YOSHI'S OAKLAND, 2010

April 13, Yoshi's in beautiful Jack London Square in Oakland, will play host to my CD release party. Retiring from the Berkeley Unified School District has allowed me to finally produce a recording of my own original compositions. Titled Mr. Hamudah, after my youngest son, it features musicians who have all been a part of my Berkeley teaching experience. Miles Perkins (bass) was the founder of Mingus Amungus, with Joshi Marshall (tenor sax) as one of the original members. Josh Jones (drums) was an original member of Peter Apfelbaum's groundbreaking Hieroglyphics Ensemble, while Moshe Milón, Sr. (percussion), founded Bantaba Dance Ensemble.  "Bantaba" is taken from the Mandinka term meaning "gathering place", and is dedicated to the research, documentation and preservation of the Jaliyaa tradition of Senegal, West Africa. Mark Wright (trumpet) is a prolific performer and composer of well over a hundred jazz tunes, and is as much at home playing for an opera as he is leading the trumpet section for BHS Jazz Ensemble.  Ben Ball (alto/soprano sax), who went to Berklee College of Music, returned to  Berkeley, CA, to also be a section leader for the Ensemble, and a music tutor, and performs regularly with his own quartet.Mike Aaberg (pianist extraordinaire), is ubiquitous as a recording artist, backing vocalist Layla Hathaway, and doing a turn on a rock album for recent Grammy (c) winner Thomas Pridgen (also a BHS Jazz Ensemble alumni), as well as bringing his incredible lyrical lines and sense of rhythm to Mr. Hamudah.

Additionally, at Yoshi's, we will feature current Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble students Leah Wollenberg (electric violin), winner of Best Soloist at the Folsom Jazz Festival and Elena Pinderhughes (flute), winner of Downbeat's "Best Soloist, Student" Award.