Bring Dad to a very special Sunday Jazz Brunch!
Father’s Day Jazz Brunch: Greg Abate, Bruce Gertz, & Gary Johnson
Sun 6/15
11am doors/12pm show
All Ages | $15 adv./$20 day of
Phil Woods: “I sleep better knowing there are alto sax players like Greg Abate in the world.It was great making music with him.”
Greg Abate, internationally renowned Post Be-bop saxophonist/flute player, has been in the Downbeat Reader’s Poll top 5 of alto sax players by listeners in-the-know for the last three years.
Greg earned his bona-fides at the prestigious Berklee School Of Music in Boston then went on to tour with the Ray Charles Band playing lead alto, then the Artie Shaw Orchestra. He has played and recorded with such jazz and music luminaries as Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone , KennyWashington, ClaudioRoditi,Barry Harris, Mickey Roker, Lew Tabackin, Marvin Stam, Paquito D’Rivera, Rufus Reed, James Williams, Billy Hart, Louie Bellson, James Moody, Lionel Hampton, Hilton Ruiz, Bill Cunliffe, Richie Cole, Bill Goodwin, Akira Tana, Slide Hampton, Carl Fontana, George Mraz, and many more.
When he’s not touring throughout the UK, Canada or Eastern Europe, Greg can be found with his quartet, or as a guest soloist, in clubs throughout his home turf on the East Coast, from Maine to Boston to New York City. Greg is also highly sought after as a clinician and guest soloist at high-school and college jazz festivals across the country.
Bruce Gertz is an award-winning bassist (acoustic and electric), composer, educator, and author. He is a professor of bass at Berklee College of Music, where he has taught since 1976.
Bruce is the recipient of National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Performance Award Grant, Massachusetts Cultural Council Musical Composition Award, and numerous awards for outstanding bassist, from Boston Music Awards, A.S.C.A.P. Plus Popular Awards, and multiple recognition awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. Bruce also serves on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists.
Bruce has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, and many others.
As a drummer, Gary has been working professionally for over thirty years. He is the son of New England jazz great Dick Johnson.
For four years, he traveled extensively with the Artie Shaw Orchestra under the direction of Dick Johnson. During that time he accompanied such artists as: Rosemary Clooney, Buddy Defranco, and Connie Haines. He has also worked with Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Ken Peplowski, Keely Smith, Dizzy Gillespie, Ruby Braff and Phil Wilson’s Big Band.
Formal training consists of studies with Instructor Bill Flanagan, Fred Buda of The Boston Pops and jazz artist Alan Dawson.
Currently playing with Bombay Jim and the Swingin’ Sapphires featuring vocalist Jim Porcella, Lou Colombo’s jazz group and The Ray Santisi Quartet. Also, freelancing in the New England area.
Recordings include work with: Dick Johnson’s Swingshift, “Artie’s Choice”-featuring Dick Johnson and Lou Colombo, Bombay Jim, The Chris Taylor Trio, Guitarist Fred Fried, and Lee Childs and the Bourbon Street Paraders.