MP6
Jazz
Air date was November 14, 2020 at 7:00PM
The trio is the backbone of several jazz, R & B , and funk bands in the SW Washington / Portland area that branch off from the Michael Paul Sextet (MP6). This trio consist of founding member of MP6—Bill Comin on drums, a very busy Portland jazz and classical pianist TK Conrad , and the newest member of MP6 (who is so new he hasn't even met the leader of the sextet yet thanks to social distancing), long time classical music bassist in LA and Seattle, Don Monares.
This version of the trio started early 2020 and found work often due to it's versatility. TK's classical skills allow the band to focus on jazz ballads. The band also dedicates itself to various Latin styles, especially Brazilian sambas and Bossa Novas. Of course , no jazz trio could exist without upbeat swing and Bebop.
The trio plays an eclectic mix of toe tapping standards that everybody remembers, and improvisations that are unpredictable to even those playing them.
Bill Comin (drums /percussion) is a founding member of MP6 (The Michael Paul Sextet) which has seen several lineups over the past decade. The band’s line ups range from a jazz quartet, to a 9-piece funk/R&B band. In the spirit of “versatility”, Bill has also spent two decades playing in some of the area’s most prestigious classical music organizations; including the Portland Wind Symphony, the Northwest Wind Symphony, and as the principal percussionist in the Southwest Washington Symphony. Bill has played in numerous Portland area blues bands as well, and can often be seen performing in musical theater.
TK Conrad (Piano) is a jazz and classical musician who performs regularly in the Portland area. In addition to playing with Bill Comin and Don Monares as a jazz trio, he is also the pianist for the Mike Curtis Jazz Project and keyboardist for the group Legato Gusto. TK has performed at the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival (with the NoPo Big Band), Chamber Music Amarillo, and the Jack London Revue. He received his bachelors and masters degrees in music from Rice University in Houston, Texas. His main jazz influences include Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Brad Mehldau. TK lives in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland with his wife and son.
Don Monares (Bass) Don's professional bass playing career has spanned over five decades. He has played in symphonies in and around the Los Angeles and Seattle areas for most of those years. Don studied with Louis Kabok {Bassist for Gabor Szabo} for 12 years and with Jamie Faunt {Bassist for Chick Corea} for 6 years; reaching the "protege level" with both masters. Current, Don plays in a jazz trio with Bill Comin (drums) and TK Conrad (piano). Although the group has performed many times, a permanent name for that group has not yet been agreed upon, and Don would very much appreciate any input from jazz lovers in SW Washington.