The Northcoast Jazz Collective is one of the premier jazz bands in the
Cleveland area. Voted "Best Jazz Group" by readers of The Free Times in 2008
and readers of Scene Magazine in 2009, the NJC has performed at nearly
every jazz club and festival in Northeast Ohio.
Together as a unit since 2003, featured members are Dan Maier, piano, John
Gallo, acoustic bass, Dave Frank, reeds, and leader Mark Grey on drums.
Collectively, these members bring a great wealth of musical experience and
knowledge to the group. Gallo has worked with groups that include Archie
Shepp, Paroah Sanders, Chick Corea, Carla Bley, Kai Winding, Bill Watrous,
and Charles Moffett. Maier has performed with Clark Terry, Gary Burton,
Junior Cook, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakota Staton, and Harold Danko
-- to name a few. Each member has also worked with numerous local jazz
groups on the Cleveland scene.
The band plays straight up modern jazz that is creative, emotional, and
accessible. Most of the music in their repertoire consists of original
compositions and members’ arrangements of jazz classic. Their approach and
style of writing and performing consists of the collective influences and history
of not only the member’s experiences on the 1960s and 1980s New York Jazz
scenes, but also the modern feel of their present jazz experiences in Cleveland.
The band now has two CDs of original tunes to its credit and another original
CD on the way.
As Peter Chakerian, Managing Editor of Cool Cleveland, wrote: “The NJC
radiates charm, warmth, and the sort of instrumental intuition that only comes
from regular gigging….They're one of the gems of the Northeast Ohio jazz
scene.”
NJC is available for club dates, private parties and other events. For booking
contact Mark Grey at (216) 382-1464 or mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com
Cleveland area. Voted "Best Jazz Group" by readers of The Free Times in 2008
and readers of Scene Magazine in 2009, the NJC has performed at nearly
every jazz club and festival in Northeast Ohio.
Together as a unit since 2003, featured members are Dan Maier, piano, John
Gallo, acoustic bass, Dave Frank, reeds, and leader Mark Grey on drums.
Collectively, these members bring a great wealth of musical experience and
knowledge to the group. Gallo has worked with groups that include Archie
Shepp, Paroah Sanders, Chick Corea, Carla Bley, Kai Winding, Bill Watrous,
and Charles Moffett. Maier has performed with Clark Terry, Gary Burton,
Junior Cook, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakota Staton, and Harold Danko
-- to name a few. Each member has also worked with numerous local jazz
groups on the Cleveland scene.
The band plays straight up modern jazz that is creative, emotional, and
accessible. Most of the music in their repertoire consists of original
compositions and members’ arrangements of jazz classic. Their approach and
style of writing and performing consists of the collective influences and history
of not only the member’s experiences on the 1960s and 1980s New York Jazz
scenes, but also the modern feel of their present jazz experiences in Cleveland.
The band now has two CDs of original tunes to its credit and another original
CD on the way.
As Peter Chakerian, Managing Editor of Cool Cleveland, wrote: “The NJC
radiates charm, warmth, and the sort of instrumental intuition that only comes
from regular gigging….They're one of the gems of the Northeast Ohio jazz
scene.”
NJC is available for club dates, private parties and other events. For booking
contact Mark Grey at (216) 382-1464 or mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com
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| John Gallo (Acoustic Bass) John went to New York City after leaving Baldwin-Wallace College in 1960. He played the New York jazz scene for a number of years, working with big bands such as Larry Elgart and Sal Salvador. He played in post-bop and free jazz groups that included saxophonists Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders, pianist Carla Bley, drummer Charles Moffett, trombonists Kai Winding and Bill Watruss, and world- renowned pianist Chick Corea. After a 30-year “vacation” from the music business, John has returned to jazz and is ready to tear things up. Additionally, John also accompanies Nan O’ around town as part of her trio. John has composed a number of pieces for NJC. |
| Dan Maier (Piano) Dan attended Berklee School of Music and the New England Conservatory studying with Lennie Tristano, Madame Chaloff and Ran Blake. Over the years he has worked with Gary Burton, Clark Terry, Junior Cook, Melvyn Sparks, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakotta Staton and Harold Danko, to name a few. He has also been a member of Philip Glass and Blood, Sweat and Tears with David Clayton-Thomas. Today Dan, along with his wife and daughter, lives in Cleveland Heights. Around town he leads trios, plays solo and works with some of the best musicians in Northeast Ohio. Along with being a member of The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Dan also plays with saxophonist Dave Sterner, vocalists Helen Welch and Nan O’Malley and drummer Ray Porrello, among many others. |
| Dave Frank (Tenor/Soprano Sax, Flute) dfrank@northcoastjazzcollective.com Dave is a native of Northeast Ohio and an alumnus of Ohio University where he specialized in music performance, composition and recording. He was prominent in the jazz scene around the university being featured most often with The Ben Arnold Sextet and the Ohio University Jazz Ensemble. In addition to the Northcoast Jazz Collective, Dave also records and performs with two other bands in the Northeast Ohio area: The Stone Pony Band (Bruce Springsteen/South Side Johnny Tribute Band) www.stoneponyband.com/ and Harrison Fjord (rock/fusion/jazz) www.myspace.com/harrisonfjord . He also is a studio musician for hire and a composer with written pieces being featured not only with the NJC but on the television shows 'Akron After Hours' and previously on 'Northeast Ohio Weddings' and 'Arts Talk.' Dave uses Yanagisawa and Winston saxophones, Dukoff and Selmer mouthpieces, Vandoren reeds (Java and ZZ) and Yamaha flutes. To learn more about Dave go to: www.myspace.com/danksax |
| Mark Grey (Drums) mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com Born to a family of drummers, Mark learned to play drums on his father’s Gene Krupa model Slingerland Drums from the 1950’s. He began at age ten and played from elementary school through college, including with the John Carroll Jazz Band. In addition to playing with jazz trios while in graduate school at the University of Hawaii, Mark has played in Smart Set (big band) and the Equinox Jazz Quartet (be-bop). Mark founded the Northcoast Jazz Collective (Formerly Northcoast Jazz Quartet/Trio) five years ago. His other jazz groups include the Andy Michalec Trio & the Nan O’Malley Quartet. Mark has also performed with jazz jocalist Chris Williams of Los Angeles and jazz violinist Reed Simon. Mark has been featured in an interview on two Cleveland Jazz Shows: Dan Polletta’s, Jazz from the Northcoast on WCPN 90.3 FM and John Simna’s Jazz Up All Night on WRMR 1420am representing the NJC. |
