Ward Memorial AME Men's Day Celebration "JAZZ BRUNCH" with The George V Johnson Jr Quintet featuring Arnold Sterling, also Speical Guest Brandon Lowe & The Ward Memorial "Praise Team" Saturday, July 1

[WASHINGTON DC JAZZ NETWORK]

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WARD MEMORIAL

Rev. Dr. Roger Hall Reid, Sr. Pastor

Founded 1877

241 42nd Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C., 20019

[phone] or 398-3899

George V Johnson Jr

Vocalist, Lyricist, Composer, Actor, Playwright, Producer & Entrepreneur

Hailing from the Washington D.C. and born Dec. 20, 1950, jazz vocalist George V Johnson's got his start during the early 70's performing at the famous jazz club called the "Pigfoot" with pianist John Malachi owned and operated by guitarist Bill Harris. His diverse talents have been showcased locally and internationally as a lyricist, composer and actor. Considered as one of the foremost practitioners of the vocalese style on the jazz scene today ("Art of Jazz Vocalese"), Johnson first gained popularity after his debut recording with Pharaoh Sanders in 1981 as featured vocalist with and lyrics contributed to John Coltrane's classic "Moments Notice."

Throughout the 80's George was mentored and performed regularly with “James Moody "Moody's Mood For Love" & "Sweet Papa" Lou Donaldson. Two of the most distinguished saxophonist in the history of Jazz. His close association with both Moody and Donaldson led to many Local & National Live Radio and Television Broadcasts as well as clubs, festivals, concert stages throughout the USA, including Carnegie Hall and Town Hall

Johnson has also had the opportunity to be mentored by Eddie Jefferson, founder of the Art of Jazz Vocalese (writing and singing lyrics to improvised solos). He also shared the stage with the great Dizzy Gillespie, Buck Hill, Shirley Horn, Arnold Sterling, Larry Ridley & Jazz Legacy Ensemble, Pharoah Sanders, Clifford Jordan, Barry Harris, John Hicks, Harold Mabern, Rufus Reid, Kenny Barron, Walter Bishop Jr, Kirk Lightsey, Mulgrew Miller, Dr. Art Davis, Wes Anderson, Idris Muhammad, Fukushi Tianaka, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dr. Art Davis, Philly Joe Jones, Billy Higgins and many more

Former D.C. bus driver sings jazz, vocalese

Johnson worked his way up with song, now assists AU vocalists

Click to read more...

Imagine listening to a seasoned jazz musician rip into a bebop solo so sizzling and smooth it makes your senses tingle. Close your eyes and play along. Try and picture the sweat bouncing off the performer like the notes that leap through the air. See if you can hear the mesmerizing melodies go up and down, bringing you through joy and sadness, taking your emotions on a sensory experience unlike any other. Now picture that musician and his beloved instrument: His voice. That's the art of vocalese, and that's what native D.C. son George V Johnson Jr. has been doing for over 40 years. Working as a performer, a D.C. Metrobus driver and a New Jersey train conductor at different times throughout his life, Johnson's latest work has taken the form of pedagogy. He has become a teacher and mentor to both aspiring and established vocalists from around the area, and most recently he has lent his years of experience and talent to AU, leading the AU jazz vocal ensemble. ~~By Ben Lozovsky~~~American University~~the Eagle

My Little Suede Shoes - with Larry Ridley & the Jazz Legacy Ens...
"Opening Night Part II" with Larry Ridley & Jazz Legacy Ensemble
George V Johnson Jr "SO WHAT" with Larry Ridley & the Jazz Lega...
Freedom Jazz Dance 2/ Tina Pratt - jazz tap - 1st Trenton Jazz Fest...

"STERLING SILVER"

Arnold Sterling - Alto Sax

Arnold began playing the alto at the age of 13. Attended Carver High-Towson, His first gig was at the Twin Pines Night Club at 17. Toured w/Jackie Wilson, '58-'60. Returned to Baltimore and joined the Bill Byrd Trio and played at Steve's Cocktail Lounge in east Balto. Arnold toured w/ organist Jimmy McGriff, '81-'84. Traveled to Rio with Sonny Stitt (his idol), '86. Later that year he worked with the late organist, Don Patterson and Percy Smith. In 2000 Arnold Sterling was featured on the CD "NEXT IN LINE" with George V Johnson Jr and in 2002 recorded with blues singer Nap Turner. Arnold is currently appearing in and around Baltimore - Washington DC. For the past 11 years Sterling has a been one of the featured performers at the S.W. Westminster Church Friday evening jazz series with various groups. He's one of the most sought after saxophonist in the Metropolitan area.

Bob Butta

Pianist, Composer, Arranger

Baltimore & Washington DC's #1 Jazz Pianist

THE FAB TRIO Live at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Pianist Bob Butta has worked with: Gary Bartz, Sonny Fortune, Sonny Stitt, Curtis Fuller, Clifford Jordan, Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Freddie Hubbard, Arnie Lawrence, Junior Cook, Bill Hardman, Meredith d’Ambrosio, Stanley Turrentine, Eddie Henderson, Carter Jefferson, Woody Shaw, Eddie Daniels, Buster Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Leibman, Jimmy Snidero, Buddy Tate, Mark Murphy, Badal Roy, eeter Betts, Bootsy Barnes, Jimmy Cobb, Butch Warren, Steve Novosel, Lennie Cuje, Frank Morgan, Billy Hart, Terrence Blanchard, Ralph Moore, Brian Lynch, Nathan Page, Wallace Roney, Bob Mintzer, Roy Hargrove, Grover Washington, Emily Remler, Louie Bellson, Ritchie Cole, Joe Ford, Ron McClure, Dennis Diblasio, Buddy Defranco, Terry Gibbs, Bill Stewart, James Moody, Marshall Allen, Harold White, O’donel Levy, David “Fathead” Newman, Paul Carr, Allen Houser, Charlie Young, Amy Shook, Frank Russo, Felicia Carter, Nassar Abadey, James King, Tom Baldwin, Drew Gress, Ellery Esklin

Steve Novosel - bass

Born in 1940 in Farrell, Pennsylvania, Steve started playing Yugoslav folk songs on the piano with his grandfather when he was 11 years old. At 13 he started studying trumpet, inspired by listening to Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Max Roach and Horace Silver. As soon as he was out of high school, he went to New York to study trumpet.

He spent three years in New York, listening almost every night to the jazz giants of the late fifties. By the time he was 20, his trumpet playing was good enough to get him into the U.S. Army Band, so he came to Washington in 1961 for three years of service. There he began his love affair with the bass, moonlighting steadily as a bassist in the fertile DC jazz club scene. Steve’s mentor was Charlie “Bird” Hampton, then and now one of Washington’s great jazz saxophonists. From his first touring and recording gig with the Trio ESP, Steve moved up rapidly in the world of jazz bassists, playing and recording with Andrew White, Roland Kirk, Stanley Cowell, David “Fathead” Newman and Eddie Harris.

Other jazz greats he has performed with since include Cedar Walton, McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Harry “Sweets” Edison, James Moody, Archie Shepp and Blue Mitchell. Steve is also in great demand as an accompanist for singers; he has played with everyone from Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams and Donny Hathaway to Anita O’Day, Roberta Flack, Betty Carter and Shirley Horn. He accompanies Shirley on several of her Verve releases.

Steve has toured with Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, Al Grey and most recently, with David “Fathead” Newman. In addition to his previous 57 recordings, he has several on Mapleshade including Portraits in Ivory and Brass with Jack Walrath and Larry Willis (Mapleshade #02032) and Every Rung Goes Higher Mapleshade #08232) with Willis and Steve Berrios plus singer Kenyetta

Percy Smith - drums

And

Special Guest

Brandon Lowe - vocals

Also...

The Ward Memorial "PRAISE TEAM"

Everyone is Invited

Please join us in Our Celebration

Bring family and friends

To Celebrate You Must Participate!

Because the Lord has richly blessed us, we shall continue to grow in numbers and spiritually to minister to others through music.

Find more music like this on WASHINGTON DC JAZZ NETWORK

See Men's Day music committee members for tickets

Bernard Clark

President, Men's Day Committee

202.373.6084

George V Johnson Jr

Coordinator, Men's Day Music Committee

301.336.5067

Robert Govan

Printing Specialist

301.336.2247

Brandon Lowe

410.353.6477

Brother Lomax

Brother Natawan

Ward Memorial AME

241 42nd Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C., 20019

[phone]

George V Johnson Jr

Executive Director & Founder

Washington DC Jazz Network

THE GEORGE V JOHNSON JR SHOW

Exploring African American Classical Music "JAZZ"

"The only true and original Art form of America"

Exploring African American Classical Music "So called JAZZ" w/ Rev. Ronald Myers,
Sr. MD Founder & Chairman of National Juneteenth Observance
Foundation Dr. Larry Ridley Executive Director of AAJC
Listen to Interview with George V Johnson Jr, Dr. Larry Ridley & Rev. Dr. Ronald Myers (3rd interview in blogtalk player)

WORKING TOGETHER WORKS!!!

CO-HOST

DR.LARRY RIDLEY

Executive Director

AFRICAN AMERICAN JAZZ CAUCUS

KEEP JAZZ ALIVE!

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