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Tivon Pennicott
Tivon Pennicott was born in Marietta, Georgia in December of 1985. He began studying tenor saxophone in high school, garnering recognition early on as an outstanding soloist in the Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington competition, as well as the Georgia All-state Jazz Band. In 2004, he relocated to Miami to study at the Frost School of Music, where he had the opportunity to perform alongside artists such as: Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, and Maria Schneider.
While still in college, guitar legend Kenny Burrell invited Tivon to join his quintet. He would then go on to appear on Burrell’s 2008 live release, "Be Yourself." Tivon’s continuing association with Burrell has led to numerous performance opportunities at many of America's greatest jazz venues including: Blue Note, Billboard Live (Japan) Catalina's Jazz Club (Los Angeles, Yoshi's Jazz Club (Oakland and San Francisco), Smalls Jazz Club etc. alongside special guests like Stevie Wonder, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, and many others.
Tivon moved to New York in 2009 and has since established himself as a talented young leader. Tivon is a 2-time Grammy winner as well as a 2nd place winner in the prestigious Thelonius Monk Competition. He enjoys collaborating with a variety of bandleaders in their own tours as well as their recording projects- from Grammy winner Gregory Porter, appearing on his albums "Be Good" and "Liquid Spirit", to 2-time Grammy Award Winner, Esperanza Spalding, appearing on her crossover success, "Radio Music Society." He tours with the masterful drummer Al Foster, Roy Hargrove's RH Factor, Roy Hargrove Big Band, jazz songstress Nellie Mckay, R&B crooner Joe Thomas and central figures in the contemporary jazz scene, like Ari Hoenig, E.J. Strickland, Marko Djordevic, as well as many more.
Tivon’s own endeavors as a leader showcase his tenacity as a player, while also providing a forum for his audacious compositions. His unique style incorporates his masterful attention to rhythm, tasteful melodic lines, and his deep understanding of the importance of the groove. His maturity as a player extends far beyond his years, facilitating music that is refreshing, insightful, and deliciously exciting. Pick up his debut album "Lover of Nature" as a leader in late 2014.
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Jakob Dreyer: Roots and Things
by Alberto Bazzurro
Jakob Dreyer è un contrabbassista tedesco di quarantacinque anni di cui questo costituisce il terzo album da leader (il primo nel 2022, tutti su Fresh Sound New Talent), inciso in realtà a Mount Vernon (come innumerevoli altri, da un po' di anni a questa parte) nel marzo 2025 con un trio tutto a stelle e strisce. Lo compongono sedici brani, di cui cinque brevissimi, poche decine di secondi, col sound d'insieme fortemente caratterizzato dalla vibrafonosta Sasha Berliner. Il ...
Continue ReadingJakob Dreyer: Roots and Things
by La-Faithia White
Jakob Dreyer originally studying piano from age four, switched to bass at age 14. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Music and Drama in jny: Hamburg, Germany, where he studied both classical and jazz. He then studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory before later establishing himself as an in- demand sideman in Germany for many years, working with national artists like Gabriel Coburger Sandra Hemper and Sebastian Gillen as well as international artists like Dusko Goykovich, Nils ...
Continue ReadingJakob Dreyer: Roots and Things
by Dan McClenaghan
Bassist Jakob Dreyer searched for a new sound for his third album as a leader. He has, for his previous two releases, expressed his art via the standard quartet--sax, bass, drums and piano. For Roots and things, the piano is replaced by Sasha Berliner's vibraphone, joining the leader's other new-to-the-fold sidemen, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and drummer Kenneth Salters.A vibraphone in the group is an inspired choice. The instrument is seeing a 2024/2025 resurgence. Blue Note Records, in particular, ...
Continue ReadingTivon Pennicott, Louis Cole, KAMA Kollektiv, Louise van den Heuvel & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Enjoy an episode built along an ideal bridge between jny: Amsterdam and New Amsterdam, with a special focus on the launch of FOOD, a new New York-based label (as well as live events production company, and soon to be brick-and-mortar restaurant) inspired by the storied, artist-run cafe of 1970's SoHo of the same name.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Louis Cole, Metropole Orkest, Jules Buckley “Things Will Fall ...
Continue ReadingEmmet Cohen: Vibe Provider
by Mike Jurkovic
All round shaman, musical advocate, and positive vibe provider, Nigerian-born Michael Olufunmilola (Funmi) Ononaiye (1968-2023) was known and beloved by everyone in the artistic and social circles of Manhattan's music scene. He was an A&R rep at Atlantic Records. He was a DJ, percussionist, and chief programmer at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He had a deep effect on everyone. That effect can be viscerally felt on the way-too-good, Vibe Provider. It sails. It sweeps in on a hop ...
Continue ReadingKaisa’s Machine: Taking Shape
by Hrayr Attarian
On her captivating second release, Taking Shape, Finnish bassist Kaisa Mäensivu demonstrates her singular talents as a composer and a bandleader. She is again at the helm of her cohesive group, Kaisa's Machine. It has been six years since her debut, years during which she established herself in her new hometown of New York. Her writing has transformed as she draws inspiration from the vibrancy of the city on this set of originals. Mäensivu sets the album's mood ...
Continue ReadingAnaïs Reno: Lovesome Thing: Anaïs Reno sings Ellington & Strayhorn featuring Emmet Cohen
by Richard J Salvucci
The first time someone told me that Billy Strayhorn was a teenager when he wrote “Lush Life," I didn't believe it. Not so much because of the harmonic gymnastics, which were daunting enough, but because of the lyrics. “Romance is mush stifling those who strive, I'll live out a lush life in some small dive." No, someone had to have lived quite a bit to write something like that. No-one at eighteen could know that, so I thought, because I ...
Continue ReadingGrammy-Winning Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott’ Releases Soaring New Album
Source:
Eric Taylor
Imagine a diary with no words. Inspired by saxophonist Tivon Pennicott’s experiences from relocating to New York City in late 2009, Lover of Nature is exactly that; each composition is a soundtrack to a day in the life, a cinematic overview of what was. Given that there are no lyrics, the music is open to interpretation although Pennicott has revealed their origins. It’s actually better not knowing; letting one’s imagination soar through the skies can actually deepen the relationship between ...
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Interview: Saxophonist/Composer Tivon Pennicott
Source:
Eric Taylor
Having played on two Grammy-winning albums, it was just a matter of time for saxophonist/composer Tivon Pennicott to explore his own artistry. With his band Sound Quartet, Pennicott has just released Lover of Nature, an album of sleek, sprightly jazz compositions that boldly showcases a brilliant new talent. In this interview, Pennicott discusses his musical origins and creative passions. Q: When did you learn to play the saxophone? A: I started playing saxophone at the age of 12. My dad ...
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Tivon Pennicott
Location: Atlanta
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: December, 1985
