Life of Guangzhou - Set out On Rhythm Road

To share American music as a vehicle of communication with other countries, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State produced nine tours featuring six jazz quartets and three American urban music quartets to represent American music overseas. [Story of Rhythm Road]

These artists have been selected from a national pool of applicants and reflect the talent and diversity of musicians across the United States.

Now four jazz musicians of them will bring the Rhythm Road to Guangzhou. They are to give two marvelous performances in Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre on Sep. 9th and 10th. Lifeofguangzhou.com will bring you more reports on this musical event.

Performance Schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 9
19:30-21:00 Performance at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Venue: Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre
Bus: Ucity Line 4

Monday, Sept. 10
19:00-20:30 Performance at Xinghai Conservatory of Music
Venue: Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre
Bus: Ucity Line 1, Ucity Line 3, 384

Performance at Toruborogou.

Introduction of artists:

Alvin Atkinson, Jr. (drums) grew up singing and playing music with his parents, who were the directors of their church’s gospel choir. He became hooked on jazz at the young age of eight and has been balancing a career as a performer and an educator for over 15 years. Atkinson has played alongside artists such as Houston Person, James Carter, Cecil Bridgewater, Reggie Workman, Miguel Zenon, Maceo Parker, Luis Perdomo, Steve Turre, Vanessa Rubin, and Wycliffe Gordon. He has also performed at The White House for President George W. Bush and as the house drummer for the Emeril Live television show on the Food Network. Atkinson has toured both domestically and internationally and participated in a U.S. State Department tour of Africa and South America in 2004. He currently teaches Jazz Language and Rhythm Studies at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Middle School Jazz Academy and serves on the audition committee and sophomore jury committee at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.

Charlie Porter (trumpet) is a New York-based trumpeter, composer and bandleader, is equally at home playing both jazz and classical music. He has performed and recorded with such notable musicians as Paquito D'Rivera, David Taylor, and Kenny Drew, to name a few. A core member of Kristjan Jarvi's Absolute Ensemble, Porter has toured extensively in Europe and Australia. He earned his undergraduate degree at The Juilliard School and then studied for one year at The Paris Conservatory as a Fulbright Scholar with French master-trumpeter Guy Touvron. Among the many awards to his credit, Porter was the first musician ever to be awarded first prize in the National Trumpet Competition in both the jazz and classical divisions. He was recently commissioned by Chamber Music America and The Doris Duke Foundation to compose a suite for his septet. Porter is currently on scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance, and he performs regularly with various groups in New York City.

Ari Roland (double bass) grew up inside the New York underground bop scene, where performing jazz music is always challenging. Roland began attending sessions with Barry Harris at age 12 and was quickly known as a standout player. He made his way into an inner circle of musicians, regularly playing in the company of saxophonist "C" Sharpe, Frank Hewitt, Jimmy Robinson, Lou Donaldson, Junior Cook, Vernel Fournier and others. After a stint at The Juilliard School, Roland found a home at Smalls jazz club, where he distinguished himself as the artist with the most appearances since the club opened in 1993. Roland has also toured extensively in the former Soviet Republics. Sketches From a Bassist's Album, Roland’s recent CD on Smalls Records, has received widespread critical acclaim in both the U.S. and international jazz press.

Eli Yamin (piano) is a jazz pianist, songwriter and composer for film and stage, as well as creator/leader of various ensembles. A Steinway artist, he has toured internationally, recorded numerous CD' s and seen his award winning compositions performed at Carnegie Hall, on PBS television and in countless schools. Yamin is co-founder and Artistic Director of The Jazz Drama Program, a non-profit organization that uses the language of jazz to tell stories relevant to children’s lives. He is the Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center' s Middle School Jazz Academy and a producer of jazz and blues programs for CBS Saturday Morning, National Public Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio and WBGO/Jazz 88. From an early age, Yamin built close associations with jazz masters Walter Perkins, Illinois Jacquet, Barry Harris, Perry Robinson and Mercedes Ellington. He has also worked extensively with Wynton Marsalis, Bob Stewart, and David Sanchez, among others. Yamin holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Lehman College, City University of New York.

(by courtesy of U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou)