Skip to main content

Time:

N/A - N/A

Location:

Clinician(s)

Frank Alkyer

Frank Alkyer

[email protected]

The Midwest Jazz Interview

Clinic Synopsis:

Get ready for a fascinating glimpse into the art, lives and views on jazz education from two of the biggest stars of contemporary jazz, Mr. Ramsey Lewis and Mr. Kirk Whalum. This discussion will be one part interview, one part clinic and 100 percent educationally entertaining. Frank Alkyer, the publisher of DownBeat magazine, will conduct the interview and it will appear in a future issue of DownBeat as well as on the magazine's Web site. Attendees can see it live, then see it in print, too.

Frank Alkyer - Biographical Information

Ramsey Lewis captivated audiences with his first recording in 1956. One of the nation's top jazz pianists by 1965, he has toured the world, earning the NEA's "Jazz Master" award, 3 Grammys, 7 Gold Records, and a Stellar Award. A former radio and television host, he started the Ramsey Lewis Foundation, serving youth.

A Memphis native and "pastor's kid," Kirk Whalum developed his saxophone sound in church. He played in Houston's top jazz clubs while attending Texas Southern University before being signed by Columbia. He has worked with such artists as Quincy Jones and Whitney Houston, been nominated for 8 Grammys and received 2 Stellar Awards. He loves working with young musicians, and was Stax Music Academy's 1st Artist-in-Residence.

Award-winning journalist Frank Alkyer is the publisher of DownBeat magazine and a founding board member of the Jazz Education Network

Back