Classical Music Series Presents: Joe Gransden and Kenny Banks - Jazz Concert

Joe Gransden and Kenny Banks – Songs of Sinatra and Friends

Presented as part of the monthly classical pop up series at Mimosa Hall. A partnership program between Roswell Arts Fund, Roswell Music Club, and the Friends of Mimosa Hall and Gardens.

JOE GRANSDEN

Award winning trumpeter and vocalist, Joe Gransden, has performed worldwide and released 14 CDs under his own name. Renowned first for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to that of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra. Coming from a family full of musicians, Joe’s introduction to music came early on through his father, a gifted singer and pianist. His grandfather was a trumpeter of merit, playing professionally his whole life throughout New York. On his mother’s side of the family was the piano virtuoso Carmen Cavallero.  Not long after high school, Joe was on the road as a sideman with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. A number of A.F.M. contracted sideman gigs include Barry White, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, The Whispers, etc. Eventually moving to New York City, he performed with numerous groups, including sub work with Toshiko Akiyoshi and Chico O’Farrill at the famous Birdland Jazz Club. Meanwhile, Joe formed his own group, which performed in Brooklyn each week and included the venerable guitarist Joe Cohn and ex-Betty Carter bassist, Matt Hughes.    https://joegransden.com/joe/joe-gransden/

KENNY BANKS
Kenny Banks is a renowned jazz pianist, composer and arranger who slips effortlessly among musical styles while retaining his own distinct sound. A Columbus Ohio native has been studying and playing since the age of seven. He first developed his gift through the church, which led him to study music at Central State University. Following graduation, Kenny taught vocal music in the Columbus Public Schools before pursuing his dreams by touring as a clinician, keyboardist, musical director and producer across the United States and other parts of the world. Kenny has appeared on BET and the Image Awards. He has performed at the inauguration and the United Nations Ceremony for President Barack Obama and appeared in such notable places as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Philharmonie in Berlin. Kenny has also appeared in movie scenes from Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys”and has a composition entitled “Hello Love” on the GMC movie “Raising Izzie”. Among his many high profile performing credits are appearances with Earl Klugh, Kenny Garrett, Wess Anderson, Russell Gunn, Lizz Wright, Rene Marie, Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Whalum, Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Jennifer Holiday, Aretha Franklin and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Kenny received his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University.   https://kennybanks.com/