Tickets: $50 patron seating, $20 adult non-member, $15 adult member, $5 student member, $10 student non-member
Tom Knific has performed with many of the great jazz and classical artists of our time on tour and on record. They include Gene Bertoncini, Billy Hart, Randy Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Fred Hersch, and others. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the “Dream Band” with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner and Harvey Mason in the first live interactive concert multi-cast over the Internet. As a classical artist, he has recorded with Pepe Romero, Andre Watts, Philippe Entremont, and the Merling Trio. He as appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the U.S. and has performed as principal bassist with orchestras and chamber orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. He has appeared at chamber music festivals throughout North America and Europe and was a founding member, bassist and composer for the contemporary music group, OPUS 21. Tom is professor of double bass and director of jazz studies at Western Michigan University. He has also taught at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and has presented over a hundred master classes worldwide.
A renown educator, Tom’s students have toured and recorded with Betty Carter, Vincent Herring, Cedar Walton, John Scofield, and perform in orchestras on three continents. In addition, he received the Down Beat magazine Achievement in Jazz Education award in 2004. Tom is leader of the Western Jazz Quartet. The WJQ has appeared on four continents and has received rave reviews for their five CD’s of original music. He has released over two dozen recordings including three solo CD’s, Home Bass, 1998, Siena, 2004, and Lines of influence, 2009. He has recorded on the Universal, Mercury, Koch International, SMR, Centaur, Sea Breeze, Jazzheads, Azica, and Polonia labels. Tom is past president of the International Society of Bassists
www.TomKnific.com
www.azica.com
John Knific has played piano his whole life. His Kalamazoo area teachers include Lori Sims, Rich Ridenour and Jeff Mitchell. John’s interest in jazz developed during middle school, when he formed Nexus, a creative trio that continues to perform, and includes Noah Krzan and Ryan Andrews. The group’s influences range from Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and EST, to Radiohead and The Beatles. NeXus performed at every possible venue in Southwest Michigan, and has released three CD’s. They are the only area group to win a pre- collegiate Down Beat Student Music Award. Having been admitted to the medical school at Case Western Reserve University through the Pre-Professional Scholars Program while still in high school, John is currently a senior at CWRU pursuing dual degrees in music performance and biology. He also studies jazz piano at The Oberlin Conservatory with Dan Wall. He has performed in master classes for John Clayton Fred Hersch and currently studies arranging with Paul Ferguson. John just returned from a semester studying abroad at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam working with Rob van Bavel and others. John was also featured during this time at The Swiss Jazz Foundation in Zurich, and at The Schlern International festival in Italy. His most recent venture has been an attempt to combine the areas of music and information technology in a new internet media platform called CitizenGroove (CG). His goal is to make CG the most comprehensive professional musicians network possible.
www.JohnKnific.com
Chris Beckstrom, WMU alumni, completed a Masters of Fine Arts in the Columbia College Chicago Music Composition for the Screen program. Since getting hooked on music early on through jazz, Chris has become caught up in all sorts of musical adventures. As a performer, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians as diverse as Fred Hersch, Bobby McFerrin, Darmon Meader, Stefon Harris, Michigan rockers Four Finger Five, Chicago hip-hop band Sidewalk Chalk, and Motown legends The Dells. Performing in a tremendous range of styles on a wide range of instruments (including saxophones, clarinets, EWI, piano, accordion, and percussion) Chris is an in-demand multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, copyist, orchestrator, "ethnic music" enthusiast, and all around musical character. These days he is busy leading The Chris Beckstrom Band, performing on piano with the BBJ Project, scoring films, commercials, working on orchestral commissions, and preparing to release a full length album of original music. For more info, full bio, audio clips, and more, check out
chrisbeckstrom.com.
Drummer Keith Hall has established himself as a joyful performer and a passionate educator. Since 2002, Keith has spent most of his time with singer Curtis Stigers. He has toured throughout the U.S. and much of Europe performing in concert and appearing on numerous television and radio shows.
Keith has also performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan with the likes of Marcus Belgrave, Betty Carter, Sir Roland Hanna, David Kikoski, Wynton Marsalis, David Morgan, Michael Phillip Mossman, Mark Turner, Larry Goldings, John Pizzerelli, Steve Wilson, Joe Wilder, Claudio Roditi, Luciana Souza and Terrell Stafford. He was also part of a U.S. State Department European tour with the NYC Latin-jazz ensemble Grupo Yanqui.
Keith lived in New York for 8 years where he gained valuable experience on the New York jazz scene, and was also a regular drummer on Broadway's 'Lion King', served as the Director of Music at Faith Exchange Fellowship and adjunct faculty at New York University. Keith has recorded with many artists including Curtis Stigers, Grupo Yanqui, Tom Knific, Opus 21, Michael Amendola, Jeff Haas, Mind's Eye, Steve Talaga, Vanessa Trouble, Kate Reid, and his own projects including Tri-Fi, The Groov'tet, The Keith Hall Quartet and a trio with Bennett Paster & Greg Ryan.
He teaches privately in his home studio as well as serving on the jazz faculty at Western Michigan University where he teaches jazz drum set, drum choir, coaches combos and provides master classes on career planning and music business concepts. Keith also presents many educational jazz performances in schools around Michigan, as well as drum clinics around the region. He plays in the band at Christian Life Center, has taught at jazz camps around the U.S., and is the director of the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive. He is currently working with New Genesis, Incorporated to develop music programs to impact the Northside community of Kalamazoo.
Keith studied with his mentor, jazz drumming great Billy Hart, at WMU, and over the years studied with great drummers including Jimmy Cobb, Ed Thigpen, Vernel Fournier, Carl Allen, Bill Dowdy, Gene Jackson, Lewis Nash, Vince Cherico, and Portinho.
Born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, Keith holds a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from Queens College in New York. He is a proud endorser of Taye Drums, Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Regal Tip Drumsticks, Attack Drumheads and Protection Racket Drum Cases. For more information please visit www.KeithHallMusic.com
