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Monroeville Jazz Festival
Jazz, Born in America, Alive in Monroeville
Jazz, Born in America, Alive in Monroeville
| A Jazz Evening at Boyce Park 4:00 PM July 18th 2009 Featuring |
| Seventh Annual Monroeville Jazz Festival |
Rodney McCoy
Rodney McCoy is a native of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Rodney's mother, a classical concert pianist and ordained minister with a deep
interest in both classical and gospel music, insisted that all her children study music. Rodney's first choice was the viola, but his older was
the next logical choice. Rodney is a unique classical, jazz, gospel violinist who began studying music at age nine. For Rodney and the violin, it
was love at first sight. He began studying the violin under the tutelage of Sister Frances Assisi Gorham, Sister of Charity, Director of the and
later joined the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Ozanam Strings, Jazz Ensemble where he earned several music scholarship
and awards. He attended Carnegie Mellon University Pre¬College Art Class, Mount Aloysius College studying with Dr. Ed McGuire,
Towson University with Hank Levy, Music Director of Jazz for the School of Music, and Dr. Nathan Davis at University of Pittsburgh. He
also attended Duquesne University
Rodney McCoy is a native of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Rodney's mother, a classical concert pianist and ordained minister with a deep
interest in both classical and gospel music, insisted that all her children study music. Rodney's first choice was the viola, but his older was
the next logical choice. Rodney is a unique classical, jazz, gospel violinist who began studying music at age nine. For Rodney and the violin, it
was love at first sight. He began studying the violin under the tutelage of Sister Frances Assisi Gorham, Sister of Charity, Director of the and
later joined the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Ozanam Strings, Jazz Ensemble where he earned several music scholarship
and awards. He attended Carnegie Mellon University Pre¬College Art Class, Mount Aloysius College studying with Dr. Ed McGuire,
Towson University with Hank Levy, Music Director of Jazz for the School of Music, and Dr. Nathan Davis at University of Pittsburgh. He
also attended Duquesne University
Kenia
Born in the exotic city of Rio de Janeiro, Kenia is one of the most excitingly unique performers you can hear today. Her deep tone and
excellent choice of repertoire is a sure sign of expertise. Kenia's voice has an infectious charm and persuasive whisper that takes more power
in her native Portugeuese but is equally evocative in English.
She single-handedly defines the essence of heavenly pop accented by Brazilian jazz. Her captivating blend of venerable choro works, samba
and bossa nova captivates audiences around the world. Kenia has been noted as one of the most popular and successful U.S. based Braxilian
musicians since the heydey of Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66.
Kenia has performed at the Mellon Jazz Festival in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Syracuse Jazz Festival
and the Warsaw Jazz Festival in Warsaw, Poland, among others. She has performed on local broadcasts as well as in Mexico, New York and
Brazil. Her newest CD entitled Simply Kenia was released in 2008.
Born in the exotic city of Rio de Janeiro, Kenia is one of the most excitingly unique performers you can hear today. Her deep tone and
excellent choice of repertoire is a sure sign of expertise. Kenia's voice has an infectious charm and persuasive whisper that takes more power
in her native Portugeuese but is equally evocative in English.
She single-handedly defines the essence of heavenly pop accented by Brazilian jazz. Her captivating blend of venerable choro works, samba
and bossa nova captivates audiences around the world. Kenia has been noted as one of the most popular and successful U.S. based Braxilian
musicians since the heydey of Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66.
Kenia has performed at the Mellon Jazz Festival in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, the Syracuse Jazz Festival
and the Warsaw Jazz Festival in Warsaw, Poland, among others. She has performed on local broadcasts as well as in Mexico, New York and
Brazil. Her newest CD entitled Simply Kenia was released in 2008.
With much surprise, Roger Humphries Sr. sat in with the Tab Smith Big Band when he was 4 1/2 years old. Roger began playing
professionally at the age of 14. He led his own group at the Carnegie Music Hall when he was just 16.
Rodney has worked on a steady basis with Horace Silver, Ray Charles, Stanley Turrentine and Shirley Scott. He now leads his own
ensembles, the RH Factor Quintet and the Roger Humphries Big Band.
Morgan, Dr. Billy Taylor, Benny Green, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Lionel Hampton, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Dizzy
Gillespie, George Benson, Jon Faddis, Slide Hampton, Herbie Mann, Randy Brecker, Joe Williams, Milt Jackson and Jimmy Witherspoon.
On February 23, 2008, the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh issued a proclamation as Roger Humphries Day. He was given a
certificate of recognition for his legendary performance in the field of music and teaching.
Roger also teaches at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.