Eric Frazier was born
in Harlem, New York City. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York in a
family of eight children. He ran track and road races for 27 years.
His love of the physical culture and creative expression led him to
the study of the Conga Drum, Djembe Drum and African Dance.
His recordings exemplify a world of music including Jazz, Swing,
BeBop, Salsa, R&B. Calypso and Blues. His CD's have been a perennial
best seller for Tower Records.
Eric hosted his own television talk show called "Cultural Horizons"
on Queens Public Access Cable TV in 1998. He has made personal
appearances on The Hambone Cable TV show (BCAT), The Camille
Yarborough Manhattan Cable TV Show, along with his gifted and
talented daughter Du Ewa Frazier (author of "Shedding Light On My
Journey's and CEO of Litnoire Publishing Company
www.litnoirepublishing.com), The Jazzy Jazz Show (BCAT-TV),
Producer's Profile (BCAT-TV), Caribbean Soul (BCAT-TV), and BET Jazz
Discovery and Bet On Jazz Cable TV shows. Eric is the co-host of
WLIU Jazz radio 88.1 FM on BCAT Cable TV channel 57 (Time Warner)
and Channel 70 (CableVision). In addition, He has appeared on
numerous radio stations across the USA.
Eric has performed in such historic New York venues as the famous
Rainbow Room, Madison Square Garden Theater, The Iridium Jazz Club,
The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
and The Apollo Theater. He has performed in great Jazz venues of New
York, Chicago, New Jersey, Philadephia, PA, St. Louis, MO,
Washington DC , Hartford, CT, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA and
numerous Universities and colleges. Some of his festival
performances include the: Cape May Jazz Festival, Chicken Bone Beach
Jazz Festival, Jazz Improv Festival, NYC, Brooklyn International
Film Festival, Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival, International African
Arts Festival, Fort Green Park Festival, Metrotech Music Festival,
NYC, and numerous others.
His interest in Dance, Music, Theater and Writing are evident in his
background. Otis Gould, former Chi-lites drummer and college friend,
taught him to play Congas for bands. He learned the Djembe drum from
Ibrahim, famous master teacher from The Dance Company of Senegal.
Eric was inspired in dance by his brother, the gifted and talented
Gary Ellis Frazier, formerly with The Alvin Ailey Dance Company.
Eric has performed with such dance groups as Katherine Dunham,
Olatunji, Charles Moore, Chief Bey, The International African Ballet,
and Varshaa Bardhan and Chandra Baneyei of The
Tanusree Shankar Dance Company of India (Headed by Ananda Shankar,
son of the great Ravi Shankar).
Eric was a solo artist for the play "Wemmins of the Dark" at the
historic Henry Street Playhouse in Soho, New York City and went on
tour in the New York Metropolitan area performing his own poetry for
The Rennick Playright Company. He is the author of the following
books of poetry: "Family, Friends and You," "Thought of a black
Child" and "Black Gold and You." Additionally, Eric is the author of
numerous scholarly articles, Jazz Columns, publications and letters.
He has lectured at numerous colleges and Universities and is
available for lectures, workshops and presentations.
Eric has had the pleasure of great artists accompany him in his band
and on his recordings, such as Reggie Workman, Robin Kenyatta,
Carlos Garnett, Jimmy Ziegler, Bob Cunningham, Bill Saxton, Stanley
Banks and Danny Mixon. In addition to performing with legends such
as Pharaoh Sanders and Jack McDuff, his recordings have included the
talents of young giants such as Jeremy Pelt, Anthony Wonsey, Wayne
Escofery and Maurice Brown.
Max Roach, renown as one of the most legendary Jazz Drummers in
history, first heard Eric as a solo artist on October 25, 1998. He
was inspired to get on the Mic and tell the audience to savor the
moment because they were in the midst of a great conga player.
THE ERIC FRAZIER QUINTET LIVE AT HUMPHREY'S BY THE BAY (2008)
Eclectic, energetic and soulful
Eric Frazier: Congas,
Vocals
Adam Wolff: Piano
Tripp Sprague: Saxes
Russell Bizzett: Drums
Jeff Simon: Bass
Jabari: Percussion
more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
I’ve
recorded these tracks previously on various CD’s.
There is nothing like a live CD to put you right
into the set. It’s the next best thing to flying out
to San Diego, California and being there in person!
Needless to say, it was both enjoyable and exciting.
I met the cats shortly before the gig. We hit our
first notes on the stage and the music was a
happening for the rest of the evening. Tripp Sprague
laid down some swinging riffs on the saxes (soprano,
alto, tenor), Adam Wolff jammed all night long on
the piano; Russell Bizzett displayed some tasty drum
solos and Jeff Simon took no prisoners on the bass.
Jobari added spicy percussion sounds while I
applauded their work on congas.
Enjoy!
ERIC FRAZIER - IN YOUR OWN TIME (2006)
Eclectic array of Jazz, Salsa, Blues and R & B
Eric Frazier: Congas,
Percussion, Vocals
David Lee Jones: Alto Sax
Danny Mixon: Piano
Jeremy Pelt: Trumpet
Maurice Brown: Trumpet
Stanley Banks: Bass
Luis Arona: Bass
Alvin Atkinson: Drums
Rick Wayacan: Percussion
Christopher Robinson: Background Vocals
many thanks to Lisa Reedy Promotions
more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
