The Ralphe Armstrong Show: Rodney Whitaker “Take The ‘A’ Train”

About the Artists:

Building on his Detroit roots and enormous talent, Whitaker has earned an international reputation as one of the world’s finest jazz double bass performers, having completed a seven-year tenure as bassist with Wynton Marsalis’ Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has toured the world over the last twenty-five years, collaborating and performing with legendary jazz artists such as Mulgrew Miller, Cyrus Chestnut, Vanessa Rubin, Kathleen Battle, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Bob James, Benny Golson, Regina Carter, Pat Matheny, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Cobb, Joshua Redman, Stefon Harris, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, Nnenna Freelon, Donald Byrd, Branford Marsalis, Jeff “Tain” Watts,Roy Hargrove, Dizzy Gillespie, and Marian McPartland, as well as performing with leading symphony orchestras world-wide. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a member of the Jazz @ Lincoln Center Orchestra. In addition to continuing an active career as an internationally renowned bassist and recording artist, Rodney Whitaker currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the United States of America.

For this concert, Whitaker will be joined by the Jazz Music City All-Stars, featuring:

Rahsaan Barber, saxophones 
Rod McGaha, trumpet
Roland Barber, trombone
Bruce Dudley, piano
Marcus Finnie, drums  

Evan Booher is the first place winner of the inaugural 2012 Nashville International Piano Competition of the Steinway Society of Nashville. A native of Hermitage Tennessee, Booher graduated from his family’s homeschool in June of 2012 and plans to enroll in Lipscomb University in January, 2013. Throughout high school Booher studied with Dr. Jerome Reed of Lipscomb University and Mrs. Helen Gleason of Belmont Academy. In addition to the NIPC, Booher wonthe first prize 2012 Thor Johnson 12th grade scholarship of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra League, first place in the 2011 Clavierfest competition at Middle Tennessee State University, the first place Herman C. Godes award at the 2011 Tennessee Tech Young Artists Piano Competition, and first place in the 2011 TMTA state competition. Booher also received Honorable Mention at the 2011 state MTNA competition, was a finalist at the 2012 Lee University International Piano Competition, and is a four-time winner of the Outstanding Performer Award at the Nashville Piano Achievement Competition. In addition to piano events, Evan also enjoys academic pursuits. He is a National Merit Finalist, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, the 2011 Tennessee state winner of the United States Institute of Peace National Peace Essay Contest, and the recipient of a full academic scholarship to Lipscomb University.