Member Bios
Bennett Paster
Keyboardist, composer and producer Bennett Paster is one of New York City's most creative and versatile musicians. He has performed original music at clubs, concerts and festivals in the United States, the Caribbean, and throughout Europe. He has been a featured performer with jazz stars Kurt Elling, Brian Lynch, Peter Bernstein, Rufus Reid, Bill Stewart, Billy Hart, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Ndugu Chancler, Miri Ben-Ari and Yosvany Terry among others. In addition to being a popular sideman, Paster co-leads several bands, all of which have toured and released critically-acclaimed recordings.
His acoustic jazz piano trio, Paster, Ryan & Hall released their sophomore disc entitled "Invisible Horizon" in late 2006. This album showcases their broad vision of modern jazz and includes melodic original compositions and new arrangements of standards. Paster and bassist Gregory Ryan are founding members of Grupo Yanqui which performs original modern Latin jazz and classic Latin standards. This band was selected to tour internationally as a part of the prestigious US State Department / Jazz at Lincoln Center "The Rhythm Road 2006" program. They performed at concert halls, clubs and schools in Sweden, Russia, Estonia and Serbia. Grupo Yanqui will release their second CD in early 2008.
Paster's funky psychedelic organ trio Organic!, co-led with guitarist John Cabán, exhibits his formidable abilities on vintage electric keyboards and Hammond organ. Organic! performs live improvised compositions that are rooted in the tradition of 70's instrumental funk and R&B. Paster recorded and produced their latest CD "Sweets" (2006) at his studio, Benny's Wash 'n' Dry.
Paster won second prize in the 2005 Great American Jazz Piano competition, held annually in Jacksonville, Florida, where he performed live in front of more than 1000 people. "My diverse musical background contributes to my personal style," Paster said. "I thrive playing in many contrasting groups; I can't choose just one style of music. My colleagues appreciate the broad palette of styles in which I am conversant. I always try to find the most appropriate sound to bring to any song or project. My motto is: serve the song."
Gregory Ryan
New York City native Gregory Ryan has established himself as an in-demand sideman on both acoustic and electric bass. His big supportive sound, swinging style, complete understanding of harmony and role on the bandstand combine to create an ability to make even the most complex modern composition swing in the tradition of the great bass players. Mr. Ryan has performed with jazz luminaries James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Jim Hall, Pat Martino, Benny Green, Billy Harper, Karrin Allyson, and Albert "Tootie" Heath, among others. Mr. Ryan's growing Latin Jazz credits include performances with the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, the Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O'Farrill, Papo Vazquez' Pirates Troubadours, and Bobby Sanabria's Quarteto Ache.
Invisible Horizon, Mr. Ryan's most recent recording as a leader, is the second collaborative project with pianist Bennett Paster and drummer Keith Hall. The record features original compositions by all three musicians as well as a few choice standards. Tenor saxophonist Chris Cheek joins the trio on three tracks. This trio enjoyed critical acclaim of their debut CD, Skyline, described by Allaboutjazz.com as "a beautifully melodic effort, start to finish," praising the trio's "relaxed, optimistic, vivacious" sound; Modern Drummer states that the trio "radiate[s] warmth, vitality, robust melodicism, and an effortless swing."
Gregory Ryan also co-leads Grupo Yanqui with Bennett Paster. As exhibited on their 2001 self-titled debut CD, the Grupo skillfully balances original compositions by Ryan and Paster with Cuban and latin-tinged standards, drawing from Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and American traditions and influences. All Music Guide praises the record's "involved arrangements, passionate solos, and vigorous, spontaneous interplay, all with a melodic and cosmopolitan Latin funk touch." The Grupo has made concert and clinic appearances from New York to California since its inception in 1998. A quartet edition of Grupo Yanqui toured as part of the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center's The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad program in 2006, performing and conducting workshops in Sweden, Russia, Estonia and Serbia-Montenegro. Grupo Yanqui recorded its second CD in May 2006, featuring Paster, Ryan, Hall, trumpeter Alex Norris, saxophonist Chris Cheek, and percussionist Gilad. A 2007 release is planned.
Gregory Ryan uses AMT acoustic bass microphones.
For more information about Ryan, please visit his website: www.gregoryryan.com.
Alex Norris
Dr. Alexander Pope Norris is a native of the Baltimore/ Washington, DC area. A 12-year veteran of the New York Jazz scene, Alex has worked with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, Betty Carter, Avishai Cohen, Gary Thomas, and Lonnie Plaxico. In Latin Jazz, his performing/recording credits include Jerry and Andy Gonzalez, Hilton Ruiz, Poncho Sanchez, and Chico O'Farrill. Alex has also been active in Jazz Education, both as a clinician and as a faculty member at several institutions. For the 2007-2008 academic year, Alex was Visiting Assistant Professor of Jazz Trumpet at the University of Miami. He has recorded as a sideman on many prestigious Jazz record labels, including Blue Note, Verve, Impulse, Sunnyside, Palmetto, and Steeplechase. Norris has one recording as a leader, Alex Norris Quintet-A New Beginning, on the Fresh Sounds/New Talent label.
Chris Cheek
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Chris Cheek played in a variety of group starting with his Jr. High and High School concert and Jazz bands. He attende Webster University and continued on at Berklee College of Music in Bosto where he studied with Herb Pomeroy, Joe Viola, and Hal Crook. Since moving to New York in 1992, Chris has played, recorded and toured with a number of groups including Luciana Souza, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Guillermo Klein's "Los Guachos",Paul Motian, Carla Bley and Charlie Haden's "Liberation Music Orchestra" an the Bill Frisell Quintet. He is also part of "Rudder" a New York-based funky jam band. In addition to appearing on numerous albums, Chris has recorded 4 albums as a leader for the Fresh Sound New Talent label, including his most recent release "Blues Cruise," featuring Brad Meldau, Larry Grenadier and Jorge Rossy.
Yosvany Terry Cabrera
Yosvany Terry Cabrera. Born in Cuba, Mr Terry went on to receive his classical music training and graduated from the prestigious National School of Arts (ENA). While in Cuba, Yosvany worked with Chucho Valdes, Silvio Rodriguez, Cubanismo and Columna "B" among others. Mr Terry moved to New York in 1999 and was immediately recognized as a " spectacular talent " in the Jazz scene, playing with Roy Hargrove, Steve Coleman, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Douglas, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Ravi Coltrane, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, bassist Avishai Cohen, Meshell Ndgeocello, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Eric Revis, Jason Lidner, and the Yosvany Terry Quintet. For more info visit: yosvanyterry.com or myspace/yosvanyterry
Keith Hall
Affectionately known to many as the 'Reverend of Swing', Keith Hall has established himself as a joyful performer and a passionate educator. A protege of jazz drumming great Billy Hart, he has also performed with Betty Carter, Sir Roland Hanna, John Hicks, Wynton Marsalis, Michael Phillip Mossman, Hilton Ruiz, Luciana Souza, Curtis Stigers, Joe Wilder and Steve Wilson. While living in New York City, he was a regular substitute on Broadway's "Lion King," and served as music director at Faith Exchange Fellowship. He represented the U.S. State Department on a European tour with Grupo Yanqui and has appeared on recordings featuring his own groups: The Groov'tet; Paster, Ryan & Hall; and Tri-Fi. Keith currently teaches at Western Michigan University and has lead the band at Christian Life Center in Kalamazoo. He has taught at jazz camps throughout the U.S., presented master classes around the globe, and is the director of the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive.
Gilad
Percussionist, composer, and clinician Gilad has been called "one of the world's top percussionists" by Jazziz magazine. Bill Meredith, assistant editor of Jazziz magazine, said "like Willie Bobo and Alex Acuna, Gilad excels at both drums and percussion - but unlike those great players, the Israel-born, Middle Eastern-inspired player excels at both simultaneously through his hybrid drum/percussion setup."
Gilad's performance and compositional styles draw on diverse range of musical traditions, including Middle Eastern, North African, West African, Brazilian, Classical and Jazz. He shares his musical experience with great musicians such as Mike Stern, Toots Theilemans, Dennis Chambers, Cornelius Bumpus, Randy Brecker, Mark Johnson, Ornette Coleman, Kenny Werner, Oliver Lake, Joshua Redman, Mark Egan, Richard Bona, Uri Caine, Giora Feigman, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and many more.
He has been a member of of Al Di Meola's "World Sinfonia," touring extensively all over the world, and played on the CD "The Grand Passion". For the past few years, Gilad has been playing and touring with legendary jazz singer Mark Murphy, the great bassist Santi Debriano band, Circle Chant, and violin star Regina Carter. He has also been recording and touring with his trios: ON 3 (with Vinny Valentino), and Trio Del Sol (with Freddie Bryant and Misha Piatigorsky). His most recent work has been with The Fleurine and Brad Mehldau band and with Steve Smith and Vital Information. You can hear Gilad's playing on the sound track of the award winning movie "Kissing Jessica Stein."