IN MEMORY OF LES HARRIS, SR.

Tickets:
$20/Non-Members
$18/Members

Baritone saxophonist, Danny Harrington, was born in Providence, Rhode Island and now lives Newburyport, Massachusetts with his wife, Risa, and daughter, Nina. Danny’s main instrument is the baritone saxophone. When asked about his choice of baritone Danny says….” I never really consciously chose the bari….it was a natural feeling.” His approach to the big horn has been to try to combine the sound of Harry Carney, the lyricism of Serge Chaloff and Gerry Mulligan, the energy and dexterity of Pepper Adams and Nick Brignola with his own individuality and spirit. Danny comments, “It is a life long evolution and dedication”.

Donna Byrne has been invited by none other than Tony Bennett to open several of his shows both in the U.S. and abroad, including a concert at Royal Albert Hall in London. She has appeared on Sunday Open House, has won “Best of Boston Best Jazz Vocals,” and has been nominated multiple times for Boston Music Awards.

Les Harris Jr. is a 1983 graduate of the Berklee College of Music and is currently a faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Southern Maine, and Phillips Exeter Academy.

Les is the son of retired Berklee College of Music professor and drummer Les Harris Sr. and he began playing the drums at a young age under the tutelage of his father. He was sitting in with jazz greats, Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson, John LaPorta, and Teddy Wilson by the time he was 14 and began playing professionally at 15 with Annie Bosteels’ trio.

While attending Berklee, Les studied with Joe Hunt and Robert Kaufman and upon graduation studied with legendary drummer and educator Alan Dawson. From 1983-1996, Les was the drummer with the jazz vocal group, “The Ritz”, appearing on seven recordings and performing worldwide including engagements at The Sea Jazz Festival in Finland, The Blue Note Jazz Clubs in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Jakarta and NYC, The New Morning Club in Paris, The Village Vanguard and the Newport Jazz Festival in Japan.

Les also toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra,(under the direction of Dick Johnson), saxophonist Scott Hamilton, (including performances at The Subway Club in Cologne and the Montreal Jazz Festival), and worked with Diana Krall’s trio in Boston throughout the early 90’s.

In 2001 he performed with Cheryl Bentyne, of The Manhattan Transfer at Birdland in NYC, The Egg in Albany, NY and Benaroya Hall in Seattle.

Les was a longtime member of the Tommy Gallant Trio, the Paul Broadnax Trio and has played with some of the best known artists in jazz, including Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Phil Woods, Art Farmer, Annie Ross, Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, Marian McPartland, Jimmy Heath, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan and Bobby Watson. Les currently performs throughout New England with many of the areas top jazz artists.

Marshall Wood has enjoyed a comprehensive jazz education at the hands of true jazz masters for over 40 years. Some of the performers include: Big Joe Turner, Anita O’Day, Tony Bennett, Joe Pass, Gene Bertoncini, Gray Sargent, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Ruby Braff, Urbie Green, Phil Wilson, George Masso, Al Cohn, Bud Freeman, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Randy Brecker, Tommy Flanaghan, Monty Alexander, John Bunch, Makoto Ozone, Nelson Riddle, Ralph Sharon, Phil Woods, Joe Williams, Dorothy Donegan, Marian McPartland and a host of others. Marshall Wood’s recording credits include CDs with Carol Sloane, Anita O’Day, Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Tommy Flanagan, Bucky Pizzarelli, Michael Moore, George Masso and Donna Byrne. Marshall has been Tony Bennett’s recording and touring bassist since May, 2009. In that time, he has traveled all over the world, appeared in all the major jazz festivals in North America, Europe and Asia and on many major network television shows He also recorded two Grammy-winning records with Tony Bennett and a host of duet partners.

Tim Ray’s wide-ranging skills as a soloist and accompanist have afforded him the opportunity to perform with legendary performers from all walks of music. He is perhaps best known as Tony Bennett’s most recent pianist and musical director, appearing in concerts with him until his retirement from singing in 2020. Featured on over 100 recordings to date, Tim has performed in concert with an extensive list of pop music icons, notably Aretha Franklin, Lyle Lovett, Jane Siberry and Soul Asylum. He regularly performs with leading figures in the jazz world, among them Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, Esperanza Spalding, Phil Woods, Terri Lyne Carrington, Scott Hamilton, Dave Douglas, John Patitucci, Brian Blade, Lewis Nash and Rufus Reid; and his classical credits include solo performances and concerts with Gunther Schuller, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Tim’s busy schedule has included frequent tours throughout the Americas, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and has included performances at Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Kennedy Center and the 1992 Presidential Inauguration. Tim has also performed repeatedly on “The Tonight Show” (Johnny Carson, Jay Leno), “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Conan O’Brien Show,” “Austin City Limits” and various other national TV and radio broadcasts. His most recent CD as a leader is “Excursions & Adventures”, featuring drummer Terri Lyne Carrington and bassist John Patitucci, released on the Whaling City Sounds label. A sought-after arranger and composer, Tim has penned numerous original works for his trio Tre Corda, for solo piano, big band, string orchestra, and an extensive body of writing for jazz trio and quartet. He is a grant recipient from the National Endowment for the Arts, and is a professor on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music. For more info, visit AgitatedCatMusic.com.