Saxophonist David Murray is one of the most prolific and adventuresome figures in modern jazz. His innovative Octet, perhaps the best vehicle for his formidable composing and arranging skills, released eight recordings on a steady basis between 1980 and 2000. Now he is re-introducing a reinvigorated version of this iconic group in a series of performances at SOUTH.

“Growing up in a religious, musical family in Berkeley, CA, I would at times find myself in the middle of an old-fashioned ‘Revival” tent, not far from my home. All denominations were welcome to this spectacular event held in this tent, which featured traveling preachers, healers, and speakers and lots of worshippers seeking spiritual rejuvenation. This phenomenon originated in the American South and made it all the way to my neighborhood. The purpose was to unearth or bring back people’s belief in God, to be reinvigorated with the holy spirit of The Lord.

My Octet of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s were quite popular then. My wish for a “Revival” of this Octet with a new and fresh line-up seems to the direction in which the music is taking me, as a way to inspire others and motivate a new crew of creative musicians.” – David Murray

Master percussionist Pablo Batista has performed, recorded and toured internationally for 30 years with some of the biggest stars in rhythm and blues, jazz, Latin, pop and gospel.

Artists with whom he has worked with include Alicia Keys, Patti Labelle, Kirk Franklin, Jill Scott, Gerald Levert, Jeffrey Osborne, Phyllis Hyman, Teddy Pendergrass, Diane Reeves, Norman Brown, Manny Oquendo and Libre, Eddie Palmieri, and Musiq. A drummer of unusually diverse talents, Pablo is highly regarded for his professionalism, tireless work ethic and ability to listen. He can integrate his playing into almost any style at the highest level of musicianship, holds the rare distinction of having performed on Grammy-winning releases in jazz, R & B and gospel, and has also been a guest with the Philadelphia Orchestra Percussion Ensemble.

Bakithi Kumalo is a South African bassist, composer, and vocalist joining Batista’s ensemble. Kumalo is most known for his fretless bass playing on Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland, in particular the bass run on “You Can Call Me Al”. Kumalo has toured regularly with Simon and has released several solo records, and continues to perform as a session musician with artists such as Joan Baez, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Hancock, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., and Mickey Hart.

Frank Catalano is the only known saxman to have performed with Miles Davis, Randy Brecker, Charles Earland, Elvin Jones, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Les Claypool and Louis Bellson while still in high school! This led to his signing to Delmark Records at age 18 and a string of critically acclaimed recordings. Catalano has been heard by millions of people all over the world thanks in part to 3 Grammy-winning and 11 Grammy-nominated recordings with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Destiny’s Child, and John Legend. He has also performed live on the Oprah Winfrey TV show with singer/composer Seal.

As a musician, Dr. Teodross Avery stands as one who defines live music—best experienced front row, and full throttle. His commanding presence, on stage and off, reflects his musical ingenuity and skill. With an outstanding pedigree, both professionally and academically, Teodross is a saxophonist to watch, as evidenced by many of today’s biggest names in music relying on his wide musical reach.

As a composer and producer, Teodross has amassed a stunning number of credits, which include the feature films Beauty Shop, Brown Sugar, and Love Jones. He has wrote music for Amy Winehouse’s debut album, ‘Frank’.

Lage Lund is acclaimed as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, and one of the more compelling jazz artists today. A regular in the “Rising star – Guitar” category in the Downbeat Critic’s Poll, he has been hailed by Pat Metheny as a favorite young guitarist, and is “all music and all soul” according to Russell Malone – one of the judges who awarded Lund top prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

Armed with a growing and impressive body of original compositions, and mastery of the standard repertoire – Lund swings with great authority displaying a staggering harmonic sophistication and a singularly fluid voice as a soloist. He also brings a “casually magnetic” presence to the stage, “channeling reticence into a whisper-quiet mystique” and “balances his abundant proficiencies with an aesthetic of gleaming calm” (New York Times).

Saxophonist David Murray is one of the most prolific and adventuresome figures in modern jazz. His innovative Octet, perhaps the best vehicle for his formidable composing and arranging skills, released eight recordings on a steady basis between 1980 and 2000. Now he is re-introducing a reinvigorated version of this iconic group in a series of performances at SOUTH.

“Growing up in a religious, musical family in Berkeley, CA, I would at times find myself in the middle of an old-fashioned ‘Revival” tent, not far from my home. All denominations were welcome to this spectacular event held in this tent, which featured traveling preachers, healers, and speakers and lots of worshippers seeking spiritual rejuvenation. This phenomenon originated in the American South and made it all the way to my neighborhood. The purpose was to unearth or bring back people’s belief in God, to be reinvigorated with the holy spirit of The Lord.

My Octet of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s were quite popular then. My wish for a “Revival” of this Octet with a new and fresh line-up seems to the direction in which the music is taking me, as a way to inspire others and motivate a new crew of creative musicians.” – David Murray

Benny Green possesses the history of jazz at his fingertips. Combine mastery of keyboard technique with decades of real world experience playing with no one less than the most celebrated artists of the last half century, and it’s no wonder Green has been hailed as perhaps the most exciting hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

Benny Green, unconditionally, is the bearer of the torch and guardian of a legacy handed down to him, personally, by his musical mentors. Since emerging under the tutelage of Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Ray Brown in the early 1980s, Benny Green has become a highly regarded pianist and bandleader. His efforts to expand upon the language of the classical jazz canon have placed him not only among the best interpreters but also among the vanguard of musicians keeping jazz’s evolution going.

Benny Green possesses the history of jazz at his fingertips. Combine mastery of keyboard technique with decades of real world experience playing with no one less than the most celebrated artists of the last half century, and it’s no wonder Green has been hailed as perhaps the most exciting hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist to ever emerge from Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.

Benny Green, unconditionally, is the bearer of the torch and guardian of a legacy handed down to him, personally, by his musical mentors. Since emerging under the tutelage of Betty Carter, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Ray Brown in the early 1980s, Benny Green has become a highly regarded pianist and bandleader. His efforts to expand upon the language of the classical jazz canon have placed him not only among the best interpreters but also among the vanguard of musicians keeping jazz’s evolution going.