Jazz on Sunday
Christian Howes

Concert: 3-5 pm
Improvisational Music Workshop: 6-7 pm

General Public:
$15 in advance at www.thebrinklounge.com;
$18 at the door

Madison Music Collective and Madison Jazz Society members, Students with ID:
$10 in advance at www.thebrinklounge.com;
$15 at the door


Jazz Violinist

Christian Howes

with Hamilton Hardin (keyboards) and Cedric Easton (drums)

Sunday, April 13

The Brink Lounge

701 E. Washington Ave. Madison, WI


ABOUT CHRISTIAN HOWES:

Jazz violinist, educator, and producer Christian Howes grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where he studied classically from the age of five, performing as a soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at age 16 and later receiving his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the Ohio State University.

At age twenty, a “cultural intervention” occurred when Christian had the opportunity to perform at regular gospel church services. “Playing in the gospel church services influenced me to change musical directions. The experience was so different from the classical music world; it felt fresh and inspiring. It became my mission to become a violinist with a strong voice in jazz.” Since his shift 21 years ago, he has gained great notoriety from critics and players alike as one of the world’s most respected jazz violinists. Christian was a favorite of the late Les Paul, with whom he worked for 11 years. Says Christian of his mentor, “Les defied categorization in terms of age or genre. His character, approach to life, and musicianship taught me many valuable lessons.” From 2001-2010 Howes become an in-demand violinist on the New York scene, collaborating with a bevy of top shelf jazz artists, including Greg Osby, D.D. Jackson, Frank Vignola, Joel Harrison, Dafnis Prieto, Dave Samuels, Spyro Gyra, and a 4-year chair in Bill Evans’ “Soulgrass” band.

In 2013, he was voted among the top three violinists in JazzTimes’ “2012 Expanded Critics Poll“. In August 2011, Christian was ranked as the #1 “Rising Star” violinist in the Downbeat Critics Poll. He was a nominee for the Jazz Journalists Association’s “Violinist Of The Year” in 2011. In 2012, he received the Residency Partnership from Chamber Music America for his work in outreach with orchestral education programs. He regularly tours throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S. as a leader of his own groups and a soloist with orchestras. Says All About Jazz, ”as a jazz violinist he has no peer.” The Minneapolis Tribune called Christian “arguably the most intriguing young violinist in jazz.” According to the Chicago Reader, “Not since Jean Luc Ponty has a violinist ranged from pure classical to fuzz-tone rock to convincing jazz with such authority.”

After releasing a string of independently released CDs as a leader, he signed with Resonance Records in 2008 and released two critically acclaimed CDs. The first, “Heartfelt,” featuring pianist Roger Kellaway, features ballads and lyrical works. “Out of the Blue” released in 2010 features guitarist Robben Ford, and demonstrates a wide range of modern and traditional sensibilities, steeped in the blues.

ABOUT HAMILTON HARDIN

Referred to by many as "The One Man Band," Hamilton Hardin is a multi-instrumentalist/composer/music producer that has traveled the world playing a wide range of genres with artists such as The Pharez Whitted Quintet, Kirk Whalum, Derek Gardner, Christian Howes, Jonathan Dunn, Macio Parker, Kelley Hunt, Conya Doss, Lisa McClendon, Ingrid Rosario, Myron Walden, Tia Fuller, Mark Lomax & Blacklisted Music, Marlin Jordan, Shawn Jones, The Kim Pensyl Quartet, John Blackwell, The Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble, and many others.

ABOUT CEDRIC EASTON

From the moment Cedric Easton could walk, he was playing the drums. At the age of 4, Easton began playing in church and won his first regional music competition at age 8 through the FOX KIDS television network.

In his junior year of high school, while attendant the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Performing Arts High School in Columbus, Ohio, Easton began his formal study of the drum set, including basic rudiments and music reading. His teachers included Dan Thress, Jim Maneri, and Jeff McCargish. As a senior, Easton successfully auditioned for the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra, his first experience with the art form.

After graduation, Cedric began performing professionally with the Bobby Floyd Trio and other jazz ensembles, including the Matt Adams Quartet and Chad Eby Trio. He has also had the opportunity to perform with internationally recognized jazz musicians such as Wes Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, and Kenny Banks, Sr.

While Cedric has been immersed in the music of jazz, he has always stuck with this instrumental roots in gospel music, and has had the opportunity to perform with nationally recognized gospel artists suck as Detrick Haddon, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Marvin Sapp.

Currently a resident of Columbus, Ohio, Cedric performs with national recording artist Christian Howes. Additionally, he serves as musical director of the New Covenant Believer's Church and is a faculty member of the Jazz Arts group's Jazz Academy.

 

 

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