RENOWNED JAZZ TRIO TO PERFORM ON THE BRANFORD TOWN GREEN AUGUST 2
Jazz Guitarist Gene Bertoncini, pianist Donn Trenner and versatile bassist Dave Daddario will unite on the and perform in the Branford Jazz Series 2012 summer concert series on Thursday, August 2nd starting at 6:30 p.m.
Known as one of the pre-eminent jazz guitarists active today, Gene Bertoncini has won international praise and accolades as the “Segovia of Jazz”, due to his fluid technique and lyricism. Gene has been heard with an extraordinary range of jazz greats, including: Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws and Paul Desmond as well as distinguished singers as Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Vic Damone, and Edye Gorme.
Gene’s CD, Someone to Light Up My Life, won international raves including recognition in Brazilian critic’s and listener’s pools, who named him as the best acoustic jazz guitarist. His releases include a striking CD, Body and Soul, and his Acoustic Romance, reached the top 10 of the jazz playlists. His most recent CD, Quiet Now, was released in March of 2005.
A prolific and popular studio musician, he performed for two years when Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show and he has worked with composers and arrangers such as Lalo Schifrin and Michael Le Grand and performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Gene has performed in many jazz festivals in London. In addition to an active performing and recording schedule, Gene teaches at the Eastman School of Music and William Patterson University. A New York City native, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in architecture.
“I love the idea of performing on the Branford Town Green for the Jazz Series,” said Bertoncini. “Music and in particular, jazz is my calling. This honor is so satisfying to me.”
Appearing on nearly 100 jazz albums starting in the 1950’s forward, pianist Donn Trenner came up in the ranks of bebop pianists and became even better known for his activities as a conductor and musical arranger for a variety of vocalists and television show hosts. Donn’s most famous gig was leading the band on the Steve Allen Show, which was the original prototype for the incredibly popular Tonight Show. As a combo pianist, he worked with players such as Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Oscar Pettiford, Dave Pell, Howard McGhee, Charles Mingus, and Ben Webster, some of this playing taking place from his move from Connecticut to the west coast.
Donn’s eventual expertise conducting large groups was no doubt polished while playing piano in jazz bands led by Charlie Barnet, Tommy Dorsey and Les Brown. The Brown band became a ticket into another type of show business entirely, one that would prove to have a much larger audience than the experimental bebop sound. Brown went to work for comedian Bob Hope, taking Trenner with him, resulting in engagements as a combination music director, pianist, and arranger for Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Jack Jones, Dick Haynes, Ann-Margret and the Allen television assignment.
“I am honored to be in Branford for the Jazz Series this summer,” said Trenner.
Dave Daddario, is an acclaimed acoustic and electric bass player, also a drummer, multi-instrumentalist and public school band director. Dave has experience playing a wide variety of musical styles and has performed engagements with many famous musicians and entertainers in Jazz, R & B, Motown, Rock, Gospel, and Country small combos, big bands, pit, show and symphony orchestras, in different venues throughout the east coast and Florida. Some of the more notable performers include his father, Gene Daddario, Donn Trenner, Sonny Costanzo, Dr. Joe Cardinele, Chubby Clark, Ede Cercone, Ernie Mazza, Clay Aiken, Frankie Avalon, Pete Barbuti, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Part Boone, Victor Borge, Gary Burton, Cab Calloway, Petula Clark, Coasters, Drifters & the Platters, Judy Collins, Harry Connick Jr., Eddie Daniels, Fabian, Fifth Dimension, Sergio Francie, Four Freshman, Robert Goulet, Jerry Lewis, Al Martino, Anthony Newley, Osmond Brothers, Regis Philben, Joe Piscopo, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Debby Reynolds, Bobby Rydell, Red Skelton, the Smothers Brothers, Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show, Rob Zappulla and Harold Zinno.
“This is a great experience to perform with friends on the beautiful town green in front of a huge and receptive audience at the Branford Jazz Series,” said Daddario.
For more information on Bertoncini, Trenner, and Daddario and future artists of the 2012 Branford Jazz Series, please visit: www.branfordjazz.com. For questions about the series, please call 203-488-8304 or email to branfordjazz@branford-ct.gov.
