Chris Connor, Singer, 1927, Kansas City, MO
Chris played clarinet as a child, and while in her late teens her first performance was as a singer even though she had no formal training. While attending the University of Missouri she performed with a band modeled on Stan Kenton's orchestra. Chris next joined a group in Kansas City, but in 1949 moved to New York. In New York, during the early '50s she sang with Claude Thornhill and with Herbie Fields. On June Christy's recomendation, she was hired by Stan Kenton in 1953. From the mid '50s into the 1980s she performed with numerous groups, mostly accompanying trios. Connor's style is very much influenced by Anita O'Day., Her presentation is among the most sensational in jazz. Her tone is husky and she uses little vibrato except for special effects. Chris employs a wide range of dynamics in her vocals. Her striking facial expressions, her postures, and her emotional intensity have perhaps been the most controversial aspects of her performances.
Charles Sullivan, Trumpet, 1944, New York, NY
Charles plays the flugelhorn as well as trumpet. He studied at the Manhattan School Of Music (BA1967), and from the mid '60s worked intermittenly for off-Broadway productions. During the late '80s he played for Lionel Hampton and Roy Haynes's Hip Ensemble. In 1970 Charles toured briefly as Count Basie's lead trumpeter. During the '70s he worked with Lonnie Liston Smith, Sy Oliver and Norman Connors. During this period he also toured Europe with Abdullah Ibrahim, and then worked with Sonny Fortune, recording and touring. He later performed with Bennie Maupin, Kenny Barron, and Charles Greenlee (both in 1975). His playing may be heard to advantage on a recording he made in 1977 with Ricky Ford, "Loxodonta Africana". Beginning in 1978 Sullivan led small groups and a big band of his own. Despite his abilities as a soloist and section player, he remains an underated musician.
Russell Malone, Guitar, 1963, Albany, GA
Russell. a self-taught musician, began playing the guitar before he was five years old. His first influence was church music and before long he was incorporating his guitar playing onto the church's music. At around age ten Russell discovered the music of Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, and especially George Benson. His first interests were blues and country music, but ultimately, it was jazz that Russell chose to play. He spent two years with Jimmy Smith and has worked extensively with the big band of Harry Connick Jr. on the Columbia label. Russell's first album for Columbia went to #1on the NAC chart of R & R. He has worked with artists such as Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, The Winans, and Eddy "Cleanhead" Vinson. His playing seems to combine sounds he's garnered from Kenny Burrell, Django Reinhardt and Pat Martino and at this point he's strictly Russell Malone.
