Saturday evening November 19th at 7:00pm vocalist Anna Mjoll/Tom Ranier Quartet will perform at Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis’ Jazz for Jazz Lovers Series. Tickets are $25.00 students and active military are free. Location is 73-741 Hwy 111 in Palm Desert, CA. Phone (760)568-3263 Website www.petecarlsonsgolf.com Non-profit proceeds support music education for young musicians in the Coachella Valley. Vocalist Anna Mjoll will be accompanied by Tom Ranier on piano, Chuck Berghofer on bass, and Ray Brinker on drums.
Jazz singer Anna Mjoll, native of Iceland, has performed with Julio Iglesias and co-wrote and performed three songs with CJ Vanston in the film “For Your Consideration”. Anna has recorded two C.D.’s, “The Shadow of Your Smile” and “Christmas Jazz Mazz”. Anna’s sweet voice is light and jazzy, and her stage presence brings out a humorous touch as she likes to interact in dialogue with her audience. Her style is quite distinct and highly personal, and all her own. Mjoll’s appeal and melodic style evokes resemblances to Peggy Lee, Astrud Gilberto, Julie London, Blossom Dearie, and Madeline Peyroux. Anna interprets the Great American Song Book with the best of todays’ jazz singers in a very entertaining live performance.
Multi-instrumentalist Tom Ranier has played piano and multiple woodwinds as a leader and sideman on over 150 recordings since the mid 1970’s. Tom has four recordings as a leader and has been prominent in film, TV, and the music recording industry for over 40 years. Ranier has played and written music for the Grammy, Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe shows. Tom has won awards for artists that include Barbara Streisand, Michael Finestein, Christina Aguilera, Joe Pass, Placido Domingo, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, and others. Tom’s style as a pianist and jazz artist mixes Bud Powell’s complexity, Oscar Peterson’s ardent swing, and Bill Evans exploratory harmonies. Ranier lists Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker as his main influences. Tom has played with 100’s of great music artists, and enjoys projecting his thoughts and feelings deep from within when improvising in live performances. Ranier has done studio work for many TV and movie soundtracks, and has worked extensively for Disney and CBS. Tom takes pride and enjoys studio work that he feels keep him fresh and a better musician because different projects and composers broaden his scope. Ranier has taught jazz composition at Fullerton College and has contributed to several successful school recordings. Tom has taught in the jazz program at UCLA under guitarist Kenny Burrell. Ranier has authored a jazz education book titled “Piano in the Rhythm Section”.
Bassist Chuck Berghofer has a distinguished career as a jazz player, studio musician, and work in TV and films. He is known for his huge rich tone, and sense of relaxed power on the bass. Chuck has worked at the famous Shelly’s Manne Hole, and Donte’s Jazz Club as a house musician for many years. Berghofer’s bass influences include Leroy Vinegar, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Scott Lafaro, and Red Mitchell. Chuck has played with the Skinny Ennis Orchestra, Bobby Troup, Pete Jolly’s Trio, and most of the best west coast jazz players since the 1960’s. He has worked with names like Zoot Sims, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, The Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughn, Merle Haggard, Glenn Campbell, Seth McFarland, and a long list of others. Chuck has worked on over 400 film soundtracks, and won the National Academy of Recording Art & Sciences Award as the Most Valuable Bass Player 4 years in a row.
Drummer Ray Brinker, graduate of North Texas State University, and a member of the 1 o’clock Jazz Lab Band, Ray started out with the Maynard Ferguson Band. Brinker’s longest stint is playing for over 20 years with the Tierney Sutton Band, for whom he has co-arranged and recorded 9 CD’s. The band has been nominated 4 years in a row for a Grammy as Best Jazz Vocal Album. Brinker has performed or recorded with over 40 diverse jazz and music greats, and has played on a dozen TV/film soundtracks.
Saturday November 19th at 7:00pm the Anna Mjoll/Tom Ranier Quartet, four world-class musicians performing at Pete Carlsons’ Jazz for Jazz Lovers. Don’t miss it!!!!
