Jason Malletman Taylor grew up listening to & seeing Lionel Hampton perform at the Apollo.. Inspired by what he felt was the most beautiful sounding instrument, the future Malletman began with the drums and xylophone before he going on to play what would become his calling, the vibraphone. He became dedicated to mastering the vibe just like the late Hampton, who during his first meeting with Taylor in 1981 was so impressed, that he took the young Malletman as his protégée and became his mentor.
Mallettman not only toured all over the U.S. and Europe with the legendary Hampton and his 18-piece band, but Taylor also lived with Hampton and received the kind of personal training and experience that can only be described as priceless.
After experimenting with his own recordings, the Malletman returned to his true love - performing. Over the years to follow, he developed his unique live show into one that awed audiences and critics alike. His recordings have garnished him five Grammy ballot-nominations.
Malletman is known for his unique presentation of Jazz, R&B; and Swing, has created a signature sound that is all his own, called Vibrafunk.
He has been in the company of such greats as Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, George Clinton, James Brown, Branford Marsalis, Steve Washington, B.B. King and Bill Cosby, who is a well-known jazz fan. Taylor has opened up & or performed with: Tito Puente jr.,Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Earth Wind and Fire, Isaac Hayes Pancho Sanchez ,The Manhattans, Najee, Paquito D Rivera, Pieces of a Dream and more!
Tito Puente Jr. carries his father with him – imprinted on his physical being and locked in his soul. It’s in his looks, his joy, and his music.
Tito, Jr. is on a passionate mission, he reveres the magnificent, lasting impact his father had on our musical lives and is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father. Tito Jr. refuses to let his father become a distant memory. “He was just too vibrant, too exciting. There was magic in the music my father made. It made people happy all over the world.”
He has found captive audiences who echo his passion. Crowds lured to a venue by the father are returning to see the son -- and to once again participate in the high voltage celebration that takes place on stage.
Bernard Purdie began as a six-year-old banging out rhythms on improvised equipment. At 14 years of age he purchased his first real drum set and became the most important provider for his family - earning his pay with country and carnival bands. This "schooling" enabled Purdie to "feel my way into nearly every kind of music, 'cause I had to know all styles and was never afraid to try something new.”
The list of people he has played with seems limitless as is the styles of music he has played. He has played with everyone from Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones, from BB King to Steely Dan, no other drummer in the last three decades has seen the interior of a recording studio as often as Bernard "Pretty" Purdie as he has laid down the beat on over 3000 albums to date!
To give an idea of the unique qualities this man possesses, colleagues describe the drummer's style as the "funkiest soul beat" in the business, and Purdie has decidedly never limited his talents to the realm of jazz but rather has consistently sought out new musical experiences beyond it's borders.
With all his attention to precision playing - terms such as "drive" and "GROOVE" are definitely not missing from his vocabulary. This is certainly why his rhythms have appeared as samples on nearly every "Acid Jazz" record released in the past few years - the new genre that has so successfully hosted the renaissance of Soul Jazz.
read more: http://www.suffolktheater.com/suffolk-theater/mallet-man-tito-puente-jr-bernard-purdie-jazz-summit
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