ELLINGTON JAZZ SERIES
CONSERVATORY WITHOUT WALLS MAY 13, 2016 Antoine Roney Trio Antoine Roney, saxophone Rashaan Carter, bass Kojo Odu Roney, drums
WILLIE RUFF / ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Friday at 7:30 pm Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall
Robert Blocker, Dean
CONSERVATORY WITHOUT WALLS
Conservatory Without Walls is a documentary originally created by WTIC Hartford about the eponymous event that Willie Ruff organized at Yale in 1972. That convocation of forty African American musical luminaries directly led to the founding of the Ellington Jazz Series. The 40-minute video, preserved by the Yale Film Study Center, includes interviews with figures such as Dizzy Gillespie and archival material of Duke Ellington — including clips of Willie Ruff playing bass with Ellington at the piano. intermission
Pictured: Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Willie Ruff
ANTOINE RONEY TRIO
Antoine Roney, saxophone Antoine Roney was born in Philadelphia, PA. His grandfather, Roosevelt Sherman, played guitar, tuba, and trumpet in the Frankie Fairfax Band in the 1930s. Growing up, he was surrounded by jazz music, and was influenced by the music of Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Willy Bobo, and Mongo Santamaria at an early age. His first professional gig was with his brother Wallace Roney at age of 13. He attended the Hartt School of Music, where he studied with the late, great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, while simultaneously touring with Donald Byrd and the 125th Street Band. In 1984-86, Antoine worked with Jackie McLean’s sextet, Clifford Jordan’s big band, and Big John Patton’s organ quartet in the historically-known Harlem neighborhood. In 1988-89, he toured throughout Europe with Rashied Ali and recorded with Ali In France. Roney also collaborated with Arthur Taylor (one of the most important jazz drummers of the 1950s) as a member of “Taylor’s Wailers.” Roney recorded his debut album in 1991 as a leader, The Traveler. Roney co-led the ensemble Grand Central with Ravi Coltrane, recording the album Sax Storm and touring the US in 1992. In 1993, Roney toured Japan with Japanese pianist Masabumi Kikuchi, and in 1994 he toured Macau and China with the Michael Carvin Quintet. In 2005, Roney joined forces with Mark Johnson, Darryl Hall, Dave McMurray, and the celebrated pianist Geri Allen for the group Timeline, touring Europe.
Rashaan Carter, bass Rashaan Carter grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. It was there, with the nurturing of his father, a saxophonist, and his mother, a jazz radio programmer, that Rashaan forged an interest in music. After stints with various instruments, the bass became the voice for his musical expression. Rashaan worked and gained experience in the local scene in Washington, D.C., and after high school, moved to New York City to attend the New School University. At the New School, Rashaan studied with Buster Williams and Reggie Workman. While attending the New School he also began to work with many of the faculty, including Joe Chambers and Jimmy Owens, among others. Since moving to New York, Rashaan has become entrenched in the jazz scene and has worked with Benny Golson, Curtis Fuller and Louis Hayes, Wallace Roney, Marc Cary, Cindy Blackman, Doug and Jean Carn, Antoine Roney, Sonny Simmons, and many more. He also studied with one of his prime influences, Ron Carter. Rashaan regularly performs with a myriad of artists in and outside of New York, and can be found on various recordings as well. Kojo Odu Roney, drums Kojo Odu Roney was born June 28th, 2004, and he loved the drums, even as a baby. His mother, Nia Love, used to bring him to the dance classes she taught at Smith College, which normally included African drumming, and Kojo would always sit next to the drummers as they played. From the time he was a baby, Kojo was surrounded by jazz music by his father, Antoine Roney. Kojo always
loved listening to Tony Williams and Philly Joe Jones while riding in the back seat of his parents’ car, and would have a blast trying to play along with chopsticks he always kept as his “drumsticks.” When Antoine took notice of Kojo’s interest and love for drumming, he bought Kojo a junior drum set at the age of 2 years old. Even at such a young age, Kojo understood how to play the drum set in a jazz setting. By 4 years old, he was able to play with jazz ensembles confidently. Practicing daily helped Kojo match his understanding of rhythm and apply it to the drum set. By the age of 8 years old, he went on his first tour in Europe, which was the start of his professional music encounters. His travels included France, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece. He also visited other countries including Serbia, Germany, Austria, and Poland. Kojo shares the stage and performs with many professional musicians, including his uncle Wallace Roney, Buster Williams, Darrell Green, Billy “Spaceman” Patterson, Rashaan Carter, Brandee Younger, Saadi Zain, Emanuel Ruffler, and his father Antoine Roney. He also performs special performances with his mother, choreographer/dancer Nia Love. Some of the great highlights of Kojo’s experience so far were having the chance to sit in with the incredible Lenny White, the great Al Foster, and legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, while great jazz drummers Louis Hayes and Grady Tate were in the audience; and also having the chance to become friends with the great Jimmy Cobb.
ELLINGTON JAZZ SERIES PATRONS
Thank you for your continued support of our music programs.
paul hindemith circle $250 to $599 Jeffrey & Barbara Jones gustave j. stoeckel Circle $25 to $49 Elsa Stone & Richard Granger Francis Lobo
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SAVE THE DATE! ELLINGTON JAZZ SERIES 2016–17 WILLIE RUFF ARTISTIC DIRECTOR · MUSIC.YALE.EDU SAMPLERS ON SALE AUG 1 · TICKETS ON SALE SEP 1
SAVION GLOVER * SEP 30 THE LANGSTON HUGHES PROJECT * OCT 28 VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS FEB 2 KEPLER & HINDEMITH: WILLIE RUFF & MEG URRY
MAR 3
* MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BEINECKE LIBRARY
UPCOMING EVENTS Commencement Concert may 22 YSM Special Events Morse Recital Hall | Sunday | 4 pm Featuring selected performers from the Yale School of Music’s graduating class Free admission
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