“A towering figure in jazz bass performance . . . [Whitaker] manages to put a true signature on the music in a way that inspires both groove and freedom.” —All About Jazz
World-renowned bassist and Michigan State University Director of Jazz Studies, Rodney Whitaker leads a powerhouse ensemble featuring Michael Dease, Randy Napoleon and Rico Jones through the evocative and idiosyncratic repertoire of composer Gregg Hill. This performance celebrates one of the most fruitful partnerships in contemporary jazz — a collaboration that has yielded four critically acclaimed albums, including the latest masterpiece, Mosaic.
Whitaker, an alumnus of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, is renowned for his “bear-sized” tone and an uncanny ability to anchor an ensemble with both ferocious swing and melodic grace. In this special concert, Whitaker turns his formidable talents to the music of his longtime friend and associate, Gregg Hill, a composer whose work defies simple categorization. Hill’s music is a vivid sonic map of the Michigan landscape, blending the gritty, soulful grooves of urban Detroit with the expansive, pensive beauty of the rural countryside. Hill’s compositions are celebrated for their “complex melodies and unconventional writing” (DownBeat), providing the perfect canvas for Whitaker’s legendary improvisational prowess.
These performances are made possible through the generous support from our national education sponsor, Michigan State University.
Rodney Whitaker
Rodney Whitaker All Stars play the Music of Gregg Hill
Wed, April 8
|
6:00 PM
&
8:30 PM
Presented by Denver Jazz Fest
PERSONNEL
Rodney Whitaker: bass
Rico Jones: saxophone
Michael Dease: trombone
Randy Napoleon: guitar
Dawn Clement: piano
Jim White: drums
Ticket prices: $25 | $30 | $35
PERSONNEL
Rodney Whitaker: bass
Rico Jones: saxophone
Michael Dease: trombone
Randy Napoleon: guitar
Dawn Clement: piano
Jim White: drums
Ticket prices: $25 | $30 | $35
Gimme 5
Five questions with Rodney Whitaker
Don Lucoff: You have built a formidable program in East Lansing, in arguably a hotbed region for jazz education. An embarrassment of riches and you have set the bar high.
Rodney Whitaker: Initially, in 2001, when I became the director of Jazz Studies at MSU with the administration’s support, my goal was to establish a program that would pay homage to the rich tradition of Detroit Jazz while embracing innovative approaches. The entire state of Michigan, along with the city of East Lansing, actively supports our students in the program through various means, including clubs, institutions, festivals, and freelance opportunities. Over the past decade, we have been fortunate enough to attract the most talented student musicians from all across the country.
DL: Tell us about the program’s evolving relationship with Gregg Hill and his current role with MSU?
RW: Gregg Hill, a composer, frequently collaborates with members of the MSU Jazz faculty on recording projects.
DL: Do you still do co-led performances and recordings with Carl Allen or are the all-stars your main objective?
RW: Carl Allen and I are currently working on our own projects. It’s been over a decade since we last collaborated on a project, in 2013. My regular performing group is the Rodney Whitaker Quintet.
DL: Who should we know about coming out of your program that is making things happen?
RW: Hundreds of alumni from the Michigan State University Jazz Studies Program are making remarkable contributions and shaping a legacy that is truly unique. Currently, we have Eli Rachlin and Jauron Perry (trumpets); Aidan Clark (trombone);Thomas Noble, Alvin Paige, Paloma Cobbs-Silva, and Evan Kielty (saxophone): Jonathan Hilliard (bass), Kevin Eisenberg (piano), Zachary Sommerfeld (guitar), Joseph Fielder, Alonso Umana-Chan, and Sarah Whitaker (drums).
DL: Being from Detroit, a city with a rich jazz tradition, can you provide perspective on what that has done for your development? Who were some of your mentors there coming up?
RW: Growing up in Detroit, we were all taught to pass on the music through mentorship. The philosophy tradition of Detroit is known as “Each One, Teach One.” I was nurtured by so many incredible and gifted musicians that by the time I was 20, I had had every experience that jazz offers. I played shows and club dates with jazz masters from New York City who were passing through Detroit, and I had numerous touring opportunities around the world with my mentors. They prepared me for any possible situation.
Some of the mentors I had in Detroit included Marcus Belgrave, who performed with Ray Charles and Motown; Kenny Cox, a renowned Blue Note recording artist; Harold McKinney, a celebrated mentor from Detroit; Alma Smith, an incredible Detroit pianist and vocalist; and Herbie Williams, who performed with Charlie Parker, Count Basie, and Motown.