Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars

The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars (AJHoF All-Stars) is a working jazz ensemble, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians Alabama has to offer, directed by pianist Ray Reach. This group is the faculty of the Jazz Education Department of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and the faculty of the “Fun With Jazz” educational program, originated at the Alys Stephens Center. The personnel of the group is listed as follows:

Ray Reach - Director and organizer of the AJHoF All-Stars and Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Hall of Fame. Ray has had a 43+ year musical career as painist, vocalist, guitarist, arranger, composer and producer. From 1998 to 2005, he was Director of Jazz Ensembles at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he taught Jazz and Music Technology courses. His production clients include saxophonist Lou Marini, Jr., trumpeter Lew Soloff, classical choral composer K. Lee Scott,, jazz guitarist Eric Essix, CHristian Jazz vocalist Amy Drinkwater, and many others. In addition, he originated the program “Fun With Jazz” for the Alys Stephens Center, which takes free jazz music classes into elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and colleges in the Birmingham, Alabama metro area.

Dr. Frank Adams - Director of Education, Emeritus. Frank Adams learned to play the clarinet from his older brother, Oscar Adams, Jr., Alabama's first Black Supreme Court Justice. Their father, Oscar Adams, Sr., played trombone with W. C. Handy, the Father of the Blues, at Alabama A & M in Huntsville. Adams studied music under Birmingham's Maker of Musicians, John T. “Fess” Whatley and played in Whatley's band for two years. Then came the giants of jazz: Duke Ellington, Lucky Millinder, Tiny Bradshaw and Sun Ra. On the Birmingham jazz scene, Adams formed his own band that featured his wife Dot as vocalist. He joined the Birmingham Heritage Band in 1976. A respected clarinet and saxophone soloist, Adams credits his first band instructor, William Wise Handy for developing his love for music. He succeeded Handy at Lincoln Elementary School. Adams is the Program Specialist for Music Instruction for the Birmingham Public School System. Frank Adams was a Charter Member of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1978.

Tommy Stewart - Trumpeter, arranger, composer, pianist. Tommy has had a 50+ year career and is known as one of the finest trumpeters in Alabama, having worked with Duke Pierson, Ray Charles, Sonny Stitt, Alice Coltrane and many, many others. He attended Alabama State University, where he directed the famed Bama State Collegians, and Eastman School of Music, where he studied arranging.

Gary Wheat - Saxophonist. Gary received the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Alabama at Tuiscaloosa. He is currently saxophone instructor at UAB, and remains one of the most in-demand saxophonists in the Southeast.

Dave Amaral - Saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist. - Dave is one of the finest jazz musicians in Alabama. He also holds a law degree and works as a judicial administrator.

Chad Fisher - Trombonist. Chad leads his own Chad Fisher Group and teaches trombone at numerous local middle schools and high schools. In addition, he tours with the Tuscaloosa Horns, a renowned horn section that tours with numerous name acts, such as The Temptations, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves, and Smokey Robinson.

Carlos Pino - Guitarist. Carlos is one of the finest guitarists in the Southeast. He holds the Bachelor of Arts in Music Technology from UAB and the Masters in Jazz Studies from Rutgers.

Abe Becker - Bassist. A graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Abe holds the Bachelor of Music in Composition from Indiana University and is bass instructor at UAB. In addition, he performs with a number of local jazz and pop groups, including the Chad Fisher Group.

Cleveland Eaton - Bassist. Cleve is internationally renowned, having served as bassist for the Ramsey Lewis Trio (11 years) and the Count Basie Orchestra (16 years). He received the Bachelor of Music degree from Tennessee State University, then moved to Chicago and began his illustrious career.

John Nuckols - Drummer. John holds the Bachelor of Music in Drums and Percussion from the University of Alabama. While living in Boston, Massachusetts, he stuied jazz drumming with Alan Dawson, famed drummer with Dave Brubeck. He is one of the most in-demand drummers in the Southeast.

You may read more about each of these musicians by clicking on the links to their websites (below).

This fine ensemble teaches and concertizes throughout the state of Alabama and the southeast.

External Links

• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame website

• Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars at All About Jazz

• Ray Reach at All About Jazz

• Tommy Stewart at All About Jazz