The Northcoast Jazz Collective is one of the premier jazz bands in the
Cleveland area. Voted "Best Jazz Group" by readers of The Free Times in 2008
and readers of Scene Magazine in 2009, the NJC has performed at nearly
every jazz club and festival in Northeast Ohio.
Together as a unit since 2003, featured members are Dan Maier, piano, Tim
Lekan, acoustic/electric bass, Dave Frank, reeds, and leader Mark Grey on
drums. Collectively, these members bring a great wealth of musical
experience and knowledge to the group. Maier has performed with Clark
Terry, Gary Burton, Junior Cook, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakota Staton,
and Harold Danko -- to name a few. Each member has also worked with
numerous local jazz groups on the Cleveland scene.
The band plays straight up modern jazz that is creative, emotional, and
accessible. Most of the music in their repertoire consists of original
compositions and members’ arrangements of jazz classic. Their approach and
style of writing and performing consists of the collective influences and history
of not only the member’s experiences on the 1960s and 1980s New York Jazz
scenes, but also the modern feel of their present jazz experiences in Cleveland.
The band now has two CDs of original tunes to its credit and another original
CD on the way.
As Peter Chakerian, Managing Editor of Cool Cleveland, wrote: “The NJC
radiates charm, warmth, and the sort of instrumental intuition that only comes
from regular gigging….They're one of the gems of the Northeast Ohio jazz
scene.”
NJC is available for club dates, private parties and other events. For booking
contact Mark Grey at (216) 870-9117 or mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com
Cleveland area. Voted "Best Jazz Group" by readers of The Free Times in 2008
and readers of Scene Magazine in 2009, the NJC has performed at nearly
every jazz club and festival in Northeast Ohio.
Together as a unit since 2003, featured members are Dan Maier, piano, Tim
Lekan, acoustic/electric bass, Dave Frank, reeds, and leader Mark Grey on
drums. Collectively, these members bring a great wealth of musical
experience and knowledge to the group. Maier has performed with Clark
Terry, Gary Burton, Junior Cook, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakota Staton,
and Harold Danko -- to name a few. Each member has also worked with
numerous local jazz groups on the Cleveland scene.
The band plays straight up modern jazz that is creative, emotional, and
accessible. Most of the music in their repertoire consists of original
compositions and members’ arrangements of jazz classic. Their approach and
style of writing and performing consists of the collective influences and history
of not only the member’s experiences on the 1960s and 1980s New York Jazz
scenes, but also the modern feel of their present jazz experiences in Cleveland.
The band now has two CDs of original tunes to its credit and another original
CD on the way.
As Peter Chakerian, Managing Editor of Cool Cleveland, wrote: “The NJC
radiates charm, warmth, and the sort of instrumental intuition that only comes
from regular gigging….They're one of the gems of the Northeast Ohio jazz
scene.”
NJC is available for club dates, private parties and other events. For booking
contact Mark Grey at (216) 870-9117 or mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com
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| Dan Maier (Piano) Dan attended Berklee School of Music and the New England Conservatory studying with Lennie Tristano, Madame Chaloff and Ran Blake. Over the years he has worked with Gary Burton, Clark Terry, Junior Cook, Melvyn Sparks, Urbie Green, Howard Roberts, Dakotta Staton and Harold Danko, to name a few. He has also been a member of Philip Glass and Blood, Sweat and Tears with David Clayton-Thomas. Today Dan, along with his wife and daughter, lives in Cleveland Heights. Around town he leads trios, plays solo and works with some of the best musicians in Northeast Ohio. Along with being a member of The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Dan also plays with saxophonist Dave Sterner, vocalists Helen Welch and Nan O’Malley and drummer Ray Porrello, among many others. |
| Dave Frank (Tenor/Soprano Sax, Flute) dfrank@northcoastjazzcollective.com Dave is a native of Northeast Ohio and an alumnus of Ohio University where he specialized in music performance, composition and recording. He was prominent in the jazz scene around the university being featured most often with The Ben Arnold Sextet and the Ohio University Jazz Ensemble. In addition to the Northcoast Jazz Collective, Dave also records and performs with two other bands in the Northeast Ohio area: The Stone Pony Band (Bruce Springsteen/South Side Johnny Tribute Band) www.stoneponyband.com/ and Harrison Fjord (rock/fusion/jazz) www.myspace.com/harrisonfjord . He also is a studio musician for hire and a composer with written pieces being featured not only with the NJC but on the television shows 'Akron After Hours' and previously on 'Northeast Ohio Weddings' and 'Arts Talk.' Dave uses Yanagisawa and Winston saxophones, Dukoff and Selmer mouthpieces, Vandoren reeds (Java and ZZ) and Yamaha flutes. |
| Mark Grey (Drums) mgrey@northcoastjazzcollective.com Born to a family of drummers, Mark learned to play drums on his father’s Gene Krupa model Slingerland Drums from the 1950’s. He began at age ten and played from elementary school through college, including with the John Carroll Jazz Band. In addition to playing with jazz trios while in graduate school at the University of Hawaii, Mark has played in Smart Set (big band) and the Equinox Jazz Quartet (be-bop). Mark founded the Northcoast Jazz Collective (Formerly Northcoast Jazz Quartet/Trio) five years ago. His other jazz groups include the Andy Michalec Trio & the Nan O’Malley Quartet. Mark has also performed with jazz jocalist Chris Williams of Los Angeles and jazz violinist Reed Simon. Mark has been featured in an interview on two Cleveland Jazz Shows: Dan Polletta’s, Jazz from the Northcoast on WCPN 90.3 FM and John Simna’s Jazz Up All Night on WRMR 1420am representing the NJC. |
| Tim Lekan (Upright and Electric Bass) Bassist, composer and educator Tim Lekan began his musical journey touring the United States playing electric bass in R&B bands. His love of jazz, and the bass playing of masters such as Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Red Mitchell, Charlie Haden, Sam Jones and Dave Holland, eventually led him to the acoustic bass.Tim has had many influential teachers, including Al Stauffer, Scott Lee, Craig Thomas, Michael Moore, Andy McKee, Dennis Irwin and Martin Wind.In addition, he has studied composition with pianist/composer Ron Thomas.A native of Cleveland, Tim lived and worked in New Jersey from June, 1986 through April, 2016. As a free- lance bassist he had the opportunity to work with and accompany many artists including Joe Barrett, Oscar Brown Jr., Tony Do Rosario, Paula Johns, Paul Jost, Barry Miles, Rebecca Paris, Michael Pedicin Jr., Jon Pruitt, Melanie Rice, Jim Ridl, Gina Roche, Natasha Roth, and Ron Thomas. During this time he was also a member of The George Mesterhazy Trio, The Antfarm Quartet and Trio Music (with drummer Bob Shomo and pianist Jim Ridl). Many of Tim’s original compositions can be heard on 2 self-produced CDs -'P.M. - The Tim Lekan Trio with special guest Gina Roche' on Encounter Records (1997), and The Tim Lekan Quintet - 'Short Stories' (2014).As an organizer and supporter of the local music scene in South Jersey, Tim created and organized many musical events over the last several years. With the support of Dan and Sandi Anderson, Tim presented a weekly jazz jam session each summer, Young Musicians Night, and The Tuesday Night Jazz Series. Several grants from SJJS, contributions from friends and listeners, and a house rhythm section of Bob Shomo on drums and Tim on bass, led to a highly successful seven year run for The Tuesday Night Jazz Series.Tim currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where he maintains a busy schedule working both as a substitute teacher and a freelance bassist. He is also studying guitar and composing music for a new recording. |
