Live Jazz Concert by Mult-Instrumentalist Richard Drexler

Description

Multi-instrumentalist RICHARD DREXLER is performing a live jazz concert with THOMAS MILOVAC on bass and TRACY ALEXANDER on drums.

RICHARD DREXLER is a composer, arranger and producer and has toured the world, gigging with hundreds of jazz greats, such as the Jeff Berlin Trio and, on occasion, with the Woody Herman Orchestra and trombonist John Allred, among others. He has accompanied singers such as Mel Torme’, Tony Bennett, Diahann Carroll, Frankie Laine, Bob Dorough, Mose Allison, and many more. He is an adjunct faculty member in the jazz department of the University of Central Florida in Orlando and has his own private teaching studio.

Richard has appeared on or producing over one hundred CDs ranging from salsa, to avant-garde to country & western, to the thrash metal group Saigon Kick. He has assisted guitarist/composer/producer Richie Zellon on much of the Songosaurus label catalog, devoted to jazz fused with South American rhythms. He produced his first album of originals, “Flaming Spirit”, in 1978 with Dave Liebman, Tom Harrell, Steve laSpina and Clay Hulet.

You can sample his music at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq8djI2478LMJRiLJhYks8w

Bassist THOMAS MILOVAC has performed throughout the United States appearing with artists such as Ulysses Owens Jr., Wayne Escoffery, Ryan Devlin, Adam Nussbaum, Steve Cohn, Rashid Williams’s LFJ Orchestra, Alex Han, John Lumpkin, Zoh Amba, Dominick Farinacci, Steve Swell, Elizabeth A. Baker, Sean Hamilton, Majid Araim, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Renee Baker, and Jonas Van den Bossche.

He is also a member of the "pan-Florida improvisation syndicate" BONGUS, jazz rock group Creek, and the Jacksonville based ensemble Madre Vaca. He also leads his own ensembles performing his original works. These projects includes the Thomas Milovac Sextet and Trio, Large Ensemble, and the bass and drum duo, The Improjectionists.

Thomas started his record label in 2021, Cosmo Sonic Collective, focused on releasing improvised music. Thomas released his debut studio album “Sun Ray” in 2022.

TRACY ALEXANDER is the son of internationally renowned Jazz Drummer Elmer "Mousie" Alexander. "Mousie" who was voted onto the list of Top Ten Jazz Drummers internationally for over 40 Years by The Downbeat Jazz Polls. Tracy studied with his Father from the age of 12 and began playing professionally at the age of 15.

Tracy has performed at numerous Jazz Society Concerts and Festivals with Clark Terry, Milt Hinton, Bill Watrous, Derek Smith, George Duvivier, Mike Longo, Buddy Morrow, Monty Alexander, Eubie Blake, Jessie Stone, Dakota Staton, Maxine Sullivan, Nathen Page, Bucky And John Pizzarelli, John and Bill Allred, Herb Ellis, Larry Coryell, Jane Jarvis, Kenny Drew Jr, George Duke, Freddy Cole, Frank Sinatra Jr, Billy Eckstine, Jack Sheldon, Billy Daniels, Ira Sullivan, Flip Phillips, Lew Tabackin, Holly Hofmann, Ray Gelato, Harry Sheppard, Paul Smith, Peter Appleyard, Lynn Seaton, Walt Levinsky, Bob Haggart, Johnny Varro and Miss Lilly Ann Carol, (the original female vocalist for Louis Prima in 1945).

Other Concerts and Tours include; Charlie Thomas and The Drifters, The Limelighters, The Four Freshmen, Melanie Safka, (a featured performer at Woodstock), The Wolfman Jack TV Show's Band, Rockin Robin and Michael Andrew's Swingerhead Orchestra. He toured exclusively with The Tony Tillman Show, (Bill Cosby's opening act in Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe). He later joined Cold Fusion who entered and won The National Original Jazz Band Competition held in Nashville along with being voted Best Original Jazz Band in Florida, receiving Jam Magazine's Jammy Award for six years in a row. Tracy was honored by having a Drum Battle with Louie Bellson in 1990.

Concerts are open to the public and general admission paid at the door: $15 for Jazz Society and Veterans Memorial Center members, $20 for guests, students under 25 yrs of age are FREE. Bring your own food & drink – tables, seating, great music and a beautiful view of the river are provided.