Meet The Artists
Napoleon Revels-Bey
Educator, Clinician, composer,
arranger, Drummer-Percussionist, credits range from and include,
artist-in-residences, TV, Radio, and performances from Cab Calloway, Gladys
Knight and the Pips, Gregory Hines, and Aretha Franklin, as well as a host of
Broadway shows, from, Jelly's Last Jam, Bob Fosse's Dancin', Ain't MisBehaven,
Eubie, Bubblin' Brown Sugar, West Side Story, the Kool, Newark, and Umbria Jazz
Festivals, as well as tours of Europe, and Japan. A member of the Percussive
Arts Society,Nassau County Music Educators Society, BOCES, and the International
Association of Jazz Educators. Napoleon also teaches privately, music and
computers, and held a position of Professor of Music, SUNY/College at Old
Westbury. As founder for "Joy of
Jazz Series/Music Around The World," has received the Nassau
Community Re-Grant Program for the Arts Award for programs in the Arts
that features several musical ensembles such as the Rhythm Kings, & Jazz,
Taps and Drums, and Violin that perform for schools in the tri-state and in
concert.
Rhythm Kings Program
Igor Atalita: Piano, performance credits include trips to Europe as well as tours of Jazz Festivals in Berlin, Ottawa, and North Sea, Latin Jazz greats, Tito Puente, the Bronx Horns, and Joe Cuba Sextet.
Bryan Carrott:
VIBRAPHONE / MARIMBA / COMPOSITION. Bryan Carrott is an
internationally renowned vibraphonist/mallet percussionist who performs, records
and tours extensively in the jazz idiom. A prolific composer and improviser as
well, Mr. Carrott was also an accomplished pianist before undertaking studies in
percussion at New York's High School of Music and Art and Manhattan School of
Music. He continued percussion studies at Brooklyn College under New York
Philharmonic's Morris Lang, and went on to study vibraphone with Dave Samuels at
William Paterson College in Wayne New Jersey, where Carrott received his B.A. in
Jazz Studies & Performance.
A two-time recipient of New York's
"'Meet the Composer Foundation", Bryan Carrott has been cited by Down
Beat Magazine's International Critics' Poll seven of the last nine years for
"Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the vibes category. Mr.
Carrott was also featured in the concert film "The Lounge Lizards Live in
Berlin," as well as on several television appearances including "BET's
JAZZ CENTRAL." More recently he performed on marimba in a club scene with
Don Byron and Harvey Kietel in the film, “Lulu on the Bridge", and was a
featured mallet/multi-percussionist for Disney's Broadway production of
"The Lion King".
In the past Bryan Carrott has been featured
in the bands of James Spaulding, Benny Powell, The Lounge Lizards, Kimati
Dinizulu and Roy Campbell. Over the last ten years, he has been recording and
performing with the Ralph Peterson Fo'tet, David “Fathead" Newman, Muhal
Richard Abrahms, Butch Morris, the Jazz Passengers, Bob Moses, The Spirit of
Life Ensemble, and more recently Henry Threadgill, Dave Douglas, Yoron Israel
Connection and Charlie Hunter throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan.
As a composer, Mr. Carrott has performed and presented his original music throughout the U.S., Europe and on several recordings by Ralph Peterson and vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd to critical acclaim. He occasionally performs and tours with his own groups, the Bryan Carrott Trio, Quartet and Quintet, and was most recently featured with Branford Marsalis and his Quartet on original sound track music composed by Marsalis for the Spike Lee produced film, "3 A.M." CARROTTMON@aol.com
RAY MARTINEZ:
Bass, native of the Dominican Republic received his formal music education from
the NATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC in the Dominican Republic and upon moving to
the U.S. he continued his studies at LEHMAN COLLEGE of New York City.
Known for his melodic and percussive style, Ray Martinez has been considered one of the most gifted and prominent bassist/arrangers on the contemporary Latin and salsa music scene.
Ray composed, arranged, recorded and performed for many years with latin-Jazz legend MONGO SANTAMARIA. As the leader and creator of his own salsa band "CONJUNTO TIPICO CRIOLLO", Ray produced and arranged three albums. Ray was also a member of the Buddha Latin-Jazz all stars.
RAY MARTINEZ has enjoyed a prolific musical career recording and performing with such artist as the KING OF LATIN MUSIC, Latin Jazz great MONGO SANTAMARIA, RAY BARRETO, JOHNNY PACHECO, DAVE VALENTIN, HECTOR LAVOE, "EL SONERO MAYOR” ISMAEL RIVERA. TIPlCA 73, PETE "EL CONDE" RODRIGUEZ among others,
Having firmly established his reputation as an excellent musician Ray was chosen to participated with PAUL SIMON in several musical recordings and also perform in two world tours with DAVID BYRNE ex-leader of the TALKING HEADS. In addition, Ray served as a special guest on David Byrne's production of Brazilian artist Margaret Menezes. Increasingly in demand, he has recently recorded with international star JUAN LUIS GUERRA and 4:40.
His newest brainchild brings together exotic sounds from Africa, Brazil, Afro-Caribbean Jazz and American Jazz. These new concepts in fusion were all produced, composed and arranged by Ray.
Daizy
Shumake, Percussion
Jazz Violin Program
Gwen
Laster: Violinist/Composer/Arranger.
Teaches
the Suzuki method as well as her own method for the improvising string player at
Saint Ann’s School and the Harlem School of the Arts. She has led Master
Classes and workshops on “Improvisation for Strings” and has written her own
string ensemble arrangements as an adjunct to her string method.
A native Detroiter who embraces her listeners with an eclectic and creative musical energy. Classically trained, Gwen’s performance experiences’ encompass a variety of settings. From the pit orchestras of Broadway Shows, including Miss Saigon, Carousel and Beauty and the Beast to performances and recordings with Brian McKnight, Aretha Franklin, Shaggy, Jon Faddis’ Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Anthony Braxton, Jay Z, Patti LaBelle, R. Kelly and others. Gwen has also been seen on music videos with D’Angelo, Deborah Cox, Jon Secada, Teddy Riley, Erykah Badu and worked as “violin assistant” in the Miramax Film “Music of the Heart”.
Her
tours include performances in the United States, Japan, Haiti and the Dominican
Republic.
Jazz Taps & Drums Program
An Acrobatic Team of Young Rhythm Tap Dancers ********** Traci Mann, Director/Teacher/Choreographer
The LITTLE RHYTHM KINGS & THE YOUNG HOOFERS, ages 5-15, are young men who have achieved a level of professionalism through hard work, long hours, and dedication. They have danced in Mann Arts & Entertainment programs; "Tapping Into the Environment; This Joint Is Jumping' " (starring tap legends, Peg Leg Bates and Chuck Green the Godfather of Tap, also the late great stride pianist, Howie Wyeth); "Dancing Under the Desert Moon; New York City Street Beat," and "The Legendary Sandman Sim's NYU Tap Workshop." Additional performances include: "Baby That Is Rock and Roll; Welcome Back to Brooklyn" street festival with Mecca Bodega music; "Dance Giant Steps" at the Brooklyn Children's Museum; Comet’s "Tapping Into Clean Water," with Sandman Sims, Buster Brown, and the Silver Belles; FOX Network's "Good Day New York, Tribute to Savion Glover;' starring Savion, Jimmy Slyde, Buster Brown, 'Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk' dancers, and NYOT; CBS' "Sally Jesse Raphael Show;' featuring Shakir Torbert and Buster Brown, "Rupaul," on VH1; and have recently created their own entire show, "Hoofin' In Harlem." These young men enjoy tap dancing to live music, incorporating gyl1lllastics, hip hop, and challenge steps as part of their improvisation. They are contributing to the dance community by helping to keep the art of tap dancing alive, as it is an original, indigenous American folk dance.
Ms. Mann has been producing tap dance show cases in NYC since 1990. These show cases were designed to involve young dancers with older tap masters. This could help our dancers gain knowledge, experience, and theatrical credits. As a teacher, she realizes the importance of dance as a therapy, as a creative expression, as a discipline, "American history, fun, and an avenue for releasing energy! Ms. Mann not only instills in her students a strong tap technique, but also the history of the steps and the tap masters who created them. Tap is fun! It is a celebration of music, rhythm, and dance.
Musicians include Richard Iacona on Piano, Kim Clarke Bass, and Ron Aprea on Reeds.
Main Page Joy of Jazz Series/Music Around the World Itinerary
