Greg Abate jazz saxophonist, flutist, compose, continues as an
International Jazz/Recording Artist with 225 days a year touring the
globe.
In the mid 70’s after finishing a four year program at Berklee College
Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for 2
years.
In 1978 Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favorite in the
New England area and from there had the opportunity to play tenor sax
with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under leadership of Dick Johnson
from 1986 to ’87.
Following this experience Greg ventured out as post hard bop soloist
playing Jazz Festivals, Jazz Societies, and Jazz Clubs throughout the
U.S., Canada, and abroad, including most of Europe, UK, Georgia, and
Russia.
He has recorded prolifically as a leader, with sidemen including Phil
Woods, Kenny Baron, Richie Cole, Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Hilton Ruiz,
and Claudio Roditi.
Since moving to the Bay Area from Los Angeles to attend UC Berkeley in
1994, Ben Stolorow has become one of the most in demand jazz
pianists in the
area both as a leader and sideman. He has performed at Yoshi’s, The
Jazzschool, and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, at the Healdsburg and SF Jazz
Festivals, at Oakland’s Art and Soul Festival, and has also toured and
performed throughout Japan. He has performed with many great musicians
including Craig Handy, Akira Tana, Dayna Stephens, Lorca Hart, Andrew
Speight, Vince Lateano, Noel Jewkes, Michael O’Neill, and vocalist
Kenny Washington. Ben is also a faculty member of the Jazzschool in
Berkeley, CA.
Bassist Eric Markowitz, born and raised in New
Jersey, never thought much of growing up 30 minutes away from the jazz
mecca of New York City. That all changed when half way through his
college studies in St. Louis, he met world renowned jazz drummer Joe
Charles. Eric spent the next few years apprenticed under local St.
Louis legends Joe Charles and saxophonist/composer Jimmy Sherrod.
Markowitz quickly became one of the leading jazz bassists in St. Louis,
voted 4 years in a row best jazz group in St. Louis while playing with
the David Stone Trio.
He moved to San Francisco in 2004, and was quickly integrated into the
local jazz scene, performing with players such as Patrick
Wolff, Adam Shulman, Scott Larson, Jeffrey Burr, Jay Standards, Joe
Cohen, Smith Dobson, Scott Foster, and Vince Lateano.
He appeared here previously with the Keith Saunders Trio, and the Scott
Barnhill Quartet.
Mike Quigg began playing the drums at age 9 and hasn't looked
back since. He grew up in Tracy, CA where he honed his craft while
studying with a private instructor for 7 years and within that time,
grew to be a well known and highly sought after drummer in his home
town along with the surrounding bay area at a young age.
He has played with renowned artists such as Eric Marienthal, Gilbert
Castellanos, Claudia Villela, Kai Eckhardt, Ernie Watts, David Binney,
and Laurence Hobgood.
He went on to get his Bachelors in Music from the California Jazz
Conservatory in Berkeley, CA.
He has performed at Chez Hanny with the Jacam
Manricks Quartet, Jacam Manricks/Giulio Cetto/Mike Quigg/Justin Rock,
MQW Trio with Michael Zilber, and Greg Abate.