Rodney Whitaker

Rodney Whitaker

Whittaker performing at the 2009 Detroit Jazz Festival
Background information
Born (1949-12-31)December 31, 1949
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, educator
Instruments Double bass, bass guitar
Labels Alma, Mack Avenue
Associated acts Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Website www.rodneywhitaker.com


Rodney Whitaker (born February 22, 1968) is an American jazz double bass player and educator.

Biography

Born in Detroit, Whitaker attended Wayne State University, and studied with Robert Gladstone, principal bass with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and trumpeter Marcus Belgrave.[1]

He achieved recognition performing with Terence Blanchard's Quintet and then with Roy Hargrove.[2] His own first album Children of the Light was released in 1996[3]

His score for the film China, directed by Jeff Wray, was released on PBS in 2002.

In 2006, Whitaker was nominated for the Juno Award Traditional Jazz Album of the Year for Let Me Tell You About My Day, his album in collaboration with Phil Dwyer and Alan Jones.[1] He has also been working with the pianist Junko Onishi.[4]

Whitaker is professor of jazz double bass and director of jazz studies at Michigan State University's College of Music.[1] He has presented master classes at such institutions as Duke University, Howard University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, the New School (NY), Lincoln Center, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and at the conferences of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE). He has also worked with Detroit Symphony Orchestra to develop a jazz education department, and conducts their Civic Jazz Orchestra, as well as being on the faculties of University of Michigan and Juilliard School.[5]

Discography

As leader

Collaborations

As sideman

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rodney Whitaker: Professor of Double Bass and Director of Jazz Studies". Michigan State University. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  2. Ankeny, Jason. "Rodney Whitaker: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  3. Nastos, Michael. "Children of the Light: Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  4. Brown, Keith Henry (2010-10-29). "CD/LP Review: Baroque". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  5. "All State Jazz Band: Conductor: Rodney T. Whitaker". Georgia Music Educators Association. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
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