SAM TURNER AND DOM PAKKA CHIKKI

About the Artist

This legendary percussionist Sam Turner, from New York City, has worked nationally and internationally with legends such as Machito, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Charles Mingus, Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, Don Pullen and many others. He may be best known for his 15-year long stint as sideman with Lionel Hampton, or his classic recordings with Monguito Santamaria that many feel defined the boogaloo genre of the seventies. Sam studied at the Music and Arts High School in Manhattan, circa 1967, under the tutelage of masters such as Kenny Dorham, Jackie McLean and 'Montego Joe' (Roger Sanders) . Sam also grew up and developed musically with many well known musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Jerry and Andy Gonzalez and Fred Foss. Today, Sam is involved in tv performances (Kennedy Center Awards, Today Show) and Broadway shows (The Wiz, Sophisticated Ladies, Sarava) as well as musical performances. His recording credits include sessions with Dexter Gordon, Teddy Wilson, Earl 'Fatha' Hines, Chico O'Farrill, Monguito Santamaria, Lionel Hampton, Don Pullen, and many others. Sam has performed all over the world as well as at some of the most prestigious concert venues in New York and in the nation's capitol (Blue Note, Birdland, Kennedy Center, Blues Alley). Sam is a recipient of the United Nations Peace Award, and makes his home in Washington DC where he performs with RUMBA CLUB as well as with many other jazz and Latin artists and works with the Prince George's Arts Council teaching and performing in schools.

Josh Swartzman has worked extensively in and around the East Coast Latin and jazz scenes for many years. Best known as founder, bassist and contributing arranger and composer for RUMBA CLUB since its inception seventeen years ago, he can also be found performing in a variety of musical settings playing acoustic bass, Ampeg Baby bass or piano. Josh studied at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York in the early eighties and lived in Spanish Harlem where his interest in Latin music was nurtured. For several years, Josh studied arranging and composition privately with the late Dr. Asher Zlotnik alumnus of the Peabody Institute of Music. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with well-known jazz and Latin musicians alike (Tito Puente, Billy Higgins, Giovanni Hidalgo, David Williams, Nestor Torrez, John Faddis).

John Jensen was lead trombonist and a featured soloist with the United States Navy Band Commodores until he retired in 1996. Since then he has stayed active as a player and teacher in and around the Washington DC area. He has been a featured performer at the White House, the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington DC, and the Kennedy Center. John has performed at Blues Alley with the McCoy Tyner Big Band and has been featured alongside Urbie Green, Milt Hinton, Stephanie Nakasian, Hod O'Brien and Danny Gatton to name a just a few. In addition to leading his own groups, currently John can also be found performing with John Previti's "Mingus to Monk Tribute Band" and playing trumpet and trombone with the group Chaise Lounge. Homecoming is the name of John's first recording as a leader. In the tradition of a "blowing date" John and bandmates Hod O'Brien on piano and bassist Steve Gilmore play great tunes from the American songbook. Additional players on this recording include drummer Brooks Tegler, percussionist Seguito Turner and guitarist Steve Abshire.

Harry Appelman, who recently returned from a tour of South and Central America as part of the U.S. State Department's Jazz Ambassadors program, has toured the United States and Canada with the Woody Herman Orchestra (under the direction of Frank Tiberi) and the Artie Shaw Orchestra (under the direction of Dick Johnson). He was a finalist in both the 1987 and 1988 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competitions (finishing second in 1988) and one of three prizewinners in the 1989 Great American Jazz Piano Competition.

Mr. Appelman was named in Washingtonian magazine's February 2003 "Great Music" issue, in their list of Washington, D.C. area "Good Jazz Artists". He currently performs in the area at Blues Alley, the Corcoran Museum concert series, Wolf Trap, Twins, and other popular jazz venues. Appelman has performed in groups led by Gary Thomas, George Garzone, Valery Ponomarev, Brian Lynch, Don Braden, Vincent Herring, Dominique Eade and Walt Weiskopf, among others, and plays frequently with Palmetto recording artists Rumba Club. He has also resided and performed in Boston and New York City -- where he played with numerous creative and respected groups, ranging from trumpeter Scott Wendholt's quartet to vocalist Dakota Staton's trio.

A native of the Chicago area, Harry Appelman began his classical music training in the first grade, later turning to the fusion and rock idioms and ultimately to jazz. After graduating with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois -- where he was honored as a Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude -- he went on to earn a Master of Music degree with Distinction from the New England Conservatory. His post-graduate music studies have included work with Jim McNeely, Fred Hersch, Stanley Cowell, Tom McKinley, Sophia Rosoff and other brilliant pianist-teachers.

Jason Walker is a 1996 graduate of the Hartt school of music under the instruction of Ben Toth. Since graduating he has worked as a performer and as music instructor for groups in a therapeutic setting. Jason studies Afro-Cuban music with Sam Turner and freelances and teaches drums and percussion in the DC area.

Past Performances

May 5, 2004

Sam Turner and Dom Pakka Chikki perform a synthesis of jazz and instrumental Latin dance music.

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