Blog
April 12, 2022
MONK’estra is a trilogy of albums that allowed me to shapeshift Thelonious Monk’s music with what I have absorbed in music through osmosis in my head, heart, and hand…a tumbao rhythm, a shout chorus, a bebop melody or a hip-hop groove.
MONK’estra Vol 1 | MONK’estra Vol 2 | John Beasley plays MONK’estra
3 albums —> 6 GRAMMY nominations —> 1 GRAMMY
Check out MONK’estra in all shapes always shifting to honor Monk’s wise words “The piano ain’t got no wrong notes.” We are a bunch of swashbucklers.
MONK’estra on Stage
16-piece Big Band
–> Irvine Barclay Theatre, CA
–> Liemert Park Jazz Festival, LA
Chucho Valdés La Creación w MONK’estra
–> Hollywood Bowl
–> Paramount Theatre, Oakland
–> Monterey Jazz Festival
Professional Orchestra
–> Latvian Radio Big Band, Riga
MONK’estra Septet
–> Dizzy’s Lincoln Center, New York
School bands
–> Cal Poly, Los Angeles
–> University of Northern Iowa
–> University of Music & Arts Graz Austria
CONCERT DETAILS
JohnBeasleyMusic.com
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jazz while driving jazz in 10,000 daily steps jazz in bed jazz listening w friends again
List of performers to be announced.
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz for UNESCO
John Beasley, Music Director
- Dianne Reeves – Europe Tour
- Maria Mendes w Metropole Okest – Holland Tour
- El Trio (El Negro Hernandez, Carlitors del Puerto, John Beasley) – Italy + beyone
- Bird Lives SWR Big Band – Germany
- Wayne Shorter Tribute w Bielefeld Philharmoniker – Germany
- Hollywood Bowl: Black Movie Soundtrack & Peggy Lee/Frank Sinatra w Count Basie Big Band, Billie Eilish, Dianne Reeves, Deborah Harry & more
- Weather Report Reimagined w Bohusulan Big Band – Sweden
www.JohnBeasleyMusic.com
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BOOKING AGENTS
North America + Asia: Myles Weinstein – Myles Unlimited
Europe + beyond: Katherine McVicker – Music Works International
College: Del Lyren – DGL Artists
Listen: “Return to Forever” Chick Corea reimagined
HR Big Band w John Beasley conductor / arranger / piano / keyboards
Happy Continuation Day Herbie Hancock
I first heard you on Miles Davis record “Seven Steps to Heaven”.
Your creativity, soul, and technique this 11-year old.
Then, “Maiden Voyage” was life-changing.
🙏🏽❤️ for being such a great human being.
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Thank you for reading and hopefully
we will see you somewhere around the world surrounded by music.
Stay steady, sane, and safe, please.
January 26, 2022
ready to launch 2022, i think!
MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
MSM Jazz Orchestra: Adventures in Duke, Monk, and Bird
John Beasley conductor/arranger
Artist-in-Residence
Concerts:
Feb 03 MSM stage – Neidhoff-Karpati Hall – 7:30p
Feb 07 Dizzy’s Club – Jazz at the Lincoln Center – 7:30p + 9:30p
MSM, Ingrid Jensen, Director of Jazz Arts Department
DIANNE REEVES
New York – Feb 11+12
Jazz at Lincoln Center
VLOG
International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers
Listen in on a chit-chat video blog
on the making of the “Bird Lives” album
play volley ball with Charlie Parker songs
sending back and forth over the internet
parts of a song for the other to add their touch
before returning it for another round.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Scrapple From the Apple + Ah Leu Cha get mashed up.
Bird with Strings get morphed à la Candide overture with15 Bird songs.
Sibelius headaches and anxiety about how far to take Charlie Parker’s music.
MONK’estra is baaaack!
April 12 – Cal Poly Big Band – conducting MONK’estra charts
May 15 – Oasis Jazz Festival with Alicia Olatuja
June 9 – Irvine Barclay Theatre
August 27 – Leimert Park Jazz Festival
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| Mini-concert series “Beas in the Backyard” playing MONK’estra for trio Terreon Gully (drums) Benjamin Shepherd (bass) John Beasley (Fender Rhodes) |
All About Jazz ~ new review
Jack Bowers MONK’estra Plays John Beasley album
The band is splendid on the sensuous Song for Dub and the closing
Come Sunday, as is the septet on Implication and “Masekela.
Beasley’s arrangements capture the tenor and temperament of the maestro,
and the MONK’estra work hard to give them life and purpose.
-Mack Avenue Records-
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| New Album: “Bird Lives” SWR Big Band + Strings – ACT Music Guest Artists: Chris Potter Joe Lovano Miguel Zenon Tia Fuller Charles McPherson + Pedrito Martinez Munyungo Jackson Camille Bertault |
UPCOMING CONCERT SCHEDULE
Mar 31-Apr 01 Chick Corea “Return to Forever” John Beasley arr/conductor
Frankfurt’s HR Big Band, Germany
Apr 03 SWR’s 75th Anniversary Concert, Stuttgart, Germany
May 09-14 Maria Mendes/John Beasley conducting Metrople Orch, Netherlands
May 02-05 U of Music, Graz, Artist in Residence/Concerts, Austria
May 28 Maria Mendes/John Beasley conducting Latvian Radio Band
Jun 16-18 Bird Lives w SWR Big Band and strings, Germany
Jun 19-22 Music of Wayne Shorter – Bielefeld Orchestra, Germany
Jul 4-25 El Trio does Italy: El Negro, Carlitos Del Puerto, John Beasley
Jul 27 Celebrating Peggy Lee + Frank Sinatra: Christian McBride,
Billie Elish, Dianne Reeves, Count Basie Orch ~ Hollywood Bowl, LA
Fall/Winter North America + European Tour:
Chucho Valdes ft John Beasley + MONK’estra Big Band
October 07, 2021
MONK’estra Big Band
“Bird Lives” w SWR Big Band
Chucho Valdes “Creation” Big Band
MONK’estra marks Monk’s 104th Birthday
Meet us *outdoors + in the flesh*
Second Home Hollywood presented by Sam First Jazz
Tickets: all ages *free Grammy nominated album per order
Friday, October 8 – 7:30p + 9p sets
Saturday October 9 – 7:30p + 9p sets
MONK’estra Big Band:
Trumpets: Ryan Deweese, Christopher Gray, Mike Cottone/Brian Swartz, Ethan Chilton
Trombones: Wendell Kelly, Ido Meshulam, Francisco Torres/Ryan Dragon
Woodwinds: Bob Sheppard, Tom Luer, Tommy Peterson, Keith Fiddmont, David Moyer
Bass: Edwin Livingston
Drums: Terreon Gully
Conductor/arranger/composer/keyboards – John Beasley
STREAMING – Listen from anywhere around the world Friday / Saturday
Make this “Date Night”
Michelin star 3-course dinner by newly awarded Phenakite
Book online
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Al Schmitt is the gold standard for music engineering. John Beasley’s MONK’estra trilogy earned 6 GRAMMY nominations and one win. |
spinning Monk, more Monk, forever Monk all weekend
Friday, Oct 8: 6 to 9am PT. / 3 to 6am ET
Saturday, Oct 9: 5 to 8pm PT / 2 to 5pm ET
Sunday, Oct 10: 10a to 1pm PT. / 7 to 10am ET
Chucho Valdés “The Creation”
New work to mark Chucho’s 80th birthday
La Creación is a suite in 4 movements exploring the story of ‘creation’ according to the Afro-Cuban religion Santería; and is a summation of Chuco’s extraordinary career.
Co-arrangers/conductors John Beasley + Hilario Duran
Nov 5: Miami ~ Arsht Performing Arts Center *world premiere
Nov 17: Lyon ~ Auditorium National
Nov 20: Paris ~ Philharmonie
Nov 23: Barcelona ~ Palau de la Musica
US tour: Kennedy Ctr, Lincoln Ctr, Hollywood Bowl, SF Davies Hall, Berkeley Perf Ctr…
Chucho Valdés ~ Composer, Piano, Director
John Beasley + Hilario Durán ~ Co-Arranger/conductors/MD, Keyboards,
Dafnis Prieto ~ drums
Etienne Charles, Brian Lynch, Marcus Strickland, Carlos Fernández ~ brass
José A. Gola ~ bass
Roberto Jr. Vizcaíno ~ percussions
Erick Barbería, Yosvany Gonzalez Franco, Felipe Sarria Linares ~ batá & vocal
Yeny Valdés ~ vocals
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“Bird Lives” – new album November 12
SWR Big Band + strings + Magnus Lindgren (co-arranger/conductor/producer)
“This top-flight German ensemble originally set about making the music on Bird Lives for a Charlie Parker centennial concert last year. A pandemic delay thwarted that plan, but also gave a pair of co-arrangers — Swedish saxophonist Magnus Lindgren and American pianist John Beasley — more time to steep their ambitions. The result is a sweeping tribute peppered with notable guests on sax:
Charles Mcpherson | Chris Potter | Joe Lovano | Miguel Zenon | Tia Fuller
Pedrito Martinez + Munyungo Jackson ~percussions | Camille Bertault ~vocals
Nov 9: Stuttgart ~ Phönixhalle I’m Römerkastell
Nov 10: Karlsruhe ~ Tollhaus
Nov 12: Stockholm ~ Konserthuset
Nov 15: Bielefeld ~ Rudolf-Oetker-Halle
*2022 tour in the making.
July 11, 2021
| U-Turn back to live, in-person gigging! I’m waxed, vaxxed, and relaxed! |
Excavating to discover buried remains that can reveal new musical possibilities.
John Beasley Circle
Friday, July 16
Ben Williams, John Davis, Dave Binney
Saturday July 17
Edwin Livingston, John Davis, Dave Binney
Sam First Jazz, near LAX
2 sets: 7pm & 9pm
24 seats ONLY ~ $25 each set
Tip Jar – to watch online
| AN OVATION TO JAZZ 🎷LEGEND, CHARLES MCPHERSON BIRTHDAY 🎂🍾🎉 BIRTHDAY |
Charles McPherson Quintet
Gilbert Castellanos | John Beasley | Rob Thorsen | Tyler Kreutel
Queen Bee’s
Saturday, July 24
7-10 pm
$35 tickets left (VIP tickets sold out!)
*honor a legend*
Kurt Elling with
John Beasley’s MONK’estra Trio
Terreon Gully
Joshua Crumbly
John Beasley
Catalina Jazz Bar, Hollywood
Friday, July 30: 8:30pm ~ $50
Saturday, July 31: 8:30pm ~ $50 + 10:30pm ~ $45
Sunday, August 01: 7:30pm ~ $45
Tickets
| Spinning jazz from Armstrong to Zenon Tuesdays in July 9a-noon ET / 6-9a PT | repeats: 6-9p ET / 3-6p PT SiriusXM Real Jazz, Ch 67 |
| Vote for John if you think he deserves your high five. Pianist Keyboardist Arranger Composer Producer Album of the Year “MONK’estra Plays John Beasley” Eligiblity: Must be a subscriber or sign up for Downbeat’s Newsletter (free) |
Bookings:
Myles Weinstein, Unlimited Myles – (North America + select Global
Katherine McVicker, Music Works International, select Europe + Global)
Education: Del Lyren, DGL Artists
John Beasley – More Calendar Events
August:
6 Dianne Reeves, Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Delaware
7 Tres Sabores Winery, MONK’estra Septet video screening, snacks & wine
20 WeHo Sounds Online, MONK’estra 4tet stream – free
Charlie Parker’s “Bird Lives” – Stuttgart’s SWR Big Band + strings
Co-conductors/arrangers: John Beasley + Magnus Lindgren
Album Release ACT Music – Fall 2021
Tour: Germany & Sweden November 2021
Chucho Valdés “The Creation” Suite
Co-arrangers/conductors John Beasley (MD) + Hilario Duran
November 2021: Miami, Lyon, Paris, Barcelona
Mack Avenue Records | Steinway & Sons Artist
MONK’estra 3 albums: support musicians: buy music
June 7, 2021
Music for Mental Health:
JUNE
Tuesdays SiriusXM ‘Real Jazz’
25 Bosch Season 7 Final Season premiere Amazon
30 Vancouver International Jazz Festival
JULY
Tuesdays SiriusXM ‘Real Jazz‘
16+17 Sam First Jazz
29, 30 + 31 Kurt Elling Catalina Jazz Club
Spinning jazz from Armstrong to Zenon
Tuesdays in June & July
9a-noon ET / 6-9a PT | repeats: 6-9p ET / 3-6p PT
SiriusXM Real Jazz, Ch 67
John Beasley Septet
Vancouver International Jazz Festival Online
Premiere: June 30,10:30pm PT
On Demand: until July 06
Tickets: $11
Musicians: Terreon Gully, Ben Williams, Rashawn Ross,
Bob Sheppard, Tom Luer + John Beasley
Blog
tune in from anywhere this summer night
BOSCH – Season 7
*premiere episode ~ final season*
AMAZON TV
John Beasley Quintet featured in club scene
June 25 + on demand
Bosch is based on Michael Connely’s best-selling crime novels. Tenacious LAPD homicide detective, Harry Bosch is a relentless cop who personalizes his cases and stops at nothing to bring justice to the victims of murder. His code is:
“Everybody counts or nobody count.”
Terreon Gully (drums) Eric Revis (bass) Brian Swartz (trumpet) Teodross Avery (sax)
John Beasley piano/bandleader
Song: Caddo Bayou from Positootly! album Resonance Records
Sam First Jazz Bar
Beas is Back Live
Friday, July 16 + Saturday, July 17
2 sets: 7pm + 9pm
Limited in person seating
Live stream
Kurt Elling
Catalina Jazz Club
July 29, 30 + 31
Secrets are the Best Stories
Grammy winning Best Jazz Vocal Album
Throwback –June 14, 2016– Letter from First Lady Michelle Obama
“Jazz at the White House” gala concert to mark International Jazz Day
Bookings:
Myles Unlimited, Unlimited Myles (North America + select Global)
Katherine McVicker, Music Works International select Europe + Global)
Education: DGL Artists
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John Beasley – Fall Calendar
Charlie Parker’s “Bird Lives” – Stuttgart’s SWR Big Band + strings
Co-conductors/arrangers: John Beasley + Magnus Lindgren
November 2021: German and Swedish tours
*look out for album release on ACT Music – Fall 2021
Chucho Valdés “The Creation” Suite
Co-arrangers/conductors John Beasley (MD) + Hilario Duran
November 2021: Miami, Lyon, Paris, Barcelona
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Mack Avenue Records | Steinway & Sons Artist
MONK’estra albums: support musicians – buy music
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April 29, 2021
2021 All-Star Global Concert
Herbie Hancock – Artistic Director | John Beasley – Music Director
filmed with musicians in Los Angeles:
Andra Day Marcus Miller Dianne Reeves
Dee Dee Bridgewater Gerald Clayton Ben Williams Justin Tyson
Alex Acuña (Peru) Francisco Torres (Mexico) Justo Almario (Colombia)
Jonathan Butler (South Africa) Mahmoud Chouki (Morocco)
Romero Lubambo (Brazil)
musicians in New York:
Melissa Aldana (Chile) A Bu (China) Ingrid Jensen (Canada)
Amina Figarova (Azerbaijan) Massimo Biolcati + Roberta Gambarini (Italy)
Rudresh Mahanthappa (India) Antonio Sánchez (Mexico)
Veronica Swift Joe Lovano Cyrus Chestnut
Kenny Garrett James Genus Stefon Harris
musicians in home countries:
Igor Butman (Russia) Jacob Collier (United Kingdom)
Mandisi Dyantyis (South Africa) Ivan Lins (Brazil)
John McLaughlin in Monaco James Morrison (Australia)
Junko Onishi (Japan)
Special performance ~ Angélique Kidjo (Benin)
Live webcast via YouTube, Facebook, JazzDay.com,
UN Web TV, UNESCO, US State Department outlets
2p Los Angeles / 5p New York / 11p Paris
International Jazz Day Preview Show
SiriusXM “Real Jazz”
with John Beasley
~Spinning 3 hours of music + interviews~
Dee Dee Bridgewater Stefon Harris Joe Lovano
Kenny Garrett Marcus Miller Antonio Sanchez
Roberta Gambarini Gerald Clayton Ingrid Jensen
Lee Ritenour Hubert Laws
Friday, April 30
12:15p ET / 9:15 am PT
show repeats: 9pm ET / midnight ET
Two hour TV Special
Look back at 10 years of concerts featuring collaborations
between artists representing 30+ nations
from Istanbul, Osaka, Paris, the White House, Havana,
St. Petersburg, New Orleans and Melbourne.
Legendary artists: Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder,
Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, Annie Lennox,
Sting, Christian McBride, Wynton Marsalis, Hugh Masekela, +++
Hosts: Morgan Freeman, Will Smith + Helen Mirren
A tribute to the treasured values and unifying heritage of jazz.
Tune in or stream
PBS TV (check local PBS listings)
6-8p PT / 9-11p ET / 8-10p CT
Herbie Hancock – Artistic Director | John Beasley – Music Director
Catch these shows before they expire
~Conversation between Dianne Reeves + John Beasley – NJPAC + Jazz Standard
~KJazz Virtual Video Concert: MONK’estra Septet – expires midnight May 2nd
“Jazz injects heart and soul into our blood, strengthens and
ignites fireworks in our brain.”
John Beasley Bookings:
Myles Unlimited, Unlimited Myles (North America + select Global)
Katherine McVicker, Music Works International
(select Europe + Global)
Education: Artist Access | DGL Artists
| Mack Avenue Records Artist | Steinway & Sons Artist |
April 12, 2021
New Jersey Performing Arts Center + Jazz Standard
Artist 2 Artist Discussion with
Dianne Reeves & John Beasley
Eavesdrop on two friends:
meeting @ the Comeback Inn… Sergio Mendes… Old Souls…
George Duke… International Jazz Day… Strange Fruit… MONK’estra…
post-pandemic horizon.
Tuesday, April 13 – 7-8pm ET | 4-5pm PT
Facebook
…This is us, in 2021…
Healthcare for Justice Fundraiser
Streaming Concert
$25 supports medical care to victims and survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence by streaming this concert.
Purchase tickets here and you will be sent a private link to YouTube.
Please SHARE widely to support this cause.
We miss playing in person, but here’s a video concert premiering this Sunday
KJAZZ “Stay at Home” Virtual Concert
MONK’estra Septet
John Beasley | Terreon Gully | Ben Williams
Rashawn Ross | Bob Sheppard | Tom Luer | Francisco Torres
…playing original songs …
Sunday, April 18
8 to 9pm PST / 11 to midnight EST
If you miss the premiere, listen anytime from April 18 to April 30.
INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY
APRIL 20, 2021
10th ANNIVERSARY
“Jazz injects heart and soul into our blood, strengthens and ignites fireworks in our brain.”
As UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador, Herbie Hancock championed a day to mark America’s one true original art form, jazz.
Ten years ago, UNESCO marked “April 30” as “International Jazz Day” to bring together countries and communities worldwide to celebrate jazz and highlight the music’s important role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity.
Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than two billion people annually on all seven continents, including Antarctica, through education programs, performances, community outreach, radio, television and streaming, along with electronic, print and social media.
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is UNESCO’s official partner in the organization and promotion of International Jazz Day.
2021 Jazz Day will be virtual online or in the U.S. on PBS TV
International Jazz Day – for broadcast times
~Pre-Show: Special 10th Anniversary video~
Highlights from Paris, Istanbul, Osaka, White House – Washington DC,
Havana, St Petersburg & Melbourne.
John Beasley, Music Director
List of artists performing will be released soon.
Special International Jazz Day Radio Show
SiriusXM “Real Jazz” Ch 67
April 30
Time: 3-6pm ET, repeats midnight-3am ET
Spotlight on global artists
Vaccinated and
ready to gig again.
Can’t wait to see you
in-person.
Get your shot so you are less likely to get sick, go to hospital, or die… and less likely to spread the virus.
March 12, 2021
SIRIUSXM REAL JAZZ satellite radio
Guest DJ: John Beasley
Playing music from each GRAMMY jazz nominee’s albums
GRAMMY COUNTDOWN
Sunday, March 14
noon PT / 3pm ET
streamed live internationally
GRAMMY.com
Opening performance:
50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye “Mercy, Mercy Me”
Nominee Artists performing:
Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra, Thana Alexa, John Beasley,
Camilo, Regina Carter, Alexandre Desplat, Bebel Gilberto,
Ledisi, Gregory Porter, säje, Anoushka Shankar, Kamasi Washington, and more.
International Society of Jazz Arrangers & Composers
Uncharted Territory – Conversations with Arrangers & Singers
7p ET: John Beasley & Maria Mendes
*moderator: John Clayton
8:15p: John Hollenbeck/Kate McGarry & Theo Bleckmann
*moderator: JC Sanford
9:30p: Darcy James Argue & Cécile McLorin Salvant
*moderator: Terri Lyne Carrington
It was a blind date. Portuguese singer Maria Mendes called John Beasley to reimagine classic Fado songs of longing and melancholy for modern listeners. John flew to Amsterdam and met in the basement of the famed Bimhuis jazz club to hear the vision and music, then went away to write the arrangements. The second encounter was set in a small farmhouse to record the tracks. For their third date, they met at a recording studio to work with 30 musicians from the Metropole Orkest.
Recent Media Features
LA Times | JazzTimes | All About Jazz | Jazz Fun (German)
Podcasts: 33Third | Music Biz Weekly
Film: Variety | Gold Derby
Call for Scores
Global Jazz Composition Competition
Prizes: €5K/3K/2K
Performed by Radio Symphony Vienna conductor: Marin Alsop
A moon-shot dream writing my first symphonic jazz score “Simplexity”
Be the next winner!
JAM MUSIC LAB
Upcoming: check website for updates
International Jazz Day 2021 – April 30
Charlie Parker’s “Bird” album with Stuttgart’s SWR Radio Big Band & strings
Co-conductor/arrangers John Beasley & Magnus Lindgren
Guest artists:
Joe Lovano, Charles McPherson, Tia Fuller,
Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon, Camille & Pedrito Martinez
(Fall 2021)
Mack Avenue Records
Steinway & Sons Artist
Bookings:
Katherine McVicker, Music Works International
(select Europe + Global)
Myles Unlimited, Unlimited Myles (USA+Canada)
Education: Artist Access | DGL Artists
