One of the joys of presenting 5:01 Jazz Shows is featuring beloved favorites such as Ron Brooks, Ramona Collins and Paul Finkbeiner. Another pleasure is to introduce new names deserving attention. In bassist Rob Crozier and his 5tet, we offer a band of veterans and fresh faces with a novel approach to improvisation. Bassist Rob Crozier (who also doubles on didgeridoo!), saxophonist Pete Kahn, guitarist Rodney Rich, pianist Brian Brill and drummer Sam Genson will celebrate Rob’s new CD Tall Trees at WEMU’s next free Sesi Motors 5:01 Jazz Show on Friday, April 7th. Rush Street Nightclub, 314 South Main Street in Ann Arbor throws the doors open early for our pop-up jazz club starting at 5:01 PM sharp.
Rob Crozier is a professional musician, educator, composer, and arranger. He graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation on Double Bass. With his first all-jazz CD, Tall Trees, he stretches his music exploring the world of sound - adding color, adventure, and innovation through re-imagining standards, the use of electronics, and ethnic instruments. Tall Trees is a tribute to Rob Crozier’s late father, Bill (an accomplished musician and mentor). The studio session for Tall Trees was akin to a live to tape process with minimal overdubbing or processing. There truly is a refreshing and rejuvenating quality to Rob Crozier’s original tunes, which makes the music perfect for an early spring evening. Perhaps the fresh natural feel of Rob’s songs is due to his other musical life as a member of the Celtic fusion band Nessa. Actually, this is not the first WEMU event that has featured Rob Crozier. He participated in the Giving Tuesday jam session in King Hall last November – impressing all as he swung strong with RJ Spangler, Rick Roe, and others. We think you will appreciate Rob Crozier’s unique compositions and resonant acoustic bass tone. A well-rounded musician, Rob Crozier also heads up the company Eventjazz, providing live music for weddings and parties throughout Southeastern Michigan. WEMU is proud to present the full-blown jazz sound of the Rob Crozier 5tet and a Tall Trees CD release party for our next 5:01 Jazz Show.
5:01 Jazz is a free after-work music series presented generally on the first Friday of the month from October through May at Rush Street Nightclub, 314 South Main Street in Ann Arbor. The series is sponsored by Sesi Motors and is presented in memory of Dr. Jan Winkelman, WEMU’s first major donor and community champion.
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— Linda Yohn is the WEMU Music Director, and host of 89.1 Jazz. On twitter @LindaYohn or email her at studio@wemu.org
