On Saturday March 14, at 8 PM, the Riverdale Y will present a quartet of internationally known jazz performers. Nicki Parrott, jazz bassist and vocalist is making her second appearance at the Y. She will be joined by Derek Smith, the world's most recorded commercial/jazz pianist; Randy Sandke, noted trumpeter, composer and arranger, whom The Wall Street Journal dubbed "the greatest trumpeter nobody knows"; and Joe Ascione, who has joined the three in concert on his birthday!
Ms. Parrott, who plays regularly with legendary Les Paul at Manhattan's Iridium Club came to New York from her native Australia in 1994 on an Arts Council Grant to study with acclaimed bassist Rufus Reid. She has performed all over the world with jazz greats like Ken Peplowski, Bucky Pizarelli, Skitch Henderson and Warren Vache. She appears at major jazz festivals throughout the US and abroad and is a favorite on the cruise ship circuit. She also plays Klezmer music and appeared at the Riverdale Y last year with noted Klezmer violinist Alicia Svigals as well as touring Europe with David Krakeur.
Randy Sandke has also appeared in clubs and festivals worldwide and is known for his virtuosity. He has recorded over 20 albums with musicians ranging from Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway and Dick Hyman to Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Art Garfunkle and Barbara Carroll. His work has been heard on the soundtracks of many well known films including five Woody Allen pictures. As a composer he has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and his works have been featured at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall; more than 50 of his compositions have been recorded.
Derek Smith is noted for his elegant style at the piano. He began his career in England at age 14 with John Dankworth's band featuring singer Cleo Laine. Two weeks after arriving in New York he landed a gig with the Modern Jazz Quartet. Soon after he played with his own quartet along with Mel Torme and Ella Fitzgerald at Basin Street East. He joined Benny Goodman's Band in 1961 and later played on the TONIGHT show for seven years while continuing to work with Goodman and recording albums. Among those with whom he has recorded with are Burt Bacharah/Dionne Warwick, Steve Lawrence/Edie Gorme, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Bellson as well as Frank Sinatra, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. He has also done several movie tracks and continues to perform at concerts and jazz festivals all over the world.
Joe Ascione, Drums
Brooklyn born Joe Ascione grew up in a musical family and started playing drums at age 2; by age 4 he had his own drum set. He has been playing professionally since he was 12 and served as a "roadie" for Buddy Rich, from whom he drew inspiration, as he did from Gene Krupa.
His stellar musicianship and virtuosity have made him a hit on concert stages around the globe. He has performed with Cab Calloway, Al Hirt, Don Fagen (of Steely Dan), Noel Redding (who was bassist for Jimi Hendrix) as well as with Ms. Parrott and Mr. Smith, with whom he recorded High Energy. He has made over 100 recordings; his latest CD is Movin Up on the Arbors label.
The Riverdale Y is located at 5625 Arlington Avenue in the northwest Bronx. Tickets are $20 / $15 for seniors and students and are available online at www.RiverdaleY.org. Directions to the Y can be found on the website as well. There is ample free parking in the Riverdale Y's private lot.
