Fri

10/8/2010

8:00pm

Jazz

Paul Keller Trio - SOLD OUT

A Toast to Nat King Cole

Sold Out

• $- Sorry, this concert is SOLD OUT

• Paul Keller, bass
• Ralph Tope, guitar
• Glenn Tucker, piano

Event Details

Pianist Steve Richko, who was scheduled to perform this concert, has suddenly passed away on October 3. In his honor, this concert will pay tribute to his life and artistry. Glenn Tucker is the pianist for this performance.

Area all-star ensemble celebrates the release of their CD "We Like To Riff: A Toast to The Nat King Cole Trio."

This concert is the first in Kerrytown Concert House's newest Kerrytown Club series, a chance to kick back and enjoy great music in an informal setting. A cash bar will be included. The next Kerrytown Club series event is the following night, an evening of cabaret with husband-wife duo William Bolcom and Joan Morris.

Tonight's event is sponsored by the Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association (SEMJA).

Paul Keller

Paul Keller is one of the busiest bassists in the Detroit area today, earning the nickname “The House Bass Player For The State Of Michigan.” Since 1989, Paul has led the 15-piece Paul Keller Orchestra, which plays original, obscure and classic big band material from all periods of jazz history, and performs every Monday night at the Keystone Underground in Ypsilanti. Paul also plays in the popular Keller/Kocher Quartet and in The Paul Keller Ensemble, a three-horn sextet that features creative arrangements by Keller and his bandmates. Keller’s groups are well-known and highly regarded throughout Michigan. His jazz groups have appeared at many regional music festivals, including the Detroit International Jazz Festival, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, the Ann Arbor Jazz and Blues Festival, The Michigan Jazz Festival and the Flint Jazz Festival. They have presented successful concerts for the Thunder Bay Arts Council, the Crooked Tree Arts Center, the West Michigan Jazz Society, The Dennos Museum Center at NWMU, the Windsor/Detroit Jazz Club, Bay City’s State Theatre, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Institute of Arts. Keller tours with his long-time bandmates drummer Pete Siers and vibraphonist Cary Kocher as members of clarinetist Dave Bennett’s Benny Goodman Tribute band. Paul has been recognized internationally for his association with pianist/singer Diana Krall and guitarist Russell Malone.

Ralph Tope

Guitarist Ralph Tope hails from Saint Clair Shores, Mich. Ralph began playing music at the age of 12 when his late aunt Melanie gave him his first guitar. Ralph’s dad turned him on to jazz as they listened to (and wore out) the Wes Montgomery LP: A Day In The Life. Ralph’s mom was also a strong musical influence, hipping Ralph to Frank Sinatra and Nat “King” Cole. The Tope family’s daily lives were filled with a variety of music. Ralph comments: “This was a really nice atmosphere in which to grow up.” Today, Ralph has become one of Detroit’s young jazz lions who everybody wants to work with. He is a 25-year-old student at Michigan State University where he studies jazz with Rodney Whitaker, Diego Rivera, and his mentor: guitarist Perry Hughes. Ralph performs often around the Detroit metro area with drummer R. J. Spangler, saxophonist Ben Jansson and organist Chris Codish. He is a devoted “seeker of the truth in music” as evidenced by his incredible work ethic and his passionate desire to learn as much as possible from a myriad of musical sources. Ralph has made his recording debut with an appearance on “We Like to Riff: A Toast To The Nat “King” Cole Trio.”

Glenn Tucker

At a young age, jazz pianist Glenn Tucker has mastered the jazz language. Whether he’s playing piano or saxophone, Glenn can easily converse musically with players of all ages. He has already received high praise from jazz media and knowledgeable jazz audiences and has earned the respect of the many musicians (young and old) that he has performed with. Glenn is a product of the Ann Arbor School For Performing Arts. He has gained valuable on-the-job training by performing frequently with Vincent York’s Young New York Force, The Paul Keller Orchestra and The Murphy’s (a well-established jazz trio that performs nightly at Murphy’s Place in Toledo, Ohio). Additionally, Glenn leads and writes for his own student big band, The Cool Moose Orchestra, which has performed at many local venues around Southeast Michigan and northern Ohio. The CMO is currently working on their own CD which will feature Glenn Tucker’s impressive big band arrangements.