John Spicknall's Jazz Piano Trio will add saxophonist Sam Fagaly to the band to perform "Jazz Standards Revisited" in Boyce Recital Hall of the Landini Center for Fine and Performing Arts Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.
The trio consists of pianist John Spicknall, bassist Joe Deal and drummer Kevin Johnson. These musicians began working on arrangements of "Great American Song Book" repertory and jazz standards more than 20 years ago that continues to grow and develop. The band has often appeared backing up guest musicians at ISU including performances with Bobby Shew, Jim Ketch and Jim Perry.
The program will include one standard, "We'll Be Together Again" by Frankie Laine, an original by Spicknall, Puddah's "Contemplation", two jazz compositions of the bebop era, "Bird Blues," Chi-Chi" by Charlie Parker and from "Birth of the Cool" George Wallington's Godchild. Other composers of later styles include Randy Weston, Wayne Shorter, Cal Tjader and Dexter Gordon.
The program is open to the public without charge.
Joe Deal is a jazz bass player living and playing in the Indianapolis area over the past 25 years. He has performed with jazz legends Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Ira Sullivan, Bobby Shew, Pat LaBarbera, Phil Wilson, Mike Metheny, Art Blakey pianists James Williams and Geoff Keezer, comedian Rich Little and Spyro Gyra member Dave Samuels. CDs include: The Joe Deal Jazz Trio "Moods" "Red Green and Blues" by Ron Enyard and "I'll Never Stop Loving You" by Harry Miedema with Deep 6.
Drummer Kevin Johnson grew up in a musical family where his father was the eminent jazz trombonist, J.J. Johnson. Johnson has played with and recorded with many jazz luminaries and now resides in Indianapolis.
Pianist John Spicknall retired from Indiana State University School of Music in 2007, where he was involved in woodwind, music education and jazz instruction for thirty-eight years, but continues to teach jazz piano in an adjunct position. He also was visiting professor of jazz piano at DePauw University from 2006-12. In 2012, he retired from the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra after more than 40 years of service. He has been the house pianist at Stables Restaurant for the last 16 years.