At our next concert (January 14, 2024): Art D'echo Trio

The Art D'echo Trio is a jazz piano trio enjoyed by listeners of all ages. In the classic tradition of groups such as the Bill Evans Trio and Oscar Peterson Trio, The Art D'echo Trio displays musicianship exciting to both life-long jazz fans and audience members unfamiliar with the genre. Whether playing sophisticated, hard-swinging classic jazz arrangements or grooving on a Latin jazz tune, the interplay between three master musicians defines the group. David Gleason (piano) and Mike Lawrence (bass) have performed together since they were teenagers; Pete Sweeney (drums) and David Gleason began playing jazz together around the year 2000. By 2004 these three musicians had formed the rhythm section for a variety of local jazz groups including, at times, the rhythm section for the Latin jazz ensemble Sensemayá.  In 2012, after realizing they were consistently called upon to form the core of many other groups, they established their own trio dedicated to music in the style of the great historic jazz piano trios.  In the last few years they have been invited to play a variety or clubs, festivals and concerts as they continue to provide the foundation for many other ensembles. They have also appeared as the centerpiece of a “Jazzy Christmas,” a concert performance which features the music of the Vince Gauraldi. The trio’s first album will be released in 2024

David Gleason is a music educator, pianist and composer living in New York's Capital Region.  He received an M.A. from Tufts University where he studied ethnomusicology and composition. He has researched folk and popular music in Puerto Rico and Cuba and is a contributing ethnomusicologist to the Museo Del Barrio’s permanent collection online. As a jazz and Latin pianist he has performed with ensembles such as RumbaNaMa, The Boston Latin Band, The Either/Orchestra, Bopitude, The Big Soul Ensemble, and The Empire Jazz Orchestra. He has also performed with Lee Konitz, Laurel Masse, Fred Wesley, Gary Smulyan, Danilo Perez, Rufus Reid, Antonio Hart, John Fedchock and others.  He also lead the critically acclaimed Latin jazz ensemble Sensemayá and recorded two albums “Shake It!” in 2010, and La Madrugada Habanera/Havana Before Dawn in 2011. Mr. Gleason studied music education and jazz studies at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York.  He has taught at the John Sayles School of Fine Arts, SHS@Proctors, SUNY Schenectady, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. David Gleason is also the author of Alfred Publishing’s "The Total Blues Keyboardist." For more information, please visit www.davidgleasonmusic.com.

 

Mike Lawrence is a Capital Region bassist and educator. He has recorded with the Gary McFarland Legacy Ensemble alongside Joe Locke, Sharel Cassity, Bruce Barth and Michael Benedict on the album "Circulation: The Music of Gary McFarland" (one of NPR’s Best Jazz Albums of 2015). He has also recorded with Michael Benedict's Jazz Vibes “1-2-3 Go!” (2022); Michael Benedict’s Bopitude "Five and One" (2012) featuring Gary Smulyan; and Joe Finn’s “As Luck Would Have It” (2021). Mr. Lawrence has performed live in concert with with Gary Smulyan, Chris Pasin, Brian Patneaude, Harry Allen, Paul Meyers, Dick Oatts, Sharel Cassity, Steve Nelson, Gene Bertoncini, Claire Daly, Bruce Johnstone, Richard Lanham, Jeanne O'Connor, Keith Pray, Chuck Lamb, Mark Vinci, Jerry Weldon, Ray Vega, Wycliffe Gordon, Blue Lou Marini, Sonny Turner's Platters, Bobby Rydell, Tas Cru, and Charlie Smith Blues Band among many others. Mike has taught orchestra and string lessons for the Schenectady City School District for over 20 years as well private upright bass and electric bass lessons. He has been a clinician at numerous jazz festivals and workshops around the region and performed in numerous recording studios and musical theater productions at Proctors.

 

Pete Sweeney is a drummer, author, and educator living in Troy NY. Pete studied with Dave Calarco and Joe Morello. He has performed, toured, and recorded with many great musicians such as Pat Metheny, Larry Coryell, Lee Ritenour, John Abercrombie, Robben Ford, Andy Summers (The Police), Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Ed Mann (Frank Zappa), Frank Gambale, Lorne Lofsky, “Dangerous” Dan Toler, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Mick Goodrick, and Steve Bailey. He has written 20 instructional books for the Alfred publishing company including the “30 Day Drum Workout”, “The Versatile Drummer”, and the “Drum Atlas” books on Cuba, Jamaica, Salsa, and Brazil. Pete currently teaches at the Berkshire Music School, Bard College at Simon’s Rock, the Troy Music Academy, Union College, and the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation. He is a member of the Latin jazz group Sensemayá, as well as the leader of his own groups. He is an endorser of Mapex drums, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Aquarian drum heads.