Born in Houston, Texas, George has always been a lover of music. In grade school he learned to play the trumpet in the school band. By high school, he had joined a small jazz combo, which allowed him to refine his tonal vocabulary on pieces from Steely Dan, Chicago, and Maynard Ferguson's band. But despite his love for the solos of Ferguson, Miles Davis, and Chuck Mangione, he eventually moved his focus from trumpet to piano. In so doing, he discovered a realm of musical possibilities open up to him. This was due largely to the fact that he could play the multiple notes of chords simultaneously instead of the single tones of the trumpet.
Fueled by an insatiable appetite for melodic arranging and songwriting, he immersed himself in the craft. His ear for music grew more sophisticated with each discovery, resulting in a home-grown, self-taught music theory. By age 17, he performed his first concert with a local rock band in the role of pop-music synthesizer player. For the next two decades, George put his talents to use in a variety of projects and groups, sometimes as band leader, other times serving as backup or session player in studio situations.
Then shortly before Valentine’s Day in 1998, George and a friend were encouraged to perform crooner standards and love ballads at a retirement center near where they lived. While the performances were well-received, something else also happened. Somewhere within the lush arrangements of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter, he instantly felt like he was home again. A fire from his ‘jazz days’ had been rekindled, as well as the desire to perform more sophisticated pieces reemerged within him. Recognizing that they 'had stumbled on to something', the two formed the musical duo, NOTHING SPECIAL which later developed into the jazz threesome of GEORGE POE TRIO.
Awards
2006 Joan Lowery Nixon Award
The George Poe Trio has a flair for infusing familiar and beloved music from the `30s thru the `80s with a fresh sensibility entirely their own. Their musical virtuosity, combined with a witty stage presence, consistently proves to be a refreshing crowd pleaser.
Perfect for any size venue ranging from larger corporate events(George R. Brown Convention Center, B.P. of Texas, Administaff, grand openings, etc.) to more intimate settings (weddings,wine tastings, rehearsal dinners, etc.)
The fun they have is infectious; and in short order, every age young and old are won over by the trio’s musical charm. George Poe Trio offers ‘instrumental-only’ sets of light jazz for clients who are simply looking for the elegant ambiance of a jazzy ‘audio wallpaper’. But the trio is also right at home when the event calls for a more band-focused performance including vocals, and more dynamic sets for dancing within a party atmosphere.
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The George Poe Trio has a flair for infusing familiar and beloved music from the `30s thru the `80s with a fresh sensibility entirely their own. Their musical virtuosity, combined with a witty stage presence, consistently proves to be a refreshing crowd pleaser.
Perfect for any size venue ranging from larger corporate events(George R. Brown Convention Center, B.P. of Texas, Administaff, grand openings, etc.) to more intimate settings (weddings,wine tastings, rehearsal dinners, etc.)
The fun they have is infectious; and in short order, every age young and old are won over by the trio’s musical charm. George Poe Trio offers ‘instrumental-only’ sets of light jazz for clients who are simply looking for the elegant ambiance of a jazzy ‘audio wallpaper’. But the trio is also right at home when the event calls for a more band-focused performance including vocals, and more dynamic sets for dancing within a party atmosphere.
More than just a tribute to music's most enduring songs, the trio serves homage to a bygone era of songwriting and performing. They blur the lines between the classics, blues, pop, R&B, and jazz.
Matthew masterfully plucks a vintage upright bass guitar that serves as an ideal backdrop to George's sophisticated, emotional blend of “piano tinkling”. Both trade off the role of lead vocal as Lee's disciplined percussion frames it all in a tasteful, soulful mix of danceable, singable tunes.
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