Craig Alston & Friends Holiday Concert 2021

Recorded on 12/22/21

Craig Alston, saxophones
Todd Simon, piano
Obasi Akoto, bass
John Lamkin III, drums

Craig Alston is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore best known as the saxophonist for Fertile Ground,. As an independent artist, Craig plays the saxophone, bass, or keyboard. As a saxophonist, Craig has played with jazz legends such as Larry Willis, David Murray, Oliver Lake, John Hicks and Jimmy Heath. He recently won the Chick-Webb Jazz Combo competition. He has been leading the Eubie Blake Legacy Band for the past seven years, and Genese Music and Entertainment selected him to be their Senior Consultant for its Obia Soul label. Craig is the music director and instrumental music teacher for the Maryland Summer Center, which teaches gifted and talented students to understand and play jazz, and thea leads the Timothy Baptist Summer Music Program where students with little to no instrumental experience begin learning to play instruments.

Dover, Delaware native Todd Simon is a 2007 Peabody graduate and a mainstay on the Baltimore/Washington D.C. jazz scene as a pianist, organist, and saxophonist. He served in the U. S. Naval Academy Band from 2009-2014 and then moved to New York City and began immediately performing at several venues in Harlem, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. He has performed and/or recorded with Chris Potter, Nicholas Payton, Gary Bartz, Tim Warfield, Antonio Hart, Ralph Peterson, Gary Thomas, Paul Bollenback, Tarus Mateen, Mike Pope, Dontae Winslow, Mark Gross, Freddie Hendrix, Warren Wolf, Daryl Davis, and Vanessa Collier, as well as several acclaimed ensembles including The Fabulous Hubcaps, which his father founded.

Obasi Akoto is well known for his work with Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and Baltimore’s own, Cyrus Chestnut. Veteran bassist Obasi Akoto has had a long and distinguished career performing and recording with some of the most important jazz musicians in the world: Wynton Marsalis, Kathleen Battle, Abbey Lincoln, Regina Carter, James Carter, Warren Wolf, Stefon Harris, Terreon Gully, Jimmy Greene, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Geoff Keezer, Miguel Zenon, Joanne Brackeen, Steve Turre, Jacky Terrasson, Joe Lovano, Eddie Henderson, Benny Green, Slide Hampton, Lester Bowie, Antoine Roney, Eric Lewis, and Winard Harper. 

John Lamkin, III is a native of Baltimore. He began playing drums at theage of four. John attended The Manhattan School of Music in New York City and Berklee College of Music in Boston. John has toured, played and recorded with a number of exceptionally talented recording artists. He maintains a deep respect and appreciation of those who’ve set standards in the music world.

 Live streaming cost is $15

Donations are welcomed.