Latin Jazz Evolution Biographies

Ed Byrne (leader, composer, trombonist)
Website: http://www.byrenjazz.com
Record Label: http://www.bluetrufflemusic.com
Professional Experience
• Ed Byrne worked for more than 15 years on the NYC scene as a soloist with many of the world’s greatest performing artists: Eddie Palmieri, Fanya All Stars, Willie Colon, Manu Debango, Manny Oquendo's Conjunto Libre, Dizzy Gillespie, James Brown, Celia Cruz, Chet Baker, Herbie Hancock, Mon Rivera, Joe Henderson, Larry Harlow, Maynard Ferguson, Billy Eckstine, Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, Buddy Rich, Mel Torme--and countless others. Ed also performed, composed and arranged numerous recordings and toured the Americas, France, Germany and Sweden.
• A DMA in Jazz Studies from NEC, Dr. Byrne has been on the faculties of Berklee College and elsewhere, and has published 17 texts, Linear Jazz Improvisation Method, sold world-wide.
Awards
• Ed was Nominated "Best Trombone Soloist" by Latin New York magazine; his "Fenway Funk" was Nominated for a Grammy Award; Eddie Palmieri’s album, Unfinished Masterpiece (lead trombone) won the Grammy.
Discography
• Two Shades of Blue, Ed’s CD with John Abercrombie, Jim McNeely, Milton Cardonna, Mick Goodrick, Ron McClure and Victor Lewis

Carl Clements (saxophones, flute)
Website: http://www.carlclements.com
Professional Experience
• Carl is a music PhD from the CUNY Graduate Center.
• Carl has performed at jazz clubs and festivals in the U.S, Europe, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Dubai, including performances with Charlie Haden, James Newton, Alex Blake, Ranjit Barot, Natraj, Sundar Shor, Divya, Crosscurrent, and many others.
• A teacher at Columbia University, Carl is an active performer in the jazz and world music scenes in New York and Boston.
Discography
• Having performed and composed extensively in a wide range of styles, his discography includes his own CD of his original compositions for jazz quartet entitled Forth and Back, and 4 CDs with the eclectic jazz group Crosscurrent.
Damian Curtis (piano, keyboards)
Professional Experience
• Damian has been studying the piano since the age of four. He went to the Academy of Performing Arts, Artist Collectives and Guakia, in high school and was able to get a full scholarship to the University of Hartford (Hartt School Of Music).
• Damian has performed with such great musicians as Giovanni Hilgaldo, Patato Valdes, Andy Gonzales, David and Abraham, The Curtis Brothers, Jose Papo Rivera, Rubin Felix, Jackie Mclean, Nat Revees, Dr. Ed Byrne’s Latin Jazz Evolution, and Steve Davis, just to name a few.


Matt Dwonszyk (bass)
Website: http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/dwonszyk/MattDwonszykBass.html
Professional Experience
• LJE bassist Matt Dwonszyk from Hartford, CT, began his career performing with pop groups.
• Matt attended the Academy of Performing Arts, where he studied bass with Jimmy Greene, Kris Allen, Paul Brown and Doug Maher. Matt has performed with Harold Maybern, Larry Willis, Steve Nelson, Dr. Eddie Henderson, John Farnsworth, Steve Davis, Arron Goldberg, including performances of Latin music with Ed Fast. He is now attending the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music where he studies with Nat Reeves and Steve Davis. Matt also has his own group, New Unity Band, which features his original compositions.
Joe Palmer (drums)
Professional Experience
• Drummer Joe Palmer from Hartford, CT attended Berklee College of Music studying with Ralph Peterson Jr. Joe later moved to NYC to perform with Amiri Baraka, Josh Evans, Bazaar Royale, and M1 (of Dead Prez), as well as many others.
• Joe has spent the recent years traveling through different cities around the United States freelancing as a sideman with many Jazz, Hip Hop, and Rock groups.

Rubin Rosa (Latin percussion)
Professional Experience
• Percussionist Ruben Rosa has been a freelance musician for 40 yrs. He plays salsa, jazz, Latin jazz, R&B and funk. Mr. Rosa has performed with Malo, Tipica 73, Moncho Santana, Jr Gonzales, Herold Ousley, Dr. Ed Byrne, Carlos Frazetti, Richie Havens; currently a member of Grupo Latin Vibe. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.