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Four Across

"Beautiful playing and compositions" is the way bassist Henry Grimes describes Four Across; a jazz quartet made up of trumpet player Josh Deutsch, pianist Carmen Staaf, drummer Brian Adler and bassist Matt Aronoff. This group of long time friends draws inspiration from middle eastern tea, dogs, bicycle percussion, tannins of broccoli and Danish cinema while maintaining strong musical connections to artists ranging from Danilo Perez and Thelonious Monk to Hanne Hukkelberg and Egberto Gismonti. In the spring of 2008 they released, "Four Across" their self titled freshman album (8bells/Circavision Productions) which has received constant praise. Members of Four Across have performed at festivals and jazz venues all across Europe, North and South America and Asia. They are about to embark on their fourth tour kicking off with the Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, WA.

Member Bios:

JOSH DEUTSCH - Josh Deutsch is a trumpeter, composer and educator residing in Queens, New York. A native of Seattle, Josh has performed across the United States, as well as in Europe, Japan and Canada. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music (BM) and the University of Oregon (MM), Josh has studied with Danilo Pérez, Bob Brookmeyer, John McNeil, Brian McWhorter and Lee Hyla, among others. A composer in multiple genres, Josh has received commissions from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Music Northwest and From the Top. Josh received the University of Oregon’s Excellence in Teaching Award for his work with large and small ensembles and private students, and has given clinics and masterclasses throughout the state of Oregon. Josh was named the Outstanding College Trumpeter in both 2008 and 2009 at the Reno International Jazz Festival, and won Downbeat Magazine’s 2008 Student Music Award for College Jazz Soloist.

CARMEN STAAF - A native of Seattle, WA, jazz pianist and accordionist Carmen Staaf has performed internationally at the Festa do Jazz do Teatro Sao Luiz in Lisbon, Portugal, the Panama Jazz Festival, the KlezMORE Festival in Vienna, and at the Concurso de Jovenes Jazzistas (Young Jazz Musicians Contest) in Havana, Cuba. As a winner of the 2004 IAJE Sisters in Jazz Competition, she performed at the 2005 IAJE Conference in Long Beach, California and the Kennedy Center Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival. Carmen has worked with Bob Brookmeyer, George Garzone and Stefon Harris, and has shared the stage with other musical greats including Dave Liebman, Rufus Reid and Ernestine Anderson. She leads her own group, which recently recorded, and co-leads the Staaf Quartet, which recorded its eponymous debut in 2004. She recently also recorded with trumpeter Peter Kenagy, and currently performs with the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, Michael Winograd, and Susan Watts and the Fabulous Shpielkehs. Carmen is a faculty member at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

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Performance / Tour

Four Across East Coast Tour to Celebrate Debut Record Release

Four Across East Coast Tour to Celebrate Debut Record Release

Source: Michael Ricci

In celebration of their latest release Four Across on 8Bells/Circavision Productions, Four Across will embark on a tour of the East Coast. Four Across is: Josh Deutsch - Trumpet Carmen Staaf - Piano Kendall Eddy - Bass Brian Adler - Drums Dates are as follows: August 18 Spike Hill, Brooklyn 184 Bedford Ave. Williamsburg, NY 11 PM, Free August 21 Chris' Jazz ...

158

Performance / Tour

Four Across West Coast Tour

Four Across West Coast Tour

Source: Michael Ricci

Four Across West Coast Tour

Featuring:

Josh Deutsch- Trumpet Carmen Staaf- Piano Kendall Eddy- Bass Brian Adler- Drums

Four Across is an exciting jazz quartet focused on creating new improvised music. The group skillfully blends influences from organic folk melody, latin and New Orleans grooves, contemporary classical music and klezmer music, while maintaining roots within traditional jazz. The four members met while studying at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in ...

"Four Across" represents what I love most about jazz! This ensemble has vision for the present and future while truly honoring the past. Strong compositions along with great solos and inventive interplay makes Four Across a repeat play on my ipod. Five Stars all the way!" Ray Vega, trumpet player.

"Four Across is the best new jazz quartet that I've heard in recent years... about to rank among the premier contemporary jazz groups...fresh, young, and talented" says Bud Young of KBCS FM, Seattle.

"Among the most sensitive and inventive music I've heard. Absolutely gorgeous!" Toby Koenigsberg- Jazz pianist, Origin recording artist, professor of jazz studies at University of Oregon

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Four Across

Circavision Productions
2008

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