The idea of The ACE Collective was conceived way back in the year 2000, when i was performing extensively with my ACE Trio
( Donald Nicks on Electric Bass Guitar and Drummer Bobby Sanabria ) at New York's City Knitting Factory, and a group of young students from the Dalton School heard the music and hired us to perform at their very first Jazz Festival.
( Donald Nicks on Electric Bass Guitar and Drummer Bobby Sanabria ) at New York's City Knitting Factory, and a group of young students from the Dalton School heard the music and hired us to perform at their very first Jazz Festival.
It first started as a Quartet with the addition of Vocal artist, Composer and Poet Nora McCarthy as a feature guest with the Trio. They was also some gigs with drummer Gene Jackson. Nora will contribute with some of her own compositions that will be re-arrange to fit the Afro Caribbean concept at that time wish was to experiment with the Caribbean rhythms.
As an extension of the ACE Trio, the Collective further the experimentation using the voice as an additional and independent texture, by way of sound and colors with the addition of the "Word".
The Concept was to extend this extension in to a performing Quartet, Quintet, Sextet or even a larger ensemble.
Since that time the ACE Collective have performed in the following configurations:
~ The Knitting Factory ~ Quartet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar
and Bobby Sanabria on Drums -
New York, 2000
~ The Dalton School ~ Quartet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar
and Bobby Sanabria on Drums -
New York, 2000
~ The Knitting Factory ( Old Office ) ~ Quartet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar
and Bobby Sanabria on Drums -
New York, January 19, 2001
~ The Blue Note ( Monday night Jazz ) ~ Quartet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar
and Dafnis Prieto on Drums -
New York, July 29, 2002
~ The Blue Note ( Late Night Groove Series ) ~ Sextet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Bill Ware ~ Vibraphone,
Gene Torres ~ Electro acoustic Bass guitar, and Bruce Cox on Drums ~
New York, May 21, 2005
~ Kavehaz ~ Quintet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar and Renato Thoms on Percussion ~
New York, February 24, 2006
~ Peekskill Blues and Jazz Celebration ~ Sextet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Pablo Vergara ~ Piano, Yoshi Waki ~ Electric Bass guitar and Gene Jackson on Drums ~
Peekskill, NY August 9, 2008
~ Smoke Jazz Club ~ Quintet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Essiet Okon Essiet ~ Electric Bass guitar and Gene Jackson on Drums ~
New York, 2008
~ Miles' Cafe ~ Sextet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Pablo Vergara ~ Piano,
Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar and Michael Wimberly on Drums ~
New York, November 18, 2010
~ BRUCKNERHAUS ~ Sextet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Pablo Vergara ~ Piano, Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar
and Kenny Grohowski on Drums ~
Linz, Austria, December 6, 2010
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~ New York Bahai" Center ~ Sextet:
with Nora McCarthy ~ Voice, Waldron Mahdi Ricks ~ Trumpet,
Pablo Vergara ~ Piano,
Donald Nicks ~ Electric Bass guitar and Kenny Grohowski on Drums ~
New York, January 25, 2011.
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It is my pleasure to announce that since the year 2000, Jorge Sylvester ACE Collective will be releasing it's first CD for this coming new year 2011. The music was just recorded on the 7, 8 and 9 of December 2010 in Hagenberg, Austria. It's "Superb" and full of Spiritual Musical messages that reflects the times we're living in, and the influence and impact of the Afro Caribbean Diaspora in the world.
This new edition of the collective is a very unique one, because every musician brings his "own"sound to the table, therefore transforming the musical process in to a "new sound". Nora's raw voice, her spirited poetry, lyrics, composition and delivery of the word is one of a kind, and transform my compositions lines in to an angelic sound. Waldron's sound and harmonic conception on the trumpet represents the color shifting in my arrangements. Pablo Vergara impressionistic voicing on the piano create the "Magic" behind the sound. Donald Nicks on the bass represents the soul of the compositions, and Kenny Grohowski orchestration of the written drum parts makes the magic swing in any type of meter, be it 5/4 or 9/4.
Looking Forward !!
AT The BRUCKNERHAUS ~
Linz, Austria ~ December 6, 2010
Year 2000 ~ The ACE Collective at the Dalton School ~ New York City
