Jamey Haddad In the spirit of the Jazz tradition, Haddad and his band combine the values discovered through a life of travels and serving the international musical community. Featuring Jamey Haddad, Billy Drewes, Roberto Occhipinti, Sullivan Fortner.

Born in Cleveland, OH, fresh off a U.S. tour performing with Sting & Paul Simon, percussionist/drummer Jamey Haddad holds a unique position in the world of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Haddad’s musical voice transcends styles and trends, and the universal quality of his playing has attracted many international collaborations.
 
Haddad was voted the top world Percussionist in “DRUM Magazine” and one of the top 4 world-percussionists by “Modern Drummer” ( 2015 – 2014 – 2007). Haddad is currently a professor at The Oberlin Conservatory and The Cleveland Institute of Music, previously 18 years at the Berklee School of Music.
 
Mr. Haddad collaborates regularly with Joe Lovano, Sting, Paul Simon, Esperanza Spalding, Elliot Goldenthal, Assad Brothers, Simon Shaheen, Steve Shehan, Paul Winter Consort, Nancy Wilson and Dave Liebman.
 
Jamey has been awarded Fulbright Fellowship. For more information, visit jameyhaddad.com.
 
Join us for this very special performance at BLU Jazz+ featuring some of the best jazz talent in the world, featuring Jamey Haddad (drums/percussion), Roberto Occhipinti (acoustic bass), Sullivan Fortner (piano), and Billy Drewes (reeds).
 

About Billy Drewes

Billy Drewes has been creating music, composing, performing and recording since the mid 1970’s. His main instruments include soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, clarinets, flutes, drums, percussion and piano. Featured on over 150 CD’s, with performance credits worldwide, he continually searches out new avenues for creative expression.
 
He shares the stage with Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian and Toninho Horta at venues from Egypt to Cuba, Israel to Africa, New York’s Carnegie Hall to Albert Royal Hall in London.
 
In addition to his love of performing, he takes great interest in the education of college and high school students. Teaching music as a total art form, Billy participates in clinics and seminars around the world with the goal of extracting from gifted students their hidden talents for musical improvisation and composition.
 
It was clear from the early growth of this artists musical career that his serious commitment to music would be manifested in the form of improvisation, in both performance and compositional worlds. His creative imagery has been part of many concerts, recordings and multimedia projects throughout his career.
 
Billy Drewes was born in New York in 1952. After a wonderful period of development in his early years, he moved to Boston in 1970 where he earned his degree from Berklee College of Music and where new areas of musical possibilities were defined. His intense involvement with many different avenues of music molded him into the creative artist he is today. While in Boston he worked with Tony Bennett, The Boston Symphony and Gary Burton. He also lead a number of his own bands.
 
A big move back to New York City in 1975 propelled him into new musical acquaintances such as Kenny Werner, John Scofield and Joe Lovano. Upon arriving in New York, he immediately joined the bands of Lionel Hampton and Eddie Palmieri as well as other serious leaders. Soon after, he toured with Woody Herman doing concerts and clinics.
 
The creative energy of the late 70’s was great for Billy and his wide circle of musical friends. This explosion of new ideas extended into the 80’s at which time Billy joined Paul Motian’s band. This band included Joe Lovano and Bill Frisell and toured Europe and the US, and recorded an album “PSALM” for ECM records. This period lead to a musical relationship with Lyle Mays (of Pat Metheny’s Band) with whom Billy performed concerts and recorded albums. New and exciting projects were now becoming part of a daily groove for Billy. The eclectic range of work kept things fresh and uplifting.
 
Billy became involved with Brazilian and Indian Music, performed and recorded for dance troupes; Nikolais Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. In 1990 he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Billy wove classical music into a wide body of music that he composed and performed. He continued recording and touring with artists Herbie Hancock, Bill Frisell, Eddie Gomez, Randy Brecker, John Scofield, Toninho Horta, John Abercrombie, Fred Hersch and Peter Erskine.
 

About Roberto Occhipinti

Born in Toronto, Bassist Roberto Occhipinti is a well established presence on the Canadian and International Jazz scene. A 5 time Juno award winning musician, he is equally at home playing classical music as well as jazz and world music.
 
In addition to leading his own groups with 4 with discs under his name, he has performed, toured and recorded with Jane Bunnett, Hilario Duran, Jamey Haddad, Jovino Santos Neto, Don Byron, Jeff Coffin, Uri Caine, Bob Mintzer, Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani and Dafnis Prieto. An award winning producer, recent projects include recordings for Dafnis Prieto, Michael Occhipinti-Sicilian Jazz Project , Hilario Duran, The Gryphon Trio, David Buchbinder’s Odessa/Havana project.
 
For more info, visit www.robertoocchipinti.com.
 

About Sullivan Fortner

Sullivan Joseph Fortner Jr. is a native New Orleanian who has already made a significant foray into the jazz world that belies his young age. While touring with Stefon Harris & Blackout, Christian Scott Quintet, and the Roy Hargrove Quintet, Sullivan completed his Master’s degree in Jazz Performance at Manhattan School of Music under the tutorage of Jason Moran, and Phil Markowitz.
 
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Sullivan began playing music by ear at the age of seven. Two years later, he was playing for church choirs throughout New Orleans. By the time he was 11 years old, Sullivan had won a Cox Cable “Amazing Kids Award”. At the age of 13, Sullivan furthered his formal education in piano by attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and earned scholarships to several prestigious summer jazz programs, including the Vail Jazz Institute and the Skidmore Jazz Studies Summer Program. A standout on the stage and in the classroom, Sullivan was Valedictorian of his high school class while simultaneously graduating from NOCCA.
 
He has studied and performed with many great musicians, including The Marsalis Family, Donald Harrison, Nicholas Payton, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Marcus Belgrave, The Jordan Family, Irvin Mayfield, Peter Martin, Dave Liebman, and a host of others.

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