Kenny Washington, Drums, 1958, New York, NY
Kenny was in his early teens when he decided to become a jazz musician, and was fortunate to study with Rudy Collins who had worked in the Dizzy Gillespie big-band. He attended the High School of Music and Art where he continued to study music. While a teenager he was playing well enough to sit in with the Lee Konitz nonet in the mid '70s, and also work with Betty Carter's group. He then continued freelancing with musicians such as Kenny Burrell, Milt Jackson, George Coleman, Tommy Flanagan, and Benny Goodman. Several times he sat in for Dannie Richmond in the Mingus Dynasty orchestra. From 1980 into the 1990s he frequently worked with Johnny Griffin, and from the late '80s he also played with Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Dizzy Gillespie. Kenny is capable of working in all styles of jazz, and his contribution enhances any group or individual without drawing attention to himself. He teaches jazz drums at New York's New School and continues to work with various groups in the New York area. Kenny also hosts a weekly programme of big-band jazz on one of the local New York radio stations.
Hilton Ruiz, Piano, 1952, New York, NY
Hilton, who was born in Puerto Rico, was a child prodigy, and before he was ten years old had appeared on television and at Carnegie Hall. When in his teens he played with Latin-soul bands, and recorded with Ray Jay and the East Siders. By the age of 20 he had worked with Cal Massey, Joe Newman, Frank Foster, Freddie Hubbard, and George Coleman. During the '70s Hilton played and toured with Rashan Roland Kirk, George Coleman, and Mary Lou Williams. He also played for a short time with Mingus, Archie Shepp, and Chico Freeman. Beginning in the 1980s Hilton has toured with his own groups, usually featuring a piano-bass-drums trio with additional percussionists at times. Hilton's knowledge of mainstream jazz, enlivens his already exciting approach to playing Latin music.
Wycliffe Gordon, Trombone, 1967, Waynesboro, GA
Wycliffe was introduced to music by his father, a classical pianist and teacher. He started on the trombone (his older brother also played), before he was in his teens. Also, when very young, he inherited a large collection of jazz records from a relative, and became hooked on the music forever. He has an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, and educator, receiving high praise wherever he plays throughout the world. He tours frequently with his own group and appears at concerts and festivals throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. The musicians he has appeared with reads like a who's who in the world of jazz. He has been a featured guest with Billy Taylor's Jazz At Kennedy Center and has done extensive work with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Gordon has also recorded numerous times with Wynton Marsalis's Septet. Wycliffe is also a gifted composer and arranger, contributing his charts to many groups. He was commissioned to compose the music for the 1925 classic silent film "Body And Soul" which was the screen debut of Paul Robeson, and was shown at the Lincoln Center in 2001. On television, Gordon has appeared on the 1999 Grammy Awards, in the PBS special documentary Swingin With The Duke, and in two new Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts- Uptown Blues, Ellington at 100, and Big Train with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Gordon is rapidly becoming one of America's most prominent and committed music educators. He is a member of the faculty of the newly established Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School and is also Artist-in-Residence at the School Of Music at Michigan State University. He works with young musicians, from elementary school to the university level, in this country and abroad, having the wonderful ability to easily communicate with students of all ages.
