Global Jazz Project
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Global Jazz Project

Detroit, Michigan, United States | INDIE | AFM

Detroit, Michigan, United States | INDIE | AFM
Band Jazz Avant-garde

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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Press


"Ken Dryden"

The Global Jazz Trio consists of saxophonist Mark Hershberger, drummer Muruga Booker and bassist Richard Smith, captured live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. Things start off well with a smoking take of Sonny Rollins' famous calypso "St. Thomas", with the drummer nearly stealing the spotlight from the tenor saxophonist. Their very deliberate and spacious interpretation of John Coltrane's "Impressions" (with Hershberger switching to soprano sax) will turn some heads.
H. Allen Williams, Jazzreview - All Music Guide (AMG)


"H. Allen Williams"

The first thing to remember about this project is that it is live. Hershberger seemed to
want to capture the true essence of Bakers Keyboard Lounge by allowing the sounds of the
room (talking and dish noises) to be recorded on disc as well as the music. The result is
similar to some of the live albums from the 60’s; Bill Evans Secret Sessions and Live at the
Five Spot with Monk and Coltrane. Hershberger also switches on an unusual amount of
reverb on his saxophone sound that takes a few moments to get use to hearing. The trio
really shines on "Impression." Starting with a fiery drum intro by Booker that displays his
arsenal of talent and command of colors from his drum set and auxiliary percussion that
draws forth many 'yeah’s' from the audience. Hershberger starts the melody and than slowly
develops his solo through various styles to a logical musical climax, Hershberger implements
some Jewish music phrasing that furthers the global jazz concept. The interaction between
Booker and Hershberger is very communicative and musical. At the end of Hershberger’s
solo and audience member can be heard saying, 'All right now! Good turn!' An interesting
version of Norah Jones’s "Come Away With Me" is a surprise and shows the group stays current
on the jazz scene of today. "St. Thomas" finds the trio exploring more traditional
territory with a nice solo by Hershberger. Live in Detroit, Global Jazz Trio at Baker’s
Keyboard Lounge is a blend of jazz and world beats with an emphasis on interaction and
improvisation with raw energy emotion. Hershberger and friends added their spirit and
perspiration to the jazz soaking history Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. - Jazzreview


Discography

• Coming soon Mother Nature 2012 - Global Jazz Project (Emusicmasters Productions 2012)
• Out of this World - Global Jazz Project Live at the 30th Annual Detroit International Jazz Festival (Emusicmasters Productions 2010)
• Global Visions (Emusicmasters Productions, 2009)
• Tour of the Planet, Global Jazz Project (Emusicmasters Productions 2009)
• Global Jazz Trio, Live at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge (Emusicmasters Productions, 2005)
• Global Jazz Trio, Live at the Ark (Emusicmasters Productions 2004)
• White Christmas, Global Jazz Trio and Friends (Emusicmasters Productions 2003)
• World of Survivors (Emusicmasters Productions 2001)

Photos

Bio

Global Jazz Project presents Traditional to avant-garde jazz infused with world music concepts, giving global jazz a free and experimental creative dimensions.

Global Jazz Project's founder and leader Mark Hershberger was born and raised in the Detroit, Michigan area. He cites as his influences John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Eric Dolphy, Sonny Rollins and Sam Sanders. For the past forty years Mark Hershberger has been involved in music: composing, arranging and performing jazz at local, regional and national levels. He is fortunate to have studied jazz saxophone with renowned saxophonist Sam Sanders. He was mentored and performed with notable musicians: Harold McKinney, Jimmy Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Marvin "Doc" Holladay, Badal Roy, Don Sinta, Cliff Leaman , Michael Colone, and Ed Sarath (to name a few). Mark Hershberger played horns backing up STAX legends “Sam & Dave” for various Detroit Motown appearances. As a member of Oakland University's AFRAM Jazz Band he performed with jazz greats Thad Jones, Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton. In 2008, Mark joined legendary New Orleans vocalist Corliss Randall for “Jazz After Dark” in London's Soho district for a night of wild music.

The musicians of Global Jazz Project inlcude Jerry LeDuff and Bastian Trimpe. These three musicians make up the core group and additional feature artists are added when the performance requires expanded group. These unique musicians individually and collectively have 100 years of music performance to their credit, including international and national concerts and festivals, clubs, corporate and private events, composing, producing, arranging and performing music for festivals, concerts, film, television, radio, recordings and charilty.

Global Jazz Project produces music true to our members' Detroit heritage, generally identifiable as traditional to avant-garde. With a nod to traditional jazz, Motown, funk and world music, these creative musicians join together to produce "out / inside." Percussionist Jerry LeDuff brings complex and sophisticated rhythms into arrangements highlighting the creativity and energy of Global Jazz Project members. Bastian Trimpe brings his unique style of jazz guitar that includes traditional to avant-garde styles to the ensemble. Mark Hershberger's expressive saxophone voicings blast you into space, and he can pull you back to earthy sounds just as fluidly.

Global Jazz Project’s members’ individual strengths and areas of creative interest are being combined in new ways this year. We are putting a great amount of emphasis on two levels: traditional and contemporary ethnic rhythms along with unique and advanced earthy to electronic. Our perseverance, diligence and enthusiasm for this collaboration have exponentially increased to this date. The beauty of this collaboration is that each musician has an opportunity to express himself in the area of his greatest accomplishment and interest.

Diversity within our members makes for an interesting mix: jazz, blues and rock backgrounds, classical and European backgrounds, Afro-Cuban, Latin, Brazilian and World Culture backgrounds. All this combines with our shared Detroit roots, well-rounded music educations and insatiable drive to create something new!

We are what’s happening NEXT! Upcoming in April 2012 release of the new CD "Mother Nature 2012"