John Daversa is a multi-Grammy winning artist, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, educator, Chair and Professor of Studio Music and Jazz at The Frost School of Music, University of Miami.
Trumpeter John Daversa is right here in our backyard. This guy is big stuff in the music world and when he took a position at the University of Miami, the Magic City added another reason to sparkle.
Now we are blessed again. The composer, arranger, producer, bandleader and director of the University of Miami's Frost School of Music Jazz Studies Department, will be joined by other big names: internationally renowned pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, virtuoso bassist Carlo De Rosa, drummer extraordinaire Dafnis Prieto, and veteran, stellar percussionist Sammy Figueroa, in a debut of sorts.
The band will feature original, nearly magical compositions, predominantly penned by Daversa, reflecting the times we currently live in. Yes, these times. The concert is titled "CUARANTENA: With Family at Home."
The quintet will perform on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 at 8 p.m. in a livestream.
It’s the first of a six-concert collaborative series with South Florida JAZZ that will feature the extraordinary educator and musician.
Originally from Los Angeles, Daversa grew up in a musical household. He passionately listened, composed, sang and played various instruments, eventually picking up the trumpet at age eleven.
His family moved several times, residing in Ada, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, and Sacramento, though ultimately, they returned to Los Angeles where he attended Hamilton Academy of Music for his final two years of high school.
While a student at Hamilton, he began writing for large and small jazz ensembles, playing the Electric Valve Instrument (EVI), and performing regularly with his high school quartet, Second Generation.
He was also a member of the Monterey All-Star High School Big Band for four years, touring Japan and performing with iconic guest artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson, and Clark Terry. He was in high school.
But my first introduction to Daversa was when he had created this legendary position in the jazz world. In the mid 2000s, he established the John Daversa Small Band and revitalized the John Daversa Progressive Big Band. Lively monthly residencies were cultivated at local Los Angeles jazz venues, namely, The Baked Potato, Blue Whale, and Seven Grand.
The personnel chemistry and compositions created during these performances generated the material for Daversa’s albums "Junk Wagon: The Big Band Album" (2011) and "Artful Joy" (2012).
John Daversa in the studio.
The musician's resume is a who's who, too, and throughout this period, Daversa was the musical director for recording artist, Renee Olstead, touring internationally and appearing on television platforms such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Late Nite with David Letterman," and "The Today Show."
He was also active performing and/or recording with recognizable names like Fiona Apple, Burt Bacharach, Dori Caymi, Andrae Crouch, Dr. Dre, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer Big Band, Regina Spektor, The Yellowjackets, and others.
So, you see why having Daversa here in Miami, is well, quite amazing. So, take advantage. This Saturday. 8 p.m. Watch in the comfort of your home. That's until you can go see him perform live. And you won't want to miss that.
Tickets are $15 and can be obtained at viewstub.com.
