music director
A versatile music director, leading gala concerts, bands, TV music specials,
TV singing competitions, and whatever comes his way.
Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
International Jazz Day Gala Global Concerts and Herbie Hancock Jazz Competitions
In 2011, when UNESCO designated April 30 as "International Jazz Day" to spotlight jazz and its diplomatic capacity to unite people worldwide, the Herbie Hancock Institute selected John Beasley as Music Director for its annual global gala concerts. Each year, Beasley leads over 30+ all-star artists on stages across the globe, including venues in Tangier, Paris, Osaka, Istanbul, Havana, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, New York, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and the White House. The 2016 event, "Jazz at the White House," was televised on ABC TV, earning Beasley an Emmy nomination for Best Music Direction. Some concerts have been broadcasted on PBS.
As music director for gala concerts for the Hancock Institute, Beasley directs the Hancock Competition and special gala concerts.
Emmy Awards nominee:
Best Music Direction “Jazz at the White House”
Chucho Valdes “La Creación”
Co-music directors & arrangers
John Beasley & Hilario Duran
Cuban piano legend Chucho Valdés' La Creación is a three-movement suite for big band, Afro-Cuban percussion, and vocals. It incorporates elements of Santería ritual music, including sacred Yoruba chants, along with influences from African music, blues, post-bop harmonies, and an atmosphere reminiscent of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew.
Steely Dan “Art Crimes” Tour
john Beasley, Music Director
In 1996, Steely Dan (Walter Becker and Donald Fagen) famously known as the most rebarbative, sly, and smart-alecky rock stars who typically eschewed touring, made the unconventional decision to embark on a tour. Their aim was to perform their complex, jazzy, and infinitely subtle music live. The Art Crimes Orchestra, assembled for this tour, featured John Beasley as MD and on piano/keyboards, Tom Barney on bass, Ricky Lawson on drums, Wayne Krantz on guitar, Cornelius Bumpus and Ari Ambrose on saxophones, Michael Leonhart on trumpet, and Michelle Wiley and Carolyn Leonhart on background vocals.
Queen Latifah “Trav’lin’ Light” Tour
John Beasley, Music Director
Queen Latifah, award-winning rapper, actress and songstress, toured her jazz and soul album Trav'lin' Light in 2007 with a 13-piece big band led by John Beasley.
A.R. Rahman
Jai Ho World Tour
A.R. Rahman, renowned for his Oscar- and GRAMMY winning film score for "Slumdog Millionaire," appointed John Beasley as Music Director for his global tour, featuring his greatest hits in English, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi languages. The shows incorporated choreographed dance performances and a highly energetic hologram, delighting audiences worldwide.Other MD credits
TV Singing Competitions & TV Specials
Duets, Search for the Next Pussy Cat Dolls, Sing Your Face Off, American Idol (Associate MD - 2007 - Carrie Underwood) and Sports Illustrated "50 Years of Beautiful"
Duets starred Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Robin Thicke, and Jennifer Nettles as mentors who search for singers to duet with them as they perform in front of a live studio audience.