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George Gee Big Band
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Frank Foster - arranger/conductor
Frank Foster is one of those rare triple threats: He’s a saxophonist
with a big, broad, rangy sound and approach; he’s a composer
and arranger of both tunes and long-form works; and he’s a skilled
leader of bands both large and small. As a saxophonist fluent on tenor,
soprano, and alto saxes, he’s been a welcome addition on bandstands
and recording studios of vast variety. As a composer and arranger
his efforts have run the gamut, from writing such jazz standards as
“Shiny Stockings” and “Simone”, to his “Lake
Placid Suite, commissioned by the 1980 Winter Olympics. As a bandleader
he’s led everything from quartets to big bands, all with great
aplomb and abundant skill ... read more
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Carla
Cook - vocals
Detroit native Carla Cook first joined The George Gee Big Band in
1995. George has been asking Carla to collaborate on a recording project
for a long time and this was the perfect project for the both of them.
In 1999, Carla recorded her debut album; It's All About Love.
The CD enjoyed favorable reviews and received a Grammy nomination
in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category and was awarded the AFIM
Indie Award for Best Jazz Vocal in 2000. In 2000, Cook recorded her
second album, Dem Bones and in 2002, she recorded Simply
Natural, both also for MAXJAZZ
and both continue to receive critical acclaim. Settin’ the Pace
is her first big band recording, with extended experience also with
the Lionel Hampton Orchestra.
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Walt
Szymanski – lead trumpet and music director
Another transplanted New Yorker from Detroit, Walt Szymanski has been
anchoring the trumpet section in the big band for nearly 9 years.
As music director, the band’s repertoire is loaded with his
arrangements and transcriptions. Recently, Walt has also been added
as a featured vocalist – singing songs from the Great American
Songbook. He gained experience holding a similar position under the
watchful eye of the late great drummer JC Heard in Motown. Besides
guiding the phrasing of the section and contributing several notable
solos, he also took the lead in the mixing of the recording. Current
projects include music director with chanteuse Jo Thompson, with recent
tours to Japan and The Far East. He also produced her latest recording
– Forever Fabulous – along with fronting The
JC Heard Orchestra. |
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Ed Pazant – lead alto sax and flute
Lead alto saxophonist Ed Pazant has also been with the big band for
nearly a decade. Hailing from Savannah, GA – Ed performed with
The Lionel Hampton Band throughout the 1950s and 1960s. His extended
solo can be heard on the song “Greasy Greens” with Hampton
on the recording, “Live at Newport 1967.” Besides jazz,
his rhythm and blues experience includes stints with The Dells, Kool
and the Gang and Roberta Flack. In addition to playing regularly with
George Gee, Ed is the current musical director (along with trumpeter
and brother Al Pazant) of The Cotton Club All-Stars at The
Cotton Club in Harlem, NY. |
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Charles Stephens – lead trombone
Believe it or not, Charles Stephens has been sitting in the lead trombone
chair with George Gee for going on three decades. He first joined
the band in 1987, when the Gee band used to travel from their at-that-time
home base of Pittsburgh, PA. Raised in Birmingham, AL – Charle’s
big band experience began in 1981 when he joined The Lionel Hampton
Orchestra and stayed with him for over two decades. Other large ensembles
include Illinois Jacquet, The Duke Ellington Orchestra (with Mercer
Ellington) and The Dizzy Gillespie United Nations Orchestra. He also
performed with groups as varied as Nancy Wilson, Sam Rivers, Teddy
Pendergrass, Archie Shepp and Li’l Anthony and the Imperials. |
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Michael Hashim – tenor and alto sax
Although he is from Geneva, NY, Michael Hashim’s career began
in the New England states during the late 1970s that is when he first
joined The Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra, with whom he would
subsequently record six albums, tour North America and Europe numerous
times and garnered glowing reviews in publications from “People”
to “Newsweek.” In the twenty five years since moving to
NYC, Michael has kept company with the likes of Cab Calloway, Doc
Cheatham, Muddy Waters, Nancy Wilson, Dizzy Gillespie, Jo Jones, Sonny
Greer, Roy Eldridge, Skitch Henderson, Panama Francis and Benny Carter.
During the heady years of the retro-swing revival of the late 1990s,
his gritty playing and stylish attire was constantly in demand. With
Gee for just over five years, Hashim currently conducts The Billy
Strayhorn Orchestra, performs with The
Raymond Scott Orchestra and is the music director for actor Danny
Aiello’s new career as lounge singer. Of Gee, Michael says
“….vital in keeping great traditions alive and exciting.
The whole thing is so fun and soulful!” |
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Lance
Byrant – tenor sax, flute and vocals
Former musical director with Lionel Hampton, Lance is also featured
on all of George’s CD recordings – having joined the big
band in 1992 – the same year he began his collaboration with
Hampton. . His contributions include saxophone, arranging, composing
and vocals – he even studied big band arranging with Frank Foster
for several years. With George, he toured throughout the United States,
Japan and Europe. Lance was also featured as an onstage musician for
the Broadway production of the musical review “Swing!”
in 2000. The show garnered six Tonys and the soundtrack was nominated
for a Grammy. Vocalist Carla Cook asked Lance to provide arrangements
for her past two recordings, Dem Bones and Simply Natural.
Other credits include working with Jon Hendricks, Phyllis Hyman, Wallace
Roney, Abdulah Ibrahim and Spike Lee. |
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Marshall
McDonald – alto sax and flute
Marshall McDonald and George first met in Pittsburgh in 1980 and have
kept a close musical and personal relationship ever since. Having
moved to NYC in 1987, Marshall has kept busy with the big bands of
Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Persip, Frank
Foster and Chico O’Farrill. Non-jazz affiliations include Stephanie
Mills, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Melba Moore,
Johnny Mathis and The Manhattan Transfer. Since 2001, Marshall has
been a regular member of The Count Basie Orchestra and is currently
quite busy touring the world celebrating a century of Basie. |
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Howard
Johnson – baritone sax and bass clarinet
Know for his jazz tuba virtuosity and his incredible tuba ensemble,
GRAVITY – Verve recording artist Howard Johnson was a fortunate
last minute replacement for regular baritone saxophonist Alex Harding.
A New Yorker from Montgomery, AL since 1963 – Howard has worked
with Gerald Wilson, Pharoah Sanders, Carla Bley, Cecil Taylor, Oliver
Nelson, Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson, Charlie Hayden,
Gato Barbieri, George Gruntz, Spike Lee, John Scofield, Charlie Mingus,
Hank Crawford, Gil Evans, Archie Shepp and Buddy Rich. For fifteen
years, he was a featured member of The Saturday Night Live Band on
NBC, while also performing with John Lennon, Paul Butterfield, B.B.
King, Taj Mahal and also appeared on “The Last Waltz”
with The Band. Settin’ the Pace was a pleasant reunion
for Howard and Frank Foster, as they have not worked together for
many years. |
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Robert Trowers – trombone
Nearly two decades with George Gee have not dampened his enthusiasm,
because he knows that “….the main object is to swing!”
With Lionel Hampton from 1982 until 1986 and Frank Foster and The
Count Basie Orchestra until 1995 – Robert also served with the
big bands of Illinois Jacquet, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and
The Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. Signed with Concord Records in 1993
and produced two recordings on that label - Synopsis and
Point of View. A resident of Brooklyn, he currently is developing
a non-profit organization to preserve that borough’s rich jazz
legacy. |
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Eddie Bert –
trombone
Trombonist Eddie Bert's career spans nearly seven decades of Jazz,
from big bands to bebop and beyond. His resume reads like a Who's
Who of Modern Jazz, including musical relationships with Thelonious
Monk, Charles Mingus, Coleman Hawkins, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton,
Machito, Tito Puente, Benny Goodman, Hank Jones, Kenny Clarke, Jackie
Gleason, Bobby Short, Lena Horne, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Red Norvo,
Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Clark Terry, Charlie Barnet, Thad Jones
and Mel Lewis – but in no way limited to this short list. After
12 years with George, this is what Eddie has to say in his usual understated
manner: “I’m here, aren’t I?” “ |
circa 1947
circa 2004
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Jack Jeffers – bass trombone
Another senior statesman in the big band is big band veteran Jack
Jeffers. Currently leading The Duke Ellington Orchestra weekly at
Birdland
in NYC, Jack also performs there with the Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban
Jazz Orchestra. He has written music for a diverse range of organizations
and performers, including The Boy’s Choir of Harlem and The
Black Music Repertory Ensemble. His own big band – The New York
Classics – recorded on the Mapleshade label in 1996. On Broadway,
Jack has resided in the pit orchestras of over twenty musicals and
was the musical director for The Wiz and The Boy’s
Choir of Harlem on Broadway. “From one bandleader to another,
George certainly takes care of business…” |
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Steve Wiseman – trumpet
Steve Wiseman first played with George in 1995 and has toured the
USA and the world with the orchestras of Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller
and Chico O’Farrill and numerous traveling Broadway productions.
Hailing from Indianapolis, IN and a musical family – Steve is
a decade long resident of the NYC area. Why he likes being in the
band: “George’s band is the swingin’est band left
standing and we usually get hot meals at the gigs.” |
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Shawn Edmonds – trumpet
A graduate of Eastman School of Music, Shawn Edmonds relocated to
NYC in 1996 and shortly thereafter joined the both The George Gee
and Count Basie Orchestras. While not on tour, he keeps busy by freelancing
on Broadway and also loves to play in classical brass quintets. “George
is true to the music.” |
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Mark McGowan – trumpet
Mark McGowan is the thinking man’s trumpeter, with a degree
in law under his belt. Playing professionally since 1984, Mark has
played and toured with many well-known musical organizations in the
United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. He received a BA in music
from Hunter College, studied improvisation with Barry Harris and served
long apprenticeships with both Illinois Jacquet and Lionel Hampton. |
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Jon
Cowherd – piano
Jon Cowherd grew up in Paducah Ky. where he studied piano, voice and
French horn. He moved to NYC in 1993, where he attended the Manhattan
School of Music. In 1994, he joined George’s big band rhythm
section and is featured on three of the band’s “live”
recordings. In 1997, drummer Brian Blade and Cowherd formed a band
called “Fellowship” and recorded two albums on the Blue
Note record label. In 2003, Cowherd and Blade produced singer Lizz
Wright’s debut album Salt for Verve records. Jon has
performed internationally with George, Carla Cook, Fellowship and
Lizz Wright. He was also an arranger and assistant music director
for the Broadway show Swing!, featuring vocalist Anne Hampton
Callaway. Other artists he has performed or recorded with include
Norah Jones, Victoria Williams, Claudia Acuna, Dave Binney, Donny
McCaslin, Myron Walden and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. |
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Joe Cohn – guitar
Joe Cohn has the correct genes and it shows - he is the son of the
late great saxophonist Al Cohn. He worked with his famous Dad and
Zoot Sims, including a tour of England and was been a regular with
Al Grey starting in 1986. Joe was rhythm guitarist with the Artie
Shaw Orchestra (under the direction of Dick Johnson) from 1982-1988.
His recording dates have been with Buddy DeFranco, Dave McKenna, Al
Grey, Frank Wess, Harry Allen and Joe Williams. Unusual for a Basie
influenced big band; The George Gee Orchestra was without a rhythm
guitarist until Joe joined a few years ago. “I waited a long
time for the perfect big band guitarist who understood the style of
“Freddie Green,” explains George. |
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Daryl Hall – bass
Daryl Hall is one of the most under-appreciated and at the same time,
most requested jazz bassist in the field these days - having lent
his solid beat to the groups of Jimmie Heath, Lionel Hampton, Stefon
Harris and many others. “Daryl is the consummate big band bassist,
with a driving, big fat and swingin’ sound. We’re lucky
to have recorded with him before he moved to Europe” says Gee.
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Willard Dyson – drums
Willard Dyson is a versatile musician whose ingenuity is at home in
a myriad of rhythmic genres including jazz, R&B, Latin and Brazilian
music. He works regularly with an extensive group of musicians, including
Charlie Hunter, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Locke, Michael Franks, Freddie
Bryant, Regina Belle, Dakota Staton, Grady Tate, Jimmy Scott, Boy’s
Choir of Harlem and The New York Voices. He has been called, "perfect,
imaginative, sensitive, exciting and subtle, with a stunning flair
for devastating funk". Swing solid with the Gee band since 1994,
Willard is a transplant from the Bay area in Northern California. |
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Renato Thoms – percussion
Born in Colón, Panamá, Renato Thoms began his music
training at the Conservatory of the National University of Heredia
in Costa Rica. Renato has performed with numerous well-regarded
Latin jazz musicians and ensembles, including Rubén Blades,
Eddie Palmieri's Latin Jazz & Salsa Orchestra, the Danilo Pérez
Quintet, Brian Lynch, Hilton Ruiz's Latin Jazz Orchestra, Dee Dee
Bridgewater, Jon Lucien, Sol y Canto, Paquito D'Rivera, Victor Mendoza,
Bob Moses and Mozamba, Antonio Hart and the late Pete "El Conde"
Rodriguez. In addition to the Latin and jazz idioms, Renato enjoys
playing a variety of percussion styles including classical, pop
and R&B. His recording credits include Eric Reed, Antonio Hart,
Harvie Swartz, Edú Tancredi and The Boston Pops. Percussion
was first added to the Gee Big Band at Eddie Bert’s 80th Birthday
Celebration at Town Hall in 2002.
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