Tony Monaco / Fareed Haque Trio – 2015

Tony Monaco-photo by Stephen Pariser.

Tony Monaco / Fareed Haque Trio, featuring Randy Gelispie

Friday, August 7, 2015 – 9:30 to 11:00
MICA Stage

Tony Monaco may be the best organ player you have yet to hear of, flying stealth while playing arguably some of the hottest B-3 around. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in what is considered the more classic style, Monaco does not swing, smolder or smoke. “Tony Monaco burns…!” CriticalJazz Review2012.

In April 2000, Tony met fellow jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco, who offered to produce a debut CD for him. This collaboration resulted in the critically acclaimed “Burnin Grooves”. The international success of the recording served as the catalyst for regional and national tours. Tony has since had 8 International releases and toured the globe many times.

Fareed Haque

Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, experienced in Latin fusion and the jazz side of Sting,  his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation.

Haque has been featured on many radio and TV networks, including his own special for PBS, and on BET cable jazz channel.  . In 2001 he co-founded the jam super-group Garaj Mahal, which toured extensively for 10 years, released its own successful CDs, and in 2007 won an Independent Music Award.  Voted ‘Best World Guitarist’ by Guitar Player Magazine in 2009, his acclaimed 2009 release Flat Planet was twice #1 on the World Jazz Radio charts.

Randy Gelispie

Rounding out the trio is featured drummer Randy Gelispie.

“Uncle G” Gelispie is an extraordinary jazz drummer. During a performing career that spans more than 50 years, he’s traveled to hundreds of clubs, and played with a Who’s Who of jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, Tommy Flanagan, Etta Jones, Nancy Wilson, Lou Donaldson, Gene Ammons, Barry Harris, Oliver Jones, O.C. Smith, and Al Hibble.  Local performances have included outstanding fellow musicians such as Marcus Belgrave, Perry Hughes, Gary Schunk, Marion Haydan, Bill Heidt, Andrew Speight, Rodney Whitaker and Rick Roe.  He has also worked with such Blues musicians as Jimmy Witherspoon, John Lee Hooker and Big Maybelle. In the late 1980s, Gelispie started tutoring drum students at MSU and was brought on as an instructor by Jazz Studies director Rodney Whitaker in 1991.  There he’s ensuring new generations of jazz talents.  Students credit him with giving priceless lessons that would be useful both in their music career and in life. Even non-drummers study with Gelispie to soak in his experience and knowledge.

Plan to hear Fareed on Saturday as well, when Fareed’s “Mathgames” takes the North Stage at 11:00 pm.

(source:  performers websites.)

Fareed Haque Website: http://fareed.com/

Tony Monaco Website: http://b3monaco.com