Baker Street Trio and Ace Williams Performance at The Woodland for Smooth Jazz NJ
On October 22, 2021 The Baker Street Trio with Ace Williams opened opened for Baseball Legend and Famous Jazz Musician Bernie Williams and Gil Parris on Friday, 10/22/21 at The Woodland for Smooth Jazz NJ. MC and Mayor Frank McGehee was proud to announce the opening act.
The Baker Street Trio features three of the most exciting and swinging young jazz musicians in the area. who began playing together through Montclair's Jazz House Kids. The trio was formed in the Fall of 2020 out of these young musicians' love for jazz and the need to be able to play together -- safely, outdoors. They played a standing gig through the Fall and Winter of 2020 on a streetcorner on Baker Street in Maplewood Village, and in doing so, have entertained and brought the joy of jazz to countless appreciative audiences.
Ben Collins-Siegel (piano) and Ryoma "Ryo" Takenaga (bass) were recently featured in Jersey Jazz as “The Bright Future of Jazz” and were also awarded Outstanding Soloists at the 12th annual Charles Mingus Festival, where they performed with the Mingus Big Band at the Jazz Standard.
Last month, Ben was asked to join legendary jazz pianist and Steinway Artist Fred Hersch for Steinway & Sons' first virtual jazz masterclass, and Ryo will be participating in Carnegie Hall's NYO Jazz band this summer!
Rounding out the trio on the drums is Ben Schwartz, Winner Outstanding Soloist at the Regional Essentially Ellington Festival and winner of the 2021 NJAJE All-Region High School Jazz Ensemble (first chair) for drums. In addition, Ben was recently featured on WBGO's The Pulse with Keanna Faircloth.
Ace Williams is a 17 year old trumpet player based in the New Jersey/New York City area who is a prominent member of the Willie Williams Quintet. Born in New York City, Ace began playing trumpet at the age of eight under the tutelage of his father, Willie Williams. Ace has studied with musicians such as: Valery Ponomarev,Mark Gross,and the late Joe Shepley among others. He has played prominently with Willie Williams and also has played with T.S. Monk. Ace has played in many venues in the nyc/nj area such as NJPAC, the Blue Note Jazz Club and the Jazz Forum. Ace has also recorded at Avatar Studios(with Njpac Jazz for Teens)and the historic Rudy Van Gelder Studios(with his father) as well being a participant in Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz.
https://smoothjazznj.com/