Biography
THE ERIC BYRD TRIO is comprised of musicians whose vision is to glorify the age of traditional jazz while providing an energetic and modern approach to standards and original compositions at the same time. As true ambassadors of jazz, the Eric Byrd Trio have performed internationally for over 10 years. With several studio albums released, the Trio has enjoyed immense popularity and recognition from fans and government officials alike. They are formerly Kennedy Center/United States State Department Jazz Ambassadors which provided them the opportunity to tour countries like Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Honduras and Trinidad. Their international touring includes concerts at the Montreux Switzerland Jazz Festival, multiple tours of South America, an appearance at a world music festival in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the country of Estonia,Italy and Scotland.
Along with the Trio recordings of THE FIRE WITHIN (THE HEART), THE ERIC BYRD TRIO and TRIUNITY The EBT ended 2009 by releasing its first Christmas CD “A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS” which are fresh takes on the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s Charlie Brown cartoon music CD. The disc features the singing debut of 6 year old Jason Miles Byrd on “Christmas Time is Here”.
The trio performs regularly at jazz venues in and around Baltimore and Washington, DC. Live performances have included appearances at Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Twins and Bohemian Caverns. The Eric Byrd Trio has played at numerous festivals throughout the United States headlining the East Coast Jazz Festival, the ARTScape Festival in Baltimore and The Westminster Flower and Jazz Festival. They also appeared weekly at the Café Milano in Georgetown, playing to guests that included Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie.
Byrd will travel to Scotland in April/May of 2010 to record a live DVD/CD project with vocalist Lea Gilmore and the EBT will headline the LaPaz, Bolivia FestiJazz Festvial in September of 2010.
ERIC BYRD TRIO: BROTHER RAY BAND
In 2008 the group created a 4-piece horn section with blues guitar to record “BROTHER RAY” – a tribute to the music of Ray Charles. The ERIC BYRD TRIO: BROTHER RAY BAND is currently touring in support of this album. The CD was well received and reviewed (check the news page on this site) and their live shows rocketed the group all over the Mid-Atlantic. Capacity shows at Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Friday Night Jazz Series, The Ice House in WV, and a concert at The 2010 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in February further cemented the growing reputation of the 8 piece group. The EBT/BRB will play the Western MD Blues Festival in June of 2010 for the second time.
From left to right: Eric Byrd, Bhagwan Khalsa, Alphonso M. Young, Jr.
Eric Byrd – Piano
Pianist/vocalist Eric Byrd has been playing professionally for over 20 years. Along with the principles of swing and be-bop, rousing gospel-tinged chords and trilling blues lines are fundamental elements of his performance style. Byrd has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Mike Stern, Keter Betts, Paul Carr, Buck Hill, Ethel Ennis, Marlena Shaw, Charlie Byrd and Ernie Andrews, just to name a few. Along with his own recordings as a leader, he also guests on over a dozen CD’s by others. He is currently a half-time Music Lecturer at McDaniel College, formerly Western Maryland College, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He received his Master’s in Music in 2001 from Morgan State. He is the primary composer of the group.
Bhagwan Khalsa – Acoustic Bass
Bassist Bhagwan Khalsa is one of the most sought-after acoustic bassists in the DC area. The list of musicians he has performed with is quite extensive: Sonny Fortune, Eric Alexander, Gary Thomas, Cecil Payne, David “Fathead” Newman, and Kenny Drew, Jr., are just a few to employ his impressive musical services. After completing studies at the prestigious Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, CA, Khalsa has continued to forge a successful sideman career for the last 20 years, and his original arrangements are essential to shaping the sound of the trio. He co-owns B&B Music World, a company that provides music education to the Mid-Atlantic area.
Alphonso M. Young, Jr. – Drums
No one – no one – plays quite like Drummer/percussionist Alphonso M. Young, Jr. His versatile and imaginative style of performance has not only charmed audiences around the world, but has led such noted artists as Vanessa Rubin, Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, George Colligan, Buck Hill, Ira Sullivan, Othello Molineaux, Rebecca Parris and Jon Secada to acquire his talent. He was also the percussionist for the European tour of the Broadway show “Sophisticated Ladies”. A music instructor with Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia and on the faculty of Shenandoah University he and his brother Tim lead the Young Brothers Trio who released their own CD in 2007. His energetic swing style can only be described as breathtaking.
ERIC BYRD TRIO: BROTHER RAY BAND MUSICIANS
Brad Clements – trumpet, primary trumpeter with the DC Father of Go-Go Chuck Brown, solo artist, international touring musician
Paul Carr - tenor, leader of the Paul Carr Quintet with trumpeter Terrell Stafford, Mulgrew Miller, Lewis Nash, leader on several recording dates, sideman on numerous others, founder of the Jazz Academy a non-profit organization for jazz education
Lyle Link - alto, most in-demand reed player in DC area, currently performing in Japan, sideman on several notable jazz recordings
Chris Watling - bari, leader of The Grandsons for over 20 years, 6x ASCAP composer winner, nicknamed “Big Daddy”
Frank McCreary - guitar, ‘Slowhand’-esque, performing/recording musician for over 25 years as he started gigging before he left high school, his talents are so sought after he is a member of 4 different bands simultaneously
Kari Gaffney, Publicist Kari-On Productions
PO Box 436 Evans, GA 30809
706.294.9996 706.210.9453 fax
