Recording of their performance on 9/12/21
Renée Tannenbaum, vocals
Jon Ozment, piano
Ephriam Wolfolk, bass
Gary Montanaro, drums
Born in Toronto, vocalist Renée Tannenbaum appeared in a variety of venues in Canada and in Italy before moving to New York City in 1996. She has been living in Washington, DC, since 2001, appearing as featured vocalist with Dial 251 for Jazz, Night & Day, the Seth Kibel Quartet and the Hot Club of DC gypsy jazz band, and now fronting her own combo. With her lyrical interpretations of standards in English, French, Spanish and Italian, Renée plays with the area’s top jazz musicians, bringing her warm and engaging energy to the city’s best music venues. Renée also tours internationally, in Italy and the Czech Republic. Her CD Sway was released in 2006.
Pianist Jon Ozment is a performer, instructor, composer and arranger. Jon has performed extensively in the jazz and contemporary jazz fields, appearing on recordings with Buck Hill, David Yarborough, Origem, Matt Belzer, and Vinny Valentino. He has performed with Jon Faddis, Bobby Hutcherson, Al Jarreau, Neena Freelon, Frank Foster, Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Chuck Brown, Curtis Fuller, John Handy, and Larry Ridley, and has toured nationally with Marlena Shaw, Miki Howard, Rain Pryor, Kim Waters, and the Blackbyrds. Throughout ’97-’99, he toured the States and Europe with saxophonist Maceo Parker. Jon currently teaches Jazz Piano at the University of Maryland, College Park and American University, and has conducted artist residencies under the auspices of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the American Composers Forum.
Ephriam Wolfolk, a native of Pittsburgh, began his music studies on piano at the age of six. After high school, he pursued a 26-year career in The United States Air Force Band, where he started on tuba, and later switched to the bass. After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Wolfolk performed as principal bassist with the Annapolis Symphony, and as sectional bassist in the Baltimore, Virginia, Roanoke, and Soulful Symphonies. As an outstanding chamber musician, he has performed with Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra in Philadelphia and the Silver String Quinte. He has performed and recorded with internationally acclaimed stars Ahmad Jamal, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, David Baker, Diane Schurr, Sonny Stitt, and The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.
Gary Montanaro is a professional jazz drummer who has been performing in the DC metro area for over 20 years. Originally from New York, he minored in music at Towson University where he studied under Berklee Graduate drum instructor Grant Menefee, and privately with Dominic Smith. Gary was fortunate to receive several lessons with the late jazz drumming legend Mike Smith. He was the Music Coordinator and Manager of Houston’s Woodmont Grill’s “Live Jazz Nightly” venue for over 12 years.
Streaming cost is $10
Donations are welcomed.