MATT MARANTZ (Saxophone),
New York
Performance Experience: The White House, The Grammy Awards, Kennedy Center, Umbria Jazz Fest, Monterey Jazz Fest, TIM Jazz Fest, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola NYC and many more
“A gifted, young and driven soloist.” The New York Times
“A deeply sincere and meditative player.” Downbeat Magazine
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Matt Marantz grew up in a musical family and attended high school at the Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet, gaining early recognition for his talents by publications such as Downbeat Magazine, Jazziz Magazine, and was even invited to the 2004 White House NEA Jazz Masters induction ceremony to perform in an ensemble led by Dr. Billy Taylor for then US President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. After graduation, Marantz moved to New York City to study at the Manhattan School of Music with saxophonist Bob Mintzer on full scholarship, and was also awarded an additional $25,000 scholarship from NYC's Music for Youth Foundation in support of his move from small-town suburban Texas to study music in the US's biggest city.
In New York, Marantz was exposed to the high level of creativity and technical precision that is the norm in the artistic mecca of the city, spurring him on to further hone his musical skills. Marantz began appearing alongside his musical peers at NYC venues as well as across the US and overseas at venues such as the Monterey Jazz Festival in California, the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, and the TIM Jazz Festival in Brazil.
Marantz was selected as one of the 2009-2011 Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz artist-diploma class members, studying improvisation and composition with Terence Blanchard for 2 years. While in attendance there, Marantz had the opportunity to study and perform with the likes of Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette, and Jason Moran.
In 2010 Marantz released a debut album, "Offering", which was received with critical warmth. "Offering" is a collection of Marantz's original compositions performed by his NY band including guitarist Steve Cardenas (Charlie Haden, Paul Motian) and pianist Sam Harris (Ambrose Akinmusire.)
2012 saw the release of a second recorded work, this time a joint collaborative effort between Marantz and his brother, pianist Luke Marantz, “The Primary Colors”. Luke, who resides in Boston, contributes half of the compositions for the “Primary Colors” album. The band, including vocalist Julia Easterlin, drummer Lee Fish, and guitarist Greg Duncan, forms a unique blend of the harmonies and inflections of songwriter music & rock with the improvisational openness of jazz. Together Matt and Luke led the Primary Colors Band on a CD release tour of the northern Texas area during summer 2012, where the band performed for hundreds of concert-goers at several of north Texas’s finest venues.
Matt Marantz, currently residing in the NYC metro area, continues to teach and perform as a sideman and a leader, including appearances in the bands of drummer Peter Kronreif, trumpeter Jason Palmer, drummer Lee Fish, pianist Florian Hoefner, guitarist Davy Mooney, and trumpeter Evan Weiss. Marantz continues to lead his own groups at venues in NYC, as well as continuing to collaborate with his brother Luke and the Primary Colors Band as they perform in NYC, Boston, and across the US.
Matt web page: http://www.mattmarantz.com/
ALEX GOODMAN (Guitar), New York
"Without question, one of the most gifted guitarist of his generation"
- Tim Ries, Rolling Stones, Saxophonist
Hailed as "the next big thing in the jazz world" (CityTV News), "a definite musical voice" (Guitar International), "sophisticated and accomplished" (The Toronto Star), as well as "genius" (La Presse, Montreal), guitarist and composer Alex Goodman has established himself as a major force in the music community. He has released four albums as a leader, including "Bridges," which was nominated for a JUNO award (Canadian Grammy) for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year. Alex has toured extensively and has performed at such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Massey Hall in Toronto and ABC Studios in New York City. He has played and/or recorded with international jazz stars such as Dick Oatts, Tim Ries, Rich Perry, Garry Dial, John Riley and Ron Westray as well as with the New York Ballet on guitar and the American Repertory Ballet on mandolin. Alex is a graduate of the Masters program at the Manhattan School of Music and currently lives in New York working
as a freelance musician. Offical web page: www.alexgoodman.ca/live/
DIMITAR DIMITROV (Drums) ,
New York
For the past 20 years, Dimitar Dimitrov has been one of the first-class European jazz drummers.
Having been involved in various projects in Europe and the USA, his passionate swing has provided support and inspiration to some of the world’s contemporary jazz legends. He has collaborated with some of the greatest artists of our time, including Randy Brecker, Michel Legrand, Eli Degibri, Mark Small, and many others. More info on: http://mitkodrums.com/index.html, 347-493-7978, dimjazz@abv.bg,
www.mitkodrums.com, www.lushlife.eu
GEORGI GEORGIEV (Bass), Boston
Georgi is a acoustic and electric bass jazz music player who began his artistic perform with legendary Bulgarian musicians " Iordan Kapitanov Quartet " , " Ludmil Georgiev Klarinet Band " , " Orchestra Sofia " , Simeon Venkov Trio + X and Raicho Ivanov Group. At an early age he was invited to join musician like Larry Basket,Ronald Crooty in Jazz festivals in Europe(1985 y.) He is Associate Professor of bass guitar and history of jazz music in the Bulgarian Academy of Music from 1986-1996 y. Georgi has Doctorate in the United States , and he studied jazz improvisation with musicians such as Bruce Grutz ,Hall Crook and Ron Carter. Georgi is also a recognized poet and philosopher and he published a books - "How to play walking bass" and " The mind hero".In USA after 1996 Georgi played with Dave Mish , Gallen Abdur Razzaq , "At home project jazz band " and more.
LUKE MARANTZ (Piano),
Boston
Luke Marantz is a Boston based pianist and composer from Texas. Born to a musical family, his studies began at a very early age with piano, voice, saxophone and visual art. A graduate of the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Marantz was awarded multiple national jazz awards during his time there including seventeen DownBeat Student Music Awards.
Luke currently is teaching jazz piano at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he studies with Fred Hersch, Jason Moran, Frank Carlberg and Jerry Bergonzi. He is a member of the Boston-based band "Ro Sham Beaux" and various other groups in the Boston area including leading his own trio "Coalescetrio".
During his career, Luke has played with Christian McBride, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Tierney Sutton, Ingrid Jenson and Antonio Hart. He has performed across the country and in Canada at such venues as the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, New England's Jordan Hall, the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, the Vail Jazz Festival, the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Canada, the Jazz Educators Network Conference in New Orleans, the Boston Jazz Week Festival and many more.
More about Luke see on: http://aydm.com/staff-gallery-piano.php
DIMITAR DIMITROV&
GEORGI GEORGIEV Jazz Project Quintet
At 1987 the musicians D.Dimitrov -Drums and Georgi Georgiev- Bass founded the "Lira Jazz Project Quintet "and started to play compositions of John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock at Bulgarian Music Academy. They have performed at Jazz festivals in Europe and Russia for the next several years. After 1996 both come to the USA, Georgi in Boston and Dimitar at New York.
In the USA they met and play jazz with Dave Mish, Matt Marantz , Galen Abdul Hazik , Michael Mc Cole , Alex Goodman , Randy Becker , Bruse Gurtz and other.
As a performers have made CD's as " The mini Hippo " , " At Home Project " , "New York met Bulgaria " , " Who is the Bostonian " and other.
DD and GG jazz project includes Matt Marantz – Sax, Luke Marantz- Piano and Alex Goodman - Guitar. They will play in Boston on June 29, 2014 , 11.00 am at Sabur Restaurant, Somerville, MA. In the program are standard jazz compositions and own music.
Matt Marantz Quartet - "The Journey's Path"
Alex Goodman and Brent Mah on Global Morning News August 1st, 2009
Dimiter Dimitrov - Performing with trumpet player Randy Brecker
"On Green Dolphin Street", 2009
Alex Goodman guitar solo on Spider Treaty - Montreal Jazz Festival 2011
Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm No. 1 performed by the Alex Goodman Quintet
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