Larry Vukovich
The sextet is celebrating Miles Davis' enduring jazz legacy and the iconic 1959's quadruple-platinum album "Kind of Blue", which Rolling Stone Magazine called: "one of the most important, influential and popular albums in jazz." Besides Miles, it included such giants as John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly and Jimmy Cobb. Cobb is the last surviving member from the "Kind of Blue" sextet. Larry Vuckovich performed with Jimmy Cobb in 2013 doing the Kind of Blue presentation in the Napa Valley including the same frontline of Andrew Speight, Joel Behrman, and Steve Heckman.
LARRY VUCKOVICH - Yugoslavian-born, San Francisco-based pianist, composer, bandleader and recording artist, has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences for his deeply imaginative style and repertoire heard at prestigious North American and European jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals. His major piano influences are Bud Powell, Red Garland, Bill Evans, Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones. The New York Times notes that his unique outlook and collection of influences “set him apart from most pianists who are heard regularly in New York.” He has played with legends from several eras: Dexter Gordon, Philly Joe Jones, Mel Tormé, Don Byas and Red Norvo, to today’s seasoned players: Charlie Haden, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby McFerrin, Tom Harrell and Charles McPherson. He led the Keystone Korner house trio in San Francisco for five years before moving to the New York scene, where he played at Village Vangaurd, Blue Note, Birdland, and Bradley's. When he returned to San Francisco, Larry presented numerous music programs with legendary Bay Area musicians, including a first-time, week-long jazz festival at Kimballs East of West Coast All-Stars: Harold Land, Leroy Vinnegar, Conte Candoli, Buddy Collette, Vernon Alley, Allen Smith, Red Holloway and Eugene Wright. He was also artistic director of the former Napa Valley Jazz Festival in Yountville. He tours nationally and internationally, including an appearance with his Jazz-Latin quartet at the Lincoln Center Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, and a performance interview with pianist Marian McPartland on her Piano Jazz show, aired on NPR affiliates globally. He has drawn the attention of the American film world with highly favorable reviews of his recent CDs from the noted cinema critic Leonard Maltin. His recent recordings have placed in the top 10 of the national jazz radio charts, his last one, Somethin’ Special, with internationally-known tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, hit #3. https://www.larryvuckovich.com
JEFF CHAMBERS, A talented and versatile bassist, Chambers is known for his impeccable timing, dynamic rhythms and improvisational dexterity. Chambers musical style is both lyrical and playful. With his distinct touch, smooth sound and innovative sensibility he travels the vast tradition of rhythm-fueled bass playing, skillfully referencing his predecessors while exploring new musical territory. Jeff has performed with such masters as Freddie Hubbard, Buddy Montgomery, Ahmad Jamal, Bobby Hutcherson and numerous others.
STEVE HECKMAN, multi-saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist and composer of more than 120 jazz tunes, projects the authentic phrasing and feeling of the classic John Coltrane concept. He grew up in New York City, home to numerous jazz players, before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1977. He is co-founder of the San Francisco Chamberjazz Quartet with pianist Gini Wilson He has played with such notables as Eddie Henderson, Howard McGhee, Slam Stewart, Chet Baker, Tom Harrell-Larry Vuckovich Quintet, Roswell Rudd, Andrew Hill, Benny Green, George Cables, Billy Higgins and Pete Escovedo. Saxophonists as diverse as Stan Getz, Charles Lloyd and Pharoah Sanders have praised his work. One of Steve’s previous CD’s as a leader, Live at Yoshi’s, received international praise, and was chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the 10 best albums by a Bay Area jazz musician for 2005. His most recent CD, Born to be Blue, on Jazzed Media, features New York guitar great Howard Alden, and is on the national jazz radio charts. https://www.steveheckman.com
JOEL BEHRMAN, has studied with world-class improviser Ira Sullivan, who like Joel, played both trumpet and trombone. Besides Miles, Joel was strongly influenced by such jazz trumpet heavyweights as Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddy Hubbard and Woody Shaw. He has performed with the likes of Joe Henderson, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Joe Lovano, big band leader Maria Schneider, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin and Natalie Cole. A St. Louis native and graduate of University of Miami, Joel leads his own sextet, has played with various salsa and New Orleans-style bands and toured with such groups as The Four Tops and The Temptations. He performs widely with Pete Escovedo and currently tours internationally with Pete's daughter, percussion star Sheila E. He also works with top Bay Area horn players in swing/blues song stylist Lavay Smith's "Red Hot Skillet Lickers." https://www.joelbehrman.com
ANDREW SPEIGHT is a clear-toned, hard-driving alto sax player and be-bop virtuoso. Growing up in Sydney, Australia, his early exposure to jazz came from his father, a pianist who often accompanied touring American jazz artists. Andrew cut his teeth playing with such American jazz legends, such as Percy Heath, Nat Adderley and Benny Carter, as they passed through town. He formed his own band, Now's the Time, to perform in the Art Blakey style he had grown to love. Andrew’s jazz epiphany occurred when he got to see Sonny Stitt perform live, and he’s never looked back. Andrew has received the Aria Award in Australia, the American equivalent of a Grammy. He has performed and toured with Jimmy Cobb in a tribute to Cannonball along with Nat Adderley who headed that ensemble.
Larry Vukovich
The sextet is celebrating Miles Davis' enduring jazz legacy and the iconic 1959's quadruple-platinum album "Kind of Blue", which Rolling Stone Magazine called: "one of the most important, influential and popular albums in jazz." Besides Miles, it included such giants as John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly and Jimmy Cobb. Cobb is the last surviving member from the "Kind of Blue" sextet. Larry Vuckovich performed with Jimmy Cobb in 2013 doing the Kind of Blue presentation in the Napa Valley including the same frontline of Andrew Speight, Joel Behrman, and Steve Heckman.
LARRY VUCKOVICH - Yugoslavian-born, San Francisco-based pianist, composer, bandleader and recording artist, has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences for his deeply imaginative style and repertoire heard at prestigious North American and European jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals. His major piano influences are Bud Powell, Red Garland, Bill Evans, Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones. The New York Times notes that his unique outlook and collection of influences “set him apart from most pianists who are heard regularly in New York.” He has played with legends from several eras: Dexter Gordon, Philly Joe Jones, Mel Tormé, Don Byas and Red Norvo, to today’s seasoned players: Charlie Haden, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby McFerrin, Tom Harrell and Charles McPherson. He led the Keystone Korner house trio in San Francisco for five years before moving to the New York scene, where he played at Village Vangaurd, Blue Note, Birdland, and Bradley's. When he returned to San Francisco, Larry presented numerous music programs with legendary Bay Area musicians, including a first-time, week-long jazz festival at Kimballs East of West Coast All-Stars: Harold Land, Leroy Vinnegar, Conte Candoli, Buddy Collette, Vernon Alley, Allen Smith, Red Holloway and Eugene Wright. He was also artistic director of the former Napa Valley Jazz Festival in Yountville. He tours nationally and internationally, including an appearance with his Jazz-Latin quartet at the Lincoln Center Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, and a performance interview with pianist Marian McPartland on her Piano Jazz show, aired on NPR affiliates globally. He has drawn the attention of the American film world with highly favorable reviews of his recent CDs from the noted cinema critic Leonard Maltin. His recent recordings have placed in the top 10 of the national jazz radio charts, his last one, Somethin’ Special, with internationally-known tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, hit #3. https://www.larryvuckovich.com
JEFF CHAMBERS, A talented and versatile bassist, Chambers is known for his impeccable timing, dynamic rhythms and improvisational dexterity. Chambers musical style is both lyrical and playful. With his distinct touch, smooth sound and innovative sensibility he travels the vast tradition of rhythm-fueled bass playing, skillfully referencing his predecessors while exploring new musical territory. Jeff has performed with such masters as Freddie Hubbard, Buddy Montgomery, Ahmad Jamal, Bobby Hutcherson and numerous others.
STEVE HECKMAN, multi-saxophonist/flutist/clarinetist and composer of more than 120 jazz tunes, projects the authentic phrasing and feeling of the classic John Coltrane concept. He grew up in New York City, home to numerous jazz players, before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1977. He is co-founder of the San Francisco Chamberjazz Quartet with pianist Gini Wilson He has played with such notables as Eddie Henderson, Howard McGhee, Slam Stewart, Chet Baker, Tom Harrell-Larry Vuckovich Quintet, Roswell Rudd, Andrew Hill, Benny Green, George Cables, Billy Higgins and Pete Escovedo. Saxophonists as diverse as Stan Getz, Charles Lloyd and Pharoah Sanders have praised his work. One of Steve’s previous CD’s as a leader, Live at Yoshi’s, received international praise, and was chosen by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the 10 best albums by a Bay Area jazz musician for 2005. His most recent CD, Born to be Blue, on Jazzed Media, features New York guitar great Howard Alden, and is on the national jazz radio charts. https://www.steveheckman.com
JOEL BEHRMAN, has studied with world-class improviser Ira Sullivan, who like Joel, played both trumpet and trombone. Besides Miles, Joel was strongly influenced by such jazz trumpet heavyweights as Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddy Hubbard and Woody Shaw. He has performed with the likes of Joe Henderson, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Joe Lovano, big band leader Maria Schneider, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin and Natalie Cole. A St. Louis native and graduate of University of Miami, Joel leads his own sextet, has played with various salsa and New Orleans-style bands and toured with such groups as The Four Tops and The Temptations. He performs widely with Pete Escovedo and currently tours internationally with Pete's daughter, percussion star Sheila E. He also works with top Bay Area horn players in swing/blues song stylist Lavay Smith's "Red Hot Skillet Lickers." https://www.joelbehrman.com
ANDREW SPEIGHT is a clear-toned, hard-driving alto sax player and be-bop virtuoso. Growing up in Sydney, Australia, his early exposure to jazz came from his father, a pianist who often accompanied touring American jazz artists. Andrew cut his teeth playing with such American jazz legends, such as Percy Heath, Nat Adderley and Benny Carter, as they passed through town. He formed his own band, Now's the Time, to perform in the Art Blakey style he had grown to love. Andrew’s jazz epiphany occurred when he got to see Sonny Stitt perform live, and he’s never looked back. Andrew has received the Aria Award in Australia, the American equivalent of a Grammy. He has performed and toured with Jimmy Cobb in a tribute to Cannonball along with Nat Adderley who headed that ensemble.
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