JAZZ FOR THE SOUL: Pete Pancrazi Quartet

Local favorite Pete Pancrazi  and his quartet perform an energetic mix of American Songbook, jazz arrangements of pop tunes, and original songs. This group features jazz guitarist Pete Pancrazi, Claudia Bloom-piano, bassist Todd Johnson and drummer Todd Chuba. Visit petepancrazi.com (for bio and more info)

Pete Pancrazi has been “one to watch” in the Phoenix  area since taking up residence here in 1990. Pete continues to delight  audiences with a growing repertoire of original compositions, along with  straight-ahead and Latin jazz classics.. He has released four CDs to  date which includes a Christmas album that features holiday standards  arranged with a jazz twist.

In addition to being a popular performer, Pete is also a sought-after  private teacher and clinician and is currently on staff at Mesa  Community College, where he teaches jazz theory, jazz combo and guitar.

Claudia Bloom was classically trained at a major  university, and went on to play in bands that specialized in Jazz  fusion, rock, pop, smooth jazz and salsa. Overseas tours courtesy of the  Department of Defense, hotel gigs, and a short stint on a cruise ship  cured the travel bug and were followed up by a permanent home in the  Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the pianist/organist at Desert Palm  United Church of Christ, whose members embrace her modern arrangements  and re-harmonizations of hymns, spirituals, and pop and jazz standards.

Todd Johnson is recognized as a pioneer of the  six-string electric bass. With his Zon signature model six-string bass,  Todd has developed an innovative technique where he plays chord changes  and bass lines simultaneously, plus his ability to play “chord melody”  gives him an uniquely rich and fuller sound that proves extremely useful  in both solo and small combo work. He’s performed and/or recorded with  other such artists as Ron Eschete, Kristin Korb, Mike Stern, Poncho  Sanchez, Frank Potenza, Dave Weckl, Scott Henderson, Plas Johnson, Lew  Tabackin, Jack Sheldon, Rufus Reid, Mundell Lowe, Michael Manring, Paul  Humphrey, and Frank Gambale.

As a seasoned performing artist, Todd Johnson has developed a rich  philosophy encompassing his spiritual, educational and  achievement-oriented sides. Johnson sees his talent as a “gift from God”  to continually enhance and develop. A unique musician with a unique  instrument, Johnson strives to stretch the limits, creating new sounds  and directions in which the electric bass can go.

Todd Chuba is originally from rural Michigan but  moved to Arizona to study music at ASU. He has been a professional  drummer and percussionist, specializing in a variety of musical genres  and styles, for over 35 years.

“Todd Chuba’s career is a rare thirty-year success story that  includes recordings, performances and national and international tours  with the likes of:  Nils Lofgren (“Old School 2012”), Paul Rogers  (“Abandon Love ~ Amnesty International Tribute To Bob Dylan 2012”), Eric  Burden, Glen Campbell, Joey DeFrancesco, David Griesman, David  Garfield, Eric Marienthal, Neil Stubenhaus, Lenny Castro, Steve Gadd,  Steve Ferrone, Ray Herndon, Tom Booth, Al Casey, Alice Tatum, Annie  Sellick, Khani Cole, Bob Friedman, Stevie Nicks. A True testament to a  musician’s approach to drums and percussion.” — TJS Custom Drums

ALL JFTS CONCERTS ARE FREE and open to the public and all donations received will benefit local and international humanitarian causes.

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This is a FREE EVENT!