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Kevin Dewberry Quartet

featuring James Robertson

Kevin Dewberry Quartet - Blues Boulevard

Kevin Dewberry Quartet - Blues Boulevard

Kevin Dewberry Quartet - Blues Boulevard

Show Info

Date

Saturday, October 11, 2014

2 Shows

8:00pm
10:15pm

Ticket Price

$5.00

Bio

Kevin Dewberry 

Percussionist, Drummer, Manager 

Native Atlantan started playing drums at age 9. In college he played in the Morris Brown College Drum line notoriety gained from the movie “Drumline”. He was a Business Administration Major receiving a B.S. degree . He also studied “Jazz Improvisation” Courses while there preparing him for the Music Business Industry. He completed certification of completion at Music Business Institute (Now the Art Institute Atlanta). Attended Nova University receiving an MBA in Business Administration and completing a course curriculum at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting. As a drummer he has performed over the past several years with various local and national artist such as: 

Donald Byrd, Isaac Hayes, Peobo Bryson, Marlena Shaw, Phyllis Hyman, Paul Mitchell, Rosemary Robertson, Mark Isham, Layman Jackson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Richard Shann, Joan Cartwright, Toni Bishop, Mark Murphy, Wes Anderson, Najee’, Lou Donaldson, Ira Sullivan, Eddie Higgins, Alice Day, Pete Minger, Sabrina Rich, Heatwave (corp.band), Ink spots, Four Lads, the Diamonds, Drifters, Grant Green JR, Ike Stubblefield, John Robertson, Gary Motley, Milkshake, Wade Baker, Nestor Torres’, Joe Jennings, Johnny O’neal, Melton Mustafa, Jessie Jones, Jeff Anderson, Atlanta Jazz Tribe, Palm Beach University Jazz Ensemble, Tavius Elders, Zach Graddy 

His Music career paralleled by a corporate career with over 30 years of sales experience as an Account Manager with various companies such as Hershey Chocolate USA, Alberto-Culver, and City Beverage.  

James Robertson 

James Robertson is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary instrument is alto saxophone.  At sixteen years old he is already a well respected musician who lives in Atlanta.  His influences are in the works of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Cannonball Adderley, Kenny Garrett and other musicians like Jackie McLean who represent the straight ahead, modern and avante garde classics.  He is exciting to listen to and enjoyable to watch.  

James has performed with and for Wynton Marsalis, Nat Reeves, Nicolas Payton, Carl Allen, Rodney Jones, Ben Wolfe, Ron Blake, Freddy Cole, Russell Malone, Allen Murphy, James Burton, Terence Harper, James Hudson and The John Robertson Trio.  He has participated in concerts, at festivals, restaurants, and in competitions. He has performed at the Kennedy Center with the Juilliard Staff, The Benny Golson Festival in Utah through his association with the Juilliard School Summer Jazz Program (three years); The Duke Pearson Jazz Camp, The Jazz Education Network Conference (2013), as a member of the Prodigies of Music, at Dante's Down the Hatch on Sundays for four years, opening act performer for the Robert Glasper Concert in May of 2013, and 2014 The 20th Annual Vail Foundation Jazz Workshop and Festival with workshop clinicians; John Clayton, Jeff Clayton, Lewis Nash, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Cunliffe, and Terell Stafford in Vail, Colorado. 

 He is off to a good start since his first private instructions from James (Dub) Hudson at age nine who continues to help him hone his skills and it helps that he comes from a musical family.  His father is John Robertson (of The John Robertson Trio) who performed at Dante's Down the Hatch for twenty-three years (10 yrs in Underground Atlanta and 13yrs in Buckhead.  His mother is Rosemary Rainey who was featured vocalist with the trio. 

John Robertson

Pianist, Arranger, Bandleader

John Robertson has performed in and around the Atlanta area for more than thirty years.  Originally from Florence, South Carolina; Mr. Robertson has made his home in Atlanta bringing with him a unique style and an inspiration for good music.  His greatest influences are found in the piano work of Wynton Kelly, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland and Oscar Peterson.  Closer to home, he has to his credit the encouragement and influences of Bill Braynon, Paul Mitchell and Laymon Jackson who are primarily responsible for his introduction to Jazz .  In addition to a keen sense of style and timing, he adds dedication to the authenticity of the music he shares with his audiences.

Born into a musical family, John began playing at an early age and maintained an interest in music throughout his formative years.  In both elementary and high school he played saxophone and piano.   A focused musician and artist, John’s interest in writing, sound electronics, and jazz performances have served him well in his development as an arranger, bandleader, copyist, music director, organist and music instructor.

Mr. Robertson is Musical Director and Bandleader for the John Robertson Trio; who performed at Dante‘s Down The Hatch for twenty three years.  He is married to jazz vocalist, Rosemary Rainey who was featured with the trio on weekends.  He is the organist at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia and  the co-founder of Children of Music and Song (COMAS) Group at the Educare Preparatory Academy.

Rosemary Rainey

Jazz Vocalist, Music Historian, Event Planner, Concert Presenter

Rosemary Rainey is a native Atlantan who has performed in Europe and various parts of the United States.  She is also from a musical family and is the daughter of the late, Lovett Rainey who was one of the first black entrepreneurs on the south side of Atlanta (College Park).  It is important to note that she is familiar to Atlanta audiences as the jazz vocalist who performed with the John Robertson Trio for twenty-three years at Dante’s Down The Hatch (Underground Atlanta and Buckhead).  She was featured in one movie project (Travelin’ Trains), has to her credit two recordings with the Georgia State University Jazz Band.  She has written and produced several concerts and musical revues; and is co-founder of the COMAS Music initiative. COMAS are an acronym for Children of Music and Song and are an affiliate of Educare Preparatory Academy.

John and Rosemary are the parents of two sons, John IV and James who are both unusually talented students of music.  They continue to be active in the southwest community as Scoutmaster and Cub master of Pack/Troop 246 and are supportive of children in many other capacities through their community service to educational and religious organizations.

The John Robertson Trio was the regular entertainment at Dante’s Down The Hatch Tuesday - Sundays for 23 years.  Rosemary Rainey was featured with the trio on Fridays and Saturdays. Their children were regular additions to the  line-up on Sundays.  To learn more about John and Rosemary contact by email:  rrqjazz@prodigy.net or phone (404) 312-2261.

Dishan Harper

Bassist

Dishan Harper is a Jazz bassist currently studying at Georgia State University under the direction of Robert Dixon (Jazz bass teacher). In addition to playing in the various ensembles at the school he works quite a bit in the city of Atlanta performing along side his brother Terrance Harper (Jazz trumpeter) in venues such as Church Hill Grounds, the Velvet Note, Dante’s Down the Hatch, and the Schwartz Center at Emory University. Dishan's aspiration for playing Jazz comes from the fact that he was raised by a family of talented musicians. His parents Danny and Terry Harper are well known Jazz musicians in the city of Atlanta. His Uncles Winard Harper (former drummer for Betty Carter) and Philip Harper (trumpeter for the Mingus Big Band) have released several big hit Jazz albums under their group called the Harper Brothers. Dishan is currently performing at the Twelve Hotel in Atlantic Station every Sunday from 11 to 3pm.

 

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