MONK'estra, a big modern jazz band, celebrates Monk and other classic compositions, with a contemporary twist incorporating Afro-Cuban rhythms, modern jazz playing, hip hop and traditional big band instrumentation, along with originals by Beasley.
Musicians:
SAX: Bob Sheppard, Jeff Driskill, Justo Almario, Tom Luer, Tommy Peterson
TRUMPET: Bijon Watson, Willie Murillo, Ray Monterio, Brian Swartz, Gabe Johnson
TROMBONE: Francisco Torres, Wendell Kelly, Steve Hughes, Ryan Dragon
BASS: Rickey Minor, DRUMS: Gary Novak, KEYBOARDS/MELODICA: John Beasley
Additional musicians: Dwight Trible, Nayanna Holley, Andy Martin, Tony Austin, Jamie Hovorka, Rashawn Ross, Bob Carr, Paul Young
REVIEWS of concert performances:
International Review of Music: John Beasley MONK-estra Upstairs at Vitello's
By Don Heckman
Beasley's envelope-stretching arrangements, his extraordinary orchestrating abilities, imaginative soloing from players: a net result of some of the most mesmerizing big band music -individually and collectively- of recent memory.
bit.ly/15rGb6t
EXAMINER.com by Cynthia Lum
Five Stars: John Beasley,Monk'estra Big Band Vitellos Restaurant
Spectacular! The ultra-hip, ultra-cool, ultra-swinging John Beasley's MONK'estra rocked the house at Vitellos.' Supersize figure in the jazz music world, Beasley led a dazzling assemblage of players
bit.ly/Vr7hc2
Sounds of Timeless Jazz, By Paula Edelstein
Monk'estra: A Fitting Tribute to a Jazz Genius
Beasley is a real genius. His imaginative, modern arrangements are artistic charts colored outside the lines of traditional big band music arrangements.
bit.ly/14hF2vM
--All About Jazz
John Beasley is one of the best pianists and improvisers on the jazz scene today.
He is a master musician, with total command of the jazz language,
and his playing is always intense in both emotion and technique.
www.johnbeasleymusic.com
/ johnbeasleymusicfans
Future: Looking to record MONK'estra and finding opportunities to bring the big band to venues around the world, but as this is an expensive venture, then opportunities for John Beasley to conduct established big bands. contact: lorna [at] johnbeasleymusic.com.