Jazz All-Stars Series
Bill Pierce Quintet
Sunday, October 29, 2023
6-9 p.m., The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH
In partnership with The Press Room
Bill Pierce Quintet
Bill Pierce, tenor sax
Consuelo Candelaria-Barry, piano; Freddie Bryant, guitar;
Gregory Ryan, bass; Mark Walker, drums
Tickets: $25 (Table Seating), $20 (Bar/Mezzanine)
Bill Pierce, tenor sax
Consuelo Candelaria-Barry, piano; Freddie Bryant, guitar;
Gregory Ryan, bass; Mark Walker, drums
Tickets: $25 (Table Seating), $20 (Bar/Mezzanine)
In this “Jazz All-Stars” event, the Seacoast Jazz Society is proud to sponsor the fabulous tenor saxophonist, Bill Pierce, and the all-star cast performing with him. Reserve your seat now, because this is a line-up of jazz musicians you won’t want to miss!
Bill Pierce’s group will be playing a mixture of original and classic Jazz. Swing, ballads, and Latin styles will be featured. Take a moment to read the bios below and you’ll get an idea of the level of jazz excellence that awaits you!
BILL PIERCE is one of the foremost tenor saxophonists in the world. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1972, he has been performing and recording with a host of musical luminaries who are among the greatest jazz musicians of all time.
For three years in the early 1980s he toured and recorded with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, then joined the Tony Williams’ Quintet in 1985, touring Europe, Asia, and America. He made five recordings with Mr. Williams and is featured on Williams' last quintet release, “Tokyo Live” (Blue Note Records).
In 1975 Bill became associate professor in Berklee’s Woodwind Department, then Department Chair in 1997. He was active in the Boston and New York music scenes, regularly performing with the Freddie Hubbard Quintet, and playing at venues and festivals throughout the world. Throughout his career he has performed with numerous other legends, including Stevie Wonder, Art Farmer, James Williams, Hank Jones, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach, and others. Since 1999, Bill has been a member of the Kevin Eubanks Quartet, releasing five recordings including, "Soweto Sun", “Live”, “Genesis”, “Shrine” and "Zen Food". Bill has recorded a number of CDs as band leader under the Sunnyside label. They include “William the Conqueror “, “Give and Take”, “Equilateral”, “One For Chuck” and “Rio”. More recently, he recorded “Epistrophy”, “Froggin' Around”, and “Burnin''.
Performing with Bill:
CONSUELO CANDELARIA-BARRY, (piano), has been lauded as one of the “great masters of jazz piano and a first-rate composer.” An acclaimed pianist, composer, and professor at Berklee College of Music, she has performed and/or recorded all over the world with musicians including: Paula Cole, Curtis Fuller, Billy Hart, Don Braden, Lewis Nash, Louis Hayes, Pat LaBarbara, Joe Morelo, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Jeff Watts, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and more. She is a featured pianist on Paula Cole’s 2018 album, ”American Quilt”, and has performed with the Bill Pierce Quintet for the King of Thailand, and for the President of Costa Rica with Victor Mendoza. Her own recordings as a leader include: “Last Sunday Morning”, “When They Danced”, and “La Jornada”.
FREDDIE BRYANT, (guitar). At the start of his career the great guitarist Kenny Burrell wrote, “Freddie Bryant is a brilliant young guitarist and composer.” Freddie received a master’s degree in Classical Guitar from the Yale School of Music, and has shown his skills in jazz, classical, Brazilian, and other world genres. He is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music as well as a visiting faculty member at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland. He is an active player in the New York jazz and Brazilian scenes, where he has worked with Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell, The Mingus Orchestra, Ben Riley's Thelonious Monk Legacy Septet, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Wynton Marsalis, and Max Roach. He has recorded several CDs as leader, including “Monk Restrung”, featuring the music of Thelonious Monk. His own group, KALEIDOSCOPE whose CD, "Live Grooves…Epic Tales" is on the HiPNOTIC record label, features grooves from around the world including Brazil, Cuba and New Orleans as well as influences from blues, gospel, India and the Middle-East. This Spring and Summer celebrates the release of his opus, "Upper West Side Love Story", a double CD of his 16 movement song cycle featuring an all-star nonet: Carla Cook – vocals, Regina Carter – violin, Donny McCaslin and Steve Wilson on saxophones and flutes, Gwen Laster and Akua Dixon filling out the string section on viola and cello with the grooving rhythm section of bassist John Benitez and drummer Alvester Garnett.
GREGORY RYAN, (bass), is a New York City native who has established himself as an in-demand sideman on both acoustic and electric bass. His big supportive sound, swinging style, and complete understanding of harmony and his role on the bandstand combine to create his ability to make even the most complex modern composition swing in the tradition of the great bass players. At home in a variety of musical worlds -- accomplished in Brazilian, Cuban, funk, and mainstream jazz styles -- he performs in festivals and concerts worldwide. Gregory has appeared with pianists James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern, and Benny Green; guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Martino; vocalists Karrin Allyson and Dena DeRose; and numerous jazz luminaries including Eric Alexander, Regina Carter, Billy Harper, Tom Harrell, and Albert “Tootie” Heath, among many others. His Latin Jazz resumé includes performances with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O’Farrill, Papo Vazquez’ Pirates Troubadours, Yosvany Terry and Brazilian Jazz artists Helio Alves and Maucha Adnet.
MARK WALKER, (drums), is a Grammy/Latin Grammy Award–winning drummer, a Grammy Award–nominated composer, and a renowned author and educator originally from Chicago. Currently a member of Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval’s group, he is one of the only American drummers equally at home with authentic South American and Caribbean rhythms, straight-ahead jazz, rock, funk and studio drumming. Since 1989, he has performed around the world, touring extensively and/or recording with the group Oregon (with Ralph Towner), Paquito D’Rivera, Lyle Mays, Michel Camilo, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Randy Brecker, Steve Khan, Mike Mainieri, Andy Narell, Eliane Elias, NDR Bigband, WDR Big Band, the hr-Bigband, and the Caribbean Jazz Project. He released his critically acclaimed debut album in 2019 entitled “You Get What You Give”, featuring Paquito D’Rivera, Alain Mallet, Oscar Stagnaro and many others.
Bill Pierce’s group will be playing a mixture of original and classic Jazz. Swing, ballads, and Latin styles will be featured. Take a moment to read the bios below and you’ll get an idea of the level of jazz excellence that awaits you!
BILL PIERCE is one of the foremost tenor saxophonists in the world. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 1972, he has been performing and recording with a host of musical luminaries who are among the greatest jazz musicians of all time.
For three years in the early 1980s he toured and recorded with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, then joined the Tony Williams’ Quintet in 1985, touring Europe, Asia, and America. He made five recordings with Mr. Williams and is featured on Williams' last quintet release, “Tokyo Live” (Blue Note Records).
In 1975 Bill became associate professor in Berklee’s Woodwind Department, then Department Chair in 1997. He was active in the Boston and New York music scenes, regularly performing with the Freddie Hubbard Quintet, and playing at venues and festivals throughout the world. Throughout his career he has performed with numerous other legends, including Stevie Wonder, Art Farmer, James Williams, Hank Jones, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach, and others. Since 1999, Bill has been a member of the Kevin Eubanks Quartet, releasing five recordings including, "Soweto Sun", “Live”, “Genesis”, “Shrine” and "Zen Food". Bill has recorded a number of CDs as band leader under the Sunnyside label. They include “William the Conqueror “, “Give and Take”, “Equilateral”, “One For Chuck” and “Rio”. More recently, he recorded “Epistrophy”, “Froggin' Around”, and “Burnin''.
Performing with Bill:
CONSUELO CANDELARIA-BARRY, (piano), has been lauded as one of the “great masters of jazz piano and a first-rate composer.” An acclaimed pianist, composer, and professor at Berklee College of Music, she has performed and/or recorded all over the world with musicians including: Paula Cole, Curtis Fuller, Billy Hart, Don Braden, Lewis Nash, Louis Hayes, Pat LaBarbara, Joe Morelo, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Jeff Watts, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and more. She is a featured pianist on Paula Cole’s 2018 album, ”American Quilt”, and has performed with the Bill Pierce Quintet for the King of Thailand, and for the President of Costa Rica with Victor Mendoza. Her own recordings as a leader include: “Last Sunday Morning”, “When They Danced”, and “La Jornada”.
FREDDIE BRYANT, (guitar). At the start of his career the great guitarist Kenny Burrell wrote, “Freddie Bryant is a brilliant young guitarist and composer.” Freddie received a master’s degree in Classical Guitar from the Yale School of Music, and has shown his skills in jazz, classical, Brazilian, and other world genres. He is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music as well as a visiting faculty member at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, Holland. He is an active player in the New York jazz and Brazilian scenes, where he has worked with Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell, The Mingus Orchestra, Ben Riley's Thelonious Monk Legacy Septet, Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Wynton Marsalis, and Max Roach. He has recorded several CDs as leader, including “Monk Restrung”, featuring the music of Thelonious Monk. His own group, KALEIDOSCOPE whose CD, "Live Grooves…Epic Tales" is on the HiPNOTIC record label, features grooves from around the world including Brazil, Cuba and New Orleans as well as influences from blues, gospel, India and the Middle-East. This Spring and Summer celebrates the release of his opus, "Upper West Side Love Story", a double CD of his 16 movement song cycle featuring an all-star nonet: Carla Cook – vocals, Regina Carter – violin, Donny McCaslin and Steve Wilson on saxophones and flutes, Gwen Laster and Akua Dixon filling out the string section on viola and cello with the grooving rhythm section of bassist John Benitez and drummer Alvester Garnett.
GREGORY RYAN, (bass), is a New York City native who has established himself as an in-demand sideman on both acoustic and electric bass. His big supportive sound, swinging style, and complete understanding of harmony and his role on the bandstand combine to create his ability to make even the most complex modern composition swing in the tradition of the great bass players. At home in a variety of musical worlds -- accomplished in Brazilian, Cuban, funk, and mainstream jazz styles -- he performs in festivals and concerts worldwide. Gregory has appeared with pianists James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern, and Benny Green; guitarists Jim Hall and Pat Martino; vocalists Karrin Allyson and Dena DeRose; and numerous jazz luminaries including Eric Alexander, Regina Carter, Billy Harper, Tom Harrell, and Albert “Tootie” Heath, among many others. His Latin Jazz resumé includes performances with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O’Farrill, Papo Vazquez’ Pirates Troubadours, Yosvany Terry and Brazilian Jazz artists Helio Alves and Maucha Adnet.
MARK WALKER, (drums), is a Grammy/Latin Grammy Award–winning drummer, a Grammy Award–nominated composer, and a renowned author and educator originally from Chicago. Currently a member of Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval’s group, he is one of the only American drummers equally at home with authentic South American and Caribbean rhythms, straight-ahead jazz, rock, funk and studio drumming. Since 1989, he has performed around the world, touring extensively and/or recording with the group Oregon (with Ralph Towner), Paquito D’Rivera, Lyle Mays, Michel Camilo, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Randy Brecker, Steve Khan, Mike Mainieri, Andy Narell, Eliane Elias, NDR Bigband, WDR Big Band, the hr-Bigband, and the Caribbean Jazz Project. He released his critically acclaimed debut album in 2019 entitled “You Get What You Give”, featuring Paquito D’Rivera, Alain Mallet, Oscar Stagnaro and many others.
77 Daniel Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire