Duke Elington

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (born April 29, 1899 in Washington, DC; † 24 May 1974 in New York) was one of the most influential American jazz musician. As a pianist he was one of the most important innovators of the stride piano. As a composer, he wrote nearly 2,000 compositions (songs and suites), which were nearly a hundred of jazz standards. As a bandleader, he contributed to the expression of the swing in a big band style.

George Duke

George Duke (born January 12, 1946 in San Rafael, California) is an American musician (keyboardist, occasionally: singer, arranger) and producer of the fusion-jazz.

After a study of composition, he led a trio in 1967, with which he accompanied the vocal group Third Wave or soloists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby Hutcherson. In 1970, he worked as a keyboardist Jean-Luc Ponty’s album on King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty worked Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, Frank Zappa and then hired him, in his Mothers of Invention, he played until 1975 (with brief interruptions) from which he played a few albums for MPS. Then he ran along with Billy Cobham fusion band. He also worked with Stanley Clarke in the disco business.

As a music producer he has worked since the second half of the 1970s. Its entry as a producer he had with the 1977 album produced by Raul de Souza Sweet Lucy, on which he played keyboards on three tracks under the pseudonym Dawilli Gonga. Among others he worked for his cousin, Dianne Reeves, the fusion drummer Billy Cobham and singer Al Jarreau. Since 2004 he runs his own record label, BPM Records. BPM stands for “Big Piano Music “. Duke sees the task of the label is to give control of the music to where it belongs: back in the hands of musicians.

As musical influences Dukes are to be mentioned especially Miles Davis and the soul-jazz sound of Les McCann and Cal Tjader. Duke has also been strongly influenced by funk and soul-influenced music.

Beegie Adair

Beegie Adair (Barren County, Kentucky, 1937) is an American jazz pianist.

Adair studied piano at Western Kentucky University. After she moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she graduated from Peabody College. After her graduation, she formed her own jazz trio, The Beegie Adair Trio.

Adair performed for many radio and television, including on WSM TV, where she was employed as a musician. After nine years with the broadcaster, she began doing freelance recording orchestras and also to act in television. She has played piano and keyboards during the Johnny Cash Show on ABC nationwide for three years.

Adair was heard on many jazz albums with musicians from all over the world like John Stewart, John Loudermilk, JJ Cale, Ronnie Milsap and Mickey Newbury. Television shows are shows where they occur with Dolly Parton, Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. Adair has accompanied many artists such as Urbie Green, Nat Adderley, Lew Tabackin, Perry Como, Wayne Newton and Henry Mancini during live concerts. She has 23 recordings made ​​with her ​​own trio, which consists of herself except the bassist Roger Spencer and drummer Chris Brown. In 2007 she lived in Franklin, Tennessee with her ​​husband Bill, who is professor of jazz studies at the School Balir, a part of Vanderbilt University.