Art Gore's All-Stars — A Tribute To Art Blakey & Herbie Hancock

Sat, Oct 11

Art Gore — drums Marc Fields — trombone Dan Drees — tenor saxophone Dan Karlsberg — piano Jim Anderson — bass Art Blakey, a true jazz icon, was a powerhouse drummer and bandleader whose impact on the genre remains unparalleled. Born in 1919, Blakey rose to prominence during the heyday of bebop and became one of the foremost figures in developing hard bop. His drumming style was dynamic and propulsive, driving the rhythm with relentless energy and an unmistakable groove. However, Blakey's influence extended far beyond his drumming skills. As the leader of his band, The Jazz Messengers, he mentored and nurtured countless young musicians, providing a platform for their talents to flourish. Many of his band members became jazz legends in their own right, a testament to Blakey's role as a catalyst for artistic growth. With his fierce dedication to his craft and his unwavering commitment to preserving the legacy of jazz, Art Blakey solidified his position as a visionary musician and an indelible force in the history of jazz. Herbie Hancock is one of the most influential figures in modern music, whose career as a pianist, composer, and bandleader has spanned more than six decades. A child prodigy from Chicago, Hancock joined the Miles Davis Quintet in the 1960s, where his innovative harmonic sensibility and rhythmic freedom helped redefine the sound of jazz. His groundbreaking work as both a sideman and leader bridged post-bop traditions with fresh approaches, laying the foundation for his role as a pioneer of fusion, funk, and electronic music. As a composer and recording artist, Hancock has continually pushed boundaries, from his iconic 1965 composition Maiden Voyage to the funk-driven grooves of Head Hunters and the electronic textures of Future Shock, which produced the Grammy-winning hit “Rockit.” His openness to experimentation and cross-genre collaboration has earned him worldwide acclaim, along with an Academy Award and more than a dozen Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Today, Hancock continues to perform, teach, and advocate for cultural exchange through music, remaining a vital force in shaping the global soundscape Art Gore's drumming style is characterized by signature driving cymbal beats, crisp, sharp snare accents, and well-placed bass drum "bombs." During his three-decade career, he has performed and recorded with such artists as George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lonnie Liston Smith, Pharoah Sanders, Woody Shaw, Larry Young, Bobby Watson, Freddie Hubbard, John Scofield, Hank Marr, J.J. Johnson, Joey Defrancesco, Kenny Dorham, Hank Crawford, James Moody, and Ahmad Jamal, to name a few. Dr. Lonnie Smith has said of Art, "Art has the kind of rhythm and drive that's always right there." Art Gore was born into a family of musicians, which began his early exposure to music. By age sixteen, he was playing professionally. After graduating high school, Art attended Berklee College of Music and was drafted into the armed forces for two years. His musical development continued by playing with the First Armored Division Band and orchestra and leading his groups. After serving in the military, Art attended the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with renowned drum instructor Alan Dawson and later at the New England Conservatory of Music under Vic Firth. In 1972, Art joined Dr. Lonnie Smith, which led to their traveling and recording with the Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist George Benson. Upon leaving George Benson's band, Art began working with Lonnie Liston Smith. Art's recordings with Lonnie were some of the most important of his early career. Many jazz enthusiasts consider one of the recordings, "Expansions" (RCA 1975), a jazz-fusion classic. "Voodoo Woman," one of the compositions that Art recorded with Lonnie, is included in the Recommended Recordings of the Decade for the Smithsonian Collection of Jazz in the Seventies. If the total amount of beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum, a $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set. Important Notices: If you do not check in by 15 minutes into the start of the set, we reserve the right to resell your seats with no refund. Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.