Jeff Tain Watts

在每一張Wynton Marsalis和Branford Marsalis獲得格萊美獎的專輯中，打鼓的都是Jeff “Tain” Watts。
作為當今世界最炙手可熱的鼓手之一，Watts最早在美國匹茲堡的杜肯大學(xué)（Duquesne University）學(xué)習(xí)古典打擊樂。直到后來在伯克利音樂學(xué)院學(xué)習(xí)期間，Watts才開始跟隨眾多爵士名家學(xué)習(xí)爵士演奏，其中有Kevin Eubanks, Greg Osby, Aimee Mann, Steve Vai and Marvin "Smitty" Smith。有趣的是，現(xiàn)在和Jeff長期合作的Branford Marsalis，當時也給過這位現(xiàn)在已相當成熟的鼓手不少指導(dǎo)。
1981年，Watts加入了Wynton Marsalis四重奏，緊接著就和樂隊一起獲得3次格萊美獎。1988年，Watts離開了樂隊，之后合作的也都是爵士樂壇響當當?shù)娜宋铮℅eorge Benson, Harry Connick Jr.和McCoy Tyner等等。1年后，他成了Wynton的弟弟，Branford Marsalis的四重奏的一員。和這一樂隊一起，Watts又收獲了兩座格萊美的獎杯。
除了擁有火山爆發(fā)般的力度，令人眼花繚亂的速度和精妙復(fù)雜的節(jié)奏，Watts的演奏中還無時不滲透著優(yōu)雅隨性的律動和恬然出世的沉著。Watts演奏中高超的藝術(shù)性，源于他無與倫比的技術(shù)，無所不在的律動感，和將優(yōu)雅的魅力巧妙融合在速度激情中的能力。Watts可謂真正的爵士創(chuàng)新者，從他在當今爵士樂壇出道以來，Watts從未讓喜愛爵士鼓演奏的樂迷有過半分失望。
Jeff “Tain” Watts獲獎列表：
1986年
作為Wynton Marsalis樂隊鼓手
Wynton Marsalis專輯《Black Codes from the Underground》
1987年
作為Wynton Marsalis樂隊鼓手
Wynton Marsalis專輯《J Mood》
1988年
Wynton Marsalis樂隊鼓手
Wynton Marsalis專輯《Marsalis Standard Time – Volume I》
1993年
Branford Marsalis樂隊鼓手
Branford Marsalis專輯《I Heard You Twice the First Time》
2001年
Branford Marsalis四重奏鼓手
Branford Marsalis專輯《Contemporary Jazz》
VOTED BEST DRUMMER, MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE, 1988 & 1993
1988年和1993年，被《現(xiàn)代鼓手》（Modern Drummer）雜志評為“最佳鼓手”
Jeff “Tain” Watts holds the unique distinction of being the only drummer to appear on every Grammy Award winning jazz record by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis.
One of the most in demand jazz drummers in the world today, Jeff initially majored in classical percussion at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist, followed by enrollment at the Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies alongside such talented players as Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Greg Osby, Aimee Mann, Steve Vai and Marvin "Smitty" Smith.
Jeff joined the Wynton Marsalis Quartet in 1981 and proceeded to win three Grammy Awards with the ensemble. Watts left Wynton Marsalis in 1988. After working with George Benson, Harry Connick. Jr. and McCoy Tyner, he joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989.
Along with explosive power, blinding speed and mastery of complex rhythms and time signatures, Watts brings a rare sense of elegance, tried-by-fire composure, and a gritty street funk to his music. His artistic ingenuity expresses itself in his incomparable technique, sweltering sense of swing, and an extraordinary ability to imbue his music with majestic grace and elegant repose. A true jazz innovator, Watts never fails to deliver the percussive magic that has been his trademark since his emergence on the contemporary jazz scene.
*Grammy Awards of 1986
Wynton Marsalis for Black Codes from the Underground performed by the Wynton Marsalis Group
*Grammy Awards of 1987
Wynton Marsalis for J Mood performed by the Wynton Marsalis Group
*Grammy Awards of 1988
Wynton Marsalis for Marsalis Standard Time - Volume I performed by the Wynton Marsalis Group
*Grammy Awards of 1993
Branford Marsalis for I Heard You Twice the First Time performed by the Branford Marsalis Group
*Grammy Awards of 2001
Branford Marsalis for Contemporary Jazz performed by the Branford Marsalis Quartet
VOTED BEST DRUMMER, MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE, 1988 & 1993
Branford Marsalis
1960年8月26日，Branford Marsalis出生在美國最著名的音樂世家。他的父親Ellis是頗有名氣的爵士鋼琴手，而他的兄弟中包括大名鼎鼎的爵士小號手Wynton Marsalis。Branford是當今世界的薩克斯大腕之一，他所領(lǐng)銜或參與的樂隊也都蜚聲世界爵士樂壇。同時，Branford也在其他領(lǐng)域頗有建樹：1985年時，他作為演奏樂隊成員之一，和英國搖滾巨星Sting合作錄制了專輯《The Dream of the Blue Turtles》。1992年，Branford領(lǐng)銜的樂隊在Jay Leno的節(jié)目《The Tonight Show》中大放異彩。盡管有些爵士評論認為Branford不像他的兄弟Wynton Marsalis那樣堅守正統(tǒng)爵士的傳統(tǒng)，但3座格萊美金杯和8次提名，也無疑肯定了他的音樂才華。
職業(yè)生涯：
作為爵士薩克斯手：
1980 – 1981：鼓手Art Blakey的傳奇樂隊Jazz Messengers
1982 – 1985：Wynton Marsalis五重奏
1983：參加爵士鋼琴大師Herbie Hancock的V.S.O.P. II.樂隊巡演
1984：和Miles Davis在Decoy廠牌下錄制唱片
1984：成立Branford Marsalis四重奏，發(fā)行唱片《Scenes in the City》
1984： 和諸多音樂家合作，包括Miles Davis，Dizzy Gillespie，Tina Turner，Public Enemy，Neville Brothers等
1985 – 1989：與Sting合作錄制唱片并巡演
1986：發(fā)行專輯《Romances for Saxophone》，《Royal Garden Blues》
1989：組建全新樂隊并發(fā)行專輯《Trio Jeepy》
1991：專輯《The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born》
1992：《I Heard You Twice the First Time》，獲格萊美獎
1994：組建樂隊Buckshot LeFonque
1996：出版專輯《The Dark Keys》
1997：Buckshot LeFonque樂隊出版專輯《Music Evolution》
電影：
1987：出演《Throw Momma from the Train》
1988：《School Daze》
1992-94：擔任NBC電視臺《The Tonight Show》節(jié)目音樂總監(jiān)
2000年起：擔任美國密歇根州立大學(xué)和舊金山州立大學(xué)音樂教授
2002：成立Marsalis Music音樂廠牌
……
獎項：
1993：專輯《I Heard You Twice the First Time》獲格萊美獎“最佳器樂演奏獎”
1994：專輯《Barcelona Mona》獲格萊美獎“最佳流行器樂演奏獎”
2001：專輯《Contemporary Jazz》獲格萊美獎“最佳爵士器樂演奏專輯獎”
Grammy award winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis was born into one of America's most distinguished musical families， which includes his slightly-more-famous brother Wynton and slightly-less-famous father Ellis. Branford is best known as a jazz saxophonist and bandleader, but has also made a splash in other genres: in 1985 he joined a backing band for rock star Sting (recording the album The Dream of the Blue Turtles) and in 1992 he signed on as bandleader for Jay Leno's version of The Tonight Show. Branford has sometimes been criticized in jazz circles for not being a purist in the vein of his brother Wynton. Branford won Grammy awards for best jazz instrumental (1993) and best pop instrumental (1994).
Career
Jazz saxophonist. Member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, 1980-81; member of Wynton Marsalis quintet, 1982-85; toured with Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. II., 1983; recorded with Miles Davis on Decoy, 1984; formed own quartet, released Scenes in the City, 1984; performed with numerous artists, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Tina Turner, Public Enemy, and the Neville Brothers, 1984-; toured and recorded with Sting, 1985-89; released Romances for Saxophone and Royal Garden Blues, 1986; formed own group, released Trio Jeepy, 1989; The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, 1991; I Heard You Twice the First Time, 1992; formed Buckshot LeFonque, 1994; released The Dark Keys, 1996; Music Evolution with Buckshot LeFonque, 1997; appeared in films: Throw Momma From the Train, 1987; School Daze, 1988; musical director, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, NBC, 1992-94; professor of Music, Michigan State University, San Francisco State University, c. 2000-; launched Marsalis Music, 2002…
Awards
Grammy Award , Best Jazz Instrumental Performance by an Individual or Group for I Heard You Twice the First Time, 1993; Grammy Award, Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Barcelona Mona" with Bruce Horsby, 1994; Grammy Award, Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Contemporary Jazz, 2001.
http://www.branfordmarsalis.com/
http://www.myspace.com/branfordmarsalis
http://www.marsalismusic.com/
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=9095
Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard，美國著名的爵士小號手，樂隊領(lǐng)隊，作曲家，編曲家，金球獎提名的電影配樂作曲家。從1980年代在Lionel Hampton管弦樂隊中演奏并嶄露頭角，之后更是參加了Art Blakey的傳奇樂隊Jazz Messengers。Blanchard一直是爵士樂壇具有影響力和領(lǐng)袖作用的音樂家。是80年代爵士復(fù)興浪潮中不可或缺的人物。同時，在他30年來音樂生涯中，也和許多爵士精英一起錄制了多張獲獎專輯。
Terence Blanchard的演奏秉承硬波普（Hard Bop）的傳統(tǒng)。但他也開始在其中加入非洲音樂的影響。這讓他的小號演奏在同輩中出類拔萃。但為Blanchard贏得最高聲譽和最多聽眾的，確實他的電影配樂作品。在將近50部電影的配樂中能聽到Blanchard的小號演奏，其中不下40部的配樂由Blanchard本人創(chuàng)作。這些配樂作品也多次獲得艾美獎和金球獎的肯定。從2000年起，Terence Blanchard也成為Thelonious Monk爵士學(xué)院（Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz）的藝術(shù)總監(jiān)。
作為樂隊領(lǐng)隊和成員，Terence Blanchard共獲得5次格萊美獎和12次提名。最近他還獲得了2010年度爵士記者聯(lián)合會（Jazz Journalists Association）評選出的“年度最佳小號手”稱號。
Terence Oliver Blanchard (born March 13, 1962) is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and Golden Globe-nominated film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz. He was an integral figure in the 1980s jazz resurgence having recorded several award-winning albums and having performed with the jazz elite.
He is known as a straight-ahead artist in the hard bop tradition but has recently utilized an African-fusion style of playing that makes him unique from other trumpeters on the performance circuit. However, it is as a film composer that Blanchard reaches his widest audience. His trumpet can be heard on nearly fifty film scores; more than forty bear his unmistakable compositional style. Since 2000, Blanchard has served as Artistic Director at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.
Either as a group member or as a bandleader, Terence Blanchard has received 5 Grammy Awards, and was nominated for 12 times. Most lately Blanchard has won the JJA Jazz Awards (Jazz Journalists Association) 2010 for the “Trumpeter of the Year”.
http://www.terenceblanchard.com/
http://www.myspace.com/terenceblanchard
http://www.bluenote.com/ArtistMain.aspx?ArtistId=903213
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14864421
Robert Hurst
Robert Hurst的成名，與他和Wynton Marsalis和Branford Marsalis的合作息息相關(guān)。從1986 – 1991年，Hurst是Wynton Marsalis樂團的貝司手，而在90年代初期，Hurst更是長期和Branford Marsalis合作。1993，Hurst率領(lǐng)自己的樂隊發(fā)行專輯《Robert Hurst Presents》。專輯登上公告牌爵士專輯榜第13名位置。
從開始演奏吉他，到最終成為70年代底特律爵士界最重要的爵士貝司手之一。Hurst和諸多大牌爵士樂手有廣泛合作，其中包括Tony Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Harry Connick Jr., Geri Allen, Russell Malone和Steve Coleman，近年來他也和一些跨界音樂家合作，其中包括歌手Sting、Barbra Streisand和小號手Chris Botti。現(xiàn)在Hurst也在美國密歇根大學(xué)教授爵士貝司演奏。
Robert Hurst came to fame for his work with Wynton and Branford Marsalis. From 1986 to 1991 Hurst played in Wynton Marsalis's ensemble, and played with Branford Marsalis in the early 1990s. His debut as a leader, 1993's Robert Hurst Presents, reached #13 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.
Hurst was originally a guitarist, but instead became an important bassist in the Detroit jazz scene of the late '70s. He recorded with Out of the Blue (1985), and went on to record with Tony Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Harry Connick, Jr., Geri Allen, Russell Malone, and Steve Coleman, among others. His bass playing can also be heard on the records of musicians like Sting, Barbra Streisand and Chris Botti. Hurst is currently teaching jazz bass at the University of Michigan.
http://www.roberthurst.com/