We are stoked anticipating as The Bohemian’s ongoing love affair with Jazz hits a solid stride this September when Mark Rapp brings his trumpet and a crew of Walter Blanding and Derek Lee Bronston in to get down while the extraordinary Euphoria food and beverage experience mingles with the swinging sounds of live Jazz. Horizon Records will be running some Jazz Specials on CDs and LPs for anyone with a Rhapsody event ticket. A great night on the corner!

Here’s how to get your ticket. It’s a marvelous way to assist a great charity benefit event.

Space is limited so jump in… euphoriagreenville.com

MARK RAPP
Trumpeter, composer and arranger Mark Rapp is featured alongside Roy Hargrove, Dave Brubeck, Esperanza Spalding, The Bad Plus, Joshua Redman and many more on Disney’s recent release “Everybody Wants to be a Cat” (Feb 2011). With Rapp’s celebrated 2009 debut release “Token Tales” and being named a “Top Emerging Trumpeter” by Downbeat Magazine the year before, Rapp is quickly establishing himself as one of the most interesting, cool and creative artists in modern jazz.

Rapp released an industry first “Applum” (a complete multimedia album experience packaged and distributed for the iPad and iPhone) with The Song Project (thesongproject.net), a unique trio co-led with guitarist/vocalist Derek Lee Bronston and recorded an amazing tribute to Billy Strayhorn (bradenrapp.com) with saxophone great Don Braden, GRAMMY-nominee Gerald Clayton on piano and vocal sensation Sachal Vasandani.

“Good Eats”, Rapp’s first release on the European label Dinemec Jazz (dinemecrecords.com) confirms the high praises showered on his other releases and proves the trumpeter is one of the more versatile and titillating artists to emerge onto the scene in recent memory.

“With a tribute to Billy Strayhorn already under his belt, and this strong Donaldson-based outing added to his discography, Rapp is quickly developing a reputation as a superb interpreter and great stylist, willing to tackle the history of this music with his eyes on the past and his mind on the present and future of this music.” – AllAboutJazz.com

Rapp has played sold out shows at the Blue Note (NY), Joe’s Pub, Yoshi’s (San Fran) and such venues as Blues Alley (D.C.), the JVC Newport Jazz Festival, Dizzy’s at Jazz Lincoln Center, JazzTime Festival (Croatia), Jazzland (Vienna), Jazz Standard (New York) and more. Mark was named a “top emerging trumpeter” by Downbeat Magazine, featured on a Travel Channel documentary and has played with such diverse artists as Branford Marsalis to Hootie and the Blowfish.

“Rapp has his own way of defining jazz, which keeps its standard principles… while delving into the experimental side…” – JazzTimes

WALTER BLANDING
Walter Blanding (saxophone) was born in Cleveland, Ohio and began playing the saxophone at age 6. His grandmother was musical director of their Baptist church and taught music history and theory at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where both his parents attended before becoming professional musicians. At age 10, Walter and his family moved to New York City where, for the next 7 years, he studied with legendary pianist and educator, Barry Harris. During this time, Walter attended LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, while performing regularly with his parents as “The Blanding Family Trio”. He continued his studies at the New School University for Social Research, where he also learned with renowned artists Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Joe Chambers, Jackie Byard, and Jimmy Cobb, to name a few. As a dedicated supporter of education in the arts over the last 18 years, he has taught master classes, clinics and workshops at schools, universities, and institutions in 6 of the 7 continents. Walter has also spent four years in Israel where he had a major impact on the music scene, touring the country with his own quartet and with invited artists from the states, such as Louis Hayes, Eric Reed, Vanessa Rubin, Carl Allen, and others. In addition, he has taught music in several Israeli high schools, and opened his own private school in Tel Aviv. During this period, Newsweek International described him in a feature article as “Jazz Ambassador to Israel” (1998). His debut on the collaboration album produced by Billy Banks, “Tough Young Tenors”, was acclaimed one of the best jazz albums of the year (Billboard, 1991). Walter has performed, toured, and/or recorded with Cab Calloway, Roy Hargrove, Illinois Jacquet, Marcus Roberts, Branford Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, The Count Basie Orchestra, Odean Pope, James Carter, Issac Hayes, and many others. He is also currently a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and of the Wynton Marsalis Quintet. His last CD release is entitled, “The Olive Tree” (Criss Cross Records).

DEREK LEE BRONSTON
Derek Lee Bronston an experienced, multi-genre New York based musician, has 7 records as a leader and co-leader with sideman appearances on many more. This Detroit native has played with Branford Marsalis, Cecil Taylor, Tom Harrel, Billy Bang, The Hush, Mostley, Jerry Gonzalez and Dave Binney to name a few. He tours and records internationally as a singer/songwriter/guitarist.

About Euphoria: http://www.euphoriagreenville.com/about-euphoria
Euphoria will take place September 20-23, 2012