Wednesday, February 19, The Houston Person Quartet, live in concert, 7:00PM, Tickets – $35. Soulful tenor saxophonist, Houston Person, will lead a talented quartet that includes Grammy award winning pianist, Bill Cunliffe, long time bassist, Richard Simon, and quick handed drummer, Clayton Cameron. Known for his full tone and rock solid playing of blues and ballads, saxophonist Houston Person will perform from the vast selection of great jazz and blues standards, and The Great American Songbook.
Pianist Bill Cunliffe is a multi-talented leader of many jazz ensembles, bassist Richard Simon is a L.A. mainstay performer and educator, and drummer Clayton Cameron is an exceptional player, teacher, and master of the sticks and brushes.
Saxophonist Houston Person has been a performer, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer since the 1960’s. Houston has played or recorded with Don Ellis, Eddie Harris, Cedar Walton, Leo Wright, Etta Jones, Johnny Hammond Smith, Charles Brown, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Charles Earland, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls, Janis Siegel, Horace Silver, Dakota Staton, Billy Butler, Don Patterson, Grant Green, Sonny Phillips, Lanny Morgan, Ran Blake, Les McCann, Roger Kellaway, Leon Thomas, Richard Groove Holmes, Ernie Andrews, Gene Ammons, Joey De Francesco, Tiny Grimes, Peter Hand, Johnny Lytle, Randy Johnson, Jimmy Ponder, Charles Kynard, Bernard Purdie, Shirley Scott, Melvin Spark, Warren Vache, Paul Brown and many others. Houston has recorded over 70 albums as a leader, appeared on over 60 recordings as a sideman. and has nearly 950 music credits.
Houston received The Eubie Blake Award in 1982, and was inducted into the South Carolina State College Hall Of Fame in 1999.
Grammy award winning pianist, arranger, and educator, Bill Cunliffe has worked with Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Benny Golson, James Moody, Michael Buble, The Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Holly Hoffmann, Mike Wofford, Ray Brown, Joe La Barbera and numerous jazz artists. Bill leads his own trio, big band, latin band, classical-jazz ensembles, and is a soloist with symphony orchestras. Bill has received 5 Grammy nominations, and written and arranged for multiple jazz and classical projects, and film soundtracks. Bill has received numerous awards, winning in 2010, The L.A. Jazz Society composer/arranger award, and has taught music at several schools and music institutes. Bill currently teaches at Cal State Fullerton, at The Skidmore Jazz Institute, and The Vail Jazz Workshop. Bill studied with the great Mary Lou Williams at Duke University, and received his masters degree from Eastman School Of Music. In 1989 Bill won first place in The Thelonious Monk Piano Competition. Bill has recorded 25 albums as
a leader, has written 5 jazz educational books, an has nearly 350 music credits. Bill credits the great Oscar Peterson as his first influence to choose to play jazz music.
Bassist Richard Simon is a veteran musician with decades of experience, dedication, and versatility. Richard was a college English professor who has made a life in jazz, learning from The L.A. Philharmoinic’s Abe Luboff, from jazz legend Red Callender, and from bass virtuoso, John Clayton. Richard has performed for The King Of Thailand, with Buddy Collette, Teddy Edwards, Plas Johnson, Art Hillary, Ernie Andrews, Maxine Weldon, Lorez Alexandria, Sue Raney, Keely Smith, Maria Muldaur, Rosemary Clooney, Dan Barrett, Ed Polcer, Allen Vache, Rebecca Paris, Joe Ascione, Ken Peplowski, Dave Pike, Sam Most, Al Viola, Thurman Green, Allen Jackson, Bobby Bryant, Urbie Green, Ross Tompkins, Joe Beck, and many others. Richard plays all jazz styles: be-bop, mainstream, traditional, and swing. Richard has been the music director for “Jazz America” for 26 years, providing jazz instruction to L.A. area students and young adults. Richard has recorded 3 albums as a leader.
Drummer Clayton Cameron is a dynamic performer and a master of the drumsticks and brushes. Clayton has toured with music greats Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, George Shearing, Joe Pass, and Joe Williams. Clayton has performed with Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Sting, Mariah Carey, Brandy, The Back Street Boys, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Ricky Martin, O.C. Smith, Ernie Andrews, Jimmy Witherspoon, Teddy Edwards, Larry Gales, Gerald Wilson, Kirk Stuart, and many others. Clayton received his music degree from Cal State Northridge University, and currently teaches at U.C.L.A.’s Herb Alpert School Of Music. Clayton has produced a video entitled, “The Living Art Of Brushes, has written a book entitled, “Brushworks”, and has recorded a CD “Here’s To The Messengers: A Tribute To Art Blakey”.
