Equally at home in the jazz and Afro-Caribbean jazz worlds, The brilliant saxophonist Peter Brainin has performed and recorded with Hilton Ruiz, Bobby Watson, Randy Weston, Chico OFarrill, the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Charles McPherson, and Jeff"Tain"Watts. He has been co-leader along with drummer Steve Johns on two record dates: Ceremony, Cats Paw Records 1998, and No Saints No Sinners, Playscape Recordings 2002.
Bass virtuoso Marcus McLaurine has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Lou Donaldson, Clark Terry, Cleo Laine, Abbey Lincoln, McCoy Tyner, Jon Hendricks, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones. His swinging bass lines anchor recordings by Hank Jones, Vincent Herring, Grover Mitchell, Weldon Irving, Onaje Allen Gumbs, Abdullah Ibrahim, Robert Trowers, and many of the aforementioned artists.
One of New Yorks leading young pianists, Noah Haidu has played as a sideman with the Winard Harper Sextet, Curtis Lundy, Essiet Essiet, Jeanie Bryson, Duane Eubanks, Thomas Bramerie, Michael Hawkins, and Eddie Allen. These gigs keep him in the company of an exciting group of musicians, including J.D. Allen, Montez Coleman, Eric McPherson, and Jaz Sawyer. He also performs with his own quartet which features trumpeter Jeremy Pelt.
Steve Johns is one of the most dynamic and versatile drummers on the New York City jazz scene today. He is currently a regular member of the Sonny Fortune Quartet and has played with The Billy Taylor Trio, The Jimmy Heath Quartet, Randy Brecker, Stanley Turrentine, and many others. In addition to his recordings as co-leader with Peter Brainin, he has recorded with Gary Bartz, Leon Thomas, Sonny Fortune, Mulgrew Miller, and Charles Fambrough.
Native Soul is the combined effort of drummer Steve Johns, saxophonist Peter Brainin, bassist Marcus McLaurine, and pianist Noah Haidu. Their upcoming CD release Rough Jazz (Apria Records/2006) shows off their exciting musical approach, combining hard-swinging New York jazz with elements of funk, brazilian, gospel, and latin styles.
This CD is full of great originals, revamped standards, first rate playing, and great interaction...a fine group effort!
-Randy Brecker (trumpet giant)
Their combined styles offer a spirited improvisational energy that raises the stakes on todays jazz scene.
-Ron Scott (jazz columnist for Amsterdam News, Jazz Improv Magazine)
