'Jazz' Category
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Connie Kirk’s Story: Austin Jazz
Connie Kirk Connie Kirk is not your typical musician. Kirk was born and raised in Austin, TX. Her music career started very early, in the second grade to be exact. From then until college, Kirk won numerous musical competitions. Kirk attended college at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, where she obtained a BS degree [...]
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Gene Ramey: Aspiring Farmer Who Became a Jazz Bassist Aficionado
Gene Ramey In 1976, after an illustrious musical career, Gene Ramey returned to Austin, Texas from New York, where he had stayed for thirty-two years, and announced his retirement. But after giving lessons to local bassists had led him into a few live shows, Gene was bit by the performance bug and became a full-time [...]
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Martin Banks – Country, Blues and R&B
The Master of the Trumpet Martin Banks, Master of the Trumpet Austin, Texas is well-known for launching the careers of a number of beloved country, blues and R&B musicians. But it’s also been home to some beloved jazz artists, most notably the late trumpet player Martin Banks. Banks was born in 1936 and first picked [...]
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Karan Chavis Played with Blues Legend B.B. King
Karan Chavis is an Old-School Blues Singer With a deep, bluesy soulful voice, Karan Chavis brings back memories of the old-style sultry, smoke-filled southern clubs that hosted artists that engulfed the listener for hours of musical pleasure. Performing with legends as B.B. King, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers, Bo Diddley, [...]
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Will Taylor and Taylor and the Strings Attached
The Story of Will Taylor Every once in a while, a musician comes along that challenges your way of thinking how music ought to be played. Will Taylor is one of those musicians. Taylor knew he didn’t want to travel the road of traditional performance in the musical arts, though he does love to perform. [...]
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Connie Kirk Austin Musician
Connie Kirk – Austin Jazz Singer Born and raised in Austin, Connie Kirk is more than a jazz singer as she is able to take command of any song she sings. A civil rights activist since she was 13, Connie has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts. These efforts led the Mayor and City of [...]
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Ron Brown’s Life and Work
Ron Brown Saxophone player, composer, and creator of the ministry Urban Dreams Foundation, Ron Brown is so much more than just a jazz artist. He tours all over the world where his live music and church performances attract followers of jazz and gospel alike. While Ron made his first home in Austin, TX, he resides [...]
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Judy Alpert: The Cross-Culture Jazz Vocalist and Music Scholar
The Cross-Culture Jazz Vocalist and Music Scholar Judy Alpert Born in Hungary, Judy Alpert moved to the U.S. with her parents during the Hungarian revolution in 1956 when she was 10 years old. She started learning music early in Hungary with the Kodaly method, named after Zoltan Kodaly, the Hungarian composer and music educator. Judy [...]