JAZZ PORTRAITS X NEW YORK CITY
GABRIEL ROYAL
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Client: So What’s Next Festival
Released: 2017
ABOUT
“Nobody sees the violin and goes, whoo I wanna f*ck that dude!” Gabriel Royal literally starting at the bottom, the New York City subways. This honest and raw portrait describes the story of a classical cello artist finding his way up by grinding his way down the Brooklyn lines. He is now signed by a label and tours the world to play what he calls, his subway compositions.
MARK GUILANA
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Client: So What’s Next Festival
Release: 2017
ABOUT
Mark Guiliana is a Grammy-nominated American drummer, composer and leader of the band Beat Music. He is known for his playing with Avishai Cohen, Brad Mehldau, David Bowie, Meshell Ndegeocello, Gretchen Parlato, Jason Lindner, Lionel Loueke, Dhafer Youssef, Tigran Hamasyan, Matisyahu, the European piano trio Phronesis and his own band, Heernt.
ARUÁN ORTIZ
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Client: So What’s Next Festival
Release: 2018
ABOUT
Pianist, violist, and composer Aruán Ortiz – born in Santiago de Cuba, and resident of Brooklyn – has been an active figure in the progressive jazz and avant-garde scene in the US for more than 15 years. Named “one of the most creative and original composers in the world”, he has written music for jazz ensembles, orchestras, dance companies, chamber groups, and feature films, incorporating influences from contemporary classical music, Cuban Haitian rhythms, and avant-garde improvisation. Aruán consistently strives to break stylistic musical boundaries. Since his arrival in the United States, Aruán has played, toured, or recorded with jazz luminaries such as Wadada Leo Smith, Don Byron, Greg Osby, Wallace Roney.
DONNY McCASLIN
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Client: So What’s Next Festival
Release: 2018
ABOUT
Days before his January 2016 death, David Bowie released his final album, Blackstar. While the record represented an endpoint for the legendary artist, it also marked a new beginning for jazz lifer Donny McCaslin who, armed with his saxophone, defined Blackstar's visionary stylistic fusion. Donald Paul McCaslin is an American jazz saxophonist. He has recorded over a dozen albums as a bandleader in addition to many sideman appearances.
MATTHEW STEVENS
DIRECTOR & EDITOR
Client: So What’s Next Festival
Release: 2018
ABOUT
Stevens was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and studied piano and guitar at a young age. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2004, Stevens has established himself in the contemporary jazz scene performing and recording with numerous artists including Christian Scott,Terri Lyne Carrington, and Esperanza Spalding. Stevens was placed in the Rising Star Guitar Category of the 63rd Annual DownBeat Critics Poll.[5] His performances have been esteemed by numerous publications including Down Beat, NPR, Jazz Times, Billboard,[9] and The New York Times.