Don't Miss Out On This Special Announcement - Jazz Singer Mark Murphy and George Carroll
CONCERT, AWARDS PRESENTATION ...Click Here!

MARK MURPHY CONCERT PRESS RELEASE

Legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy will make one of his rare Florida appearances at an historic concert/career achievement awards presentation on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 in Venice, FL.

Mr. Murphy, who will perform with the George Carroll Jazz triot and special guest artists, will receive the lifetime achievement honor from the Jazz Foundation of America.

Mr. Murphy has performed to spellbound audiences all over the world for seven decades, garnering six Grammy nominations while releasing more than 60 albums and CDs. He has made guest appearances on more than 60 others. He has been praised by artists and fans of all ages, including jazz journalists Leonard Feather, Dan Morgenstern, Gene Lees, Neal Tesser, Rex Reed and others.

Discovered by Sammy Davis Jr. in a Syracuse nightclub in the mid-fifties, Mr. Murphy began his prolific recording career on the Decca label in 1956, moving to Capitol, then Riverside to perform jazz rather than pop.One of his early supporters, man for all seasons Steve Allen, once wrote, "Anyone contemplating a career as a jazz singer should be forced to listen to all of his recordings."

Ella Fitzgerald said, "...he is my equal." Popular jazz vocal stars Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Cleo Laine, Sheila Jordan and many others cite Mr. Murphy's influence on their own careers.

Mr. Carroll has been a mainstay on the jazz scene in both his native Boston and adopted home of Sarasota since the sixties. His Boston Creme big band spawned such familiar names as Alan Broadbent, and John Abercrombie. He has also featured Greg Abate, Joe Hunt, the Neves Brothers, Masahiko Satoh and Greg Hopkins. Mr. Carroll has produced nearly 20 CDs, his most recent, "Trilogy," showcased the late Hank Jones and Frank Wess. His musical influences include Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Jack Sheldon, Shirley Horn and Mark Murphy. Mr. Carroll's recordings receive airplay around the globe including the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia. For more information, contact Mike Mersch at mcmersch123@verizon.net or 941-730-6765 or Mr. Carroll at moonboy22@verizon.net or 941-586-8110.

George Carroll - Big Band Jazz Music

George Carroll's web address says it all: George W Carroll Big Band Jazz Music dot Com

George W Carroll, a Sarasota, FL. jazz big band musician does it all. Composer, jazz vocalist, jazz pianist and leader of his own 17-piece jazz orchestra, jazz quartet and various jazz ensembles.

He also runs his own record label -- Sarasota Sunsets Jazz -- and has produced 11 jazz recordings (with two others in the works). Carroll, a native of Boston, MA who has been on the Sarasota jazz scene for 15 years, helps engineer his jazz recordings and acts as producer, booking agent and talent scout.

"Jazz music is suddenly in vogue these days," Carroll says. He recently concluded a swing through New York City and Boston where he performed at top drawer jazz clubs and cut two CDs. "I'm discovering that younger crowds are drawn to big band music where jazz musicians have a forum to please themselves and, obviously, their audiences," Carroll said during a rare break between assignments.

Jazz Big Band Music

"My big band performs both the swing music idiom and mainstream jazz from the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis era. My jazz quartet is at the other end of the spectrum, specializing in stylish standards and American Songbook selections."

Carroll's quartet experienced a successful engagement at New York's famed Iridium Jazz Club last summer. Carroll also performed onstage at Manhattan's Cleopatra's Needle. "The audience reaction at the Iridium was overwhelming," Carroll said. "Not only was the first show nearly sold out, but we had some interns from the United Nations who really dug what we were doing.

Between sets, the interns crowded around the piano to discuss various forms of music including big band swing. Carroll admits his surprise. "Well, it proved to me that jazz is a worldwide phenomenon," he said.

Scheduling a jazz musician and composer

"You could say jazz is alive in the global village."

These days Carroll is busier than ever. Not only does his big band and jazz quartet perform weekly at the Bacalao Grill in Sarasota, but fundraisers, special concerts and guest appearances keep him hopping. "Another thing I'm very much into these days is mentoring teenaged musicians," Carroll said.

"A 14-year-old trumpet player sat in with my big band at the Meadows Village Pub and was terrific. The crowd loved the idea of giving youngsters a chance, and so do I. We're going to be doing more with youngsters in the future." Carroll also wants to broaden his impact.

"The Iridium gig was an eye-opener," he said. "It's something I always wanted to do, test my wings on the national scene. I'm hoping to perform on the West Coast later this year.