Did you see the eclipse? Did you honor Earth Day? Explore the spiritual themes of these events at a special Jazz Vespers service at Claremont Presbyterian Church at on April 28 at 6 PM. This gathering will feature the Ron Kobayashi Trio with guest vocalist Denean Dyson. Jazz Vespers is sponsored by Claremont Presbyterian Church and CalJAS.
About the Evening’s Musicians
Denean Dyson earned a B.A. in music ('11) from CSU Fullerton School of Music and immediately launched into a career as a professional artist, entertaining audiences in the US and abroad.
Denean’s incredible vocal agility has earned her the privilege of sharing a stage with many talented artists like renown mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, jazz and blues legend Barbara Morrison, and singer and actress Reba McEntire.
As a featured soloist, Denean has been dominating the stage with notable compositions like Carole King’s “A Natural Woman,” “Satisfied” from Hamilton, “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls for Segerstrom’s Cabaret Series, “I don’t Know” from Bernstein Mass with Pacific Chorale, “A Wonderful Guy” in South Pacific in Concert with Pacific Symphony, is showcased on Jake Heggie’s premiere choral opera The Radio Hour (Delos), and has headlined CSU Fullerton’s Concert Under the Stars.
Denean is honored to have sung for gifted conductors like Gustavo Dudamel, John Williams, Ludwig Wicki, John Alexander, Robert Istad, Carl St. Clair, Nicholas McGegan, and Keith Lockhart, in renown venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Staples Center, Segerstrom Concert Hall, and more.
Based, as she is, in Long Beach, CA, Denean also leads her own group, Denean's Soul Foundation, sharing fresh renditions of R&B, Jazz and Soul tuns from Mowtown to today's pop hits at a variety of public and private venues and events.
Denean remains ever grateful that her life is full of music!
Ron Kobayashi started playing piano at age 9 and completed about eight years of full-fledged classical piano instruction, but he always gravitated toward jazz. Now Ron is a jazz pianist and composer who has performed with Mel Torme, Margaret Whiting, Tim Weisberg, Eric Marienthal, Jules Day, Peter White, Kenny Burrell, Bill Watrous, Teddy Edwards, Pete Christlieb, and Paula Kelly Jr. and the Modernaires. His trio has been lauded by the Los Angeles Times as “superb jazz stylists.” Their disc, "No Preservatives" (Carpet Cat Records) was described as a “five star session from three of the Southland’s finest” by the LA Jazz Scene. The Orange County Register wrote: “If you define jazz as spontaneity, emotional expression and communication among musicians, you won’t find anything better than “No Preservatives.” In 1996, the trio was voted "Best Jazz Group in Orange County" by readers of the Orange County Weekly. Read more about Ron here…
Voted one of the nation’s top bass players in a Bass Player Magazine poll, Baba Elefante is the bassist for The Ron Kobayashi Trio. The trio has been together for more that 21 years. The group members, Ron Kobayashi, Steve Dixon, and Baba Elefante have recorded 4 CD’s as a unit… Starting with, the self titled “Ron Kobayashi Trio” 2nd release “Exotic Places” 3rd release “No Preservatives” and 4th “Be Bop and Swing.” Baba is currently working with the Ron Kobayashi Trio as well as The Joe Jewell Quartet and the Jody Fisher Trio. Baba’s studio work spans television, movies and records including the 1995 Universal movie “The Hunted.” He has recorded and or performed with jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, saxophonists Pete Christlieb, Justo Almario, Eric Marienthal, Albert Wing, and Brandon Fields, “Yes” keyboardist Patrick Moraz, Lee Osker of the band “War” and “Kansas” lead vocalist John Elefante. Find Baba at babaelefante.com.
Steve Dixon began playing drums at the age of four; now, among other things, he's drummer for the Ron Kobayashi Trio. Steve has been influenced and inspired by many different artists from all genres of music including Jazz, R&B, Funk, Fusion, and Rock. He has done numerous recording sessions both as a drummer and percussionist, and has worked with jazz saxophonist Richie Cole, "War" harmonica legend Lee Oskar, Bill Watrous and Warner Brothers recording artists "The Untouchables.” Steve has also played in bands that have opened for some of today's top artists such as The Spin Doctors, Foreigner, Mother's Finest, KC & The Sunshine Band, The Brand New Heavies, Morris Day and The Time, Kool and The Gang, Nikka Costa, PM Dawn, Joi and Silk. He can be seen performing with some of Atlanta's hottest bands GURUFISH or ENCORE or 3RD SUN. See Steve at stevedixon.net.
"Debbi Ebert puts over a song not just with the rich sound of her voice - a luscious and rangy instrument - but with every glance of her eyes and every fiber of her body..." says Jan Herman of the Los Angeles Times. She is entertainment personified. Her repertoire is a wonderful blend of classic jazz standards: a dash of blues, a sprinkle of pop - the perfect recipe for any musical appetite. She is at home in a variety of musical environments from concert hall to Big Band sounds to a classic jazzy combo. Debbi applies her unique style of scatting to her three-octave range and is sometimes reminiscent of jazz legends Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae and Nancy Wilson. She gathered rave reviews for her theatrical portrayal of Billie Holiday in and Orange County Black Actors' Theatre production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill at South Coast Repertory Theatre. She was a founding member of the Orange County Black Actors' Theatre and has appeared in their touring productions of Ain't Misbehavin'. Eubie and Movin' On. Debbi's most recent theatrical roles include Showboat, 1940's Radio Hour, Nunsense and Ain't Misbehavin' for Fullerton Civic Light Opera. To add to her list of accomplishments, she wrote the original score and served as musical director and producer for ADP Productions all star cast creation of Black Woman's Blues at The Regency Theatre in Los Angeles. Debbi's medley of musical styles and sultry stage personality will dazzle and entertain all who come to hear her. She is in a spotlight all her own.