BERNSTEIN/WANIA/PARKER/GRAY (US/PL)

Marc Bernstein – saxes
Dominik Wania – piano
Mike Parker – double bass
Devin Gray – drums

tickets: 25/30 pln

This new collaboration features 4 renowned musicians and bandleaders in their own rights.  Their repertoire will include original compositions from different members, a heavy dose of improvisation, as well as some choice covers/standards.

MARC BERNSTEIN

Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Marc Kibrick Bernstein was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 19, 1961.

After hearing a recording of Benny Goodman’s small group at a clarinet lesson as a youngster, Marc started going to the Village Vanguard, Sweet Basil and 7th Ave South to regularly hear, amongst others: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, James Moody, Gil Evans Big Band, George Coleman, The Brecker Brothers, Harold Mabern, Jaco Pastorius ……

Upon graduation from Berklee College of Music in 1984, Marc had been inspired further by hearing great Bostonians like Roy Haynes, Jerry Bergonzi, Allan Dawson, and his sax mentors Jimmy Mosher and George Garzone.

Bernstein returned to New York in 1985 and recorded with Hal Galper and Billy Hart. He formed a quartet and duo featuring Hal which performed occasionally until the early 90’s. In addition, Marc played quite regularly with his group featuring Billy during that same period.

In 1989 Bernstein replaced Arnie Lawrence in Chico Hamilton’s band and performed with him for two years. Highlights during his stay with Chico include concerts at the Apollo Theatre, Central Park and the JVC Jazz Festival.

In 1990 Marc had the honor of playing a concert with Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis.

In 1991 Bernstein started his “Electric Quartet” which worked regularly at Visiones and featured Dave Douglas and Michael J. Stevens. Between 1991-1994 Marc appeared with his own groups and as a sideman with performances at countless venues in and around New York City, most notably The Blue Note, Avery Fischer Hall, Sweet Basil and Mikells.

In 1994 Marc met Laila from Denmark on a plane on the way home from some performances in Europe. They decided to start their married life together in Denmark where they currently live with their son, Jonas Kibrick Bernstein.

Shortly after his arrival in Denmark, Marc auditioned for and joined Klüvers Big Band where he had the opportunity to perform and record with Bob Mintzer, Bill Dobbins, Ed Neumeister, Lars Jansson and Dennis Mackrel. Bernstein is also featured on the Klüvers Big Band CD “Live In Tivoli” with Deborah Brown.

Since leaving Klüvers Big Band in 1996 Marc has released 8 CD’s as a leader and has recorded and/or performed with:

Tom Harrell, Billy Hart, David Kikoski, Bob Moses, Billy Cobham, Joey Calderazzo, Richie Beirach, Hal Galper, Jimmy Cobb, James Moody, Alex Riel, Jacob Anderskov, Stefan Pasborg, Kasper Tranberg, Anders Trentemøller, Nils Davidsen, Mads Vinding, Marie Bergman, Bob Rockwell, Carsten Dahl, Tomas Franck, Morten Lund, Henrik Gunde, Sinne Eeg, Bob Gulotti and many others.

Along-side all of this, Marc is currently leader of the Rhythmic Music Dept. at The Southern Danish Conservatory of Music and is very active inspiring young people to experiment and develop their creativity through improvisation and composition by using the concepts described in his book “Rhythmical Building Blocks – From J.S. Bach to James Brown”

http://www.marcbernstein.net/

DOMINIK WANIA

Dominik Wania was born in Sanok, Poland and began the study of piano at age three. Graduated from the Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland in 2005 where he was an honors music student studying classical piano performance.

In 2006 he was awarded The Helena Foundation Presidential Scholarship at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he pursued Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance. While at NEC Dominik Wania studied with Danilo Perez, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Ran Blake, Allan Chase and Frank Carlberg. He also was a member of one of NEC’s prestigious Honors Ensembles.

He has performed and collaborated with many prominent musicians: Tomasz Stańko, Marcus Miller, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Anders Jormin, Gary Thomas, George Garzone, Eddie Henderson, Marilyn Mazur, Joey Baron, Nguyen Le, Don Byron, Jacek Kochan,Zbigniew Namysłowski, Janusz Muniak, Bronisław Suchanek, Zbigniew Wegehaupt, Piotr Baron, Piotr Wojtasik, Maciej Sikała to name a few. Currently he is involved with significant projects including Maciej Obara International Quartet and Noise Trio.

MIKE PARKER

A native of New York, Mike began his professional career at the age of 17 playing funk and rock gigs in New York City clubs. Now at the age of 28, he has toured all over Europe and America with both jazz and rock groups, won several international contests and awards, studied with and played with some of the greatest musicians alive, and recorded 3 albums of his own compositions.

Mike attended Skidmore College where he studied Evolutionary Psychology and Music and spent a semester abroad studying Jazz Bass at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. At Skidmore, Mike performed in the school’s classical and jazz ensembles and soon began playing professionally with the school’s professors and the area’s best jazz musicians. He studied with such notable bassists as Scott Colley, Reid Anderson, and Reubin Rogers and had the opportunity to perform with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including John Scofield, Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, and Eric Harland. Upon graduating with Highest Honors in 2010, Mike received the Joseph Garrison Parker Prize for excellence in both science and the arts and was given a Periclean Award for his outstanding senior concert.

After graduating, Mike traveled extensively around Europe before settling in Krakow, Poland where he discovered a young and vibrant jazz scene. Since then, Mike has had many fruitful collaborations there including recording his second album of original material (‘Embrace the Wild’) and winning 2 international jazz contests (2012 Tarnow International Jazz Competition, 2012 Jazz Juniors International Jazz Competition). Mike now calls both New York and Krakow home when he is not on tour. He performs on both upright and electric bass as a member of several touring groups including the ‘Nat Osborn Band’, ‘Arctica’, and his own ‘Unified Theory’ and ‘Trio Theory’ projects.

http://www.mptheory.com/

DEVIN GRAY

An artist interested in multiple musical directions and one who strives for quality and sincerity in his work. His exciting energy has compelled him towards many different musical directions and projects. Considered by his contemporaries as cutting edge, Gray shows promise as an artist that will not only move the music forward, but one who will share his unique musical vision with the world of music.

Devin Gray’s fresh approach to modern drumming has enabled him to play with many of America’s great jazz musicians. He has performed and recorded with innovative musicians of contrasting styles and backgrounds such as: David Liebman, Tony Malaby, Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Burrell, Dave Ballou, Michael Formanek, Nate Wooley, Stephan Crump, George Garzone, Chris Speed, Drew Gress, Sam Rivers, Ralph Alessi, John O’Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Matt Mitchell, Uri Caine, Andrew D’Angelo, Vardan Ovsepian, Bill McHenry as well as many others.

Devin has been fortunate to perform in many places around the globe and continues to make peace with his audiences. He is a top call young drummer in many modern jazz circles in New York City as well as multiple cities on the East Coast of America. Current leader projects include two quartets: “Dirigo Rataplan” featuring Ellery Eskelin, Dave Ballou, and Michael Formanek, and “RelativE ResonancE” featuring Chris Speed, Kris Davis, and Chris Tordini. He is currently living, playing, and composing in Brooklyn, New York.

http://devingraymusic.com/