Joe Alterman Trio
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A personal jazz journey through the music and mentorship of Ahmad Jamal, Les McCann & Ramsey Lewis.
PERFORMER BIO:
Joe Alterman
Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naiveté, with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome.
At first glance one might not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his music as "happy music with tasty meat on the bones," Les McCann states "Joe's on a 'blow your mind' level," and Ahmad Jamal calls him "a very special artist." Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Joe wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JLCO albums), calling one of Joe’s columns “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.”
Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano from NYU and has since performed at many world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and Blue Note alongside Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, Ramsey Lewis, and his own trio, among others. Downbeat describes his sound as “rooted in the blues, and with a touch reminiscent of the great pianists of the 1950s—Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans.” It is clear Joe hits all of the necessary points for Jazz critics and fans alike.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is a native of Atlanta Georgia. He was exposed to music at a young age growing up in some of Atlanta’s historical Black baptist churches. Being exposed to the cultures hymnody, negro spirituals, country blues and gospel music would set the foundation for a successful music career. Kevin earned honors early on which included perennial All-State appearances, Honor Orchestra, and Festival superiors in the areas of voice, orchestra and jazz. As a junior in high school he earned a spot in the Governors Honors Program Orchestra department. That following year he participated in what would be his first Grammy/music Industry award winning project with local hip-hop group Outkast.
After finishing high school Kevin was accepted into The Florida State University and received a scholarship to be placed in the School of Music’s String Performance Program. Here he studied classical/baroque contrabass with Melanie Punter (Orchestra of St. Lukes/Atlanta Baroque Orchestra) and was under the direction of Maestro Dr. Alex Jimenez (Univ. Symphony). He also was accepted into the jazz studies departments where he studied jazz bass with Rodney Jordan. He also studied and performed with dept. head Leon Anderson Jr., Marcus Robers (Wynton Marsalis), Scotty Barnhart (Count Basie, Duke Ellington Orch.), Inga Sweringen, and Dr. John Parks.
Justin Chesarek
When Justin Chesarek, one of Atlanta’s go-to percussionists, was a child living in Pennsylvania, his father sat him down and educated him, via the Beatles Anthology documentary. The mesmerized ten-year-old was hooked, and after two years of formal drum study with Randy Roth, a remarkable Pittsburgh-area drum educator, he was gigging with Pittsburgh jazz legend Harold Betters, taking advantage of the experience as an early version of on-the-job training. He also counts the invaluable experience of listening to Roger Humphries, well-known for his work with Horace Silver, as a significant step in his early musical education. This was just the beginning.
After earning a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Slippery Rock University where Justin studied under Dr. David Glover and Dr. Stephen Hawk, he trekked south to Atlanta in 2008 to pursue a Masters of Music and Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. A year after his arrival, Justin landed a Wednesday show at Churchill Grounds, Atlanta’s premier jazz club at the time. The gig continued for the next five years and along the way, Chesarek began to fill his calendar, making a name for himself as an exceptional musician.
He performs regularly with the Joe Alterman Trio, Trey Wright, Anita Aysola, and he is a regular at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. He’s performed at the The Iridium and The Blue Note in New York, D.C’s Kennedy Center, a TED Talk, the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska, not to mention trips across the pond to play The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
BAND MEMBERS:
Joe Alterman - Piano
Kevin Smith - Bass
Justin Chesarek - Drums
PERFORMER BIO:
Joe Alterman
Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naiveté, with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome.
At first glance one might not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his music as "happy music with tasty meat on the bones," Les McCann states "Joe's on a 'blow your mind' level," and Ahmad Jamal calls him "a very special artist." Journalist Nat Hentoff championed three of Alterman’s albums, as well as his writing (Joe wrote liner notes to three Wynton Marsalis/JLCO albums), calling one of Joe’s columns “one of the very best pieces on the essence of jazz, the spirit of jazz, that I’ve ever read, and I’m not exaggerating.”
Joe Alterman began at NYU with a BA and Masters in Jazz Piano from NYU and has since performed at many world renowned venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland and Blue Note alongside Houston Person, Les McCann, Dick Gregory, Ramsey Lewis, and his own trio, among others. Downbeat describes his sound as “rooted in the blues, and with a touch reminiscent of the great pianists of the 1950s—Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans.” It is clear Joe hits all of the necessary points for Jazz critics and fans alike.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith is a native of Atlanta Georgia. He was exposed to music at a young age growing up in some of Atlanta’s historical Black baptist churches. Being exposed to the cultures hymnody, negro spirituals, country blues and gospel music would set the foundation for a successful music career. Kevin earned honors early on which included perennial All-State appearances, Honor Orchestra, and Festival superiors in the areas of voice, orchestra and jazz. As a junior in high school he earned a spot in the Governors Honors Program Orchestra department. That following year he participated in what would be his first Grammy/music Industry award winning project with local hip-hop group Outkast.
After finishing high school Kevin was accepted into The Florida State University and received a scholarship to be placed in the School of Music’s String Performance Program. Here he studied classical/baroque contrabass with Melanie Punter (Orchestra of St. Lukes/Atlanta Baroque Orchestra) and was under the direction of Maestro Dr. Alex Jimenez (Univ. Symphony). He also was accepted into the jazz studies departments where he studied jazz bass with Rodney Jordan. He also studied and performed with dept. head Leon Anderson Jr., Marcus Robers (Wynton Marsalis), Scotty Barnhart (Count Basie, Duke Ellington Orch.), Inga Sweringen, and Dr. John Parks.
Justin Chesarek
When Justin Chesarek, one of Atlanta’s go-to percussionists, was a child living in Pennsylvania, his father sat him down and educated him, via the Beatles Anthology documentary. The mesmerized ten-year-old was hooked, and after two years of formal drum study with Randy Roth, a remarkable Pittsburgh-area drum educator, he was gigging with Pittsburgh jazz legend Harold Betters, taking advantage of the experience as an early version of on-the-job training. He also counts the invaluable experience of listening to Roger Humphries, well-known for his work with Horace Silver, as a significant step in his early musical education. This was just the beginning.
After earning a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Slippery Rock University where Justin studied under Dr. David Glover and Dr. Stephen Hawk, he trekked south to Atlanta in 2008 to pursue a Masters of Music and Jazz Studies at Georgia State University. A year after his arrival, Justin landed a Wednesday show at Churchill Grounds, Atlanta’s premier jazz club at the time. The gig continued for the next five years and along the way, Chesarek began to fill his calendar, making a name for himself as an exceptional musician.
He performs regularly with the Joe Alterman Trio, Trey Wright, Anita Aysola, and he is a regular at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. He’s performed at the The Iridium and The Blue Note in New York, D.C’s Kennedy Center, a TED Talk, the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival in Alaska, not to mention trips across the pond to play The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland and the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
BAND MEMBERS:
Joe Alterman - Piano
Kevin Smith - Bass
Justin Chesarek - Drums
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Where is it happening?
Arts Garage, 94 NE 2nd Ave,Delray Beach, Florida, United States
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