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Eric Frazier
Eric Frazier was born in Harlem, New York City. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York in a family of eight children. He ran track and road races for 27 years. His love of the physical culture and creative expression led him to the study of the Conga Drum, Djembe Drum and African Dance. He has since expanded his artistic endeavors to singing, trap drums, tap dance, and percussion.
His recordings exemplify a world of music including Jazz, Swing, BeBop, Salsa, R&B. Calypso, Blues, Broadway, Reggae, Reggaeton, World Music and Afro beat. Eric hosted his own television talk show called "Cultural Horizons" on Queens Public Access Cable TV in 1998. He has made personal appearances on The Hambone Cable TV show (BCAT), The Camille Yarborough Manhattan Cable TV Show. The Jazzy Jazz Show (BCAT-TV), Producer's Profile (BCAT-TV), Caribbean Soul (BCAT-TV), and BET Jazz Discovery and Bet On Jazz Cable TV shows. Eric is the co-host of WLIU Jazz radio 88.1 FM on BCAT Cable TV channel 57 (Time Warner) and Channel 70 (CableVision). In addition, He has appeared on numerous radio stations across the USA.
Eric has performed in such historic New York venues as the famous Rainbow Room, Madison Square Garden Theater, The Iridium Jazz Club, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Ciprianis, The New York Hilton, The Metropolitan Room, Birdland, and The Apollo Theater. He has performed in great Jazz venues of New York, Chicago, New Jersey, Philadephia, PA, St. Louis, MO, Washington DC , Hartford, CT, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA and numerous Universities and colleges. Some of his festival performances include the: Cape May Jazz Festival, Chicken Bone Beach Jazz Festival, Jazz Improv Festival, NYC, Brooklyn International Film Festival, Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, International African Arts Festival, Fort Greene Park Festival, Metrotech Music Festival, NYC, The South African Jazz Heritage Festival, and numerous others.
His interest in Dance, Music, Theater and Writing are evident in his background. Otis Gould, former Chi-lites drummer and college friend, taught him to play Congas for bands. He learned the Djembe drum from Ibrahim, famous master teacher from The Dance Company of Senegal. Eric was inspired in dance by his brother, the gifted and talented Gary Ellis Frazier, formerly with The Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Eric has performed with such dance groups as Katherine Dunham, Olatunji, Charles Moore, Chief Bey, The International African Ballet, and Varshaa Bardhan and Chandra Baneyei of The Tanusree Shankar Dance Company of India (Headed by Ananda Shankar, son of the great Ravi Shankar).
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Eric Frazier: In Your Own Time
by Michael P. Gladstone
I tend to have a weakness for this sort of album, even though I could make several suggestions to improve this individual effort. Percussionist/vocalist Eric Frazier is a New Yorker who came from a Brooklyn background and graduated from Boys High School there. He received a degree from Southern Illinois University and earned two masters degrees and a doctorate from Columbia University Teacher's College. In addition to his studies on the art of the conga drum, djembe drums and African ...
read moreEric Frazier: Find Yourself (Then Find Me)
by Andrew Rowan
Eric Frazier has assembled a large cast for this self-produced funk-filled recording. With him at the helm are two jazz stalwarts: bassist Reggie Workman and pianist Danny Mixon. Also present are rising stars like trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, and pianist Anthony Wonsey. Things kick off with the funky Walk That Walk, defined by Mixon's breathtaking solo and high-octane comping. Although its beat is insistent and infectious (try to sit still), the ensemble's reading of ...
read moreEric Frazier: Find Yourself (Then Find Me)
by Geannine Reid
Eric Frazier Find Yourself (Then Find Me) Eric Frazier Productions 2004
New Yorker Eric Frazier adds a swing to his step with his latest release, Find Yourself (Then Find Me). Eric was born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn in a family of eight children. He was educated in the famed Boys School in Brooklyn and went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts at Southern Illinois University, two Masters and a ...
read moreEric Frazier: Find Yourself (Then Find Me)
by Mark Sabbatini
One hesitates before telling a lifelong New Yorker to be more assertive, but drummer Eric Frazier may need a reminder.
Frazier, an unquestionable talent on the conga and other hand percussion, is too deferential in playing and restrained in arranging for 2004's Find Yourself (Then Find Me) to be all it can be. It's a solid mix of the funk, Latin and R&B styles, but doesn't demand any permanent space in the musical consciousness.
Percussionists face ...
read moreEric Frazier at Rustik: Not Your Average Tuesday Night in Brooklyn
Source:
All About Jazz
By DuEwa Frazier
Rustik Tavern 471 Dekalb Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11205 (347)406-9700 Tuesday, August 11, 2008 On Tuesday, August 11th at 8pm, a crowd of music lovers, neighbors and musicians gathered for the weekly jam session and open mic hosted by jazz percussionist, singer, songwriter and producer Eric Frazier. The Brooklyn native and bandleader, Eric Frazier hosted an evening of singers, songwriters and poets stepping up to ...
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Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Dynasty (Tues) Eric Frazier (Wed) Aug. 10-13 James Moody at The Iridium Jazz Club
Source:
Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121
NEW SET TIMES BEGINNING JUNE 1, 2006 8:30 & 10:30PM, Fri. & Sat. 3rd Sets AT MIDNIGHT
Note: Set Times for Les Paul Remain at 8 & 10PM
EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO JOHN COLIANNI - PIANO - LOU PALLO - GUITAR, NICKI PARROTT - BASS Note: Set Times for Les Paul ...
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SOUTH BOUND BEAT / August 23, 2006
CD/LP/Track Review
Eric Frazier: In Your Own Time
JAZZ REVIEW / August 31, 2007
CD / LP / Track Review
Eric Frazier: In Your Own Time