The Sun And The Rain by Jeff Lopez

As a late starter (15yrs old), Jeff was determined to catch up to his peers and with his determination and drive soon managed to excel. Accepted at Berklee College of Music Jeff earned a Bachelors of Music and attend Manhattan School of Music for his graduate studies on The Eubie Blake Scholarship, receiving his Masters of Music in '93. Jeff is a 2005 recipient of the Maryland State Council for the Arts Grant (Composition/ Large Jazz Ensemble) and a2004 recipient of the Maryland State Council for the Arts Grant (Solo Bass) Jeff has performed with many great musicians over the years including Kenny Werner, Phil Woods,Dave Douglas, Hank Levy, Jean "Toots" Thieleman, Rick Margitza, Craig Handy, Ted Curson, Bernard Purdie, Junior Mance, Dick Oatts, Harold Danko, Kenny Drew Jr., Gary Thomas, Gary Bartz. His touring has taken him to 35 countries and 49 of the 50 states. He is still waiting for the Alaska gig! Jeff has even managed to impress his father by playing at Carnegie Hall, NYC, (practice, practice, practice!) As with Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden and Jaco, Jeff is not only an accomplished bassist but bandleader, composer and arranger also. Jeff was influenced by all these great bassists but none more so than Jaco, having studied with him in the 80's. With the recent CD of all original tunes, a second CD of original tunes underway, and his big band charts being played by military and university bands, Jeff has shown he can hold his own under the titles Bandleader/Composer/Bassist and Educator. Check them out you won't be disappointed. You can order a copy of the CD Which is available on this website.

Jeff 's interview with THE CAPITOL, Annapolis, MD Newspaper.

Hanover composer gets music award.

By KANIKA J.G. GEORGES Staff Writer

Jeff Lopez has performed his music in 39 countries and 49 of the 50 United States, but he isn't satisfied.

"I'm still waiting for that gig in Alaska," said Mr. Lopez, 42, a Hanover bass player and composer. "The chance to visit different parts of the world has to be one of my favorite parts about being a musician."

The talent that's taken him around the world so impressed the Maryland Arts Council, the organization awarded Mr. Lopez a $6,000 Artistic Merit in Composition award in March.

The only West County winner, Mr. Lopez was one of 87 Maryland artists who received awards totaling $246,000 from the arts council, an agency of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

A ceremony honoring the recipients will be held in June.

"My music is challenging, emotional, primal and sometimes intellectual, so I guess the grants committee was moved by the music I wrote," Mr. Lopez said. "I hope this award will push my composition career a little bit forward. I hope there will be more public interest in my music."

The 87 awardees were selected from more than 800 applicants, most of whom are highly accomplished artists, said David Phillips, the council's chairman.

"Maryland's art environment leads the nation, and these recipients represent the best of our best," Mr. Phillips said.

Mr. Lopez, a New York native, moved his family to Hanover six years ago. He first moved to the Fort George Meade area in 1995 as a member of the United States Army Jazz Ambassadors, a 19-piece group that performs nationally and internationally. Their 2001 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York was among one of his career highlights, he said.

Mr. Lopez started playing jazz seriously in high school, he said. He holds a masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and a bachelor's degree from the Berklee College of Music.

"The freedom of the music was the primary attraction for me," Mr. Lopez said.

Now he spends more than 100 days out of the year touring, and he returned last Wednesday from a month-long concert tour in six midwest states.

He submitted four songs to the arts council from his compact disc titled "The Sun and the Rain," which can be heard at www.jefflopez.net.

"The common thread in all my music is that there is a strong improvisational elements running through the compositions," he said. "There always needs to be a way for the musicians that play in my groups to be able to express themselves within the context of the composition."

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