DOYLESTOWN, PA — Fresh from an appearance with Branford Marsalis on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Justin Faulkner will play Jazz Night at the Michener Art Museum April 27.
The New York Times recently cited Faulkner as one of “Five drummers whose time is now.” He is quoted as saying, “So what you’re feeling and hearing should go from within to the drums. If you’re not feeling what you’re playing, then you’re just meandering… If the music doesn’t build, what’s it going to do?”
“Justin Faulkner is really hot right now,” says Director of Programs Zoriana Siokalo. “He’s so in demand, we’re lucky to be able to bring him to the Michener.”
For the last three years, Justin Faulkner has been the drummer of choice for Branford Marsalis. Faulkner grew up in Philadelphia and attended public schools, singing in the choir. This experience taught him about balance and blending with other voices. Justin started playing gospel, R&B and classical music at 7; at 13 he began weekly gigs with the funk/free-jazz bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
He studied classical music with Sam Ruttenburg at the Settlement Music School and trained in jazz at the Kimmel Center and the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & the Performing Arts, joining the Marsalis’ group while still a high school senior. At 21, Faulkner has already toured the globe many times, has drum endorsements, studied film scoring for two years at Berklee College of Music and has begun studying classical composition with a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Faulkner is part of jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel’s trio; he has performed, toured or recorded with: Pharoh Sanders, Odean Pope, Tyrone Brown, Peter Nero, Bootsie Barnes, Jimmy Heath, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Yoichi Uzeki, Helen Sung, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ravi Coltrane, Craig McIver, Denise King, Victor Wooten, Bobby McFerrin, Tim Warfield, James Moody, Orrin Evans and Lee Smith. His mentors include such luminaries as Daren Metz, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Dennis Chambers, Shawn Pelton and Christian McBride.
Faulkner will be accompanied by Mike Boone on bass, Luke O’Reilly on piano, and a special guest. Philadelphia jazz icon Mike Boone, a graduate of Eastman School of Music, has toured and recorded with Ben Vereen, Buddy Rich Big Band, Clark Terry, Mose Allison, Dakota Staton, Nat Adderly, Leslie Uggams and others. Colombian native Luke O’Reilly, a graduate of Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music, is a much sought-after pianist in straight ahead jazz, Latin, soul and R & B. On his CD Living in the Now, O’Reilly combined elements of jazz, Latin, soul and spoken word poetry.
Jazz Night is an all-inclusive evening featuring:
8 to 10 pm – Hors d’oeuvre reception and galleries open;
Hearty appetizers and desserts presented by Havana Catering. Refreshments presented by River Horse Brewing Company and Sand Castle Winery.
8:30 to 11 pm – Concert with one intermission
Tickets: member $40/non-member $48, student ticket: $20 with paying adult. All seats are reserved and assigned in order of ticket purchase – please contact the museum if you would like to be seated with another party purchasing tickets separately. Reception and museum admission are included in ticket price. Advance tickets only. Purchase tickets early as seating is limited.
Sponsored by the Friends of Jazz Night
The James A. Michener Art Museum is located at 138 South Pine St., Doylestown, Pa. Museum hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday noon to 5 pm. Admission: Members and children under 6, free; adults $15; seniors $13; college student with valid ID $11; ages 6-18 $7.50; under 6 free. For more information, visit www.michenerartmuseum.org or call 215-340-9800.