Meg Okura
A spectacular fusion of two worlds of Classical and Jazz Music.
Dazzling contemporary jazz arrangements of some of the most iconic classical compositions of all times.
Featuring:
Meg Okura – Violin
Eric Niceberg – Piano & arrangements
Thomas Bramerie – Bass
Eliot Zigmund – Drums
Meg Okura is a virtuoso violinist and innovative improviser, blending contemporary jazz with electronics. In this project she takes her classical background and makes spectacular jazz adaptations to known classical pieces.
After receiving Masters degree from the Julliard School, Meg left the classical violin scene and started pursuing more contemporary music, performing and recording with some of the biggest names in music including Mary J. Blige, David Bowie, Michael Brecker, Philip Glass, Jesse Harris, Lee Konitz, Lou Reed and Steve Swallow.
Eric Niceberg is an Israeli pianist from the new generation, who combines in his music strong elements of hard-bop, modern jazz, with touch of fusion and Middle Eastern music.
The result is a passionate and incredibly sweeping music, full of soul and intensity that takes the listener to a musical journey: from the classical and rooted jazz to nowadays and contemporary music.
Born in September 18, 1965 in Bergerac (France) grew up in Toulon. Thomas begins studying guitar with TONY PETRUCCIANI in 1980, and then furthers his playing ability with J-P FLORENS in 1984.
He then moved into playing electric bass with the BELMONDO BROTHERS group but opted for the acoustic bass in 1988.
He participates in many tours in the South Eastern part of France, notably with PETER KING, TED NASH and BOBBY PORCELLI…
Additional performances include CHET BAKER (Grenoble
1987) TOOTS THIELEMANS (Jazz Festival Hyeres 1988) HORACE PARLAN (Aix en Provence 1989), JOHNNY GRIFFIN(Hyeres 1990) STEVE GROSSMAN (Marseille 1990)
A New York City native, steeped in the jazz tradition of the city, he has performed and
recorded extensively with such jazz luminaries as Bill Evans, Michel Petrucciani, Jim Hall, Lee
Konitz, Benny Golson, Eddie Henderson, Stan Getz, Eddie Gomez, Steve Swallow,
Art Lande, Mel Martin, Vince Guaraldi, Richie Beirach, and many others.
Current recording/performing projects include past and ongoing collaborations with
saxophonists Pietro Tonolo, Chris Cheek, Emanuele Cisi, Christina von Bulow,
pianists Pete Malinverni, Alan Broadbent, Michael Eckroth, Giovanni Mirabassi, Don
Friedman, Antonio Zambrini, Eric Olsen, bassists Phil Palombi, Jesper Lungaard,
Todd Coolman, Lee Hudson, Harvie S, Carmelo Leotta, Gianluca Renzi, Tim
Ferguson, Morrie Louden, guitarists Tom Dempsey, Josh Breakstone, trumpeter Rick
Savage and organist Mark Minchello among others.