The trio includes Christian Jacob on piano, Trey Henry on bass, and Ray Brinker on drums. Pianist Christian Jacob, a native of France, is a co-leader, arranger, and pianist with the Tierney Sutton Band. The band has recorded 8 CD’s, and Christian also performs as a solo artist, leader, arranger, and conductor of big bands, and symphonies around the world. He has even played for the King of Thailand. Christian began playing classical piano at the age of 4 influenced by composers Debussy and Ravel, who had a universal harmonic influence on jazz. Around the age of 9 or 10 Christian discovered jazz, and was particularly moved by the improvisational abilities of Oscar Peterson. Christian developed perfect pitch, and learned what musical feel is through interpreting various musical pieces. Christian studied classical music, and played jazz with different combos developing his own style. His first discovery on the piano was Dave Brubeck, and later Oscar Peterson who played in a different dimension, showing his classical techniques and personality. Christian realized Oscar played what he said and had fun doing it. Christian won first prize from the Paris Conservatory, and taught at the French National Conservatory in Metz. Soon thereafter Christian went to America to study jazz at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. It was here where he learned the art of improvisation and developed his own personal style. Christian won the Oscar Peterson and Joe Zawinul Jazz Masters Awards, The Great American Jazz Piano Competition, and won Downbeat’s award for the Top Collegiate Jazz Soloist. He graduated from Berklee with Magna Cum Laude. He also taught at Berklee, and worked with vibist Gary Burton. Next Christian toured with Maynard Ferguson’s Band for 8 months, performing almost every day. It was exhausting, educational, inspirational, and fun. It was his greatest learning experience. Maynard Ferguson presented Christian on Concord Records where he recorded 2 CD’s. Christian has performed and recorded with Phil Woods, Airto, Flora Purim, Michael & Randy Brecker, Miroslav Vitous, Benny Golson, Bill Holman, Terje Gewelt, Carl Saunders, Franco Ambrosetti, Tommy Smith, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and his own big band. Since the mid 90’s Christian has been a member of the Tierney Sutton Band with Trey Henry and Ray Brinker. They are a tight-knit group that play sophisticated, refreshing arrangements with musical joy. The band has received 5 Grammy Nominations. Christian has also recorded with Swiss saxophonist Fritz Renold, and was commissioned to lead two classical symphonies. He has also worked with the Swiss Youth Jazz Orchestra, and was director of the Lorraine Orchestra in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, composing their inaugural commission. Christian has made 3 trio recordings, and is the musical director for Broadway legend and the musical theatre of Betty Buckley. Christian has appeared on over 60 recordings, has made a solo piano recording, and has toured Japan. Christian’s playing can be described as a post-bop modernist influenced by Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. He plays crystalline melodies, and expansive harmonies, creating a dense, polyrhythmic thicket overlaying two or more Latin grooves from which his music springs out and hurdles forward. Christian has impeccable taste and touch.
Bassist Trey Henry has performed with the LA Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the big bands of Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Gerald Wilson, and has played on numerous TV soundtracks, the Academy’s, the Emmy’s, “American Idol”, “Dancing with the Stars”, “Family Guy”, “The Simpson’s”, “King of the Hill”, “American Dad”, and “America’s Got Talent”. Trey has played with everyone from Henry Mancini to Johnny Cash, from Linda Ronstadt to Quincy Jones, from Ray Charles to Maynard Ferguson, and from Natalie Cole to Michelle Legrand. Trey has played on over 200 CDs, countless jingles, and dozens of TV and motion picture soundtracks. Trey has worked with Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Sammy Nestico, Tom Scott, Steve Allen, and Lalo Schifrin. Trey has recorded 8 CDs with the Tierney Sutton Band, receiving 5 Grammy Nominations. Trey is also part of the Christian Jacob Trio with Ray Brinker who all together work with Tierney Sutton. Trey has played with Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Joe Williams, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Diane Schuur, Aaron Neville, Dizzy Gillespie, and Alan & Marilyn Bergman. Trey has worked on the film soundtracks “Rush Hour”, “Thomas Crown Affair”, “Lion King”, “Far from Heaven”, “Brother Bear”, “Haunted Mission”, “Nacho Libre”, “Taladega Nights”, “Burlesque”, “Charlie St. Cloud”, “Pursuit of Happiness”, “Mr. Poppers Penguins”, and “Jay Edgar”.
Drummer Ray Brinker is a graduate of North Texas State University, and was a member of the Grammy nominated “One o’clock Lab Band”. Ray has toured with Maynard Ferguson, and played with over 30 different bands in his career. Ray is a founding member of the Tierney Sutton Band of which he has played in for 23 years, and has been a co-arranger on the bands 10 CD recordings. The band has received a Grammy nomination for 5 years in a row for Best Jazz Vocal Recording. Ray also received a Grammy nomination as a co-arranger for Best Arrangement of a Vocalist Recording. Ray played on Ray Charles 8 time award winning “Genius Loves Company” recording, and has played on the film soundtracks “The Ray Charles Story”, “Shrek”, “Chicken Run”, “Dear God”, “The Alamo”, “Brother Bear”, “Lilo and Stitch”, “Pluto Nash”, “Assault on Precinct 13”, and countless TV shows including “America’s Got Talent”, and “American Hustle”. Ray is a member of the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band.
Saturday May 6th at 7:00pm the Christian Jacob Trio performs at Pete Carlson’s. Three gifted musicians performing exquisite jazz who have great familiarity with each other providing a special sound only possible through such a tight-knit group. Don’t miss it!!!
