Come join us for another incredible concert in the 2023 Wayne Public Library Jazz Concert Series. This free concert brings the talents of John Lee (bassist), Alex Collins (piano) and Karl Latham (drums). 

John Lee (bass)

John Lee is a Grammy Award winning record producer and audio engineer. He has produced over 100 recordings and is the co-founder of the record label JLP, Jazz Legacy Productions. From 1984 thru 1993, John Lee was Dizzy Gillespie’s bassist. Performing and recording in the trumpet master’s various bands including the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and Dizzy’s Grammy Award winning United Nation Orchestra. After Dizzy’s passing, his family asked John to create an ongoing tribute to the great man and his music—and the concept for the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars was born. John is the bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience. He has also worked in the bands of Gary Bartz, Larry Coryell, Jon Faddis, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Gambarini, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, Gregory Hines, Claudio Roditi, Sonny Rollins and McCoy Tyner.

Alex Collins (piano)

Alex Collins is a New York City based pianist, composer, arranger and vibraphonist. Alex made his debut at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival with the Brandon Wright Quartet in 2010. Alex is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (M.M. Jazz Composition) and earned his undergraduate degree from the Eastman School of Music (B.M. Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media (Piano). He received the Wynton Kelly Jazz Foundation Award for Jazz Achievement (2003) and participated in the prestigious Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program (2006). Aside from leading his own trio, Alex has performed in the bands of Ronnie Burrage, Michelle Coltrane, Big Funk, Gerry Gibbs, Karl Latham, John Lee, Lonnie Plaxico, Lenny White, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars.

Karl Latham (drums)  

Karl Latham’s career has spanned the globe performing, recording and producing with Grammy® Award    winning artists, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and a multitude of internationally acclaimed musicians including: Ali Ryerson; The Bernie Worrell Orchestra; Jerry Vivino; Andy Snitzer; Mark Egan; Johnny Winter; The Shirelles (Music Director); John Lee Quartet; The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars; The Fantasy Band; Howard Paul with Laurence Hobgood, Anat Cohen and Tom Scott; and has co led 2016 BMW World Jazz Award nominated “Constellations” with Mark Egan and Ryan Carniaux and Don Braden/Karl Latham Big Fun(K). Karl toured Europe extensively for nearly 25 years in the groups of Wolfgang Lackerschmid and Johannes Mossinger.  Karl has subbed on the Broadway productions of “Bring It On”, “Hamilton”, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”, and “Ain’t Too Proud”. Karl continues to record, produce and engineer in his studio. During the pandemic, he developed the “Concerts from the Cabin” virtual jazz series, streaming live concerts of incredible local jazz artists. He continues to teach privately and as an Adjunct Professor at Drew University, the County College of Morris and Passaic County Community College. His CD “Together” with Alex Collins and Ryan Berg was released in 2021.