Add To Calendar
Share Description
Guy and Gals 2024
Jazz Night Out
presents
AN EVENING WITH BILLIE HOLIDAY
SATURDAY
June 8, 2024
7:30PM - 9:30PM
TICKET $25
$30 AT THE DOOR
$15 FOOD & DRINK MIN.
Iva Jean Ambush, 2023 Billie Holiday Competition Winner
Iva Jean Ambush, hailing from Frederick, Maryland, is a scat singing jazz vocalist whose remarkable talent has garnered acclaim both locally and internationally. Recently honored as the recipient of the prestigious Billie Holiday Competition, Ms. Ambush has graced renowned stages across the globe.
Her performances have captivated audiences at esteemed venues such as the DC Jazz Festival, Birdland, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among others. From the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival to international stages like Le Duc des Lombards, her dynamic presence and masterful interpretation of jazz standards have left an indelible mark on the jazz scene.
Ms. Ambush's musical journey has been enriched by collaborations with jazz legends such as Sheila Jordan, Dr. Horace Boyer, and Ronnie Wells. Drawing inspiration from these luminaries, she has delved deep into the intricacies of jazz phrasing and rhythms, honing her craft to perfection.
With a rich familial legacy steeped in jazz, Ms. Ambush counts among her relatives esteemed musicians like the late trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxophonist/composer/arranger Byron Bowie, Defunkt band leader Joe Bowie, and Spyro Gyra bassist Scott Ambush, to name a few.
Currently, Ms. Ambush is channeling her passion into her sophomore album, "Mosaic Voices of Four Women." Paying homage to icons Abbey Lincoln, Lena Horne, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Nina Simone, she celebrates their resilience in the face of adversity, drawing parallels to her own journey in the world of jazz.
Through her music, Ms. Ambush aims to elevate the voice as the epitome of syncopation—an instrument, a language, and a conversation. With each note, she continues to carve her place as a leading voice in the contemporary jazz landscape.
For more information, visit www.IvaAmbush.com
DeCasto Brown
DeCasto Brown is a native Washingtonian whose musical inspiration began during his early introduction into the Baptist Church where the soloists and choirs grabbed his attention. A graduate of Anacostia High School and Delaware State University, he mastered on the football field as an All-American and Hall of Fame wide receiver and flourished within the drama department, eventually becoming a member of the Autumn House Gospel Ensemble (a professional theatre company in the state of Delaware).
Also, while attending Delaware State, he became acquainted with the “Masters of Jazz”, which includes Clifford Brown and John Coltrane, his personal favorites. His vocal influences include Eddie Jefferson, Paul Williams, Philippe Wynne, Johnny Hartman, Abbey Lincoln and brothers Nat and Freddy Cole. On Terry Marshall‘s debut CD “Arrival”, DeCasto is featured performing “Moodies Mood for Love.”
Brownsville Jazz producer, DeCasto Brown, will be the illustrious emcee for this show. Hopefully, we can get him to sing a song or two
HERBERT “HERB” SMITH
Born in the heart of Decatur, Alabama in the forties, Herbert Smith was steeped in the vibrant musical traditions of Memphis, Tennessee from an early age. Raised amidst the blues, gospel, and jazz influences of the city, he attended Manassas High School—a renowned institution that nurtured legendary musicians like Jimmy Lunceford, Gerald Wilson, and Isaac Hayes.
Smith's journey into the world of jazz took flight when he pursued his B.A. degree at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1965. Serving in the 528 Scott Air Force Band from 1965 to 1969, he honed his musical skills while rubbing shoulders with some of Miles Davis's closest confidants and mentors.
His thirst for knowledge and musical excellence led him to Southern Illinois University, where he earned his M.A. degree in 1970. Under the tutelage of the great composer and saxophonist Oliver Nelson, Smith expanded his horizons, crossing paths with luminaries like Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake.
From 1971 to 1974, Smith made his mark as a professor, teaching and directing jazz studies while hosting two weekly jazz radio shows at KDNA Pacifica in St. Louis. In 1974, he assumed the role of head of jazz studies at Howard University in Washington, DC, before embarking on a distinguished tenure at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale from 1976 to 2019.
Throughout his illustrious career, Smith has not only mentored and coached an array of talented musicians but has also graced the stage with legendary jazz artists such as Webster Young and Maurice Lyles. His contributions to the local jazz scene are immeasurable, from his transformative leadership at Mustache Café to his captivating weekly performances at O’Shaunessey’s Pub and Restaurant in Old Towne Alexandria.
As a beacon of jazz education and performance in the Washington, DC area, Herbert Smith's legacy continues to inspire and resonate with musicians and audiences alike, cementing his status as a true saxophonist extraordinaire.
PETE FRASSRAND
Pete Frassrand was born in Detroit, he grew up in a family of teachers and musicians. He is proud to now be a teacher and musician. He first learned piano from his mother, who was the minister of music at their local church. After playing the piano on and off for years, in 1995 he moved to the DC area and decided to study music seriously. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from area players like Robert Redd, Charles Covington, and Tim Murphy. In 2000, he received his music education degree from Towson University and now share jazz with young people as a music teacher. Over the years, he has also honed his performance skills in DC clubs like Utopia, Twins, Alice's Jazz and Cultural Society, Bohemian Caverns and Jojo's. Since 2011 he has served as the pianist for the Greater U Street Jazz Collective, which has made appearances at events such as the DC Jazz Festival, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the Congressional Black Caucus. He considers himself extremely lucky to be able to do what he does in an area with such a rich musical and cultural history.
KENT MILLER
Bassist Kent Miller, a graduate of Rockhurst University, also studied at the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) Conservatory of Music. After returning to St. Louis, Miller enrolled in the St. Louis Conservatory of Music for continued music studies. He began private bass studies with Warren Claunch of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and with Wendell Marshall (former Duke Ellington bassist); enrollment into the legendary George Hudson Big Band soon followed. In 1984 Miller moved to New York and was recruited by Vanguard recording artist trumpeter Dave Burns. Miller continued his bass studies with bassist Rufus Reid and Ray Drummond and in later years with bassist Ron Carter. He has performed with the Brooklyn based Ray Abrams big band, Carl Allen, Chico Hamilton, Percy Brice, Jimmy Lovelace, Clifford Barbaro, Lynne Arriale, Eddie Gladden, George Coleman Jr., John Hicks, Eric Person, Bill Saxton, Talieb Kibwe, James Wiedman, Stanley Cowell, Michael Thomas Quintet and many others.
LEON ALEXANDER, JR
DRUMMER LEON ALEXANDER, JR.
Venue Details
El Golfo Restaurant (128)
8739 Flower AvenueSilver Spring, Maryland 20901
