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MUSIC DC Scene

Cedric C. Givens - composer and multi-instrumentalist

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Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Cedric's passion for music began when he was a child. First with playing drums in the school band in elementary and high school, later his interest evolving into playing both the guitar and piano. While growing up, he says his most significant musical development originated amidst his "garage

Cedric Givens
One Of A Kind (2016)		 
band" experience when he and his musical friends would gather at his house for jam sessions. They played R&B, Rock, Fusion and Jazz. They tapped into the "essence of the funk" and played the music of groups like the Parliament Funkadelic and the Ohio Players. This is the musical life force that energized him and the other members of the band. After graduating from high school, Cedric attended and graduated from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL where he obtained a degree in Business. Out of college, he returned to St. Petersburg where he taught himself how to play the piano. He says this instrument "became the foundation for much of his songwriting and performing". He began collaborating with guitarist Roberto Tyson to write songs together to record their first album "Nemesis Bleu" (1997). Cedric says he went on hiatus for a few years, but "got the spark again after having an opportunity to sit in on stage with musical giant George Duke". Cedric and guitarist Roberto Tyson reconnected on new material for a new group "N-GROOVE" which resulted in the creation of the “It’s who we are” (2008) CD. This CD features Senegalese bassist Cheikh Ndoye who collaborated on the project. Cedric is working on the next N-Groove CD which he says revisits his R&B and Funk roots. Links - Reverbnation, CD Baby and DC Bebop.

MUSIC INTERNATIONAL

Saxophonist & composer Rocco Ventrella

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"The Italian American saxophone player Rocco Ventrella has enjoyed a Pre-Grammy Nomination Contemporary Jazz Best Album 2007 Top 50 and scored Top 20 smooth jazz radio stations with 5 tracks of the CD: Soulful Strut, Winelight, Alleria, On The Night, and Give Me The Groove and gotten quotes from George Duke, Everette Harp, Dave Koz, Marion Meadows, Chris Standring and more.

Rocco Ventrella
Tres Palabras (2013) (Single)		 
Rocco Ventrella appeared in selected jazz festivals include the James Brown Festival in Georgia, the 1st Annual Smooth Jazz Festival in Austria, The Cube Smooth Jazz Festival with Brian Culbertson in Austria, the Augsburg Smooth Jazz Festival in Germany plus performances in Luxembourg, the UK, the USA, the France. Actually Rocco continuous to play in the world. He shared and sharing the stages with most respected smooth jazz artists such as Peter White, Candy Dulfer, Renato Falaschi, Oli Silk, Mindi Abair, Paul Brown, Gerald Albright, Brian Culbertson, Nick Colionne, Jackiem Joyner, Nils, Jessy J., Marion Meadows, Jaared, Jonathan Fritzen and more." ~ From Official short bio (pdf)   Links: Website, Facebook and DC Bebop page.

MUSIC US East 

Ragan Whiteside - flutist, vocalist and songwriter

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Ragan is originally from Mount Vernon, New York. She began her study of musical at the age of 5. She took piano lessons, played drums, and eventually gravitated to the study of the violin, but in the final analysis, she chose playing the flute and studying classical music. She also discovered a love of songwriting and arranging. Ragan studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and

Ragan Whiteside
Treblemakder (2017)		 
the Harid Conservatory, where she earned her Bachelor of Music - Performance degree. After graduating, she returned to New York to advance her musical dream, and while there she took a major turn from her chosen path of Classical music to follow her interests for Jazz, Funk, and R&B. In 2006, she won the Capital Jazz Challenge at the Capital Jazz Festival. She returned to the festival in 2007 with a new "critically acclaimed" album, Class Axe. She penned half the songs on the album. It was produced by Pianist/Arranger Bob Baldwin and Engineer/Arranger Dennis Johnson.  During her career, Ragan has performed with Earl Klugh, Gerald Veasley, Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Eric Darius, Kim Waters, Marion Meadows, and Grammy Award winning opera singer Esther Hinds, and Bob Baldwin. Links: Reverbnation, Website, Jazz Review Interview and DCBebop page.

MUSIC US West 

Anton Schwartz - Saxophonist, composer, record producer, educator

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Anton was born and raised in New York City. "He attended the The Dalton School, during which time he studied jazz privately with Warne Marsh and Eddie Daniels" He studied advanced mathematics during high school at New York University and Columbia University, moving on to earn his Bachelor's,

Anton Schwartz
Flash Mob (2014)		 
Phi Beta Kappa, in Mathematics and Philosophy at Harvard University and was in the Doctoral program in Computer Science at Stanford University where he pursued research in artificial Intelligence, specializing in reinforcement learning. While gifted with a scientific mind, Anton found the call of music to have a greater pull. After receiving his Master of Science degree, he left the world of science to become a full-time musician, Anton can be found performing at many venues throughout the U.S., but notably appears periodically at Yoshi's, performs at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, and performed with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall (2014). He is "a faculty member of the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California, has taught frequently at The Stanford Jazz Workshop, and has been Artist-In-Residence at Harvard University and The Brubeck Institute." During his musical career, "he has released five CDs as a leader, on his own Antonjazz label." Links: Reverbnation, Wikipedia, Facebook, Website and DC Bebop page

MUSIC BANDS

Ancient Future

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Ancient Future, is a large musical family of world fusion music ensembles led by scalloped fretboard guitarist Matthew Montfort. The group is dedicated to music termed by Matthew Montfort as "world fusion music". To date, Ancient Future is the world's first and longest running band dedicated to the creation

Ancient Future (2004)
Visions of a Peaceful Planet		 
of world fusion music, which blends musical ideas from many different cultures. The   Asia". Their music is "an exhilarating fusion of exciting rhythms and exotic soundsfrom around the globe". It is worth noting that all of the members of Ancient Future have studied with or performed professionally with "master musicians of many world music traditions, from Balinese gamelan director Made Gerindem to North Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan". Ancient Future is credited with having created "a musical world without borders". Link: Website, Facebook, Reverbnation and DC Bebop page. DC Bebop Page.

MUSIC CD ARCHIVE: ONECD

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Close But No Cigar (2018) "Lamarr and company are very good at imitating the grooves of famous musicians, but the group has more than imitative works up its collective sleeves. Each tune on this record is drenched in hot buttered soul, as culinary-themed groovers like “Between the Mayo and the Mustard” and “Raymond Brings the Greens” would suggest. These tracks are riff-based organ jams that feature not only Lamarr’s skillful mastery of the percussive qualities of his instrument, but also skillful manipulation of two chord vamps by James and McGraw and some downright delicious soloing by James (including what sounds like a quote from David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” on the latter)."   ~ Black Grooves, Website, Facebook and YouTube

MUSIC CD ARCHIVE: DOUBLECD

Jessy J
Jessy J - Live at Yoshi's 10 Year Anniversary Special (2018) "The recording of this CD is a festive celebration of the 10-year anniversary of “Tequila Moon,” which propelled a remarkable career for the saxophonist. Recording the Yoshi’s Jazz Club event with her powerhouse band will capture the essence of Jessy J, which fans know is most readily heard when she commands a live performance. Performing with Jessy will be longtime band members, drummer Iajhi Hampden and bassist Frank Abraham. Keyboardist/pianist Jay Rowe and guitarist Michael Angel will round out her group at the Yoshi’s concert."   ~ TheJazzWorld.com, Website, Facebook, YouTube, Reverbnation and Discography
Jessy J - My One And Only One (2015) "Written, arranged and produced by Jessy J, My One And Only One is her fifth studio album (and second for Shanachie, who also released 2013"™s Second Chances). With 10 songs that ebb and flow between the heat of the midday sun and the resplendent glow of a starry-filled night, Only One has the feel of an instant classic, for life"™s journeys, both in the physical and spiritual worlds."    ~ Review - theurbanmusicscene.com

MUSIC CD ARCHIVES:
DOUBLECD  - SINGLES  - ONECD

*The most recent featured musicians and play lists from the five Music listings on DC Bebop.   A musician listed on a DC Bebop page with an intro, is featured for 10 days with one of their songs.  Included in the play list are songs by nine other musicians in a table on DC Bebop. The songs are linked to a page (MySpace, Reverbnation, YouTube or where ever the song can be heard). The play list is not a top 10 list. It features songs I liked and think perhaps others might appreciate the music as well.
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