ACOUSTIC ARTIST SERIES: JAZZ
TICKETS $20.00 IN ADVANCE (ONLINE) / $25.00 AT THE DOOR
We are extremely pleased to have the Bob Degen Trio join us for a rare “state side” performance at The Packing House on Saturday, October 1st. The trio is led by international pianist/composer Bob Degen, featuring Connecticut native Peter Perfido on drums, and renowned bassist Harvie S up from NYC.
The Bob Degen Trio has its roots firmly planted in the foundations of Jazz tradition with branches spanning out to embrace contemporary improvisation. Their repertoire draws from a wealth of Bob Degen's original compositions which combine a lush harmonic sense as well as an affinity for spare yet rich melodies.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to see this jazz great in our intimate historic setting. This concert is a part of The Packing House Acoustic Artist Series hosted by the Friends of The Mill Works. Cabaret and theater seating available. "BYOB" - Beer and Wine ONLY (I.D. Required). Snacks and soft drinks available.
Call 518-791-9474 for information and table reservations.
The Artists:
Bob Degen
Robert William “Bob” Degen is an American pianist and composer. He grew up in a very musical family. He was encouraged from a very early age to become a musician. On weekends, Bob Degen Sr. (a guitarist) brought young Bob to NYC to visit the famous Jazz Clubs on 52nd St. Some of the great players he heard were Lester Young, Jo Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, Art Tatum, George Shearing, Ben Webster, Errol Garner, Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” Sextet and Mary Lou Williams amongst many others. He also witnessed historic concerts such as The Bill Evans Trio with Scott Lafaro and Paul Motian on the same bill as The Thelonious Monk Quartet at the Five Spot.
At the early age of 12, Bob made his NYC debut at the famous 52nd St. Club the Hickory House. He was invited as a special guest of pianist Marian Mc Partland to perform with bassist Bill Crow and drummer Joe Morello.
In the early 60's, Bob attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston graduating in 1963. He was accepted by the legendary Madame Margaret Chaloff as a private student. He became a member of the circle of jazz players that studied with her, including Herbie Hancock, Steve Kuhn, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.
During this time, he met and played at jam sessions with a very young Tony Williams (13 years old).
Bob travelled to Europe for the first time in 1965 and was immediately accepted by US expatriate musicians such as Dexter Gordon, Carmell Jones, Art Farmer, Charlie Mariano and Leo Wright. He returned to the US in 1966 to work in his own trio featuring Paul Motian and Mark Lewinson.
In 1972, Bob moved to Frankfurt, Germany to join Albert Mangelsdorff in the Jazz Ensemble of Hessische Rundfunk. In Germany he played for many years with saxophonist Heinz Sauer. Their Duo LP “Ellingtonia Revisited” was awarded several prizes in Europe.
Since 2008, Bob has co-led a quartet featuring bass clarinetist Michel Pilz with Markus Schieferdecker, bass, and Peter Perfido, drums. Their CD “Tilly's Eyes” on Jazz Haus Music has received critical acclaim throughout Europe.
In 2010 he recorded "Jake Remembered" for Enja with Markus Schieferdecker and Peter Perfido. Also featured on five tracks is guest soloist , Valentin Garvie on trumpet.
Bob's compositions have been published in solo, trio and quartet versions in Japan. A sample of some of the great musicians Bob has performed with include: Adelhard Roidinger, Kent Carter, Phil Woods, Alan Dawson, Attilla Zoller, Hans Koller, Zbignew Namyslowski, Gerd Dudek, Wolfgang Engstfield, Buddy Defranco, Cameron Brown, Janusz Stefanski, Gunther Lenz, Ralf Hübner, David Friedman, and many more.
Peter Perfido
American drummer Peter Perfido, a native of Newington, Connecticut, began his musical journey in the early 60's, strongly influenced by the British "Wave” (Beatles, Kinks, Animals, Who). His percussion career has spanned four decades and taken him to four continents.
By the mid 70's, Peter had begun to discover jazz and improvised music. Since then his work has involved playing jazz, improvised music, rock and blues with scores of lauded musicians from diverse styles and backgrounds. While predominantly self-taught, Peter has studied privately with Kit McDermott, Bob Moses and Jerry Granelli.
Peter has played across the USA, Western Canada and Europe and in Algeria (International Festival of Jazz 1987) as well as Romania, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey. In 1983, he travelled to South Korea, Philippines, Japan, Diego Garcia, Guam, and Hawaii as part of a USO Tour. In the last months of the ex-USSR, he toured in Russia and the Ukraine as part of a Music / Theatre joint venture production between Germany & Russia.
Peter has shared the stage (or studio) with notable artists Chet Baker, Gary Peacock, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Woode, Bill Barron, Art Lande, Julian Priester, David Friedman, Tomasz Stanko, Sal Nistico, Kent Carter, Rasul Siddik, Bob Degen, and many more.
Peter currently lives in France and performs mostly in Europe these days with groups spanning a wide spectrum of influences from mainstream (modern) jazz to open ended explorations with free improvisation, as well as shuffling and rocking the blues. There are many styles and colours represented in his expansive musical palette. Grooving away or floating in waves of pulsating timelessness is all a part of this drummer's language, love and passion.
Harvie S
Harvie S, award winning bassist, educator, composer, arranger, and producer, is continually challenging himself and his peers, expanding the borders of musical direction.
Harvie S arrived in New York in 1973 and a short time later founded and co-led the now legendary Double Image Band that recorded for ECM and Enja Records and performed at major festivals throughout the world.
A legendary bassist, he has performed and recorded with Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Tony Bennett, Ray Baretto, Michael Brecker, Jean Pierre Rampal, Paquito D’Rivera, Gil Evans, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Yusef Lateef, Dave Leibman, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, James Williams, Phil Woods, and countless others.
Harvie S was selected a Jazz Ambassador for the United States and toured throughout Europe and Southeast Asia in this honored capacity. He has been a guest on NPRs All Things Considered and Fresh Air. His career is documented in “Leonard Feather’s Encyclopedia of Jazz”, the “Grove Dictionary of Jazz” and the “All Music Guide”. Mr. S composed the musical themes for the documentaries The Trumpet Kings, The Piano Legends, and John Coltrane.
His Latest CD “Plucky Strum” teams him with extraordinary guitarist Sheryl Bailey in a powerful duo with acoustic bass and acoustic guitar released their first CD of 10 originals on Whaling City sound. A second CD has just been recorded with a release of early 2017.
In addition to his performance career, Harvie S is an active educator. He is a Professor of Jazz Bass and Jazz Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music, in both Undergraduate and Graduate divisions. Currently developing new music for a variety of musical ensembles and recordings, Harvie S is integrating his lifetime of musical experience and research into opening doors to new and exciting pathways of creative expression. He has also written a series of bass duets that are revolutionary in their concept for teaching and performing.