a concert presented by
the Berks Arts Council as part of the VF
Outlet Berks Jazz Fest on Sunday night
in the Sovereign Performing Arts Center.
Susan Pena - Reading Eagle
Miles’ set’s most striking characteristics
were its inspired musicianship and confident
improvisational approach. This rock-solid
foundation provided the band freedom to flex
their collective musical muscle and soar.
One came away breathless, preoccupied by a
single thought: Grover lives.
Carol Archer - Editor RnR
People are still talking about “The 2 Grover
with love show Staring Jason Miles”. Its
been Two weeks since our Jazz Festival and
1/2
I am still getting phone calls and emails
about how great the Jason Miles show was,
said Dennis Santangini President of The
Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. The people
could not believe the amount of talent on
the stage. It was so moving and gave you
such a happy feeling in your heart; it made
everyone still have the feeling weeks after
the show. Thank you Jason Miles for putting
together this moving performance.
Video
►
http://bit.ly/pwSF1U
Select Festivals and Venues
that have presented The Music
of Grover Washington Jr
Berks Jazz Fest
Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival
Jacksonville jazz Festival
Long Beach jazz Festival
San Jose Jazz Festival
Lyman Center - New Haven Ct
IMAC Center - Huntington NY
The Birchmere - Virginia
The Blue Note, Tokyo, Kyoto - 14 shows
2
Grover Washington Jr.
2/2
Artists who have performed
with Jason Miles - The Music
of Grover Washington Jr
Gerald Albright, Chante Moore, Maysa,Tom
Scott,Gerald Veasley, Walter Beasley,
Everette Harp, Kim Waters,Andy Snitzer,
Will Lee, Ralph Macdonald, Eric Darius
Ronnie Laws,Randy Brecker, Ada
Rovatti,Jeff Golub, Paul Jackson Jr,
Chuck Loeb, Buddy Williams, Nick Moroch,
Josh Dion
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Biography
In an industry where
copycatting and contrivance
is too often encouraged
and true creativity and
innovation is needed but not
always rewarded, Jason Miles
has stood his ground as a
true musical visionary. From
his groundbreaking synth programming on
Miles Davis’ 80s masterpieces Tutu, Music
From Siesta and Amandla to his current
partnership with DJ Logic and Falu in the
pioneering global fusion group Global Noize,
the Grammy Award winning New York nativedubbed by one insightful veteran journalist
as the “Quincy Jones of Contemporary Music”
— has consistently brought the highest level
of artistry to his multi-faceted recordings
(as both producer and artist) and live
performances.
His many years of collaboration with Marcus
Miller include not only the Miles Davis
projects but also classic recordings by
David Sanborn (A Change of Heart, Close
Up, Upfront) and Luther Vandross (The Power
of Love, Any Love, Give Me the Reason).
Committed to pushing the envelope of sonic
possibilities and bringing out the best in
the artists and musicians he vibes with,
Miles has worked over the years with a
proverbial who’s who of contemporary music:
Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Aretha
Franklin, Chaka Khan, Michael Brecker, The
Crusaders, Ruben Blades, Freddy Cole,
George Benson, Joe Sample, Herb Alpert,
Vanessa Williams, Grover Washington Jr, Lea
Salonga.
In addition to conceiving, producing
and arranging two very successful
tribute recordings dedicated to Grover,
Miles — who did the synth programming on
Washington’s 1987 album Strawberry Moon has paid tribute to the late sax great in
an even more intimate way: by producing
and executive producing Grover Live, a
2010 issue of a live concert Washington
performed at the Paramount Center for the
Arts in Peekskill, New York in 1997. Miles’
tireless work in bringing this recording to
the public — thereby introducing the power
of Washington’s music to a new generation
of contemporary jazz listeners — is
reflective of his commitment to keeping the
great music of the past alive while keeping
his eye on and exploring exciting future
possibilities.
Jason has performed his shows at many great
festivals and stages around the world:
Monterey Jazz Festival, Jazz Aspen, Umbria
Jazz, North Sea, Jacksonville Jazz Fest,
Jazz Fest NOLA, Tokyo Blue Note to name a
few.
In 2008, Global Noize, Miles’ new group
formed around his partnership with DJ
Logic, released its self titled debut and
performed at Berks and later at Jazz Fest
in New Orleans; the live show included
musicians from across the spectrum,
including Christian Scott, John Popper,
Bernie Worrell, Me’Shell Ndgeocello, Billy
Martin, Suphala, Cyro Baptista and James
Genus. Hailed by All Music Guide as “the
2000s equivalent to the way Weather Report
and Return to Forever drove the spirit of
jazz fusion in the 70s,” Global Noize —
driven in part by Miles’ expansive, socially
conscious vision — creates a boundary
breaking, freewheeling swirl of jazz, funk,
electronic, world fusion and blues that’s
all at once grounded, trippy and sensual,
and – with the ethereal vocals of Falu –
also transcendent and spiritual.
Looking back on his fascinating, far
reaching career, Miles says, “I’ve learned
so much from the great players I have been
fortunate enough to work with and they have
made me a much better musician and person,”
All I ever wanted was a chance to play music
and make a living at it, and I’m grateful to
have had these rich experiences, surrounded
by so many talented and loving people. I
wouldn’t trade these moments for anything.”
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Awards and Nominations
1993 - Cine Golden Eagle
Award - Best Score for
The Snow Queen - First
Russian/American Collaboration for
animated production
1995 - Prime Time Emmy
Nomination - Best Song
music and lyrics - Children
of The World from the soundtrack to
people
2000 Grammy - Producer
Best Male Pop Vocal –
Sting - She Walks This Earth from A Love
Affair The Music of Ivan Lins
2000 Grammy Nomination
- Producer - Best Pop
Instrumental Performance
– Grover Washington Jr - Camaleo
2003 Billboard Music
Award - Latin Jazz Album
of the Year - Gato Barbieri –
The Shadow Of The Cat
2003 Latin Grammy
Nomination - ProducerLatin Jazz Album of The
Year- Gato Barbieri - The Shadow Of
The Cat
2004 Grammy Nomination
- Best Instrumental
Pop Performance –
Composer,Perfomer &
Producer “Chasing Shadows” Maximum
Grooves Coast To Coast
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Contact
Booking
Bob Engel
Variety Artist’s Int
[email protected]
Tel: 805 545 5550
Management
Marc Silag
rightsidemanagement
[email protected]
Tel: 917-864-8392
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