PHIL DWYER QUINTET - Centenary Celebration

Perennial award-winning jazz artists Phil Dwyer and Brad Turner celebrate the 100th birthday of eight legendary jazz artists who, in their own ways, laid the musical foundation for all who came after them. Phil and Brad are joined by a rhythm section comprised of three of the most respected names on the scene today: Chris Gestrin - piano, Jesse Cahill - drums, and Conrad Good - bass.

Miles Davis and John Coltrane have received the most notice in their centenary year, but they are joined by a half-dozen other musicians all notable for their contributions as instrumentalists, composers, arrangers, bandleaders, and one very well-known vocalist.

Alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson was a founding member of the Jazz Messengers and, later, a early exponent of the ‘soul-jazz’ sound. Tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, was part of the Heath brothers musical dynasty, a contemporary of Coltrane, and renowned composer.

Pianist Randy Weston famously bridged jazz with its African roots and, as with Heath, contributed classic tunes to the jazz canon that are commonly performed to this day.

Trombonist Melba Liston surmounted gender barriers to become recognized as one of the premier arrangers of her generation and performed with leading jazz ensembles on both coasts.

Bassist Ray Brown made his mark early on with bebop pioneers like Dizzy Gillespie and went on to anchor the Oscar Peterson Trio.

Lastly, vocalist Tony Bennett, best known for his hit, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, but revered among jazz players for his impeccable sense of swing and timeless approach to the American Songbook.