Events and happenings…

Calendar

Thursday Evening Jazz at the Fountain - BRIAN PIPER TRIO

Thursday, May 23,2013; 7pm

Come out to The Shops at Highland Village for an evening of Jazz every Thursday in May from 7pm to 9pm. All performances will be held, weather permitting, in the fountain area located next to Patrizio's.

BRIAN PIPER BIO

Brian grew up in a musical family. His parents met in New York in the 50’s, performed and traveled with many of the biggest musical names of the day, and eventually settled in Hollywood, California, where Brian was born. In 1967 the family moved to Texas, where his father became an institution in the Dallas music scene. His dad was a writer and producer for two of the largest "jingle" companies worldwide. As a child, Brian became a professional musician at age 10, when he began singing commercials for Manor Bread and Dole bananas, as well as many others.

Brian has followed in his father’s footsteps, and has also blazed a trail of his own in the commercial music industry. He was Vice President and Director of Operations at The Axcess Group in Dallas for several years and now has his own company, Piper Nagy Media. If you’ve watched television or listened to the radio just about anywhere in the world for the last twenty years, you have heard his music. From local jingles to national advertising campaigns, Brian has written, produced and/or performed music for Miller Brewing, Barbecues Galore, Ford, John Deere, Wyndham Hotels, American Airlines and countless others. Recently he produced the music for NBC Sports Arena Football League. He has become one of the most sought after studio musicians in the business. Brian is also in demand as a conductor, orchestrator, arranger and producer.

As a player he has made quite a name for himself, performing and recording with musicians and artists of all musical styles, from Texas legends Jerry Jeff Walker and Lloyd Maines to jazz greats Cab Calloway, Kenny Rankin and Clark Terry. He has conducted for Eartha Kitt, Rosemary Clooney and many others as the assistant musical director at Dallas’ famous Venetian Room in the Fairmont Hotel. He has also played for the Dallas Summer Musicals and traveled with New York touring companies of several shows, including Grease and Godspell. He has worked with actors James Earl Jones, Tim Curry, Kris Kristofferson and Patrick Bergen. He has recently performed with Sheila E, Will Kennedy, Mike Davis and Bill Reichenbach.

Brian can be heard locally performing with bassist John Adams and singer Rosana Eckert, and is finally underway with his first jazz trio recording project, featuring Lynn Seaton and Ed Soph, on the 90th Floor record label. Be sure to check him out with a new contemporary jazz band called Tactical Jazz, which is starting to make quite a splash!

Brian’s first love in music has always been jazz of all kinds, but especially New Orleans jazz, so what could be better than playing with the Gumbo Kings? Like the rest of the Kings, there were several early influences in his life. The late Fred Crane, who worked with his father in the Dallas studio scene, and who played for years with Al Hirt, was one such powerful influence.

Brian lives in Lewisville, Texas (just across the bridge from the infamous de facto “home base” of the Gumbo Kings, Tierney’s Duck Inn) with his wife and two daughters. He is a commercial pilot and an avid snow skier, and he stays way too busy for his own good!

Thursday Evening Jazz at the Fountain - GREG WAITS QUARTET

Thursday, May 30, 2013; 7pm

GREG WAITS BIO

Greg Waits has had a remarkable and impressive career, having played in a wide variety of genres.

He has played with countless artists, including Dave Douglas, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Williams, Al Grey, Red Garland, Benny Goodman, Harry Connick, Jr., et al. He toured with the Woody Herman Band as lead and solo trombonist. In addition, he performed on 5 cross country big band tours with Columbia Artists International, and was employed by the cruise ship orchestras of the S.S. Norway and the S.S. Constitution.

Greg is a veteran of the US Army’s Jazz Knights big band of West Point N.Y. (1981- 84).

Greg has lived in Europe where he toured and recorded with a number of bands, including his own. While overseas, he continued his connection with jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, the acknowledged master of technique multi-phonics. Albert cited Greg as the one trombone player on the scene today who not only understands what it is that he is doing, but is carrying on the tradition.

In 1999, Greg released his debut CD. He is joined by jazz artists Dave Liebman, Ed Soph, John Adams and Dan Haerle, et al. His CD was selected as one of Cadence Magazine’s “Critic’s Choice” CDs for that year.

Greg earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Jazz Studies from the U. of North Texas, and authored the popular trombone text “Advanced Flexibility Studies for the Jazz Trombonist”.

Locally, Greg can be heard leading his own quintet, as well as playing with other bands. In addition, he leads his own dance bands. He also teaches a select number of private jazz trombone and composition students in the area.

Greg plays Conn trombones exclusively.