Judith Porter Quartet featuring Troy Conn
Wheel Session 101
Event Types: Music
Jul 20, 2023 7:30 PM — Jul 20, 2023 9:45 PM
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The Wheel Sessions
(312) 520-2760
[email protected]https://www.wheelsessions.comDetails
Judith Porter is a jazz pianist/singer who performs regularly at the Cajun Queen in Charlotte, NC, and the surrounding area. She is also a weekend host on 90.7 WFAE, Charlotte’s NPR News Source. She is an Instructor of Music at Gaston College in Dallas, NC, where she teaches Music
Appreciation and Introduction to Jazz. - Judith earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and her Master of Music degree from The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. She won the Young Artist Competition sponsored by the Fort Collins Symphony Association in Fort Collins, CO, and performed Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. Judith has toured as pianist and/or musical director for national tours and has appeared as on-camera and voice-over talent for commercials and industrial videos. During her years in Minnesota she was production coordinator for the national TV show, Before and After on HGTV, and produced a documentary, La Quinceanera: A Celebration of Womanhood for a community television station.
Troy Conn is a professional jazz, classical, and rock guitarist who has been performing and instructing jazz for over two decades. His Charlotte-based jazz bands include the Conn/Davis Duo, Ron Brendle Quartet, Al Sergal IVtet, and Jazz Is Led. He also plays with numerous touring artists, and most recently played with The Platters. Troy is a frequent performer at Middle C Jazz in Charlotte where he has featured the music of George Benson and Jeff Beck. He also works with Jazz Arts Charlotte as an instructor and a performer. Conn graduated from UNC Charlotte with a BA in Music Performance. After graduating, he was invited to study at the Berklee Guitar Sessions under a full scholarship. Since then, Conn has led workshops, sessions, and numerous camps and courses. He currently teaches Applied Jazz Guitar and Jazz Combo at UNC Charlotte and Queens University. In 2012, Conn played the Eclats d’Email Jazz Festival in Limoges France. He later toured through the UK with Fat Face Band in 2014. He has been a repeat performer at the Kinser Jazz Festival, performing with the Metroplexity Big Band backing Randy Brecker and Eric Marienthal. Troy has also performed in various venues in New Orleans including Snug Harbor with the Ocie Davis Quartet. Pulling from his classical guitar training, Conn often guest performs with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and numerous pit orchestras. His versatility extends to rock as well, with the prog-rock trio, Bunky Moon, and the Mike Stauss Band, to name a few. Troy has played on numerous recordings including Ron Brendle’s “A Tribute to the Bassists In Jazz Vol. 1”, Alfred Sergal IVtet EP, and Escalating Blues by Mike Strauss.
Gerard Benson, bass, has been on the music scene in Charotte, NC, for over 50 years. He is a member of A Sign Of The Times, and is the house bassist for the Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Jam at Petra's on Monday nights. You can also hear Gerard every Wednesday through Friday at the Cajun Queen Restaurant in Charlotte, NC. Gerard is the consummate jazz bassist, having performed with a litany of the Southeast’s leading jazz musicians.
