Press release

May 7, 2008

Exodus To Jazz proudly presents Bobby Watson and the Live & Learn Sextet on Friday, May 16, 2008 at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. Bobby Watson will be accompanied by band mates Harold O’Neal (piano), Warren Wolf (vibes), Philip Dizack (trumpet), Curtis Lundy (bass), and Quincy Davis (drums).

Artist Highlights:

Bobby Watson recalls the words of Art Blakey- “If you don’t think you’re a serious player, nobody else will”. “After leaving the late master drummer’s Jazz Messengers, an unequaled incubator of nascent jazz talent for nearly four decades, Watson has earned respect within the jazz world as a sideman, a bandleader, and, most of all, a clear-headed, influential figure in the modern mainstream of jazz. He is, in his own quiet, modest way, a ‘serious player’ ”. - Bob Bernotas, Jazz journalist-historian

With his solid foundation as a graduate of the “University of Blakey”, Bobby Watson consistently tops the critics’ music polls. Commanding every style of music from free jazz to hard bop to swing, Watson is critically acclaimed as one of the finest artists of his generation.

Philip Dizack was inspired to play the trumpet by the playing of Miles Davis, Nicholas Payton, Lee Morgan and Louis Armstrong. He has performed and recorded with David Liebman, Roy Haynes, Jason Moran, Eddie Palmieri, Robert Glasper, Terrell Stafford, Ingred Jensen, Willie Jones III, Brian Lynch, Sean Conly, John Riley, Marcus Gilmore, Aaron Goldberg, and many more.

Quincy Davis returns to the Exodus To Jazz series following his December 2007 accompaniment of Denise Thimes. A regular member of the Live & Learn Sextet, Quincy continues to perform with other great musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Frank Wess, Russell Malone, Eric Reed, Cyrus Chestnut, Stefon Harris, Roy Hargrove, Paula West, Nicholas Payton and Regina Carter.

Harold O’Neal began touring with Bobby Watson in 2001, firmly establishing himself in the New York and Los Angeles jazz scenes. He has performed with many jazz greats including Elvin Jones, Bob Hurst, Kenny Garrett, Nicholas Payton, Carl Allen, Rodney Whitaker, Victor Lewis, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby, Curtis & Carmen Lundy.

Warren Wolf toured with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at nine years of age, wrote his first tune at 10, and was hired for professional jazz gigs beginning at the age of 12. At the Berklee School of Music he studied with vibraphonist and faculty member Dave Samuels whose tutelage established the foundation for performances with jazz greats including Roy Haynes, Lewis Nash, and Milt Jackson.

Curtis Lundy catapulted into renown when Betty Carter selected him as her trio’s bassist in 1979; soon afterwards he encountered Bobby Watson when they formed a partnership that continues to this day. Curtis' immersion in the New York scene yielded rewarding associations with such masters as Art Blakey, Johnny Griffin, Freddy Hubbard, Pharoah Sanders, John Hicks and sister, jazz vocalist Carmen Lundy.

Shows are 7 & 9 PM - Riverview Ballroom, The Clarion Hotel Riverside, 120 E. Main St., Roch., NY, 14604

Tickets are $ 20.00 (student tickets are $ 10.00 with a current ID) and can be reserved and/or paid for at:

TicketWeb.com, search “Bobby Watson” or “Exodus To Jazz”
ExodusToJazz@aol.com with an e-mail reservation request (email confirmations will be returned)
At the door, the night of the show.

All tickets are available for pick-up at the Will Call desk beginning at 6:00 PM on the night of the show.

For more information visit: ExodusToJazz.com or call (585) 733-7685

# # #