The Coastal Jazz Association is proud to present The Zac Chester Trio on Sunday, August 17 at the Savannah Arts Academy auditorium, 500 Washington Avenue, Savannah.
Zac Chester is yet another exceptional Florida musician who has been shaped by the Jazz Studies program at the University of North Florida. Although he hasn’t performed often in Savannah, I was fortunate to work with Zac several times this year and become acquainted with his informed, comprehensive and exciting approach to jazz piano.
Zac was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida. He began lessons with David Cook at the age of five. He later studied jazz piano with Frank Sullivan. In his early twenties, Zac was accepted into The University of North Florida's jazz program, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and received a world-class education. While at UNF, he took private piano lessons with Kevin Bales, Keith Javors, Dennis Marks, Lynne Arielle and Bunky Green....
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The Coastal Jazz Association is proud to present The Zac Chester Trio on Sunday, August 17 at the Savannah Arts Academy auditorium, 500 Washington Avenue, Savannah.
Zac Chester is yet another exceptional Florida musician who has been shaped by the Jazz Studies program at the University of North Florida. Although he hasn’t performed often in Savannah, I was fortunate to work with Zac several times this year and become acquainted with his informed, comprehensive and exciting approach to jazz piano.
Zac was born and raised in Gainesville, Florida. He began lessons with David Cook at the age of five. He later studied jazz piano with Frank Sullivan. In his early twenties, Zac was accepted into The University of North Florida's jazz program, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and received a world-class education. While at UNF, he took private piano lessons with Kevin Bales, Keith Javors, Dennis Marks, Lynne Arielle and Bunky Green.
As a bandleader, Chester has performed throughout the Jacksonville, Gainesville and St. Augustine area. He has performed as a solo pianist at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, and at the Cloister and Sea Island Resorts, St. Simons Island. He has been the pianist for the Casa Monica, St Augustine for over ten years, and his trio performs there on a regular basis. He has worked as the Musical Director and house pianist at Rhett's Piano Bar, St Augustine, and continues to perform there regularly, as well. He also currently works as a solo pianist at 60 North, a new restaurant in High Springs. He's worked as a sideman with world-renowned jazz artists Longineu Parsons, Phil Morrison, and Von Barlow.
Zac has been playing gospel music on the Hammond B3 organ and keyboards in African-American churches for over ten years. He first played with drummer and musical director, John Lumpkin, at the Family Life Fellowship of Arlington for close to six years. He currently plays at Ephesians Baptist Church in downtown Jacksonville, FL.
Zac is currently a working towards earning a Masters in Classical Performance at the University of Florida, where he is studying with Dr. Kevin Sharpe. As a TA he is teaching jazz improvisation class, private piano students, and playing in the jazz big band.
Joining him in this performance will be world-traveled drummer Von Barlow, inducted to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival Hall of Fame in 2007, Savannah bassist Mitch Hennes, and vocalist Natalie Rella. Expect to hear some fresh interpretations of jazz tunes, classic standards and perhaps some originals as well.
$20 General Admission at the door. FREE to members and students with valid student I.D.!
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