For more, please visit: http://www.nucleovega.com
Chuck Redd-vibes, John Toomey-piano, James King-bass, Nucleo Vega-drums
Chuck Redd
Chuck Redd made his international debut when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980 at the age of 21. That year, he also began performing extensively with the Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis). With Byrd, Redd traveled around the world and throughout the United States. Also to his credit are three extensive European tours with the Great Guitars and two tours of Japan with the Barney Kessel Trio. He has recorded over 15 albums with Byrd, the Great Guitars, and other artists.
Performances by Chuck include a concert with the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in Africa for the Namibian Independence Celebration, a recital at the White House with the Barney Kessel Trio, concerts at Carnegie Hall with Mel Torme's Quintet, and The Tonight Show. In 2008, he was featured in the finale concert at The Lionel Hampton International Jazz festival with The Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
In addition to leading his own groups, Chuck was a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra for 15 years. He frequently performs in New York City and headlines nationally at festivals and clubs. Chuck is on the faculty at The University of Maryland School of Music and presents master classes, workshops and lectures around the country.
Chuck's newly released Noteworthy CD, "When Redd is Blue" is a collaboration with his brother Robert, featuring saxophonist Harry Allen. His Arbors CD "Happy All The Time," is a critically acclaimed tribute to his mentor, Barney Kessel and features Monty Alexander, Jeff Hamilton and Howard Alden.
John Toomey
John Toomey, jazz pianist, has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Berlin Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival, as well as clubs such as Blues Alley, the Blue Note, and Birdland. He was previously the music director and pianist for jazz trumpet legend Maynard Ferguson, with whom he recorded two CDs. John Toomey currently performs with Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Mark Murphy. Toomey also performs regularly with MaxJazz recording artist Rene Marie, and HouseKat recording artists the Uptown Jazz Vocal Quartet.
The John Toomey Trio has been performing in the Hampton Roads area for the past ten years, since John came to this area to serve as Associate Professor of Jazz Studies at Old Dominion University.
John has performed in concert with such artists as Clark Terry, Milt Hinton, Frank Foster, Ron Carter, Red Mitchell, Bob Mintzer, John Fedchock, Rick Margitza and Joe Kennedy. He has been designated a cultural specialist in Jazz by the United States Information Agency, and has traveled to Africa in that capacity to represent the United States. Toomey was a finalist in the Jacksonville Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and has written several soundtracks for documentaries airing on the History Channel and the Learning Channel. Recent releases include Smile with vocalist Lisanne Lyons, and Refraction, featuring his trio.
James King
Bassist and composer James King was born in Houston, Texas. He has performed with Elvin Jones, Sonny Fortune, Stanley Turrentine, Gary Bartz, Marlena Shaw, Frank Morgan, Mulgrew Miller and Milt Jackson, just to name a few. King is a very gifted composer with a lyrical bass style.
Nucleo Vega
Nucleo Vega is an accomplished performer, educator, author, and clinician. A graduate of the University of Maryland's jazz program, his teachers include Mike Shepherd, Steve Fydik, Sean Rickman, Jeff Ballard, Dave Throckmorton, Robert Miller, Bill Howard, Ron Barnet, Tracy Robinson, Chuck Redd, Chris Vadala, Steve Abshire, and Ron Elliston.
Shortly after graduating college, Nuc was awarded the First Year Educator of the Year award in Howard County, Maryland. He went on to publish his first book at the age of 27, Mel Bay's Understanding Groove for Drumset, which was featured in Modern Drummer, Jazz Times, Drum Magazine, and Drummer Magazine. He currently writes for the drum e-zine Percussion Sessions and has been a guest speaker for Teach for America.
Currently, Nuc is a middle school band director, worship and arts director, and professional drummer in the Baltimore/DC area. He organizes and runs a monthly jazz service and tours with the award winning celtic/world ensemble, Harp 46. Nuc also performs with the DC-based innovative jazz group Never in Denver, as well as with the UMCP Jazz Ensemble. Nucleo is available to do clinics and workshops. For more information, sound and video clips, visit his website: www.nucleovega.com.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=REDDDCHUCK
