St. Thomas's Day School Jazz Club Concerts

Here are some of the jazz musicians who have performed at our school:

GIACOMO GATES & TONY LOMBARDOZZI IN CONCERT

Internationally acclaimed vocalist Giacomo Gates, along with New Haven's first call guitarist Tony Lombardozzi, appeared at St. Thomas's Day School for a concert with the children on Monday, December 4th, 2006 for our first concert of the 2006-07 school year. Needless to say the musicians were a hit. About 30 parents and friends of the Day School, as well as children from the Celentano School in New Haven, also attended the hour long event. Mr. Gates sang many of the standards off of his CDs entertaining young and old alike. The two musicians also took time out to field many questions from the children and adults. Asked about their influences, both named a number of bebop musicians with Thelonious Monk and Charlie "Bird" Parker at the top of their lists. Mr. Lombardozzi told the children that they should never be afraid to make mistakes. "You learn by making mistakes." Mr. Gates, citing the great saxophonist John Coltrane as an example, told the children that if they want to be really good at anything then they must practice, practice, practice. The concert was also noted by Ed German on his "Urban Jazz Experience" radio program on WLIU 88.3 FM.

Photo by Miriam Battista

Photo by Craig O'Connell

Anyone wishing to purchase CDs by Giacomo Gates should go to his website:

http://www.giacomogates.com
"Giacomo Gates is one of the top male jazz singers around today. His scat singing, use of Vocalese and bebop attitude plant him as a successor to Eddie Jefferson, King Pleasure and Dave Lambert." -Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene-

Playing major U.S. clubs, New York's Birdland, the Five Spot and the Jazz Standard, Philadelphia's Zanzibar Blue, Blues Alley in D.C. and Snug Harbor in New Orleans; and major festivals like Detroit/Montreux, Telluride, Caramoor, Sedona, Clearwater, Fairbanks Summer Arts, etc.; and at countless universities and jazz societies, Giacomo's enormous appeal and popularity are obvious from the many repeat engagements he has had at these venues. He's also performed and taught in Europe and has toured Australia twice.

"If the Rolls Royce could sing jazz, it would assuredly sound like Giacomo Gates." -Dan Singer, In Tune International

Gates has three heavily acclaimed CDs, with his most recent release, Centerpiece, garnering rave reviews and receiving heavy airplay on over 300 stations, with over three months in the top 20 of the Jazz Week charts.

Heavily committed to education, Giacomo teachers regularly at Wesleyan University, the Hartford Conservatory of Music and New Haven's Neighborhood Music School and has conducted workshops and residencies at numerous educational institutions all over the U.S.

St. Thomas's PTO also raised some money for the Jazz Club by selling freshly brewed Starbucks coffee before and after the event. The Jazz Club wishes to thank Kirby Mahoney for his help with the superb sound system (Noted by the vocalist Gates himself), Starbucks in New Haven for their donation of coffee and PTO President Colleen Gill for her tireless efforts and support of the school's Jazz Club.

Full funding for this concert was made possible by the proceeds from the Ed German Art Show held in February 2006.

 

The Concerts 2006:
Jazz Concert
Bassist James Daggs
Pianist Chris Bakriges
Drummer Makaya McCraven
Bassist James Daggs resides in Enfield, CT and has performed with a number of notable musicians throughout the east including, Joe Gitto, Paul Asbel, Richard Forman, Carol Daggs, Peggy Delaney, Cary DeNigris, Steve Candlen, Nat Phipps, Tony Zano, Paul Mastriani, Captain Blood, Nick Mancini, Keith Pray and (3 time Grammy nominated) Jazz Marimbist/Vibraphonist Stefon Harris. This was Mr. Daggs's first visit to St. Thomas's. Pianist Chris Bakriges made his second return visit to visit to St. Thomas's. A Detroit native, he now resides in Southern Vermont with his wife, youngest son, and two black cats. He has led his own group since the early 80's. Chris has performed with numerous luminaries including Jay Hoggard, Jon Hendricks, Kenny Burrell, Salim Washington, Cici Santucci and Pat Metheny. Bakriges has studied with Oscar Peterson and has written extensively on African-American avante garde music. He performs regularly at the Mo Jazz Cafe in Wilmington, VT. Drummer Makaya McCraven, from Amherst, MA, is no stranger to St. T's. The McCraven family have two of Makay's cousins enrolled here. 21 year old Makaya studies drums with his renowned father Steve McCraven and Boston based drummer Bob Gullotti. He also studied small group jazz with Dr. Ed Byrne and at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Makaya has performed with Archie Shepp, Avery Sharpe, Wil Letman, Ed Byrne, Dave Shapiro, Joe Fonda, Vishnu Wood, Paul Arselanian, Tom McClung and his mother Agnes Zsigmondi. Makaya performs and records hip hop and jazz regularly throughout the Northeast US with his band Cold Duck Complex.

 

Christopher Bakriges on piano, James Daggs on bass and Makaya McCraven on drums perform at St. T's on February 22, 2006.

The songs performed at this concert included:
1. Well You Neednít - Thelonious Monk
2. St. Thomasís Day School Blues - original composition
3. Song for Coretta Scott King - original composition
4. Song for Peace - original composition
5. Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Harold Arlen
6. Miles Davis Was A Jazzman - Craig O'Connell's poem with All Blues by Miles Davis in the background
7. Bira - Christopher Bakriges

 

Arti Dixson Quartet
Pianist George Caldwell
Drummer Arti Dixson

 
Drummer Baba Coleman delights young and old.

 

 

The Concerts 2005
New Haven's 15 year old amazing jazz pianist Christian Sands, April 2005.

The Area Cooperative Educational Services big band performs for the Jazz Club under the direction of jazz bassist Jeff Fuller, April 2005.

 

 

 

 

  

Kazu Sato on bass, Christopher Bakriges on piano and Motown phenom Billy Arnold on drums at our first Jazz Club concert, February 22, 2005.

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