Yoko Suzuki Trio and Thomas Wendt Quintet - Live ONLINE from MCG Jazz Tuesday, Nov 24 Supported through the MCG Jazz Musicians Performance Fund

Yoko Suzuki Trio:

Yoko Suzuki, alto sax;  Cliff Barnes, organ; James Johnson III, drums

Thomas Wendt Quintet:

Thomas Wendt - Drums; Jeff Bush – Trombone; Reggie Watkins – Trombone; Max Leake – Piano; Ava Lintz – Bass

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Yoko Suzuki is an alto saxophonist working in Pittsburgh and New York City. She started to play the alto saxophone upon joining a jazz ensemble at Osaka University in Japan, teaching herself jazz theory, improvisation and repertoire. She received a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and a PhD certificate in women’s studies, and currently teaches at the University of Pittsburgh.

A Youngstown native, Cliff Barnes, has been working as a professional musician since he was 11. He plays the piano, the organ, and the bass in diverse genres including gospel, funk, R&B, and jazz. He has performed internationally with David Sanborn, Pieces of a Dream, Gerald Veasely, and Johnny Gill just to name a few. Most recently, Cliff appeared on Marcus Miller’s album, Afrodeezia (2015) and Laid Black (2018).

Tutored by his father, a legendary jazz pianist, James Johnson III has been playing the drums since the age of 5 and has been a regular fixture in local jazz circles since he was 15. He has toured with legendary jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, launching his worldwide career. James is a drum instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. As a trio, they have been performing in and around the Pittsburgh area since 2014.

Thomas Wendt has been playing the drums professionally since the age of 14.  A graduate of The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he has studied with master drummers Roger Humphries, Joe Harris, and Kenny Washington.  Thomas maintains a busy freelancing schedule with Pittsburgh’s top jazz artists such as Dwayne Dolphin, Jimmy Ponder, Joe Negri, Sean Jones, Dave & Maureen Budway, Kenia, the Latin jazz group, Salsamba, and the newly re-formed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra.  He has also played with many visiting international artists like David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Monty Alexander, Curtis Lundy, and Javon Jackson.  In 2008, Thomas played on the Emmy Award winning soundtrack for the PBS documentary, “Fly Boys” and this year he has just finished an album featuring trombonists Jay Ashby and Steve Davis.  Thomas has also recorded albums with Gene Ludwig, Sandy Staley, Salsamba, David and Maureen Budway, and Joe Negri. Since 1998 he has been on the faculty at the Afro-American Music Institute in Homewood.

Thomas Wendt Quintet:

Thomas Wendt - Drums

Jeff Bush – Trombone

Reggie Watkins – Trombone

Max Leake – Piano

Ava Lintz – Bass