Dezron Douglas
The Saint Louis College of Music is home to the American double bass and electric bassist Dezron Douglas, one of the most sought-after emerging talents on the international jazz scene, will be in Italy in February for the presentation of Silvia Manco's album, Hip! The Blossom Dearie Songbook, to be released by Parco della Musica/Jando Music, of which the New York musician is the artistic co-producer.
On the occasion of this event, on Friday 15 February, Dezron Douglas will hold a masterclass open to all instrumentalists, aimed at soloists (vocalists and winds) and accompanying instruments (piano, guitar, bass and drums) with the extraordinary participation of the world-famous drummer Roberto Gatto, also present at the concert on February 16 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
The meeting will focus on the rhythm section, in jazz and African American music and on the interaction with soloists, singers and wind instruments: construction, characterization and specificity of the different grooves, distribution of roles and different functions in the rhythm section, right attitude, professional and human, quality and requisites required of an excellent rhythm section and of any professional musician, with a specific attention to the delicate side-man work on record production and on the conduct of a band (leadership, musicianship, division, sharing and awareness of the different roles, choice of repertoire, realization of the record product and projection of the same in perspective). The topics covered will be integrated by the proposals of the participants. In addition, the great rhythmic sections of jazz history will be analyzed through targeted listening and specific material will be provided to work on.
Friday 15 February 2019, h 16: 00-18: 00 | Saint Louis urban street, 49 / a
Credits for academic courses: 1/2 CFA
Participation fees: € 20 for Saint Louis students; € 30 for outdoors
Dezron Douglas, known for his versatility and his deep and solid sense of groove, has to his credit illustrious collaborations with the most important jazz musicians (Jackie McLean, Pharoah Sanders, Cyrus Chestnut, Louis Hayes, George Cables, Al Foster, Ravi Coltrane, Billy Drummond, Steve Davis, Victor Lewis, Mulgrew Miller, Lewis Nash, Kevin Mahogany, Carla Cook, Kenny Garrett, Steve Coleman, Willie Jones III, Jonathan Blake, David Virelles, Adam Rogers, Duane Eubanks, Eric Reed, Tomasz Stanko, Enrico Rava, Joe Lovano, Fabrizio Bosso, Vincent Herring, The Marsalis Family, Makaya McCraven, just to name a few).
Le sue prime influenze sono legate alla Black American Music nel suo senso più vasto, dal Soul al Gospel, praticato sin da piccolo nella band del padre, dall’ R&B al Raggae musiche che hanno forgiato le sue prime esperienze musicali già dai 12 anni di età: il jazz è sempre stato intorno a lui (è il nipote del grande batterista Walter Bolden che ha fatto parte della band della cantante Nancy Wilson, recentemente scomparsa). Il giovanissimo Dezron, incoraggiato dal suo mentore, il grande sassofonista, compositore ed educatore Jackie Mc Lean, entra a far parte del Jackie McLean Institute of African American Music: ha così modo di farsi notare e comincia a collaborare con Nat Reeves, Steve Davis e naturalmente con lo stesso Jackie McLean.
His natural talent combined with his versatility and the tireless study of the great masters of jazz led him to make himself known and to be increasingly in demand and present on the international scene. Today, based in New York, he travels all over the world, both as a side man and as a band leader (recently released his new project Black Lion) alongside the role of professional musician with that of educator.