Miller Theatre at Columbia University Presents A CHRISTMAS JOURNEY WITH ERIC REED 12/11

Formidable jazz artist Eric Reed brings his group to Miller Theatre Friday, December 11, at 8:00 pm.

Miller-favorite Eric Reed returns with a blockbuster combination of Christmas favorites from his childhood and selections from his holiday album.  Hailed a “first-class jazz pianist” by JazzTimes, Reed gathers together a stellar roster of jazz friends to join the seasonal celebration.

Award-winning and critically acclaimed pianist and composer ERIC REED, a Philadelphia native, began playing the piano at age two, performing in public by age five.  After extensive training in his father’s Baptist church, Philadelphia’s Settlement Music School, and the Colburn School in Los Angeles, Reed embarked upon a professional career that has taken him all over the world. His extensive credits include stints with Wynton Marsalis, Patti LaBelle, Dianne Reeves, and numerous others. As a strong advocate for young musicians, Reed taught at The Juilliard School and continues to perform masterclasses and lecture-demonstrations on the history of music. Currently, Reed is in residence with the Ebony Repertory Theatre of Los Angeles, serving as musical director of ReGina Taylor’s Crowns.

 Allan Harris is a true renaissance man. As a jazz vocalist, producer, composer, guitarist, song-writer, actor, educator, and three time winner of the New York Nightlife Award for “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist,” he has made his mark as an apostle of the American Songbook. A natural entertainer, his stage presence has made him a main-stay in concert halls, theaters, jazz clubs, and jazz festivals around the world. He has been a guest performer with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall, and the Algonquin’s Oak Room, and he has appeared with Vince Gill and Stevie Wonder. He has performed for President Clinton, Jessye Norman, and Sophia Loren. Harris has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and CBS News. On his latest release, Long Live the King recorded live at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Harris pays homage to one of the most recognizable singers on the planet, Nat King Cole.

BETTINA PENNON, a native of Long Island, is the youngest of three children born to Rev. and Mrs. Roy Lee Pennon.  She started singing at the age of four and has been privileged to share the stage with the likes of the late Timothy Wright, DJ Rogers, James Hall, Wynton Marsalis, and Eric Reed, just to name a few. Her passion is music to which her mantra is “It's more than just music it is ministry.” It is her hope that any song she sings will make a difference in the lives of anyone who listens. She plans to release her debut album in the spring of 2010.

JOSHUA CRUMBLY is currently a 17-year old upright and electric bassist. He began playing the electric bass at the age of nine, where he quickly excelled in jazz as well as gospel, funk, and R&B. At the age of 10 he began playing gigs throughout the Los Angeles area. Crumbly has studied with Victor Bailey, bassist for Mary J. Blige and Madonna. He was also privileged to study with the late Al McKibbon, bassist for Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, and Colman Hawkins. In the summer of 2007 Crumbly was selected to participate in the Jazz Workshop held at Berklee College of Music. He also took 1st place at the Duke Ellington Society Awards. Crumbly was recently selected to participate in the 2008 Brubeck Colony. He has won the Ruth Nadel Award from the Stanford Jazz Workshop and the Vernon T High Award from the Dolo Coker Jazz Foundation. Crumbly plans on having a solo, touring, recording, producing, and writing career in music.
 
MCCLENTY HUNTER, JR. received his first drum set at the age of two and, as a teenager under the direction of his church’s minister, performed in three live recording sessions with Grammy award-winning artists Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin and The National Inspirational Youth Conference Choir. While enrolled at Howard University in Washington D.C. Hunter was indoctrinated into the jazz culture under the mentorship of legendary jazz drummer Grady Tate. In 2007, he completed a master’s degree in Jazz Studies at world-renowned Juilliard School. Currently, he serves as music director of KIPP Academy String and Rhythm Orchestra while performing throughout the global community.

Columbia University’s Miller Theatre is located north of the Main Campus Gate at 116th St. & Broadway on the ground floor of Dodge Hall.

Tickets to this event range from $7 to $35.  For tickets, call the Miller Theatre Box Office at (212) 854-7799, Monday through Friday, 12-6 pm.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.millertheatre.com.

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