Jazz
Renaissance is a seven-piece jazz group that was formed in November,
2010. The group plays primarily modern jazz in many styles,
including bop, swing and Latin. The group has played in many
local
venues, including the Blue Wisp, the Whiskey Bar, the
Juneteenth
Celebration at Drake Park, the Black Family Reunion, and others.
Current
Personnel:
Herb Brock, trumpet and fluglehorn
Tom Billman, Keyboard
Cornelius Johnson, bass
Roy Kwame Bernard, congas and percussion
Jerry Lorenz, drums
Ron "Sandman" Sanders, drums
Ed Oxley, violin
Jazz
Renaissance is committed to preserving the traditions of jazz as both
performers and educators. The group holds open workshop
sessions
on Tuesdays from 4 pm - 6:30 pm at Hirsch Recreation Center in
Avondale. Young People and adults are welcome to
join in.
Roy Kwame Bernard,
percussion
I
was first introduced to jazz and blues by my favorite uncle at the age
of six. My uncle knew many of the greats in jazz at that
time. In my early years I was exposed (via radio) to great
jazz
artists such as Chick Webb, Ella Fitzgerald, Mongo Santamaria,
Thelonious Monk, and many others. I received my formal
musical
training from Mr. Charles Keys, a classically trained
violinist. I was introduced to the congas and
bongos by my
cousin, a percussionist, who taught me the art of playing
percussion. Over the past 25 years, I have played with
several
bands, including "Ojinga Khamisi Drum and Dance Troupe", "Mennifee
Quintet", "Last Boppers", "Magic Rain", "Lomax", and,
currently,
"Jazz Renaissance".
Tom
Billman, Piano
I
began studying piano at the age of 7. My formal
training
continued through two years at the University of Wisconsin, where I
studied Piano and Composition. In High School I started my
first
jazz band with friends, but did not play with a band again until I
moved to Cincinnati in 1988 and began playing the
"deconstructed"
jazz of Victor Buttram's band, the "Healing System." After
Victor's death, I began playing more traditional jazz and
bossa
nova with "Terra Azul", and "The Brazil Band"
Presently I am also playing with the "Jazz Renaissance",
Ron
J. Lloyd,
tenor sax, flute (Your Spirit is with us)
I
was exposed to jazz at a very early age. I remember
listening to my parents' records that included the great jazz singers
of the day such as Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughn, Roy
Hamilton. I was drawn to the saxophone by my uncle who played
bebop on the alto sax. I started playing flute while in
college
in the early 1970's. After hearing Hubert Laws play
Amazing
Grace, I was hooked on the flute. In recent years I have been
learning to play the tenor saxophone. Over the past 6-7 years
I
have played in several local groups in Cincinnati, including "Last
Boppers", " Magic Rain", and "Jazz Renaissance"
Cornelius
Johnson, bass
I
was inspired to play music by my oldest brother who played drums and
guitar. I began playing guitar in 1968. During my
high
school years, I played guitar in talent shows, festivals and high
school plays. In 1977 I began playing guitar and bass guitar
in
several gospel groups, including "The Gospel Miracles", "The Joyful
Wonders", "The Soul Redeemers" and "The Anointed Sons of
God". In
2012, I became more exposed to jazz when I began playing bass in the
"Jazz Renaissance" band.
Jerry
Lorentz,
drums
I
first played in professional bands in 1964 when I played with "The
Norweigans", and "London Street", a brass band. In high
school I
played in the Roger Bacon High School Band. In the
mid
1960's I played in several rock groups. One of the groups,
"The
Moving Violations" had much success. In the early 1990's I
was
with Community Musical Theater where we played in several musical
productions: "The King and I", "Fiddler On The Roof", "Music
Man", and many more. In
early
2014, I joined "Jazz Renaissance", my current
group. Over
the past 50 years I have played various music genres. Music
is my
passion!
Herb Brock,
trumpet and
fluegelhorn
At
the age of 10, I began learning to play the violin at Stowe School
(Cincinnati) under the direction of Mr. Chares Keyes, a concert
violinist. At age 11, I switched to the
trumpet. My early influences on trumpet were my
older
brother and Mr. Louis Ware, a world-renowned trumpet player and
composer. I was first chair trumpet in my high
school
orchestra. In the 1980's and 1990's I played with the
Pavillion
Music Company" under the direction of Mr. Oscar
Gamby. Also
in the 1990's I played in several Latin bands which include "Vibracion
Latino" and "Salsa Caliente". I later played in the "Jump
&
Jive Band" (swing) and several small combos. In 2010 Roy
Bernard,
Ron Lloyd and I became founding members of my current band, "Jazz
Renaissance"
Ron "Sandman" Sanders 
I
have always had a strong desire to play the drums since I was a
toddler. In high school my dad purchased a set of drums. I
actually taught myself to play by listening to the many jazz greats
from a variety of long-playing albums, tapes and, of course, the radio.
I formed a band called "Idle Sounds", along with four of my
classmates. I took a brief hiatus to attend the Ohio State
Univerity. In 2012 I returned to playing by receiving lessons in
drumming along with the piano from my instructor Dan Dorff. I am
now receiving additional training at the Cincinnati Conservatory of
Music at the University of Cincinnati. My first love of music has
always been jazz. I am now performing with the Jazz Renaissance.