B I O G R A P H I E S
Guitarist/composer A. Spencer Barefield has received numerous awards for composition and performance from ArtServe Michigan-MCACA, Meet-the-Composer/NEA Commission USA, Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest, National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts, Arts Midwest and others. He has toured and recorded in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, extensively as a leader, soloist, and with Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell, Oliver Lake, Andrew Cyrille, Richard Davis and others. Barefield's recordings Live Detroit and Xenogenesis 2000 [[CAC label), and his Sound Aspects [[Germany) releases After the End and Live at Leverkusen have received rave international reviews and honors, in and others. He is the Artistic and Executive Director of the Creative Arts Collective [[CAC), whose concerts at the Detroit Institute of Arts and elsewhere earned CAC the Michigan's Governor's Arts Award for excellence and international recognition for its innovative presentations. Over a hundred of CAC's concerts have been broadcast on National Public Radio. Barefield has taught guitar and improvisation at the University of Michigan School of Music and elsewhere.
"Barefield's lovely solo has the presence of a Segovia piece with its majestic chords and runs. His composition constantly shifts from European to African influences and back with ease. It is truly a fine musical moment that reveals more of its complexity with each new listening." Cadence
Juno award winner Dave Young is an internationally renowned bassist known for his recordings and work as a band leader and with many jazz greats, such as Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Zoot Simms, Joe Williams, Oliver Jones, Rob McConnell, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Nat Adderly, Peter Appleyard, Gary Burton, Barney Kessel, Ed Bickert, Ranee Lee, Marcus Belgrave, Don Thompson, Kenny Burrell, James Moody and more. A number of his award-winning recordings are on the Justin Time label. As classical artist, he was the principal double bassist for a number of years with the Edmonton and Winnipeg Symphonies, as well as with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Dave Young was honored at "The 2003 National Jazz Awards" as "Jazz Bassist of the Year." The award was richly deserved, and is a tribute to Dave's chops, highly developed musical sensibility, versatility and life-long commitment to Jazz and Jazz education. Dave and Spencer Barefield began their musical collaboration in the mid-nineties in a trio with Jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. He is featured on the Spencer Barefield Quartet's Soul Steppin' Through the Fabulous Ruins CD with Dave McMurray [[sax) and Djallo Djakate Keita [[drums).
"…Whomever Dave Young might be performing with,
when it comes to his solo, it is always perfection."
Jazz Times
"…his driving support, fast scalar runs and rhythmic soloing are definitely distinctive…Young is never overshadowed by his partners.
Young's growling tone and take-charge walking are striking…his ability to build impressive, rhythmically acute solos
out of his extended walking lines is immediately established."
Bass Player Magazine
Saxophonist David McMurray has released four CDs as a leader, the first on the Warner label, The David McMurray Show followed by Piece of Mind, Afro Cubano Chant and his latest release Soul Searchingon the HipBop/Silva Screen label featuring Pam Wise, Marion Hayden, Wayne Gerard, Louis Resto and others. He has performed and recorded internationally with Geri Allen, Terrance Blanchard, Albert King, Herbie Hancock, Bob James, Mark Ishan, Don Was, B52s, Bonny Raitt, Gladys Knight, Griot Galaxy, Kem, Was Not Was, the Rolling Stones, Kid Rock and others.
"The Musician's Musician.... Held in high regard, Detroit Dave McMurray is multi-instrumentalist, who combines his mastery of the tenor, soprano and alto saxophones with his talents of the flute, keyboards, and percussion to produce an ideal blend of musical genius."
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide, All About Jazz
Drummer/percussionist Djallo Djakate Keita has toured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan with Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, appearing in concert and on television and radio. He has toured Africa with Kareem Baaqi and has performed with some of Detroit's most acclaimed artists, including Harold McKinney, Marcus Belgrave, Charlie Gabriel, Teddy Harris, Wendell Harrison, Ralph Armstrong, Pamela Wise, Kenny Cox, Omawale African Dancers, Sun Drummers, Ras Kente, Taslimah Bey, Harvey Thompson, Faruq Z. Bey, TransMat, Jazzhead, Dub Culture and Ibn Pori Pitts.
More info on spencerbarefield.com
