SPARX Celebrating The Max Roach Centennial
Few drummers—if any—had as profound an impact on the evolution of jazz as MAX ROACH. As an artist, Roach’s dynamic playing powered a career that spanned from the dawn of bebop to free improvisation and beyond; and as an activist he created deeply felt music and used his platform to speak out for civil rights. Join us as we celebrate this groundbreaking artist and American icon. Expect a transformative evening featuring new and hard-swinging arrangements of Roach’s seminal works.
Sean Jones – trumpet
Warren Wolf – vibraphone
Obasi Akoto – bass
Tim Green – saxophone
Eric Kennedy – drums
Music and spirituality have always been intertwined in the artistic vision of trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator, and activist Sean Jones. He is president of the Jazz Education Network and holds the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair in Jazz Studies at The John Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Baltimore, as well as artistic Director for the NYO JAZZ Program of Carnegie Hall.
Warren Wolf is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD. From the young age of three years old, Warren has been trained on the Vibraphone/Marimba, Drums, and Piano. Under the guidance of his father Warren Wolf Sr., Warren has a deep background in all genres of music. Vibraphonist Warren Wolf is one of the hardest swinging virtuosos in all of modern music.
Obasi Akoto is a veteran American jazz bassist, composer and educator. Akoto has had a long and distinguished career performing and recording with some of the most important jazz musicians in the world including Wynton Marsalis, Cyrus Chestnut, Abbey Lincoln, Kenny Barron, and more. Formally known as Steve Kirby, he is the music director of this fantastic group.
Forging a deeply personal sound from a broad swath of the jazz landscape, Baltimore-native and internationally acclaimed saxophonist, educator, composer and arranger Tim Green has emerged as a powerful voice, melding deftly swinging hard bop, fluid modernity and soulful gospel.
Eric Kennedy is a musician, percussionist, vocalist, and educator based in Baltimore, Maryland who is committed to spreading the word about jazz through his performances and lessons.
