Pieces_of_a_dream
Fri, May 6

SMOOTHJAZZLOVERS.ORG Presents
Pieces of A Dream
40th Anniversary Tour

Genre: Jazz
Doors: 6:00PM
Show: 7:00PM

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REMAINING TICKETS ARE FOR STANDING ROOM ONLY AT THE BACK OF THE VENUE. NO SEATS ARE PROVIDED FOR STANDING ROOM ONLY

Pieces of a Dream got its start in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ? a city steeped in history, tradition and rich musical heritage. Artists like John Coltrane, Stanley Clarke, Grover Washington, Jr., Gamble and Huff, Stan Getz, Jeff Lorber, Patti Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Jill Scott and The Roots are just a few of the amazingly talented musicians who hail from or have been nurtured by the ?City of Brotherly Love.? This vibrant city and its melting pot of art, music and history helped shape the musical style of the young musicians who would become the talented contemporary jazz band Pieces of a Dream. Just as the city embraces its past, it continues to evolve, and so has Pieces of a Dream as the group makes history of its own by marking two major milestones: their 37th year together as a group and the release of their 20th album entitled In The Moment, due out on August 27, 2013 on Shanachie Entertainment. Founding members James Lloyd (keyboards) and Curtis Harmon (drums) both use words like ?thankful,? ?blessed? and ?grateful? to describe how they feel about their work and their fans, who have continued to make it all possible. Curtis says, ?I would describe In The Moment as a milestone for us. Not many groups get to reach 37 years and 20 albums! I feel very fortunate and blessed to be in the music industry this long and to have this kind of success.? James adds, ?That?s crazy isn?t it?! Twenty albums and the first one came out in 1981 when I was a senior in high school, 16 years old. We were out on the road with Grover Washington, Jr. the following year and I basically grew up on the road with him. We would open for him as Pieces and then play as part of his rhythm section.? And Grover Washington, Jr. was indeed their guiding light, a mentor who took Pieces of a Dream under his wing as the first group he signed with his brand new production company. James and Curtis were the nucleus of the band, having played together as members of the Ada Lewis Middle School jazz ensemble along with former member bassist Cedric Napoleon. Danny Harmon, Curtis? father and a jazz musician himself, became their manager and had the guys listening to the Modern Jazz Quartet, Ahmad Jamal and Oscar Peterson as they developed their unique sound, blending their jazz roots with R&B, soul and funk. Pieces released three albums in quick succession, establishing its place in the world of smooth jazz with the CDs Pieces of a Dream (1981), We Are One (1982) and Imagine This (1983). Those albums include some of their biggest early hits, including ?Warm Weather,? ?Mount Airy Groove? and ?Fo Fi Fo.?