Biographies of the Players
Murray Low
Murray Low is a veteran pianist of the Bay Area jazz scene and has been playing, composing, arranging, recording and teaching professionally for over thirty years. His fluency in all forms of jazz and its blending with other idioms has led to a multi-faceted career spanning a wide variety of musical contexts.
Murray is perhaps best known for his contributions to Latin Jazz, Salsa and Afro-Cuban musical landscape. In his twenty-two years of involvement he has established himself as one of the premier pianists in that genre, being nominated as 2008 Pianist of the Year by the Latin Jazz Corner and for a Grammy in 2004 as part of Machete Ensemble. He is or has been the regular pianist/collaborator with several top Bay Area ensembles including Wayne Wallace’s Quintet, John Calloway’s Diaspora, Jesus Diaz y su QBA, Pete Escovedo Orchestra, and John Santos’ Machete Ensemble. He has also collaborated with Latin Jazz giants Ray Vega, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Nestor Torres, and Andrea Brachfeld. In 2008 he also performed with famous Cuban flautist Orlando Valle at the Monterey Jazz Festival as part of a specially commissioned project including Jon Benitez, David Sanchez, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and Giovanni Hildalgo.
Mr. Low is also actively involved in many first-call Bay Area projects in other jazz idioms including “straight ahead”, fusion and free-form styles. His career has included both local and international performances with Bob Mintzer, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, John Patitucci, George Duke, Bob Sheppard, and John Handy. He has performed at major jazz festivals all over the world, including multiple engagements at the Playboy, Monterey, Russian River and San Jose, San Francisco, Mt. Hood, Juan Les Pins and Vienne Jazz festivals, and has appeared on the Vibe and Magic Hour late-night television shows as well. Closer to home, he is the regular pianist/keyboardist for diverse projects such as drummer Wally Schnalle’s Jazz Fusion Project, trumpeter John Worley’s jazz group Worlview (which recently did a Freddie Hubbard and Birth of the Cool tribute), and many others.
As an educator, Mr. Low currently teaches Jazz Piano and Ensemble performance at Stanford University, taught Jazz Theory and Improvisation at UC Santa Cruz from 2007- 2009, and is also was Artist-In-Residence for the renowned Kuumbwa Jazz Center for 2008-2009. He has been a guest lecturer and clinician at several colleges, universities
and high schools throughout the state. He also teaches privately and is an active consultant for several musicians in the area, and previously held positions at UC Berkeley and the Jazzschool.
Mr. Low is also actively sought out as a first-rate accompanist, particularly for vocalists. He is the musical director for world jazz vocalists Kat Parra and Alexa Weber Morales. He has successfully collaborated with several notable singers including Kitty Margolis, Judy Wexler, Ellen Robinson, Jamie Davis, Lichi Fuentes and Anna Estrada.
“In order to combine styles in a meaningful way,” Murray states, “each tradition must be respected and studied in earnest. One must seek to understand the essence of the music, rather than resort to simple motifs and idiomatic devices. It is only then that a fresh, exciting blend is able to emerge.”
Murray is perhaps best known for his contributions to Latin Jazz, Salsa and Afro-Cuban musical landscape. In his twenty-two years of involvement he has established himself as one of the premier pianists in that genre, being nominated as 2008 Pianist of the Year by the Latin Jazz Corner and for a Grammy in 2004 as part of Machete Ensemble. He is or has been the regular pianist/collaborator with several top Bay Area ensembles including Wayne Wallace’s Quintet, John Calloway’s Diaspora, Jesus Diaz y su QBA, Pete Escovedo Orchestra, and John Santos’ Machete Ensemble. He has also collaborated with Latin Jazz giants Ray Vega, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Nestor Torres, and Andrea Brachfeld. In 2008 he also performed with famous Cuban flautist Orlando Valle at the Monterey Jazz Festival as part of a specially commissioned project including Jon Benitez, David Sanchez, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and Giovanni Hildalgo.
Mr. Low is also actively involved in many first-call Bay Area projects in other jazz idioms including “straight ahead”, fusion and free-form styles. His career has included both local and international performances with Bob Mintzer, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, John Patitucci, George Duke, Bob Sheppard, and John Handy. He has performed at major jazz festivals all over the world, including multiple engagements at the Playboy, Monterey, Russian River and San Jose, San Francisco, Mt. Hood, Juan Les Pins and Vienne Jazz festivals, and has appeared on the Vibe and Magic Hour late-night television shows as well. Closer to home, he is the regular pianist/keyboardist for diverse projects such as drummer Wally Schnalle’s Jazz Fusion Project, trumpeter John Worley’s jazz group Worlview (which recently did a Freddie Hubbard and Birth of the Cool tribute), and many others.
As an educator, Mr. Low currently teaches Jazz Piano and Ensemble performance at Stanford University, taught Jazz Theory and Improvisation at UC Santa Cruz from 2007- 2009, and is also was Artist-In-Residence for the renowned Kuumbwa Jazz Center for 2008-2009. He has been a guest lecturer and clinician at several colleges, universities
and high schools throughout the state. He also teaches privately and is an active consultant for several musicians in the area, and previously held positions at UC Berkeley and the Jazzschool.
Mr. Low is also actively sought out as a first-rate accompanist, particularly for vocalists. He is the musical director for world jazz vocalists Kat Parra and Alexa Weber Morales. He has successfully collaborated with several notable singers including Kitty Margolis, Judy Wexler, Ellen Robinson, Jamie Davis, Lichi Fuentes and Anna Estrada.
“In order to combine styles in a meaningful way,” Murray states, “each tradition must be respected and studied in earnest. One must seek to understand the essence of the music, rather than resort to simple motifs and idiomatic devices. It is only then that a fresh, exciting blend is able to emerge.”
Aaron Germain
Spending 15 years as a busy hired gun bass player, Aaron Germain has traveled the world and learned from the masters. Growing up in Massachusetts, he cut his teeth playing upright and electric bass in bands playing styles ranging from jazz to blues, funk, reggae, Senegalese mbalax, and more while traveling all around the northeast.
Moving to the Bay Area in 2000, his calendar has always been full, and he's expanded his repertoire to include salsa and Afro-Cuban music, Brazilian forro music, Caribbean steel pan music, Indian kathak dance, calypso, and dense odd-meter jazz.
Over the years, Aaron has performed with such artists as:
Moving to the Bay Area in 2000, his calendar has always been full, and he's expanded his repertoire to include salsa and Afro-Cuban music, Brazilian forro music, Caribbean steel pan music, Indian kathak dance, calypso, and dense odd-meter jazz.
Over the years, Aaron has performed with such artists as:
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* Yusef Lateef
* Stanley Jordon * Andy Narell * Michael Wolff * Tommy Igoe * Bonnie Raitt * Francisco Aquabella * Nguyen Le * Scott Hamilton * Tommy Igoe * Alex de Grassi * John Handy * Melba Moore * Mary Wilson * Paula West * Jason Samuel Smith * Tom Coster * Gary Meek * Gene Jackson |
* Kendra Shank
* Gary Versace * John Stowell * Jacqui Naylor * Barry Finnerty * Calvin Keyes * Jeff Massanari * Michael Zilber * Dwight Trible * Eddie Marshal * Art Khu * Dave Ellis * Babatunde Lea * Gordon Stone * Kenny Washington * Josh Jones * Akira Tana * Jamie Davis * Royal Hartigan |
He has performed at venues and in events such as, the Blue Note (NYC), Scullers (Boston), The House of Blues (Boston), The Blues Alley (Washington DC), Zanzibar Blue (Philadelphia), Yoshi's (SF), Yoshi's (Oakland), The Jazz School (Berkeley), Humphrey's by the Bay (San Diego), The Fillmore (SF), Dakotas (Minneapolis), The Iron Horse (Northampton), Herbst Theatre (SF), Kuumbwa (Santa Cruz), Le Club Jazz (Kyoto), Cafe Yorozuya (Kobe), Z Imagine (Tokyo), Donfan (Tokyo), MEG (Tokyo), Bar T.T. Funk (Tokyo), The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The North Beach Jazz Festival, The Fillmore Jazz Festival, The San Jose Jazz Festival, and the Drumming in the New Millennium Festival in front of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
Visit his website!
Visit his website!
Jon Krosnick
Jon Krosnick began playing piano at age 6 and drums at age 9. The bulk of his formal musical training took place during ten summers spent at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. There, he studied classical percussion and jazz drumming, and he performed with orchestras, concert bands, percussion ensembles, jazz bands, and back-up bands for musical theater performances. Recognizing his accomplishments during those years, Jon was awarded the NMC Jazz Scholarship, and he won the High School Division's Concerto Competition. At Interlochen, Jon studied classical percussion with many noted instructors, including Niel DePonte (Oregon Symphony) and Scott Stevens (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra). While studying classical percussion with Fred Hinger (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) while in high school, Jon won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Student Concerto Competition and performed with the orchestra. Throughout his career, he has studied jazz drumming with Peter Erskine.
While in college at Harvard, Jon played with the Harvard Orchestra and the Bach Society Orchestra, and he was the principal percussionist with the M.I.T. Symphony Orchestra. He traveled with the Harvard Orchestra to Germany to perform in the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Competition. With the M.I.T. Symphony, he toured the east coast and performed on their recordings of contemporary classical works.
Also during his high school and college years, Jon led a parallel career as a jazz drummer. He studied with Dixieland expert Hy Frank, as well as with Peter Erskine, one of the most celebrated drummers on the contemporary international jazz scene. He performed in small jazz groups, such as the New Jazz Sextet, Silver Sax, and the Ferric Fang Quartet and Quintet, as well as with the Harvard Jazz Ensemble, Bob Hope, and Doc Severinson.
During his graduate school years in Ann Arbor, MI, Jon played with the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, as well as small pop, rock, and jazz ensembles, including Pangea. Most notable is his membership in the Lunar Glee Club, which later became the Lunar Octet, an award-winning Latin/jazz ensemble that has appeared on numerous TV and radio broadcasts, released five recordings, reunited in 2014 for a 30th anniversary concert to a sold-house house including many luminaries of the Michigan jazz scene and standing ovation, and has come back alive, touring the U.S. and abroad. Among the players in the Lunar Octet was a young Craig Taborn, now a celebrated leader in the jazz piano world.
In Ann Arbor, Jon also led the Jon Krosnick Quintet, that featured Ron Brooks (who played bass with Bob James), Bill Lucas (now in the trumpet section of the Detroit Symphony), Ned Mann (former bassist with Michel Camilo, Tania Maria, and many others), and David Mann (who has since performed with Tower of Power, James Taylor, and Paul Simon).
While in Columbus, Ohio, Jon freelanced with a number of groups and appeared regularly with pianist Geoff Tyus, saxophonist Flip Jackson's Variations, and the jazz-fusion group State of Mind. His playing is featured on the 1993 CD release by Columbus pianist Bradley Sowash, Out West., with whom Jon toured. As a freelancer in California, Jon played with young trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante at the San Jose Jazz Festival.
Jon's playing in Charged Particles reflects his primary influences on the drums: Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, and Steve Gadd. His drumming style blends incredible technique (developed through his classical training) and a sensitivity to his fellow players with an explosive energy that propels the trio to electrifying velocities. The mixing of Murray's and Aaron's harmonic and melodic talents with Jon's rhythmic vitality sparks many exciting moments during an evening with Charged Particles.
Jon has served as artistic advisor (selecting jazz artists to perform) to the Portola Vineyards Summer Jazz Concert Series, the Domenico Winery Winter Jazz Concert Series called "Jazz Uncorked", and the Connect the Dots Conference at Stanford University, as well as Provinance Vineyards.
In 2018, he envisioned and co-created the first annual 7 Mile House Jazz Festival, which featured 11 bands performing over 12 hours, inaugurated a permanent exhibit of photographs (at the 7 Mile House and on line) of Bay Area jazz musicians by Jessica Levant, and presented the first annual awards to an outstanding jazz presenter (Mario Guarneri, of Jazz in the Neighborhood), outstanding jazz promoter (writer Andy Gilbert), and outstanding jazz musician (Vince Lateano). The second annual festival happened in 2019.
In addition to his accelerating performing schedule with Charged Particles, Jon performed with Chick Corea and John Patitucci in Lenox, Massachusetts, in late 2012. And in 2019, Jon performed in New York City with pianist Bill O'Connell and bassist Lincoln Goines.
While in college at Harvard, Jon played with the Harvard Orchestra and the Bach Society Orchestra, and he was the principal percussionist with the M.I.T. Symphony Orchestra. He traveled with the Harvard Orchestra to Germany to perform in the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Competition. With the M.I.T. Symphony, he toured the east coast and performed on their recordings of contemporary classical works.
Also during his high school and college years, Jon led a parallel career as a jazz drummer. He studied with Dixieland expert Hy Frank, as well as with Peter Erskine, one of the most celebrated drummers on the contemporary international jazz scene. He performed in small jazz groups, such as the New Jazz Sextet, Silver Sax, and the Ferric Fang Quartet and Quintet, as well as with the Harvard Jazz Ensemble, Bob Hope, and Doc Severinson.
During his graduate school years in Ann Arbor, MI, Jon played with the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble, as well as small pop, rock, and jazz ensembles, including Pangea. Most notable is his membership in the Lunar Glee Club, which later became the Lunar Octet, an award-winning Latin/jazz ensemble that has appeared on numerous TV and radio broadcasts, released five recordings, reunited in 2014 for a 30th anniversary concert to a sold-house house including many luminaries of the Michigan jazz scene and standing ovation, and has come back alive, touring the U.S. and abroad. Among the players in the Lunar Octet was a young Craig Taborn, now a celebrated leader in the jazz piano world.
In Ann Arbor, Jon also led the Jon Krosnick Quintet, that featured Ron Brooks (who played bass with Bob James), Bill Lucas (now in the trumpet section of the Detroit Symphony), Ned Mann (former bassist with Michel Camilo, Tania Maria, and many others), and David Mann (who has since performed with Tower of Power, James Taylor, and Paul Simon).
While in Columbus, Ohio, Jon freelanced with a number of groups and appeared regularly with pianist Geoff Tyus, saxophonist Flip Jackson's Variations, and the jazz-fusion group State of Mind. His playing is featured on the 1993 CD release by Columbus pianist Bradley Sowash, Out West., with whom Jon toured. As a freelancer in California, Jon played with young trumpet prodigy Geoff Gallante at the San Jose Jazz Festival.
Jon's playing in Charged Particles reflects his primary influences on the drums: Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, and Steve Gadd. His drumming style blends incredible technique (developed through his classical training) and a sensitivity to his fellow players with an explosive energy that propels the trio to electrifying velocities. The mixing of Murray's and Aaron's harmonic and melodic talents with Jon's rhythmic vitality sparks many exciting moments during an evening with Charged Particles.
Jon has served as artistic advisor (selecting jazz artists to perform) to the Portola Vineyards Summer Jazz Concert Series, the Domenico Winery Winter Jazz Concert Series called "Jazz Uncorked", and the Connect the Dots Conference at Stanford University, as well as Provinance Vineyards.
In 2018, he envisioned and co-created the first annual 7 Mile House Jazz Festival, which featured 11 bands performing over 12 hours, inaugurated a permanent exhibit of photographs (at the 7 Mile House and on line) of Bay Area jazz musicians by Jessica Levant, and presented the first annual awards to an outstanding jazz presenter (Mario Guarneri, of Jazz in the Neighborhood), outstanding jazz promoter (writer Andy Gilbert), and outstanding jazz musician (Vince Lateano). The second annual festival happened in 2019.
In addition to his accelerating performing schedule with Charged Particles, Jon performed with Chick Corea and John Patitucci in Lenox, Massachusetts, in late 2012. And in 2019, Jon performed in New York City with pianist Bill O'Connell and bassist Lincoln Goines.
Jon Krosnick and Chick Corea
Chick Corea and Jon Krosnick