Kathy Salem, Managing Director
330.328.7337 kathy@nightisalive.com
The Music of Max Roach/Clifford Brown
Night Is Alive manages some of the most intriguing and inventive musicians of our time.
They are internationally known, respected and honored.
Dezron Douglas, Bass
Known for his musical versatility, bassist Dezron Douglas is one of the most in demand young jazz artists in jazz today. Composer, bandleader, sideman and educator, Dezron has established himself as a musician’s musician, respected not only for his talent but also for his dedication to the authenticity of the music. As a teacher, he encourages his students to embody their harmony and to never stop trying new styles or methods with what music they create. Dezron has taught at both The Artist collective in Hartford and Martocchio Music in Simsbury.
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Jeremy Pelt, Trumpet
Jeremy Pelt has become one of the preeminent young trumpeters within the world of jazz. He has continually built upon relationships within the jazz industry, which have eventually lead to collaborations with some of the genre's greatest masters such as Ravi Coltrane, Frank Foster, and Jimmy Heath. Numerous recordings and performances have earned him critical acclaim, both nationally and internationally. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal by legendary jazz writer and producer, Nat Hentoff, and was voted Rising Star on the trumpet, five years in a row by Downbeat Magazine and the Jazz Journalist Association.
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Stacy Dillard, Tenor Saxophone
To sum it all up, Stacy Dillard is a perfect example of the fusing of tradition and innovation, the combination which keeps EVERYTHING fresh, exciting, energetic, and more importantly, real. He isn't afraid to break the status quo; in fact, he enjoys it. Stacy has caught the attention of many with his large and rich tone, leading to a number of work opportunities with artists such as Russell Malone, the Mingus Big Band, and John Hicks. The New York Times said it best about Stacy Dillard by describing him as “A young saxophonist of serious promise."
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Eric Reed, Piano
Through more than a quarter-century as a first-caller on the jazz scene, Reed has articulated this inclusive conception as a leader of numerous ensembles, solo performer, composer, producer, educator and sideman with numerous artists. Whatever the context, whatever the style, he consistently animates the flow with fresh ideas, virtuosic chops, intellectual clarity and an unwavering will to groove.
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Willie Jones III, Drums
Ever since 1997, when he moved to New York City from Los Angeles, his hometown, Willie Jones III has been one of the jazz capital’s most prominent drummers. Whether functioning as a savvy bandleader or high-profile sideman, Jones applies to every context an abiding musicality and a tonal personality that, as Wynton Marsalis puts it, is “ever tasteful,” marked by what pianist Eric Reed, his frequent collaborator, calls “a West Coast swagger in his swing, with a looseness that isn’t lackadaisical and an edge that isn’t overwhelming.”
“I still follow Billy Higgins’ model,” Jones says. “I’m always trying to support whoever I’m working with to make the music sound as good as possible. I have a good balance. I’ll continue to evolve as a leader, but I’ll always play as a sideman—I still love learning and playing other people’s music.”
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