Gerald Stephens & Art Edmaiston
thu23jan6:00 pmthu8:00 pmGerald Stephens & Art Edmaiston6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Event Details
Gerald Stephens was born in Memphis and grew up in Southaven, MS, where he began piano lessons at age 7. He continued with classical piano throughout high school
Event Details
Gerald Stephens was born in Memphis and grew up in Southaven, MS, where he began piano lessons at age 7. He continued with classical piano throughout high school and into college at Memphis State University in 1989. Gerald also began his jazz training at Memphis State. He began teaching piano lessons and performing professionally in 1994, and received a BFA in Commercial Music/Recording Technology from the University of Memphis in 1995. Gerald taught with Germantown Baptist Conservatory from 1997 until 2007, and began teaching at the University of Memphis in 2002, first in the Community Music School, and from 2005-2015 in the Jazz department. In 2011, he became adjunct professor of jazz piano at Rhodes College in Memphis. Mr. Stephens has been in demand as a blues and jazz pianist in the Mid-South area since 1995, and has performed with many notable musicians of local and international fame, including Levon Helm, Hugh Masekela, The Memphis Horns, Antonio Hart, Annie Sellick, and Valerie June. Gerald also returned to classical studies in piano, and acquired a Master’s degree from the University of Memphis in 2014. Currently he continues to teach at Rhodes, while performing solo, collaborating with various groups, and recording his own music. He has been on many local album releases, including Red Trio (2005) and Groundspeak’s Local Language (2007). Cycles (2013) is his first and only to date solo release.
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Art Edmaiston’s passion for playing the saxophone began in the school band at age 11 in Troy TN. Moving to Memphis to apprentice in the city known for its talented performers and recording artists was the next step upon graduating high school.
Performing nightly on Beale Street playing blues and R&B with some of the world’s greatest entertainers gained Art a reputation for being a soulful soloist and flexible horn section player. This experience has taken him around the world providing opportunities to perform and record with a wide variety of well-known musicians, producers & music legends. Gregg Allman, the Doobie Brothers, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Justin Timberlake, Jonny Lang, Stevie Wonder, Lucero, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, North Mississippi Allstars, Allman Brothers Band, Southern Avenue, BJ the Chicago Kid, JJ Grey & Mofro, Don Bryant & The Bo-Keys, John Nemeth, Boo Mitchell, Wayne Newton and the Coasters have all called on Edmaiston for stage and studio work.
Edmaiston performs at Itta Bena in solo & duo formats on saxophone and vocals.
Time
January 23, 2025 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm