Warren Chiasson Quartet to appear

Hackettstown - Warren Chiasson will perform in the Jazz in January series at Centenary College on Jan. 27.Chaisson is a highly regarded musician in the jazz world who has been called “one of the six top vibraphonists of the last half century” by the New York Times. Originally a member of the George Shearing Quintet, he has emerged as his own man with a distinctive four-mallet technique that he weaves into a percussive, melodic style. Prior to forming his own group, Chiasson was for many years best known for his creative contributions to the Chet Baker Quartet, the Tal Farlow Trio, and jazz-pop diva Roberta Flack. In addition to recording his own albums, he has played on more than 100 recordings with such artists as Eric Dolphy, Bill Dixon, Hank Crawford and was featured on a Grammy award-winning album with B.B. King Chiasson was born in the tiny French Acadian fishing village of Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, and grew up in the rich, joyous culture of Cape Breton folk music. When Chiasson was fifteen, he was profoundly inspired by a George Shearing recording of “I’ll Remember April” which led him to study modern jazz. But the seeds of his career were not sown until he entered St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and bought a small xylophone after seeing Lionel Hampton perform in his home town. Once he started practicing this instrument he decided immediately to make music his career. Since then Chiasson has collaborated with some of the finest musicians in jazz including Paul Bley, Ron Carter, Roland Hanna and the late Jimmy Garrison from the original John Coltrane Quintet. In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, the Warren Chiasson/Jimmy Garrison Duo played regularly at Gregory’s in New York City, while Chiasson also hosted a weekly jam session at the Signs of the Zodiac in Harlem. In July 2006, Warren was honored in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 20th Anniversary of the Atlantic Jazz Festival for his contributions to jazz -- and for being the first musician from Nova Scotia to forge a professional jazz career. Warren’s sidemen include Ed McEachen, on guitar, who played for years with Chico Hamilton and currently teaches jazz guitar at the New School. Ralph Hamperian is on bass; he worked with the Lionel Hampton and Jaki Bayard bands. And his drummer is Jimmy Madison, who over the years has worked with some of the jazz greats including Stan Getz, Anita O’Day and Duke Ellington. Prices for the Jazz in January Concert Series are: $20 in advance, $25.00 at the door. For tickets or additional information about the concerts please contact the Centenary Performing Arts Guild Box Office at 908-979-0900 or 908-637-6455. Or order online at www.centenarystageco.org <http://www.centenarystageco.org/> . Centenary College is located at 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Additional locations to purchase tickets include: Panther Valley Inn, Skylands Bank, Hackettstown Trading Post, Smoke House Restaurant, Valley National Bank and WRNJ Radio. The Jazz in January Concert Series at the Centenary Performing Arts Guild is produced in cooperation with Coyne Enterprises and WRNJ Radio with the generous support of Heath Village - A Unique Retirement Community Since 1966, and Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.