MAIN CONCERT PROGRAMME - Serbian National Theatre - Saturday, 17th November 2012.
RALPH PETERSON FO’TET
RALPH PETERSON – drums, trumpet
JOSEPH DOUBLEDAY – vibraphone
FELIX PEIKLI – clarinet
ALEXANDER L. J. TÓTH – bass
REINALDO DE JESUS – percussions
RALPH PETERSON
A respected educator who is currently a full professor at the Berklee College of Music, Peterson’s protégés include such potent new drummers on the New York scene as Ari Hoenig, E.J. Strickland, Justin Faulkner, Rodney Green, Vince Ector, Jonathan Blake, Dion Parsons and Mark Whitfield Jr. He is also a clinician and endorser for Mapex Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Axis Pedals as well as Bosphorus Cymbals, where he designed their newest cymbal line aptly called The Oracle. Peterson studied with master drummer Michael Carvin at Rutgers University in 1980. In 1983, he met Blakey, who chose Peterson to be the second drummer in his big band for a performance at the Boston Globe Festival. Ralph continued in the Jazz Messenger Big Band until Blakey’s death in 1990. Peterson takes seriously the honor and responsibility of being the "Last Messenger Drummer" and later paid homage to Blakey on his 1993 Blue Note recording Art. "Being chosen by Art Blakey is more than just something I throw around as a badger of honor," he says, "it’s something I work real hard to live up to." (Peterson’s most recent discoveries are two Berklee students, clarinetist Felix Pelkli and bassist Norishida Shiota, whom he plans to showcase on an upcoming Fo’tet project). Born on May 20, 1962 in Pleasantville, New Jersey, Peterson first got behind the traps set at age three. As he told Jazziz magazine: "I believe I was predestined to be a drummer," he says. "My early playing was a basement experience, playing along with records by James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire and Parliament- Funkadelic, where the beat was powerful and primal. I'd wanted to play since I saw Sonny Payne with the Count Basie Orchestra when I was 13. But my interpretation of jazz didn't venture very far beyond Maynard Ferguson's Primal Scream until I was out of high school. I'm not a jazz baby. I'm a funk baby who came through the Fusion realm of George Duke and Stanley Clarke." At Rutgers, under the tutelage of Michael Carvin, he learned about Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. While a junior in college, he began an ongoing gig in pianist Walter Davis, Jr.'s trio. As he recalled to jazz writer Ted Panken, "Walter taught me the tradition of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and how to play trio in a triangular manner, not that bass and drums lay down a carpet, but always three-way conversation, with input and dialogue and conversation from all the components in the ensemble. That's how the music was when he was 17 playing in Bird's band, and I perpetuate that tradition." Following his gig with Walter Davis, Jr., Peterson was recruited by Blakey for his two-drummer big band. "Art became my idol not only as a drummer, but as a bandleader and a molder of men," he told Panken. Peterson emerged on the jazz scene in the mid ‘80s with Out of the Blue, a band of young lions put together by Blue Note Records. He recorded three albums with the group – 1985’s Out of the Blue, 1986’s Inside Track and 1986’s Live at Mt. Fuji. He subsequently worked through the ‘80s in bands led by Branford Marsalis, David Murray, Craig Harris, James Spaulding, Roy Hargrove, Jon Faddis, Dewey Redman and Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison. He debuted as a leader in 1988 with Triangular on Blue Note, followed later that year by V, 1990’s Presents the Fo’tet, 1991’s Volition, 1992’ Ornetteology and 1993’s Art. In the 1990s, Peterson played as a sideman with Jack Walrath, Craig Handy, Charles Lloyd, Kip Hanrahan Bheki Mseleku, Courtney Pine, Steve Coleman, George Colligan, Stanley Cowell, Mark Shim and Betty Carter while also releasing two albums on the Evidence label, 1994’s The Reclamation Project and 1995’s Fo’tet Plays Monk. The following decade he released a string of recordings on Criss Cross – 2001’s The Art of War, 2002’s Subliminal Seduction, 2003’s Test of Time and 2004’s Fo’tet Augmented – as well as two albums in 2000 on the British Sirrocco label, Back to Stay (which featured Michael Brecker) and Triangular 2 (with pianist Dave Kikoski and bassist Gerald Cannon). Aside from the Unity Project, The Fo’tet and his Quintet, where he plays trumpet (recording later this year), Peterson also leads a trio that features such stellar sidemen as The Curtis Brothers (Luques and Zaccai), Orrin Evans and young monster Victor Gould as well as an electric group featuring saxophonist Craig Handy and guitarist Dave Stryker.
JOSEPH DOUBLEDAY
Joseph Doubleday was raised near Oklahoma City. After attending 2 years at Oklahoma City University, Joseph was accepted and awarded a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has had the opportunity to receive lessons from Tony Miceli, Joe Locke, and Ed Saindon. Joseph also studied briefly with Mike Pinto. Joseph is currently a student of Stefon Harris. Joseph also studies with Ed Saindon at the Berklee College of Music.
Influences: Stefon Harris, Milt Jackson, Gary Burton, Lionel Hampton, Steve Nelson, Cal Tjader, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Locke, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Mike Mainieri ...
FELIX PEIKLI
Born in Oslo, Norway April 2nd 1990, Felix Peikli was introduced to music trough the local marching band at the age of eight. After discovering his love for music and rapidly developing skills on the instrument, Felix received a Benny Goodman recording by his grandfather. After hearing the dazzling and virtuoso playing that a clarinet could produce, Benny Goodman instantly became his all-time idol. His first performance was during the Jam session at Oslo Jazz Festival in 2002. Too young to even enter the venue, Felix performed unaware that Jazz greats such as Joe Lovano were in the audience. He was invited back the very next day playing with a visiting band in the Mirror Hall of the Grand Hotel. Felix participated in different contests such as AOM (local), OM (state), NM (national), UKM (nation) and won a series of prizes. Felix became a student at the Barratt Dues Classical Institute of Norway and studied there with Fredrik Fors (from 2004 – 2008). He was also selected to compete on National TV and won the National Dreamprize in 2005. Felix began performing extensively as a featured soloist and band leader after receiving massive publicity and recognition in national press. Felix became a student at Foss Music High School in 2006 and in the same year he won/received grant in "The Grand Chance" on national television. Felix became a national icon and the official face fronting the art of jazz. Felix begun playing at national as well as international festivals, international appearances, concerts, (such as in Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, U.K. etc.) and more. Talent.no became his official main sponsor in 2007, working closely with Jorn Hoel and Steinar Albrigsten. Felix received the Capital of Norway Honors Prize as the youngest recipient to date in 2007 and the same year, Felix attended the Berklee College of Music's five week program where he was granted a Full Tuition Scholarship. In 2008 Felix had his "Ready For Boston" concert as a token of his acceptance into the Berklee College of Music the same year, and came back 1 year later (summer 2009) touring Norway with his mentor Harry Skoler, paying homage to their shared idol Benny Goodman honoring his 100 anniversary in 2009. In August 2010, Felix went on his first International Tour as a bandleader with his group "The Felix Peikli Quintet" and appeared at venues such as Oslo Jazz Festival, TV2, NRK1, Rica Victoria, and more. He returned the following year with his group "The Felix Peikli Quartet". Felix moved to Boston in 2008 where he has had the opportunity to meet and play with/for many great and talented individuals such as Frank Tiberi, Harry Skoler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Greg Osby, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, John Clayton, Eddie Gomez, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, Ralph Peterson Jr., and many more. As a winner of the Vandoren Emerging Artist competition 2012 and as a part of the newly founded honors-program "Berklee Global Jazz Institute" (directed by world renowned Danilo Perez), Felix has had a chance to meet many wonderful musicians worldwide. In 2011 he went with the BGJI touring New Orleans, LA, and Panama. As of 2011, Felix became the sideman in Ralph Peterson Jr.'s world-renowned jazz group "Ralph Peterson Fo'tet" that was featured on Peterson's latest recording "The Duality Perspective" (Onyx Productions 2012) receiving amazing reviews. New York Times describes Felix as "A star, basically".
ALEXANDER L. J. TÓTH
Alexander L. J. Tóth was born in Toronto, where he quickly developed a hunger for music. Tóth started playing bass guitar professionally while at middle school, and during high school he took up upright bass. He studied at the Humber Community Music School with Kirk MacDonald and in the course of his high school years he performed at most of the major jazz festivals and competitions, receiving honors and awards. His Jazz Trio was selected to play at the last IAJE conference and was presented with a special citation and an Award of Excellence.  Presently attending Berklee on a major scholarship, he has performed and studied with Wayne Shorter, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tia Fuller, Patrice Rushen, Donald Harrison, Darren Barrett, and Ron Savage, among many others.
REINALDO DE JESUS
Reinaldo De Jesus was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a world-class percussionist who has being performing for 20 years. At the age of ten he started on the drum set and right then he knew that he was going to pursue a music career. Having been inspired by the teachings and encouragement of great Puerto Rican conga players like Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Barreto, Angel ‘Cachete" Maldonado, Anthony Carrillo, Richie Flores and Paoli Mejias, Reinaldo committed to a daily arduous self-thought discipline of practice to achieve good technique and sound on his conga playing. Then in 1990, he was admitted to the Escuela Libre De Musica in Hato Rey, P.R. where he expanded his music comprehension and theory and ear training. Also, he and other students founded the youngest salsa group at that time called, Revolucion Latina. They performed all over Puerto Rico for four years. Reinaldo graduated from the "ELM" in 1996 and enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico and at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, where he studied classical percussion. Reinaldo recorded and performed with many well known musicians and artist such as: Cultura Profetica, DLG, Charlie Cruz, Obie Bermudez, Rey Ruiz, Luis Marin, Danilo Perez, Humberto Ramirez, Eric Figueroa, and Julito Alvarado. In 1998, he received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In July 2000, Reinaldo went on tour with trombonist, William Cepeda and Afro-Rican Jazz. They toured Europe and Africa, performing in some of the biggest jazz festivals such as: the Montreux Jazz Fest, the North Sea Jazz Fest, the Moers Jazz Fest in Germany and the Tabarka Jazz Fest in Tunisia. After the tour, he moved to Boston and started to play with many different bands such as: Suavecito, Spontaneous, Tony Perez Group, Insight, Entrain, and Dispatch. He is still performing and has recorded several albums, movie sound tracks and DVD’s with lead singer, Braddigan. Also, Reinaldo is part of the band on stage on the Tony award winner Broadway Musical FELA. In 2003, Reinaldo went on tour with Miguel Zenon and the Rhythm Collective to West Africa sponsored by the Jazz Ambassadors Program in D.C. After the tour, Reinaldo moved to New York City. He started to play congas with one of the most vibrant and intense modern Latin Jazz groups in NYC, Timbalaye. The group was lead by the great timbal player, Ralph Irizarry. He also started playing with musicians such as; Papo Vasquez and The Pirates Trobadours, Chris Washburn and the Syotos Band, Brian Lynch, Roy Hargrove's Big Band, guitarist for India Arie Ricky Quinones, and in 2005 he toured Europe and recorded with Hip-Hop and R&B singer, Lauryn Hill . In 2006, Reinaldo started his own Latin Jazz Group, Rhythmic Prophecies. His group was chosen twice for the Rhythm Road 2006 program by the Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Department of State in DC. Rhythmic Prophecies then went on a three week tour to Southeast Asia. Currently, he is composing and producing music for independent film projects and doing freelance performances in NYC with bands like the Afro-Beat group, Antibalas and the Latin Jazz group, The Curtis Brothers Quartet and several more.
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