Featuring:
Ellen Rowe, jazz pianist and composer, is currently the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan. Recent CDs as a leader include “Momentum-Portraits of Women In Motion” with her octet, “Courage Music”, with her quartet and special guest Ingrid Jensen and “Wishing Well”, featuring Andrew Bishop. Her new “East Meets Midwest” Quartet includes saxophonist Mike Sakash, Director of the Fryeburg Academy Jazz Program in Fryeburg, Maine and in-demand sideman throughout New England, Chicago based bassist Dennis Carroll, currently Jazz Bass Professor at DePaul University and longtime member of the Bobby Broom Quartet and drummer Neil Hemphill, also a member of the Bobby Broom Quartet as well as an active freelancer throughout the Midwest. Ellen and Mike have been working together in duo format for several years in Maine and New Hampshire and she is excited to bring this new quartet to Cliff Bell’s in advance of recording dates this summer.