I'll be playing songs, tunes and compostitions that have inspired me over the course of my career, played
by musicians and composers I have admired and emulated.
Chick Corea (RIP), Herbie Hancock - who just turned 84, Keith Jarrett - who recently suffered a stroke and
can no longer play; these guys are the great jazz pianists of my generation. The guys I would go and see
and get to meet. There are many more but these are my main influences.
I will also play lots of other music
that I was influenced by and depending on the vibe, talk a little bit about it. Dave Brubeck was the first music
I ever learned, so though he's not much of an influence on me as a pianist, his music was important in my
development. Same with Monk. Never wanted to play the piano like him but I love playing his music. Jack DeJohnette
is a huge influence - possibly the biggest. The way he approaches music contiues to inspire me.
So his groups and all the groups he played with and the whole ECM crowd are big influences. I'll play some of that
repertoire, too. And the whole time, I've been writing music of my own. I'll program some of that, as well.
--Dred Scott
Since coming to NYC from the Bay Area, Dred Scott has gained a reputation on both coasts as an innovative and eclectic pianist and multi-instrumentalist.
In the 90’s Dred co-founded the ground-breaking hip-hop jazz group Alphabet Soup with Kenny Brooks and Jay Lane, turning the San Fran jazz scene on its head with their full-throttle performances.
Upon moving to NYC, the Dred Scott Trio wowed crowds at his almost decade-long, late-night residency at Rockwood Music Hall,
where his original compositions earned a reputation for cheeky playfulness, using “an irreverent veneer to disguise old-fashioned jazz scholarship.” (EMUSIC)
His new release, "The Pacific Jazz Group", on Ropeadope Records hit the streets in June of 2023.
His next album, "Cali Mambo", inspired by the George Shearting/Cal Tjader collaborations of the 1950's will be out May 2024 also on Ropeadope.
Dred has recorded 13 albums as a leader and has performed on over 50 others,
notably with Anthony Braxton, Cecil McBee, Andrew Cyrille, Joe Morello, Charlie Hunter, Bob Mintzer, Dave Samuels, Don Byron, Paul McCandless, and Marshal Crenshaw.
Dred has played at jazz festivals - Newport, Monterrey, Detroit, Fillmore, Saratoga - and clubs across the country and around the world -
BlueNote, Birdland, Smalls, Snug Harbor, The Green Mill, Duc Des Lombards, Yoshi's, BlueNote Tokyo.
One of the most in demand bassists in the Bay Area, John
Wiitala
has played with Jessica Williams, James Moody, Benny Golson, Pete
Jolly, Joe Henderson, Akira Tana, Vince Lateano, Scott Hamilton, Bruce
Forman, Rebecca Parris, Wesla Whitfield, Madeline Eastman, and Jackie
Ryan, among many others.
John was heard previously at Chez Hanny with Faith Winthrop, Michele
Rosewoman, Patrick Wolff, Mark Levine, Peck Allmond, Scott
Barnhill, Harvey Wainapel, Erik Jekabson, Tim Armacost/David
Berkman, John Klopotowski, and Janis Mann.
Drummer Eric Garland
has been playing professionally since 1995, and teaching for over 16 years both privately and at schools.
Since 2004 he’s been on the faculty at Community Music Center in San Francisco, and now also teaches privately in Berkeley.
He studied at San Francisco State University with percussionist David Rosenthal (SF Opera), and privately with drum teachers
Pete Magadini, Scott Amendola, Dave Flores, Dave Elitch, and Dan Weiss.
He has performed and toured extensively in the US and abroad playing at many festivals including Montreal Jazz Festival,
Newport Jazz Festival and NYC Summer stage. He has played with a variety of different artists including vibraphonist Roy Ayers, Bobby McFerrin, and 60’s icon Donovan.
Locally in the Bay Area Eric plays regularly with these bands: Rob Reich Quintet, Jazz Mafia, Mads Tolling and the Madsmen,
Klaxon Mutant Allstars, Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, and Kasey Knudsen Quintet.
He was was heard previously at Chez Hanny with Mitch Marcus, and
the Evan Francis Group featuring Darren Johnston.