Acclaimed guitarists Ed Cherry and Peter Bernstein join forces for Blue Note’s special week-long celebration of the guitar. They’re supported by bassist Gary Wang and drummer Anwar Marshall.
Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Ed moved to New York in 1978 to play guitar with Dizzy Gillespie from 1978 to 1992 performing in Gillespie’s quartet, big band and with The United Nation Orchestra which recorded the Grammy Award-winning Live at Royal Festival Hall (Enja). Gillespie died in 1993, and Cherry released his first recording as a leader, ‘First Take’ (Groovin’ High). That same year, Ed recorded with Paquito D’Riveras’ small group which recorded “Havana Cafe” (Chesky Records). Ed also worked with composer/saxophonist Henry Threadgill for two years and recorded three cds with Henry’s ‘Very Very Circus’ group.
In 1995, Cherry released his second project as a solo artist, entitled A Second Look (Groovin’ High Records). During that same period Ed worked with Hammond organist John Patton recording three critically acclaimed cds with Patton’s quartet-‘Blue Planet Man’,’Minor Swing’ and ‘This ones for Jah'(DIW). From 1997 to 1998, Cherry worked in Roy Hargrove’s “Crisol” Latin jazz band, which performed in Havana, Cuba. During this same period, he also worked w/baritone saxophonist, Hamiett Bluiett, recording Bluiett’s cd ‘With Eyes Wide Open’ on Justin-Time records.In 2001, Cherry toured Europe for the first time with his own group. He also released his cd, ‘The Spirit Speaks’ on the Canadian Justin Time Records label, inspired by the great jazz organist Jimmy Smith with whom he had also recently worked.Ed was asked to perform at the ‘Vodaphone Madarao Jazz festival’in 2002 in Madarao Japan with his quartet featuring trumpeter Jon Faddis.
More recently , Ed toured with the great Hammond organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, recording one critically acclaimed cd, ‘In The Beginning’ on Pilgrimage Records in 2012.vEd’s second recording released on Posi-Tone Records, “Soul Tree” featuring Kyle Koehler on Hammond B3 organ and drummer Anwar Marshall, was released in February 2016 to rave reviews.