Artists for this Wednesday’s show are Larry McKenna, Kevin MacConnell, Steve Rudolph and Dan Monaghan.
About the artists:
Larry McKenna is one of the world’s finest jazz saxophone players. He is known for his gorgeous, velvety sound, the unparalleled beauty of his balladry, and his fluid, bebop-inspired improvisations. For years, Larry’s status as a jazz great has been affirmed by his myriad fans and the jazz stars with whom he has played and recorded including Woody Herman, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra. He has also taught countless students at University of the Arts, Temple University School of Music, West Chester University, Widener University, and Community College of Philadelphia. Many of his students have pursued successful careers in music. Larry’s influence, spanning decades, can be said to have established a Larry McKenna school of saxophone playing in the Philadelphia region.
In addition to being a frequent guest on recordings by other top jazz players, Larry has released three CDs under his own name to widespread critical acclaim. Music arranged by Larry McKenna has been performed on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and in the Nicholas Cage movie “Birdy,” in which Larry played and appeared. Larry resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with four cats (the feline variety).
Bassist Kevin MacConnell’s impressive career has taken him from playing with orchestras on concert stages to Broadway shows, from numerous recording studios to the sets of television shows, from jazz festivals to great clubs. He has performed with such jazz legends as Mel Torme, Nancy Wilson, Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams and tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts, Kevin has also made national and international television appearances/performances with Diahann Carroll, Marilyn McCoo, Merv Griffin, Natalie Cole and opera diva, Denyce Graves. Highly respected on the jazz scene, Kevin performed recently with John Blake and Jimmy Bruno and continues to tour the country with a Philadelphia based classical/blue grass ensemble “The DePue Brothers Band.”, which features two members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as blue grass legends, Mark Cosgrove and Tony Trischka.
Mansfield, PA, native Dan Monaghan is one of the busiest drummers in the Philadelphia area. After studying classical percussion for eight years he went on to earn a Bachelors of Music in jazz studies from Temple University. Since then, he has performed with some of the top names in jazz, including Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein, Uri Caine, and Randy Brecker. In addition, he has recorded with Dick Oatts, Garry Dial, Joe Magnarelli, Jimmy Bruno, Elio Villafranca, Joanna Pascale, Larry McKenna, and many others. Dan has performed at the Heineken Jazzaldia Festival, the Daegu International Jazz Festival, the Mellon Jazz Festival, the East Coast Jazz Festival, the Wilmington Latino Festival, the Cremona Jazz Festival, the Blue Note, Blues Alley, Smoke, Ortlieb's Jazzhaus, Zanzibar Blue, and Chris' Jazz Cafe, among other well-known venues. In addition to his performing credits, Dan is on the faculty at Rowan University and Temple University, and is a frequent clinician at schools, colleges, and festivals.
Steve Rudolph has had an inspiring career in his 50+ years of professional music making. Jazz improv magazine states, “Rudolph is a savvy, swinging, glimmering heavyweight...simply outstanding.” With twenty acclaimed CDs as a leader, he has served as producer, arranger and performer on many recordings including sessions with Johnny Coles, Ali Ryerson, Matt Wilson, and Roger Humphries. His vast experience encompasses concert performances with many jazz masters including Louie Belson, Clark Terry, Terry Gibbs, Al Grey, and The Mills Brothers. Steve has toured throughout the U.S., India, Europe, Canada, Russia and the Caribbean. At home he is the leader of many ensembles including the Harrisburg Jazz Collective. His latest recording features him as pianist in the acoustic trio, DayDream, with Phil Haynes and Drew Gress. Currently a Yamaha keyboard artist, he is in demand as a clinician and performer. Since moving to Harrisburg in 1978 to perform with his jazz trio and guest artists six nights a week at the Holiday Inn Town, he has been largely responsible for the growth and development of the thriving jazz scene in Central PA. His devotion to the art of jazz inspired him to found the Central PA Friends of Jazz, now in its 41st successful year of monthly concerts, youth band, jazz camp, and annual central pa jazz festival. Steve was the recipient of the 2002 Harrisburg Arts Award for dedication to the arts and community service . Steve is well known in central pa for his 22 yearlong job as house pianist for the jazz programming at the Hilton Harrisburg. His detailed recording and touring information may be found at www.steverudolph.com.
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Jazz shows are free.
First-come, first-seated. Please check in with the hosts.
We ask that guests not move tables or save seats.
The floor offers an up-close view from the floor of the Listening Room, and the upstairs mezzanine offers a spot overlooking the floor.