Bassist, composer, and Grammy-winning producer John Lee and a stellar list of jazz musicians are coming to Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies- Clement’s Place Jazz. You are invited to Ruth Bader Ginsburg Building located 15 Washington St. in Newark, NJ. to experience an exclusive, swinging performance by one of the iconic bassists in jazz, John Lee.

This event is free open to the public register below and join us.

John Lee – Bass

From 1984 thru 1993, John Lee was Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist. Performing and recording in the trumpet master’s various bands including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, and Dizzy’s Grammy Award winning United Nation Orchestra. After Dizzy’s passing, his family asked John to create an ongoing tribute to the great man and his music—and the concept for the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars was born. John is the bassist and director ofthe Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience.

John has also worked in the bands of Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Jon Faddis, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Gregory Hines, Miriam Makeba, James Moody, Claudio Roditi, Sonny Rollins, and McCoy Tyner. John is also a Grammy Award winning record producer and audio engineer. He has produced over 100 recordings.

Performing on the bandstand:

• John Lee – Bass
• Freddie Hendrix – Trumpet and Flugelhorn
• Sreve Carrington – Sax
• Karl Laham – Drums
• Alex Collins – Piano

Freddie Hendrix – Trumpet and Flugelhorn

Over the past two decades, Freddie Hendrix has become one of the most in demand trumpeters in Jazz, and beyond. Also an accomplished composer, arranger and educator, the Teaneck, New Jersey native’s skill and versatility has resulted in him working with a wide array of performers that range from the Count Basie Orchestra and The Christian McBride Big Band, to Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys.

A product of the esteemed Jazz program at William Paterson University, with a Masters in Jazz Studies and Performance from New Jersey City University, Hendrix also shares his knowledge and passion for the music by serving as a faculty member at the Hartt School of Music at The University of Hartford (Ct.), The New School in New York, and Jazz House Kids, in Montclair, New Jersey.

Karl Latham – Drums

Karl Latham has performed and recorded with Grammy Award winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and many acclaimed artists including The Shirelles; Johnny Winter; Bernie Worrell; Mark Egan Unit1; John Lee Quartet with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Cyrus Chestnut, Jon Faddis; The Fantasy Band with Dave Valentine, Noel Pointer, Dave Samuels; Howard Paul with Laurence Hobgood, Anat Cohen and Tom Scott; The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Group; Andy Snitzer; Ali Ryerson; Vic Juris; Mitch Stein and Rachel Z.

Karl has performed in Europe for decades in the groups of Wolfgang Lackerschmid and Johannes Mossinger. Latham co-lead the 2016 BMW World Jazz Award nominated “Constellations” with Mark Egan and Ryan Carniaux and co-leads Don Braden/Karl Latham Big Fun(K). Karl has subbed on the Broadway productions of “Bring It On”, “Hamilton”, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”, and “Ain’t Too Proud”.

Steve Carrington – Tenor Sax & Ewi

Born in East Baltimore, Maryland, Steve Carrington began playing the saxophone at age seven. After attending the Baltimore School for the Arts and Frederick Douglass High School (whose alumni include Cab Calloway), Carrington was awarded a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. His early influences were John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Grover Washington Jr., Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon, and Freddie Hubbard. Carrington has played with Cyrus Chestnut’s African Reflections band, Charles Mingus Epitaph, Roy Hargrove, Milt Hinton, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, Elvin Jones, Joey DeFrancesco, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars among many others. Recently, he has been performing with Kool and the Gang. Carrington’s recordings include his debut album “A Caring Tone “ (2014) and “Mind Traveler” (2019).

Alex Collins – Piano

Alex Collins is a New York City based pianist, composer, arranger and vibraphonist. Alex made his debut at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival with the Brandon Wright Quartet in 2010.

Alex is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (M.M. Jazz Composition) and earned his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music (B.M. Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media (Piano)).

He received the Wynton Kelly Jazz Foundation Award for Jazz Achievement (2003) and participated in the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program (2006).

Aside from leading his own trio, Alex has performed in the bands of Ronnie Burrage, Micelle Coltrane, Big Funk, Gerry Gibbs, Karl Latham, John Lee, Lonnie Plaxico, Lenny White, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars.

Won’t you join us!