Obasi Akoto Quartet

Doors open: 6:30pm

Show starts: 7:00pm

$15 in advance, $20 day of show

The band: Obasi Okoto (bass), Joe Brotherton (trumpet), Sam Prowther (piano), Greg Holloway (drums)

Known for his work with the legendary drummer Elvin Jones and piano titan Cyrus Chestnut,

Obasi Akoto (formerly Steve Kirby) is a veteran bass player, composer and

educator.

Obasi performed extensively and recorded with some of the most important jazz artists of our time. In addition to his work with Elvin Jones and Cyrus Chestnut , he has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Abbey Lincoln, Regina Carter, Joanne Brackeen, James Carter, Steve Turre, Jacky Terrasson and Lester Bowie.

Obasi graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1985 and received his Masters in Jazz Composition from the Manhattan School of Music in 2002. He studied a number of professional instructors, including Ron Carter, Rufus Reid, Dave Holland, Buster Williams, Red Mitchell and Homer Mensch, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic.

Over the years, his interest in education has been reflected in his many projects and activities on and off the bandstand. In 2002, executive director Loren Schoenberg appointed Obasi as one of the first

members of the planning committee of the Carnegie Hall Jazz Outreach Program. He was also

part of Lincoln Center Jazz Educators, Essentially Ellington Competition, Jazz at Lincoln Center Band Directors Academy, the Alberta International Band Festival, the Brandon Jazz Festival and the Cantando Festival in Edmonton.

Obasi was on the faculty of the F.A.M.E Academy Jazz Camp at Princeton University under the

direction of Delfeayo Marsalis and for several years he taught for the Friends of the Arts

Program with Cecil Bridgewater, which brought jazz education into public and private schools

throughout the Long Island area. He also taught with the Coalition for Social Change of New

York City.

Obasi has released several albums as band leader, including a full length orchestral recording of his Oceanic Jazz Orchestra featuring all of his own compositions and featuring Warren Wolf on vibraphone.