Jazz Musicians Perform Christmas Favorites at Ware Center Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Dec. 04, 2015
Steve, Dred, and Hassan have been musical collaborators since the late '70's, and although their careers have taken them to various corners of the world, they have continued to perform together regularly. Steve Rudolph--jazz pianist, composer, educator, and Yamaha Keyboard Artist--has served as producer, arranger, and performer in both recorded and live collaborations with artists such as: Johnny Coles, Bill Goodwin, Ali Ryerson, Matt Wilson, Vinny Valentino, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Rufus Reid, Buddy Tate, Al Grey, the Mills Brothers, and Cal Collins. He has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Steve studied trumpet and composition under scholarship at Butler University in Indianapolis. He later switched his main instrumental focus to the piano and was hired by Buddy Morrow to perform with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1977.
Since moving to Harrisburg in 1978, Steve has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central PA. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 35th successful season of monthly concerts, youth band, jazz camp, and annual Central PA Jazz Festival. He now serves as the Executive Director of CPFJ. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts and community service.
Vocalist Dred "Perky" Scott has performed in Harrisburg off and on beginning at age 11 as "Little Perky Wonder." As a jazz vocalist, he is widely known and acclaimed as one of the finest entertainers ever to come out of Central PA. He has performed and worked with a wide number of significant artists, including: Marcus Belgrade, Gerri Allen, Kenny Barron, Max Roach, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Sam Banks, Cedric Lawson, Steve Rudolph, Ronnie Waters, and Jimmy Wood. He was architect of the popular Jazz medium in Harrisburg, "Jazz in the Sanctuary", for several years. Currently Dred pastors to the congregation of the United Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD, and also performs in his "Jazz in the Sanctuary" series at various church venues throughout the region.
Bassist Hassan A. Shakur (J.J. Wiggins), son of pianist Gerald Wiggins, Sr., learned to play bass at age four, and at age 12 he became the bassist for the Craig Hundley Trio, appearing on television shows such as The Today Show, Johnny Carson, Jonathan Winters, Ted Mack Amateur Hour, and The Della Reese Show. At age 18, Hassan joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, and he continues to perform with the Orchestra to this day. In addition to performing with his legendary father, Shakur has performed with numerous other artists, such as: Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Milt Jackson, Billy Eckstein, Al Grey, Sarah Vaughn, Joe Williams, Herb Ellis and many others. Hassan also performed on an USO Tour with Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson entertaining the troops in the Persian Gulf. He was bassist for the Broadway show "Me and Bessie" with Linda Hopkins and "Black and Blue" with Ruth Brown and Linda Hopkins. He was also the bassist for the Duke Ellington Broadway shows "Sophisticated Ladies" and "Queenie Pie." Hassan is a longtime member of the Bill Easley Quartet, and also records regularly with pianist Monty Alexander on tours in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Tickets are $25 reserved seating and can be purchased online by visiting ArtsMU.com or by calling 717-871-7600. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Ticket Office located in the Student Memorial Center on Millersville's campus, or the Ware Center, located at 42 N. Prince Street, in Lancaster. Doors open one hour before each show for ticket sales, subject to availability.
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