All Star Big Band O’Rourkestra

Sunday, May 15th
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ocean City Music Pier

Tickets: All Events Tickets | Sunday Events Only Tickets | Music Pier Only Tickets

Along with David O’Rourke and Sachal Vasandani, the personnel for this performance will include:

TROMBONES:

Ryan Keberle

Few musicians have managed to navigate the richly varied avenues of New York City’s abundant music scene with the same passion and adaptability as trombonist and composer Ryan Keberle. Since his arrival in 1999, Keberle’s diverse talents have earned him a place alongside a staggering array of legends, superstars, and up-and-coming innovators.

Leading his pianoless quartet Catharsis or arranging for the little big band setting of his Double Quartet, Keberle draws upon lessons learned playing alongside masters of a multitude of forms, from jazz legends to indie rock ground-breakers, R&B superstars to classical virtuosos. That includes playing with jazz greats including Maria Schneider and Wynton Marsalis; hip-hop and R&B superstars like Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Keys; Latin jazz leaders like Pedro Giraudo and Ivan Lins; indie rock ground-breakers such as Sufjan Stevens; or playing in the house band at Saturday Night Live, on the soundtrack of a Woody Allen film, or in the pit for a Tony-winning Broadway musical.

NICK FINZER

…is one of the most dynamic musicians of the millennial generation.

An award-winning composer, arranger, and trombonist, Finzer is bringing the joy and power of Jazz to both traditional fans and the most modern 21st century audiences. He’s on a mission to be a passionate voice defining the sound of Jazz in this age while also bringing street cred to the trombone with a bold, tight sound.

Born into the musical world (Mom Sherry Finzer is an international flutist), Finzer developed a fascination for the music of Duke Ellington and found himself, in high school, performing at the annual Essentially Ellington competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was then that he decided to pursue a life in music himself. His budding talent was recognized by Wycliffe Gordon who began a life-long mentorship by writing four pieces for the young Finzer while he attended the Eastman School of Music. Nick went on to get his masters at Juilliard’s prestigious Jazz program where he was mentored by the trombone legend Steve Turre.

In 2011 Nick was the winner of the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s National Jazz Trombone Competition and was a finalist in the 2010 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition.
In January of 2013 Nick released his recording debut as a bandleader and composer with “Exposition” (Outside In Music). Two tracks appearing on the album garnered Finzer a pair of accolades: The prestigious American Society of Composers and Performers (ASCAP)’s Herb Alpert Award for young composers (2013 & 2015)

In 2014, Nick composed a new album-length work, “The Chase.” Nick’s sophomore album debuted in July of 2015 on Origin Records to rave reviews, a feature article in Downbeat Magazine, and peaked at #6 on the JazzWeek Charts.
Famed trombonist and mentor Wycliffe Gordon called Finzer “a new voice [in] the pantheon of upcoming trombone greats in the making” and added “Nick’s CD is a glowing example of things to come.”

When away from NYC, Finzer can be found touring the globe not only with his own projects, but as part of YouTube sensation, Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Finzer has joined the group on television, in viral videos with millions of views, and on tours across North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Finzer has performed at top Jazz clubs and concert halls with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Lucas Pino’s No Net Nonet, Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, Bob Stewart’s Double Quartet, Frank Wess, Terrell Stafford, Lewis Nash, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Walt Weiskopf, Slide Hampton, Frank Kimbrough, Carl Allen, Steve Turre and many more.

CLARK GAYTON

Born as Carver Clark Gayton Jr. to Carver Clark Gayton[1] and Mona Marie Lombard,[2] Clark Gayton is a professional musician (trombone, euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, cornet, keyboards, piano), composer and producer.

Clark studied music with Floyd Standifer, JoAnn Christen, Curry Morrison, Julian Priester, Joe Brazil and Buddy Catlet while attending Garfield High School.[4] After graduating from high school in 1981, Clark received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with Phil Wilson, Tom Plsek and Tony Lada. He graduated in 1984 and moved to Oakland before moving to New York in 1987 where he lives to this day.

Since living in New York, Clark has worked and recorded[6] with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, such as Charles Tolliver, Lionel Hampton, McCoy Tyner, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, Ted Nash and Odeon, Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, Clark Terry,[7] Nancy Wilson, and Ray Charles.[8] Clark toured with Bruce Springsteen as part of the Seeger Sessions band. Clark has recorded or performed with Prince, Rihanna, Brazilian Girls,[9] Steel Pulse,[10] Wyclef Jean, Queen Latifah,[11] Quincy Jones, Sting,[12] Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Santana,[13]Maxwell, The Skatalites, and Bad Brains, to name a few. He performs regularly with his band, Explorations in Dub,[14] at Nublu[15] in New York City. He was also a member of Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band. He has appeared in the movies Malcolm X,[16] Sweet and Lowdown,[17] and Kansas City.[18] He has performed frequently with Conan O’Brien’s house band as a substitute for Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg.[19] In addition, he is a strong advocate for musicians’ rights and has been a panelist for discussions about the online and independent music industry.

JAMES BOROWSKI – (bass)

James Borowski is one of the newest and most exciting bass trombonists on the New York City music scene. In addition to performing with the Birdland Big Band, James has taken the stage in New York with groups such as Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra and Valery Ponomarev’s Big Band, “Our Father Who Art Blakey.” He has performed in some of the city’s most famous venues including Birdland, the Blue Note, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Symphony Space.
James also has a diverse performing career in his current home state of New Jersey, performing with jazz acts like Big Band Evolution as well as with classical and chamber groups such as the Princeton Brass Band, of which he is principal bass trombone, the Nassau Brass Quintet and many more. A fully detailed itinerary is available on James’s website, http://www.jazzbassbone.com.

He spent nearly two and a half years touring the United States, Canada and Japan with the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and has also performed with the Tommy Dorsey, Nelson Riddle and Cab Calloway Orchestras. James has shared the stage with many well-known artists including Conrad Herwig, Paquito D’Rivera, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Eddie Palmieri, Arturo O’Farrill, Terrell Stafford, Jon Faddis, Phil Woods, Michael Abene, Tom “Bones” Malone, Ralph Peterson, Ralph Bowen, Sean Jones, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Jimmy Owens, The American Brass Quintet, Robby Ameen, Mike Smith, Walter White, and Walt Johnson.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area and now residing in Jersey City, James holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and a Master’s Degree, both in Bass Trombone Performance, from the Mason Gross School of the Arts. He also holds a degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University.

James is the recipient of many awards and honors, including Finalist, Colorado College Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition; Third Place, Adult Low Brass Technical Solo Competition, North American Brass Band Association Championships XXIX and XXX; Winner, Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition 2011 (with Rutgers University’s “Scarlet Knights Jazz Trombones.”)