Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars (AJHoF All-Stars) is a working jazz ensemble, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians Alabama has to offer. This group is the faculty of the Jazz Education Department of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
and the faculty of the Fun With Jazz Educational Program
, begun through the Alys Stephens Center
(2006), and now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (2007). Through these educational programs, the AJHoF Allstars, directed by Ray Reach
, seek to fulfill a mission "...to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America. Its mission is also to preserve a continued and sustained program of illuminating the contribution of the State of Alabama through its citizens, environment, demographics and lore, and perpetuating the heritage of jazz music" (excerpt from the mission statement of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame).
The AJHoF All-Stars perform at schools, civic events and jazz festivals throughout the southeast. The members of the AJHoF All-Stars also participate in numerous other active performing groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
, the Night Flight Big Band, Ray Reach and Friends and Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars.
The current membership roster of the AJHoF All-Stars includes: Tommy Stewart
(trumpet), Omari Thomas (trumpet and saxophone), Ken Watters
(trumpet), Chad Fisher (trombone), Billy Bargetzi (trombone), Gary Wheat (saxophones), Dave Amaral (saxophones, flute, clarinet), Dave Miller (saxophone and chromatic harmonica), Abe Becker (bass), Chris Wendle (bass), Cleveland Eaton
(bass), Sonny Harris (drums), Steve Ramos (drums), John Nuckols (drums), Chris Fryar
(drums) and Ray Reach
(director, piano and vocals).
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
and the faculty of the Fun With Jazz Educational Program
Fun With Jazz Educational Program
The "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program is a program of jazz educational concerts and demonstrations developed by Ray Reach and sponsored by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.-History:...
, begun through the Alys Stephens Center
Alys Stephens Center
The Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art performing arts facility located on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham . It hosts over 250,000 people for more than 300 diverse events annually. The ASC is the center for entertainment and arts education in...
(2006), and now administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame (2007). Through these educational programs, the AJHoF Allstars, directed by Ray Reach
Ray Reach
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
, seek to fulfill a mission "...to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America. Its mission is also to preserve a continued and sustained program of illuminating the contribution of the State of Alabama through its citizens, environment, demographics and lore, and perpetuating the heritage of jazz music" (excerpt from the mission statement of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame).
The AJHoF All-Stars perform at schools, civic events and jazz festivals throughout the southeast. The members of the AJHoF All-Stars also participate in numerous other active performing groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
Magic City Jazz Orchestra
The Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
, the Night Flight Big Band, Ray Reach and Friends and Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars.
The current membership roster of the AJHoF All-Stars includes: Tommy Stewart
Tommy Stewart (trumpeter)
Tommy Stewart is an American trumpeter, arranger, producer, composer and pianist residing in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a member of several active performing groups, including the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, Cleveland Eaton and the Alabama All-Stars, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars, and Ray...
(trumpet), Omari Thomas (trumpet and saxophone), Ken Watters
Ken Watters
Ken Watters is an American jazz trumpeter residing in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the brother of noted jazz trombonist, Harry Watters. Ken is a member of several noted performing groups, including Tabou Combo, , Natalie Cole Band, , the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, and the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars...
(trumpet), Chad Fisher (trombone), Billy Bargetzi (trombone), Gary Wheat (saxophones), Dave Amaral (saxophones, flute, clarinet), Dave Miller (saxophone and chromatic harmonica), Abe Becker (bass), Chris Wendle (bass), Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland Eaton
Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton is an American jazz double bassist from Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His most famous accomplishments are substantial playing stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and later with the Count Basie Orchestra...
(bass), Sonny Harris (drums), Steve Ramos (drums), John Nuckols (drums), Chris Fryar
Chris Fryar
Chris Fryar is an American drummer. He is a member of the Grammy Award winning group, Zac Brown Band, He has also worked with Oteil and the Peacemakers, led by bassist Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band, Charles Neville, Victor Wooten, John Popper, Steve Bailey, David Hood, Robert Moore...
(drums) and Ray Reach
Ray Reach
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
(director, piano and vocals).
External links
- The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame official website
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars at Myspace.com
- Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars at AllAboutJazz.com
- The Magic City Jazz Orchestra at All About Jazz
- The Night Flight Big Band at All About Jazz
- The "Fun With Jazz" Educational Program at Bhamwiki.com
- Press Release: "Fun with Jazz" Educational Program Now Administered by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame at AllAboutJazz.com
- Listen to Ray Reach Music at Myspace.com
- Tommy Stewart Official Website
- "Cheek To Cheek" by Ray Reach and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
- "Yardbird Suite" (Excerpt) by Ray Reach and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars
- Article about Jazz Education at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in B-Metro Magazine