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| Noel Freidline |
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Noel Freidline is a 1991 graduate of the University of North Florida, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music (magna cum laude). A pianist, vocalist, writer and arranger, Noel has been the leader of his own group since 1991. The Noel Freidline Quintet just released their seventh CD “Live at the Jazz Corner.” With the NFQ, Freidline’s performance credits include the Montreux and Northsea Jazz Festivals, seven appearances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Nashville Summer Lights Fest, a three-year house band position at The Bellagio in Las Vegas, actress Julia Roberts’ surprise 35th birthday party, the Nevada Jazz Orchestra and regular performances with the Charlotte Philharmonic.
Noel is full-time Lecturer in Music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte & in 2006 was named Best Jazz Musician by Charlotte Magazine.
As a composer and arranger, Noel has written and recorded music for ESPN, ABC and the Walt Disney Company, with his most recent work being featured on Monday Night Football, the NBA All-Star Game, and SportCenter.
The Group:
Renée Ebalaroza is native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Renée Ebalaroza's singing career began at age 13 entertaining family, church, and civic groups. She has been a professional vocalist since the mid-70's. With roots in pop and R&B she made a full-time transition to jazz vocals in 1992.
Renée brings to the stage a commanding presence. A consummate and committed professional both on and off the stage, she has taken advantage of her gifts and talents and developed them to their potential. In the world of vocalists, Renée is the total package. With an innate sense of time and pitch, and impeccable phrasing and diction, Renée glides easily between a whisper and a roar.
An artist who has purposefully developed her craft, Renée understands how she does what she does. She has combined this experience and insight with a desire to teach, presenting her craft and love of music in clinics and workshops from the elementary to college level.
Juan Carlos Rollan is a native of Jacksonville, FL, Juan is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and attended both the University of North Florida and Berkley School of Music in Boston, MA.
A top call musician in the Northeast Florida region, Juan recently spent a year with Grammy award winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Al Green. An amazingly gifted musician, Juan is equally adept as a soloist or section player. His musical diversity can be seen in a performance schedule that has him performing everything from straight-ahead jazz, to R&B, to Sunday’s with the music team at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, FL. Juan also maintains a roster of private saxophone students and teaches full-time at the La Villa School of the Arts in Jacksonville, FL.
Tom Hildreth is an acoustic and electric bassist who feels at home playing in a wide variety of styles. He has performed with jazz greats like Clark Terry, Marvin Stamm, Chris Potter, Tommy Newsome, Bill Mays, Ross Tompkins, Gene Bertoncini, Mundell Lowe, Bucky Pizzarelli and Larry Coryell..
Backing singers is one of his favorite activities. He has performed with Linda Ronstadt, Bernadette Peters, Marlena Shaw, Margaret Whiting, Maureen McGovern, Freddie Cole and Harry Connick, Jr.
In addition to being a regular in the Charlotte pit orchestras for the national touring productions of Broadway musicals, he has appeared with the Charlotte Symphony, the Charlotte Philharmonic, the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Charleston Symphony, the Asheville Symphony, and the Augusta Virtuosi. Like his performing career, his calling as an educator has also been wide-ranging. After a number of years teaching at the elementary, middle and high school levels, he is currently a member of the music faculty at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.
Recording credits include albums with Loonis McGlohon, John Valerio, Janiece Jaffe, the Vince Lewis Trio, the Jim Stack Quartet, and the Noel Friedline Quintet.
Jakubu Griffin is New York’s best kept secret. Son of trombonist Dick Griffin, his childhood was surrounded by music. Growing up with many musical instruments and influences around him, he was always drawn to percussion and can remember playing the drums as early as age 3 or 4. He started studying classical piano at age 5, and later added the trumpet. When his trumpet teacher needed a drummer for the elementary school jazz band he jumped at the opportunity, influenced by his close friend Nasheet Waits, and inspired by his father’s best friends Freddie Waits and Billy Hart. Focusing mainly on classical percussion he attended the North Carolina school of the arts in high school, and majored in percussion performance at Indiana University. While at Indiana U. he also continued his jazz studies with Dr. David Baker, and was honored to be selected as a member of Baker’s IU big band as a freshman. Meanwhile, he continued to progress in his classical endeavors winning an IU concerto competition in 1992.
Leaving Indiana to pursue his career he began his musical adventure playing with jazz greats such as Harry “Sweets Edison, Buddy Defranco, Eddie “Doc” Henderson and Cal Collins, as well as the young lions Donald Harrison, James Carter, Derrick & Vincent Gardner, Wes Anderson, and Mark Turner. He excelled in musical theater doing many different shows with performers such as Barbara Eden, and also served as a musical director for Premier cruise line’s Kings Island/Kings Productions, and many other shows and bands. During that time he worked extensively with Motown jazz artist Pharez Whitted, and recorded his first album with Whitted on the Mojazz/Motown record label. He also recorded the soundtrack to the film “New York in the Fifties”, and has done numerous recordings for various artists, commercials, and backup tracks.
Jakubu is well known for his variety, and ability to play all musical styles well. During his career he has performed with such artists as Percy Sledge, Benny Golson, Marlena Shaw, Carl Fontana, and Nicholas Payton. He has appeared on the TV show “Entertainment Tonight”, and has opened up for acts like Jay Leno, and Tower of Power. Away from New York for the past few years, Jakubu was one of the top drummers in Las Vegas where his skills led him to work with many of the top performers and bands there. While in Vegas, he was featured in a show with David Cassidy and Sheena Easton called “At The Copa”, and filled in occasionally in Cassidy’s production of “The Rat Pack is Back”. Following that he toured the country as the drummer with David Cassidy’s band. Later on Jakubu was the musical contractor and drummer for the show “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” a musical celebration of the music of Stevie Wonder featuring Chaka Khan, Peabo Bryson, and Melissa Manchester.
Jakubu’s powerful yet very musical drumming reputation has been highly appreciated by many musicians and music lovers both here and abroad.
The Concert will be held on Sunday, October 26th at 5 pm at Four Points by Sheraton Historic Savannah - 520 West Bryan Street. (Bryan & MLK). . The concert is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. Attendees who join CJA while at the concert will also be admitted for free.
For more information call: 912.675-5419 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org .
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SkyeLite Jazz Band Performs Free Concert at JEA
Thursday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m.
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The Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazz Band has been delighting audiences around the area for many years. SJB is currently directed by Mr. Michael Hutchinson and has performed with jazz greats, Donald Byrd, Ben Tucker, Teddy Adams, Jimmy Heath, Ravi Coltrane, Odean Pope, Curtis Fuller, Luis Bonilla, Avishai Cohen, Vince Cherico, Oscar Stagnaro, Ernesto Diaz, Bertram Lehmann, Alon Yavnai and Benny Golson. Since its inception, members of the SkyeLite Jazz Band (SJB) have traveled extensively to such places as: Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.
The SJB was nominated by the Honorable Senator Max Cleland to represent Georgia and perform for the "Georgia State Day" in Washington DC. The SJB also performed on April 14, 1999 at the John F. Kennedy Center. Many of SJB students are selected for All-State Jazz Band or Concert Band during their tenure at Savannah Arts Academy. Former members are now attending many prestigious universities and conservatories including Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, New York University, University of North Florida, Suny Purchase, Clark Atlanta University, Valdosta State University, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah State University, Georgia State University.
Join the Savannah Arts Academy Skyelite Jazz Band for a concert that is free and open to the public on Thursday, October 30th at 7:30pm. At the Jewish Educational Alliance, 5111 Abercorn Street.
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MUSIC IN MOTION: AASU Takes Jazz Band “On The Road”
Tuesday, November 11th at 7:30 pm.
Jewish Educational Alliance / 5111 Abercorn
Randall Reese, Director
This fun event features the Armstrong Atlantic State University eighteen piece student jazz ensemble. The program will be a mix of historic and contemporary music for big band which includes selections from groups such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton -60/70's groups like Thad Jones-Mel Lewis -and modern / contemporary groups such as the big bands of Bob Mintzer and Gordon Goodwin.
The band will also perform big band arrangements of standards and tunes from the small group jazz tradition.
The event is free and open to the public
Jewish Educational Alliance / 5111 Abercorn Street
For further information, visit www.coastaljazz.org or call 927.5381.
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The Jewish Educational Alliance, The Coastal Jazz Association
& MorningStar Cultural Arts
Present
Navy Southeast Jazz Band
Honoring Our Military: Past and Present
Jewish Educational Alliance
Thursday Afternoon, November 13th at 1:30
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Navy Band Southeast Jazz Ensemble will present a free concert at the Jewish Educational Alliance (5111 Abercorn) on Thursday, November 13th at 1:30 p.m. as part of a community celebration of the U.S. Armed Forces and to honor our Veterans.
Don’t miss it!
The concert is free and open to the public and is being sponsored by the Jewish Educational Alliance, the Coastal Jazz Association and MorningStar Cultural Arts.
The Navy Band Southeast Jazz Ensemble is an eighteen-piece group that performs a wide variety of music from traditional Big Band classics to contemporary Jazz, sizzling Latin to Motown. With high caliber vocals and dynamic soloists, this versatile group has entertained tens-of-thousands of audiences at numerous festivals, schools, and military events throughout the Southeast region. Wherever they perform, they are met with excitement and enthusiasm!
What: Navy Band Southeast Jazz Ensemble
When: Thursday, November 13th at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Jewish Educational Alliance (5111 Abercorn)
Cost: Free and Open to the Public
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The Coastal Jazz Association of Savannh
Presents
Jazz Yule Love
The 33rd Annual Holiday Concert
Jazz-up the spirit of this holiday season in Savannah by attending The 33rd Annual CJA Holiday Concert and Jam Session. Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. and head down to the Four Points by Sheraton Historic Savannah - 520 West Bryan Street. (Bryan & MLK). The Coastal Jazz Association's, Trombonist, Teddy Adams hosts a who’s who of regional “All-Stars” You'll hear some of the best musicians in the Coastal Empire.
This is the annual CJA fundraiser and will benefit the student scholarship education fund. Cost $15. Further information at www.coastal-jazz.org or by calling 912.675-5419 . Purchase tickets at Portman’s Music Superstore and Rody’s Music.
What: The 33rd Annual CJA Holiday Concert and Jam Session
When: Thursday, December 25, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Four Points by Sheraton Historic Savannah - 520 West Bryan Street
Cost: $15 in advance. $20 at the door.
Info: Call: 912.675-5419 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org
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