Jazz Preservation Society of New Bern

Jazz Preservation Society
of
New Bern

Dedicated to the performance, promotion and preservation of Jazz

News Contact Us

5th Annual Jazz Fest New Bern 300th Anniversary Celebration

Blues Night
April 30, 2010
Blues Bands:
Featured:
Shemekia Copeland
Shemekia's Band Website
Opening:
Cool John Ferguson
Cool John's Band website

Blues Musician Shemika Copeland

Blues Musician Cool_John_Ferguson

Jazz Night
May 1, 2010
Jazz Bands
Featured:
Jann Parker
Jann's Band website
Opening:
Elmer Gibson
Elmer's Band website

Jazz Musician Jann_Parker Elmer_Gibson

Elmer Gibson Biography

Band Members
Elmer Gibson - Piano
Mike Formanek - Bass
Eric Allen - Drums

Elmer Gibson was born in Philadelphia, but as the son of an army officer, he grew up in various places throughout the country. He began his musical studies at age four, and at age 18, be began studies in design at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art.

For a young jazz musician, Philadelphia in the late 60's was a pretty good place to be. He formed his own trio and began working in small clubs in the Philadelphia area. He worked and jammed with such artists as Al Grey, Cat Anderson, Sonny Stitt, Gary Bartz, Shirley Scott, Frank Foster, Kenny Dorham, Sonny Fortune, Dakota Staton, Gene Ammons, Buster Williams, Trudy Pitts and Mr. C, Grover Washington, and Stanley Clark.

In the mid 70�s Elmer joined the Norman Connors Band, featuring Jean Carn and trumpeter Dr. Eddie Henderson. As pianist, arranger and musical director of the group, Elmer toured with this band throughout Europe, Japan and North America. After a couple of years he opted out of life on the road and established a successful commercial design and space planning practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has remained very active as a musician and continues to be a vital presence in his arts community. Among other things, he founded the non-profit Preservation Jazz Company, which was responsible for starting a highly successful jazz festival and numerous concert series.

In 1985 the string trio of the North Carolina Symphony performed two of Elmer�s original works, one of which won a statewide competition for composers and has since been performed by numerous string trios. In 1989 Elmer won the Gold Award as Music Director, Arranger and Accompanist of the Nnenna Freelon Duo held in Philadelphia. He also arranged two songs, "Dad's Delight" and "Little B's Poem" for Freelon's Columbia release, Listen, which also featured Wayne Shorter's "Footsteps," with lyrics by Elmer Gibson. Since that time Elmer has produced two CDs, "Jazz Ornaments," a solo piano Christmas CD, and "The Elmer Gibson Trio," a live recording.

Today he continues a very busy playing and composing schedule including performances from Atlanta to Philadelphia.
--Bob Rogers, WSHA-FM Raleigh, NC

Generation Dance

Executive Producer Jeffrie Melnese Gibson, Co-Producers Norman Connors & Elmer Gibson
Mixed May 2-8, 1997 at Sound Lab, Engineer Tom Rowan, Norman Connors
Mastered March 10, 1997 at MCA Music Media Studios, Mastering Engineer Eric Labson
Cover Design Lori Barmer, Original Painting Elmer Gibson

Sponsors: Midwest Airlines; Heritage Arts, Inc.; Radisson Plaza Hotel, Raleigh-Downtown; Arthur Gordon, Irregardless Cafe; Kenneth and Margaret Mohammad; Dr. John and Sistie Howie; Dr. William Wynne.

"The making of GENERATION DANCE was a particularly spiritual experience for me. It began in 1976 with the unexpected but fortuitous move from my birthplace of Philadelphia, PA to Raleigh, NC, the capital city of my father�s birthstate.

After attending a Pettiford family reunion in 1983, and being totally overwhelmed by the discovery of an extended family I had never known, I began to research my father's family history. Searching old records in the NC State archives, I was amazed to find the actual slave records of my grandfather, great grandfather, and great grandmother. More amazing was my visit to the actual plantation where they were born and to see their owner's, (perhaps my great, great grandfather) house still intact. Here, I had finally set foot on soil in these United States that has meaning to me personally.

There are names of my family members, both slave and free, listed in the NC State archives that stretch back many years before the Revolutionary War. A fact that I noted with some pride in 1994 when my father, Chaplain Lt. Colonel Elmer Pettiford Gibson was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

There are great insights to be had from the study of generation. The griot's words were more than just a litany of minute facts and details...might never have known had I not sat and listened."

Advertise Here

Tell us about your announcements or advertise your services and products!