While most everyone is familiar with the group’s leader, Brian Lynch, we wanted to introduce you to all the members of the Brian Lynch NYU Afro-Caribbean Jazz Octet. Per Brian Lynch’s website, here is the official roster:
Brian Lynch – ensemble instructor & leader, trumpet
Peter Cobb – alto sax, project coordinator , ensemble/NYFA liasion
Casey Berman – tenor sax
Brad Gunson – trombone
Steven Feifke – piano
Jin Kyo Park – bass
Jamie Eblen – drums
Alex Raderman – percussion
We’ll begin with heart of any Latin group: the percussionist. Alex Raderman is a drummer and percussionist currently based in New York City. He began playing drums at the age of eight and started playing hand and mallet percussion in high school. From 2005-2009 Alex attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with Ralph Peterson, John Ramsay, Fransisco Mela, Victor Mendoza, Eguie Castrillo, Joe Galeota, Tony “Thunder” Smith, and many more. He is currently in his second semester at New York University where he is pursuing a masters degree in jazz performance. Alex has performed extensively throughout the Northeast and Midwest with a variety of musicians spanning several genres. Performance highlights include shows at The Blue Note and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York, Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, Ryles and The Lily Pad in Boston, the Lollapalooza music fesitval in Chicago, and at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference (PASIC) in Austin, TX among others. Alex also has a deep commitment to traditional West African music, which led him to study in Ghana during the summer of 2009.
Alex’s deep and demonstrated commitment to learning the music of other cultures not only reflects in his playing but makes him a natural fit for his role as a cultural ambassador…
Speaking about this particular project, Alex says “This experience embodies everything I think music can and should be about. This band showcases an incredible array of talent and dedication, but we are also in a unique position to share our passion for music with others. We have the chance to inspire and be inspired by the people we encounter on this journey. NYFA in conjunction with NYU and The US Embassy in Latvia have truly put something special in the works.”
Well put! More on Alex and the rest of the group to come…
