The Alluvion Jazz Series proudly welcomes Bill Sears back with his outstanding quintet featuring:
Gary Motley - Piano
Christopher Minami - Guitar
Christian Dillingham - Bass
Sean Dobbins - Drums
All ages - General Admission
Seated Listening Room Style Show
Doors & bar open at 7:00 PM - Show starts at 7:30
Tickets $30 in advance - $35 at the door
Tickets on sale for Deep End members only until July 9
BILL SEARS
Saxophonist Bill Sears is revered by jazz audiences throughout the state of Michigan and the Upper Midwest. A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Bill received the BM and MM degrees from Indiana University after which he moved to Chicago, quickly becoming a core member of the city's vibrant jazz scene. Bill moved to the Grand Traverse region in 1987 when he accepted the position as Director of Jazz Studies and instructor of saxophone at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, a position he held for 34 years until his retirement in May of 2021.
Bill enjoyed touring the US and Europe with the Ray Charles band. Additional jazz greats with whom he has performed include Dizzy Gillespie, Bob James, Peter Erskine, Geoffrey Keezer, Rick Margitza, Rodney Whitaker, saxophonist Bill Evans and many others. He has shared the stage with a plethora of great vocalists in the jazz and popular genres including, but not limited to: Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Wayne Newton and Maureen McGovern; and groups such as The Temptations, Four Tops, Spinners, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Manhattan Transfer, Supremes, Liberace, Henry Mancini, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Appearing on about 20 albums, Bill has released two albums as a leader: Chasin’ The Goal with fellow saxophonist Rick Margitza, and With One Accord with the Arts Center Jazz Collective. Both albums feature not only his unique voice as a saxophonist and improviser, but several of his original compositions.
GARY MOTLEY
Gary Motley embarked on a solo career in 1994 and is at the forefront of jazz in the southeastern United States. Based in Atlanta, he has captivated audiences in venues around the world. His career achievements as a recording artist, composer, performer, arranger, educator and piano virtuoso led to his induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 2015. Making artistic expression his life’s work, he has performed with notable artists of the jazz world ranging from Dave Brubeck to Regina Carter and Kenny Barron and was featured on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland. Recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Gary explores many genres of music while maintaining a relentless standard of excellence.
In addition to his work as an artist, he composes, arranges, and produces music for an extensive network of artists, virtual platforms, and musical settings. He created arrangements for Cynthia Erivo, Freddy Cole, Eroica Trio, The Atlanta Master Chorale, Jennifer Holiday, The Science Gallery of Dublin, Keith David, Carmen Bradford, The Vega String Quartet, Barbara Morrison, The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, and countless others. In 2020, he was commissioned to arrange a musical work for TED Countdown, a global initiative to address climate change.
Gary is committed to music education and awareness. He is Professor of Practice and founding Director of Jazz Studies at Emory University. He is also a member of the Jazz Education Network and the National Academy of Recording Art and Sciences.
CHRISTOPHER MINAMI
Christopher Minami is one of the finest archtop guitarists of the current generation. Minami has won national competitions, grants, tours and has shared the stage with greats such as Rodney Whitaker, Michael Dease, Geoffrey Keezer, Bobby Floyd, and Camille Thurman.
A native of Florida, Minami completed his undergraduate degree in both classical and jazz guitar at Florida State University’s College of Music in the studio of Bruce Holzman. While at FSU, Minami was a member of the Jazz Honors Band under the direction of Marcus Roberts. Minami recently completed his master's in jazz studies at the Michigan State University College of Music in the studio of Randy Napoleon.
Minami is featured on Napoleon’s latest record “Waking Dream” set to be released on August 22nd on Origin Records. “Chris Minami is another exceptional player and person. While he can certainly burn, the element that stands out to me about his playing is his lyricism.” - Randy Napoleon
Minami maintains a private guitar studio and has taught at prestigious institutions such as the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Brevard Music Center, and Michigan State University.
CHRISTIAN DILLINGHAM
Versatile. Dynamic. Compelling. Grammy Award-winning bassist Christian Dillingham is “a 21st Century artist to keep an eye on...” (Chicago Jazz). A sought-after collaborator, his nuanced interpretations, dynamic performances, and expressive musicality are praised in the jazz, classical and recording arenas.
A regular presence in Chicago’s rich jazz scene, Dillingham has performed and recorded with dozens of distinguished musicians. Amongst those he has performed with are Sean Jones, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Terreon Gully, Herlin Riley, Bobby Broom, Peter Bernstein, Jazzmeia Horn, and Victor Goines. Venue credits include the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, Hungry Brain, Constellation Chicago, Andy’s Jazz Club, Elastic Arts, and Chicago Jazz Festival, among others. Dillingham also leads his own band, The Christian Dillingham Quartet, which features his original compositions.
A prolific recording artist, Dillingham appears on over 20 albums in the Jazz genre alone. In the classical field, he also appears on albums by the Chicago Sinfonietta and Camerata Chicago. A recording artist with Greenleaf Music, Dillingham has released one album on the New York-based label: Cascades, his acclaimed debut recording (“Christian Dillingham and his music deserve attention… I already look forward to the next work from this outstanding bass player and composer.” -Nettavisen); his soon-to-be released second album, Halcyon, out October 11, 2024. An acclaimed up-and-coming composer, his own works can be heard on both albums. Dillingham will also appear on two upcoming Present Music albums.
A native of Brookfield, Ohio, Christian Dillingham holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance with an Emphasis on Jazz from Youngstown State University, and a Master of Music degree in Music Performance from Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University, where he worked with Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Bass Jeffrey Turner. Dillingham also attended the National Repertory Orchestra Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado and the School for Improvisational Music in New York. A champion of music education, Dillingham will teach double bass and coach chamber music at Northern Illinois University beginning this fall 2024. He recently completed a four-year tenure as a faculty member at Indiana University.
SEAN DOBBINS
Sean Dobbins got his start as sought-after Detroit area jazz sideman at a young age, when he would regularly play with Blue Note artist Louis Smith. As Sean’s Career progressed, he found himself the recipient of many awards and accolades including the “Woody Herman Jazz Award”, an award for outstanding musicianship, as well as the Louis Armstrong Scholarship. Due to Sean’s great talent both as a player and an educator, he has been the focus of countless news articles, jazz radio programs, and documentaries.
Though still young by jazz standards, Dobbins has amassed an impressive list of playing companions. He has performed/toured/recorded with Johnny Basset, Benny Golson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Frank Morgan, Joey DeFrancesco, George Cables, James “Blood” Ulmer, Marcus Belgrave, Larry Willis, Rodney Whittaker, Claude Black, Johnny O’Neal, Paul Keller, Tad Weed, Kurt Krahnke, Jon Hendricks, David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Walden, Cyrus Chesnut, Barry Harris, David Baker, Randy Johnston, Marion Hayden, Mose Allison, and a host of other great musicians.
Sean’s sound can best be described as hard-driving, solid rhythm with refreshing melodic sensibility. Some of Sean’s influences include Art Blakey, Jeff Hamilton, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Ed Thigpen, Sonny Payne, as well as Detroit area greats Gerald Cleaver and the one and only Elvin Jones.
Tickets on sale for Deep End members only until July 9
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