Roger Boykin-Piano, Matt Marantz-Tenor Sax, Luke Marantz-Vocals
JUST FRIENDS
© 2006 Soultex Records/Bart Marantz Productions
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Mainstream Jazz with standards and originals. Includes both instrumental and vocals.
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ROGER BOYKIN - Piano, MATT MARANTZ - Tenor Sax, LUKE MARANTZ - Vocals
“JUST FRIENDS”
Roger Boykin was born in Dallas, Texas in 1940 and has been a part of the Dallas music scene since age fifteen. After college and a stint in the Army he toured with various artists including; Leon Spencer, David “Fathead” Newman, and Isaac Hayes. He has also performed with Wes Montgomery, James Moody, Sonny Stitt, Marlena Shaw, Jimmy Witherspoon, Redd Foxx, Bill Cosby, and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. He currently teaches privately, hosts his own radio show, plays for churches, gigs around Dallas as often as time permits, and teaches classes at nationally recognized jazz program at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. In 1967 he founded Soultex Records and Soultex Publishing Company.
Matt Marantz received his first “DownBeat Student Music Award” in 2000 as the winner of the middle school jazz instrumental soloist division. Since that time he won that category 3 more times in the Performing Arts High School division and was on the cover of the 2003 “Student Music Awards” section as the only one to ever win that award 4 years in a row. After garnering another win as jazz instrumental soloist in the college division this past year (2006), while a sophomore at Manhattan School of Music in NYC, he now has received an unprecedented total of 25 “DownBeat” awards! Matt was named the first “Student Artist/Clinician” for the Music Group Corporation/Keilwerth Saxophones and Rico Reeds. In April 2004, Matt was named a “New Generation II Artist” by NEA Jazz Master Dr. Billy Taylor and performed with that group for a week at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In June 2004, at the age of 18, Matt was asked again by Dr. Taylor to perform with him at the White House for the President of the United States in a celebration of America’s NEA Jazz Masters. Matt Marantz has appeared throughout the US and Japan. His concert performances have taken him to the 2003 World Sax Conference, 2003 Monterey/Noto Japan Jazz Festival, 2001-2004 Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colonies, 2000-2004 Monterey Jazz Festival, 2003 Mid-West Clinic, 2003-2004 Gibson/Baldwin Grammy High School Jazz Big Bands, and most recently, his second performance at The Kennedy Center, performing with the “New Generation II” ensemble, with guest artists Dr. Billy Taylor and Branford Marsalis. He was a 2004 National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, Level I award winner in jazz music and recipient of the 2004 Music for Youth Foundation Scholarship.
Luke Marantz is currently attending BTWHSPVA in Dallas, Texas, where he is a member of both the nationally recognized Jazz Combo I and the Lab Singers ensembles. He was a “DownBeat Student Music Award” winner in the jazz vocal soloist category for both of his middle school years (2004 and 2005). This past year he received an “Outstanding Performance” award in the same category in the Performing Arts High School division. As a result of his middle school wins he was able to perform at the 2004 Brubeck Institute’s Summer Jazz Colony’s final concert. This summer he has been selected by audition to return to the Brubeck Institute for the 2006 Colony as the only vocal jazz soloist for the week-long event. This is the first time a freshman has been selected for this national honor. Luke has been awarded full scholarships to both the summer jazz workshops at Berklee College of Music and at the University of North Texas. He has attended the UNT Vocal Jazz Workshops in 2005 and 2006, studying with vocalists such as Michelle Weir, Kerry Marsh, Jennifer Barns, Rosanna Eckert and Paris Rutherford. He was also featured in a master class with Kurt Elling at the Monterey Educational Jazz Festival (April 2006).
With a stunning road record by all three artists one would expect some very exciting music. Well, this duo/trio does more than excite one's jazz ears. It’s a very special and exhilarating performance inspiring all musicians to shoot for the stars. This debut CD for the Marantz brothers with the seasoned pianist Roger Boykin at the helm is stimulating, exciting and inspiring. If you love melodic, mainstream jazz music then “Just Friends” is the CD you will want in your collection.
Web Links:
Matt Marantz: http://www.bartmarantz.com/mattmarantz.asp
Luke Marantz: http://www.bartmarantz.com/lukemarantz.asp