Featuring Jeff "Tain" Watts and Ugonna Obegwo, March 4 and 5, 2012

"Niels Lan Doky a convincing disciple of Bill Evans, has also assimilated the history of jazz piano, from Art Tatum to Hancock and Jarrett. A melodic player with a deep and enlightening touch" TELERAMA, FRANCE nielslandoky.com

    

   Born and raised in Copenhagen, Niels is the first Danish jazz musician since bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen to gain wide international renown and critical acclaim. He first emerged on the jazz scene in 1979 as the 15 year old protégé of American jazz legends Thad Jones and Ernie Wilkins. After moving to the US, he quickly came to prominence with such jazz icons as Joe Henderson, Clark Terry, Charlie Haden, Ray Brown, David Sanborn, Woody Shaw, Jack DeJohnette, Al Jarreau, John Scofield, the Brecker Brothers, Pat Metheny and others. His recording work is represented on such prestigious jazz labels as Blue Note, Columbia, Verve and Milestone. In 2005 he debuted as a film director with the acclaimed music feature documentary film "Between a Smile and a Tear," and is currently working on his third film, a music film that combines documentary and fiction. In October 2008 Niels was asked by the American Recording Academy (US Grammy Awards) to become a member of their jazz committee.

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   Jeff “Tain” Watts holds the unique distinction of being the only musician to appear on every Grammy Award winning jazz record by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis. One of the most in demand jazz drummers in the world today.  A graduate of Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies. Jeff has worked in the film and television industry as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s "Mo Better Blues". Jeff joined Kenny Garrett's New York after three years in LA on the Tonight Show.  Jeff has also recorded and toured with Branford Marsalis, Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Alice Coltrane, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Ravi Coltrane. jeff"tain"watts.com

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  Ugonna Okegwo is one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz bassists in the world. Critics across the globe have praised him for his rich tone, supple sense of swing, stylistic range and inventiveness. These qualities have not only earned him a place on the bandstand with jazz legends as diverse as Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Pharoah Sanders and Joseph Jarman – they have established him as one of the leading lights of a younger generation redefining jazz for the new century.

"He is very individualistic, both in his soloing and accompanying. I love the way he plays in the ensemble,” says Tom Harrell, with whom Okegwo has worked for several years. “Ugonna does some really creative things that I haven't heard anyone do with his articulation and timing."

Born in London to a German mother and Nigerian father, Okegwo was raised in Germany and grew up listening to African-American music -- James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, and, eventually, the great Charles Mingus.

"What I always heard first in funk and rock 'n roll were the bass lines, the ostinato, and later, in jazz, the walking bass," he recalls. "That's what first got me playing bass.” The fusing of funk and jazz bass conceptions is a foundation of Okegwo’s unique approach, making his sound instantly recognizable..

Ugonna with Tom Harrell "A Portrait of Jenny"