[Dixielandjazz] Ed Wise, Jazz Musical Director at Univ of Pennsylvania

[Steve barbone]

Any of our New Orleans List mates know bassist Ed Wise? From 1993 to 2005 &
Katrina, he lived/performed in the Crescent City. Impressive Bio and we're
glad to have him here in Philadelphia. He was recently named Jazz Director
at the University of Pennsylvania. Barbone Street is doing a swing dance
there in 3 weeks and we're looking forward to meeting him.

Note in his bio that he is playing NEW ORLEANS JAZZ here. Changing the
direction of Penn Jazz from modern. Perhaps because OKOM lives in the here
and now in the City of Brotherly Love?

Funny that he gigs locally with pianist Sam Dockery. (a modernist) Our own
bass player, Ace Tesone, gigged and recorded with Dockery a half century
ago. Small world.

Cheers,
Steve

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Ed Wise - Penn Jazz Musical Director: A Brief Biography

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Ed Wise began his study and love of the
string bass at the age of twelve.  At fifteen, he discovered jazz and began
a life-long journey of the study, practice and performance of America¹s
musical gift to the world.  At age seventeen, Ed was performing with
Houston¹s legendary tenor saxophonist Arnett Cobb and sitting in at local
jam sessions with visiting jazz greats Sonny Stitt, Rashaan Roland Kirk,
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis,  and others. 

Upon graduation from high school in 1973, Ed pursued his education at the
world-renowned University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State
University), earning a bachelor of music degree and a master¹s degree in
jazz performance with a minor in composition.  As a graduate student, he
conducted the ³4 O'Clock Lab Band² and was the bassist for the famous ³1
O'Clock Lab Band². Ed also performed with guest artists appearing at the
school including trumpeters Jon Faddis, Tom Harrell, Conte Condoli,
saxophonist Frank Foster, clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, trombonist J.J.
Johnson, and pianists Kenny Barron, Jim McNeely, and Hal Galper.  During his
time in the Dallas area, he gigged with local jazz artists including former
Miles Davis Quintet pianist Red Garland, former Jazz Messenger Marcel Ivery
and tenor sax legend James Clay.  As bassist for the Dave Zoller trio, he
backed up Eddie Daniels, Carl Fontana, Jim Hall and other name artists. Also
during this time, Ed toured with New Orleans legend Al Hirt, Texas R&B star
Delbert McClinton and the Smothers Brothers.  Performances with  Billy
Eckstine, Cab Calloway, Frank Sinatra, Jr. and Vic Damone rounded out his
busy schedule.

In 1989 Ed Wise moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he continued as one
of the busiest bassists in Canada¹s music center.  In 1990, he toured with
the Concord (record label) All-Stars (pianist Monty Alexander,  trumpet
legend Harry "Sweets" Edison, tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton and Bud
Shank), performing at major jazz festivals across Canada.  In 1991, he
worked with the great Lee Konitz. During his time in Canada, Ed served on
the jazz faculty of the National Music Camp of Canada, teaching and
performing alongside Frank Mantooth, Pat LaBarbera and others.

1993 saw Ed heading back south, this time to New Orleans, where he lived and
worked until August 29, 2005, the day Hurricane Katrina came to town.  While
in the Crescent City, he performed with and arranged for Al Belletto's Big
Jazz Band and sextet, Connie Jones' Crescent City Jazz Band, pianist Henry
Butler, guitarist Herb Ellis, and pianist/vocalist Mose Allison. In 1995, Ed
began a three-year stint as professor of jazz bass and jazz combos at New
Orleans¹ Loyola University.  In 2003, Ed served as bandleader/bassist aboard
the legendary steamboat Delta Queen until his move to Philly following the
aforementioned hurricane. In December and July 2005, Ed appeared with Connie
Jones Crescent City Jazz Band at the winter and summer Umbria Jazz Festival
in Italy (where, in July, he became engaged to Philly resident Liz Einsig).
In March 2005, he recorded his first, as-yet-unreleased CD featuring his own
arrangements for 8, 9 and 10-piece ensembles, playing traditional New
Orleans Dixieland-style jazz and swing.  And in the April 2005 issue of New
Orleans Magazine, Ed received the honor of being named one of New Orleans¹
³Jazz All-Stars².

On November 3 of this year, Ed finished his tenure with the Delta Queen
Steamboat Company.  On November 6 he was in Baltimore, recording with banjo
wizard Buddy Wachter.  And that evening, he was in Philly, conducting his
first rehearsal with Penn Jazz.

Since then, he has been working constantly around Philadelphia, appearing at
Ortlieb's Jazzhaus and La Rose's Jazz Club, performing with vocalist Nina
Bundy, pianists Sam Dockery and Sid Simmons, alto saxophonist Tony Williams
and drummer Eddie Jones.

Ed has four daughters and three grandsons, all of whom live in Texas.

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