Gail Boyd Artist Management APAP Showcase

As every year we have reached the invitation of Gail Boyd for Showcase earlier this year, thank you very much, and we want to share, as always, with you: Saturday, January 16, Yamaha Artist Services, 689 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Fl. NYC (times listed below) Sunday, January 17, Hilton Hotel, Regent Parlor (2nd Fl) (the times for each artist are listed below).

JOHN CLAYTON  John Clayton has been with Gail Boyd Artist Management for 20 years.  John released Volume Two of his Parlor Series (Artistshare), a gospel album featuring Hank Jones. This was a labor of love for John and it represented one of the last recordings made by Hank.  John also arranged and conducted the Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Gala.  He continued his duties as Artistic Director for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Vail Jazz Festival, and the Port Townsend Jazz Camp.   The 10 time Grammy nominee and winner, John is known for his excellent musicianship, composing and arranging.  It will be great fun to see John improvise a 30 minute segment during the showcase with dancer, Jade Solomon Curtis (www.jadesolomon.com), violinist Scott Tixier, and tenor saxophonist JD Allen. SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 1:00- Yamaha Artist Services DON BRADEN Don has been on the Gail Boyd Artist Management roster for 21 years!  He has recorded 21 CDs as a leader.  His latest CD "Luminosity" garnered 4 stars in Downbeat Magazine and topped the radio chart at #6. Now the CD has made several lists for the 10 best CDs of 2015.  He served as Assistant Band leader for the Harvard College band and continued to tour as a leader as well as a sideman nationally and internationally. Next year he will release his CD entitled "Earth, Wind and Wonder" combing through the songbooks of Earth, Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. SOMI Somi is a new addition to the Gail Boyd roster, although I witnessed her very first showcase in New York several years ago.  I have always been a huge fan of her artistry. Often referred to as a modern-day Miriam Makeba,  JazzTimes magazine describes her live performance as “the earthy gutsiness of Nina Simone blended with the vocal beauty of Dianne Reeves,” while Billboard exclaims that she’s “all elegance and awe…utterly captivating.” Somi will perform twice during APAP; at Globalfest 2016 with her extended "Lagos Music Salon" a scripted project with her quintet supplemented by spoken word and strings" and at Yamaha with her quintet. SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 6:30 - Yamaha Artist Services Sunday, Jan. 17 - Globalfest 2016 - Webster Hall ANDY MILNE The highlight of Andy's year was his marriage to the lovely and talented LaTanya Hall.  We wish them all the best.  Andy premiered his "Dapp Theory: Seasons of Being" this year made possible by Chamber Music America through the generosity of the Doris Duke Foundation.  On Saturday, he will showcase another project: Strings and Serpents, featuring two pianists, two koto players and a video component. On Sunday, he will perform a duo with his wife, LaTanya Hall in a tribute to Sarah Vaughan  SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 1:30 - Yamaha Artist Services Sunday, Jan. 17 - 3:00   - Hilton Hotel, Regent Parlor LAURENCE HOBGOOD Best known as the Grammy Award winning musical director for Kurt Elling for nearly 20 years, Laurence has spread his wings this year. In January, he will release "Honor Thy Fathers" (Circumstantial) featuring John Patitucci and Kendrick Scott.  He also co-produced a CD with Barb Jungr, "Shelter From the Storm" which will also be released in 2016.  On Saturday, Laurence will showcase his compositions together the String Quartet ETHEL. On Sunday, he will showcase his trio playing tunes from the new CD, about which Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune said "together they conjured power without noise, energy without haste, drama without overstatement". SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 3:30 - Yamaha Artist Services Sunday, Jan. 17 - 5:30 - Hilton Hotel, Regent Parlor JON HENDRICKS Showing very little signs of slowing down, 94 year old NEA Jazz Master Jon Hendricks completed writing lyrics for Miles Davis' Jazz Ahead.  The Father of Vocalese celebrated his birthday with shows at the Iridium, Mintons and Birdland.  Plans now are underway for a concert honoring Jon during his 95th birthday year.  Jon will attend the showcase on Saturday, but will not perform.   BARB JUNGR UK native, Barb has been busy on both sides of the Atlantic this year.  Continuing her critically acclaimed show "Hard Rain", she came back to New York to record her new CD "Shelter From the Storm" which was co-produced with Laurence Hobgood.  Barb will showcase that show on Saturday and Sunday with Laurence.  She also taped a PBS special at the "Kate" in Connecticut which will be aired in spring 2016.  She also premiered a show with Emmy Award winning pianist/composer John McDaniel called "Come Together" a reimagining of the Beatles Songbook.  Barb will showcase Come Together on Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00 and 9:00.  There is a limited guest list available to presenters.   SHOWCASE Wednesday, Jan. 13 - 7:00 - 54 Below (Come Together) Saturday, Jan. 16 - 2:00 - Yamaha Artist Services Sunday, Jan. 17 - 6:00 - Hilton Hotel, Regent Parlor THE CLAYTON-HAMILTON JAZZ ORCHESTRA  Multi Grammy nominated CHJO is co-led by John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton and Jeff Clayton.  The band will celebrate 30 years in 2016!  They have performed and recorded with atists such as Diana Krall, Queen Latifah (for which John won a Grammy), Gladys Knight, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nancy Wilson, Charles Aznavour, John Pizzarelli and many others.  Once noted by JazzTimes Magazine as "the best big band in America" the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra toured the country performing, among other places, at the Tri C Jazz Festival, SF Jazz, and Walnut Creek.  Plans are underway for a European tour in 2016 and a tour in Australia in 2017.   HELEN SUNG Helen Sung once said, "Art civilizes humanity.  Hold onto as much of it as you can."  We couldn't agree more.  An extremely gifted pianist, Helen just completed sold out shows of her project "Sung With Words" in collaboration with Dana Gioia, the former Executive Director of the National Endowment of the Arts.  She continued to tour throughout the US, Asia and Europe to support the release of her critically acclaimed CD "Anthem for a New Day" (Concord). Helen will record and continue to tour in 2016. SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 2:30 - Yamaha Artist Services SCOTT TIXIER Another new addition to the Gail Boyd Roster, Jean Luc Ponty said of Scott, "I think he stands above the crowd of current jazz musicians around the world".  Scott has just completed performing with Stevie Wonder on his "Songs in the Key of Life" tour.  Shortly thereafter, he went into the studio to record a new CD for Sunnyside Records.  The CD, produced by Donald Brown, features Glenn Zaleski(piano), Luques Curtis (bass), Justin Brown (drums), Yvonnick Prene (harmonica), Pedrito Martinez (percussion) with special guest Stevie Wonder on harmonica.   SHOWCASE Saturday, Jan. 16 - 1:00 Yamaha (with John Clayton) Saturday, Jan. 16 -  4:30 - Yamaha Artist Services CLAYTON BROTHERS QUINTET The Three time Grammy Nominated Clayton Brothers Quintet features brothers John and Jeff Clayton, Gerald Clayton, Terell Stafford, and Obed Calvaire.  The band recorded their latest CD "Soul Brothers" (ArtistShare) which will be released in January.  As a result of the band members schedules as leaders of their own ensembles, the band took a hiatus for most of 2015, but will be touring again in late 2016 and 2017.   JD ALLEN Hailed by the New York Times as a "tenor with an enignmatic, elegant and hard driving style", JD's most recent CD "Graffiti" featuring Rudy Royston and Gregg August, garnered 4 1/2 stars in Downbeat Magazine and made several lists for top ten CDs in 2015.  JD Allen is a bright rising light on the international jazz scene.  In 2015, JD toured the US, Europe and Israel with the trio. SHOWCASE Satuday, Jan. 16 - 1:00 - Yamaha Artist Services w/John Clayton Saturday, Jan. 16 - 6:00 - Yamaha Artist Services Skip Norris named Director of Booking I was really pleased that I convinced Skip Norris to join Gail Boyd Artist Management as Director of Booking.  Skip has many years experience as a presenter in the Detroit area and is known to hundreds of musicians and venues.  Some of our artists who are not affiliated with a booking agency will be able to take advantage of Skip's experience to obtain performance opportunities.   Skip will attend APAP and I hope that you will have a chance to meet him and say hello (and book some gigs).   Skip can be reached at 484-225-0040. Management Consulting Division In 2015. Gail Boyd Artist Management created a Management Consulting Division.  In this division, Gail will provide short term, temporary, consulting services to a few clients to assist them in their stated goals.

JEN SHYU David Hajdu of the Nation Magazine says "Jen Shyu is one of the most creative vocalist in contemporary improvised music."   Her latest CD "Sounds and Cries of the World" (Pi Recording) has placed in the top ten list of several media outlets including Number 3 in the New York Times.  She has just completed an international tour in support of the CD.   Showcase: Saturday, January 16 - Yamaha Artist Services 5:30 p.m. CATERINA ZAPPONI & MONTY ALEXANDER Grammy nominated pianist Monty Alexander certainly needs no introduction having recorded more than 70 CDs in the course of his professional life.  His wife, Caterina Zapponi, an extraordinarily talented vocalist who sings in three languages, was a critics delight with her debut release "Romantica" (Motema).  It is a pleasure to work with them both. Caterina will perform selections from her CD at the showcase.   Showcase:   Saturday, January 16 - Yamaha Artist Services, 4:00 p.m. BILL O'CONNELL Pianist Bill O'Connell received the "Jazz Writer of the Year" award from SESAC on four occasions.  Early in his career he performed in a variety of salsa and jazz settings which set the tone for his musical style.  He will release his new CD "Heartbeat" (Savant) with Bill O'Connell and the Latin Jazz All Stars including Steve Slagel (sax and flute), Conrad Herwig (trombone) Luques Curtis (bass) and Roman Diaz (percussion) and Richie Flores (percussion). Showcase:   Saturday, January 16 - Yamaha Artist Services - 3:00 www.gailboyd.com                        gailboyd@gailboyd.com www.jazzglobalbeat.blogspot.com       jazzglobalbeat@gmail.com