Piedmont Piano Company is pleased to present
The Jemal Ramirez Group with Eric Reed
The Jemal Ramirez Group is a San Francisco Bay Area based jazz group that delivers high powered music. They have performed at the 2018 San Jose Jazz Festival, The Sonoma Valley Jazz Society’s, “Barn Series” and the “Tuesday Nights in Downtown Sonoma”, Piedmont Piano Co., Cafe Stritch and Cafe Pink House. The Jemal Ramirez Group’s most recent release, African Skies, made the Jazz Week chart—peaking at #9 and continuing to receive National Radio Airplay. Downbeat Magazine gave the Jemal Ramirez Group a 4 star review in their June 2018 issue.
$20 General Admission
JEMAL RAMIREZ
Called “Mr. Ramirez” by 200+ public school music students daily in the greater San Jose Area, Jemal Ramirez keeps busy as a band director and percussion instructor. He is a self-proclaimed agent for promoting instrumental music within the lives of people of all ages, which motivates his teaching, performances and self-released and owned recordings as a bandleader.
As a sideman, Jemal has performed with Joshua Redman, Marcus Shelby, Dayna Stephens, Howard Wiley, Bob Kenmotsu, Andrew Speight, Eric Reed, Ambrose Akinmusire, Mike Olmos and other notable contemporary musicians.
ERIC REED
Through more than a quarter- century as a first-caller on the jazz scene, Eric Reed has articulated this inclusive conception as a leader of numerous ensembles, solo performer, composer, producer, educator, and sideman with numerous artists, including extended stints with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Buster Williams, and Wynton Marsalis. Whatever the context, whatever the style, he consistently animates the flow with fresh ideas, virtuosic chops, intellectual clarity and an unwavering will to groove.
JAMES MAHONE
Jazz Saxophonist James Mahone has performed throughout the U.S., Japan, and Europe for over 30 years. In the early 1990s, James was the composer for popular jazz band Black Note. Mahone has performed alongside Wynton Marsalis, Eric Reed, Billy Higgins, Gil-Scott Heron, El De Barge, Josh Redman, and Roy Hargrove, Reggie Workman, Billy Harper, Arnie Lawrence, and R&B band The Chesterfields.
JOEL BEHRMAN CONTINUING THE ST. LOUIS TRUMPET LEGACY
Joel Behrman grew up in Belleville Illinois, a St. Louis suburb. At age 9 he started on his first instrument, trombone, a horn he still plays frequently today. He went on to earn his music degree at the University of Miami, studying with world-class improvisers like Ira Sullivan, Barry Ries, John Bailey, Jason Carder and Al Hood. Joel has performed with such notables as Jimmy Cobb, Helen Sung, Chester Thompson, Dayna Stephens, and is currently touring with drumming superstar, Sheila E as well as her father, the latin jazz legend, Pete Escovedo. Since moving to the San Francisco bay area, he's performed with several local jazz musicians including Marcus Shelby, Tiffany Austin, Howard Wiley, Anton Schwartz, Larry Vuckovich, Jules Broussard, and Lavay Smith. In 2012 he released his debut album, Steppin’ Back.
Outside of the jazz world, Joel has toured with American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips, K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Boz Scaggs. He's also performed with Etta James, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Tony! Toni! Tone!, The Funk Brothers and Josh Groban.
GIULIO XAVIER CETTO
Giulio Xavier Cetto is a rising star in the SF Bay area. He started as a singer, began violin lessons at the age of six, and began studying the piano shortly after. Giulio eventually switched to the bass at age 13.
Growing up in a musical household where both parents were musicians, Giulio was exposed to his dad as a choir director with a doctorate in music and his mother, a classically trained pianist and Boston Conservatory alumni.
Giulio is quickly becoming a top call bassist in the SF Bay and Beyond, having played with Sean Jones, Theo Croker, Mike Olmos, James Mahone, Joel Ross, Javier Santiago and many other upcoming contemporary musicians.