Justin Echols Quartet to perform in Norman
NORMAN — The final Jazz in June and Winter Wind collaborative American Musical Heritage Concert of the season will feature the Justin Echols Quartet at 7 p.m. Sunday at The Depot, 200 S Jones Ave. Tickets are $15.
Oklahoma City-based jazz musician Echols has built an international resume over the past few years. Ever expanding his repertoire, Echols has added guitar to his performances, inspired by a blues player on Beale Street in Memphis, Tenn.
Echols’ story is one of tragedy to triumph. After a head-on collision while activated for the U.S. Army reserves left him severely injured, he was discharged from the military.
With his physical abilities changed and his dreams of being a decorated officer vanishing, Echols sought refuge in tinkering on the piano. Tinkering became performing a year later.
Three years into performing, Echols was put in contact with jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, who directed Echols to study and be mentored by pianist Antonio Ciacca, director of programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center and a Juilliard professor.
He also studied at Tuscia Jazz Festival in Soriano, Italy, in 2010, and was asked to close out the festival.
In January 2012, the Justin Echols Quartet did a three-week European tour throughout The Czech Republic and Slovakia. That was followed by Echols joining Ciacca for a weeklong feature at the Setai Hotel in New York City.
In October 2012, Echols became one of the youngest inductees of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, receiving the Legacy Tribute Award honoring young trailblazers attracting international attention to Oklahoma. Echols and his trio performed at Jazz in June in Andrews Park in 2013.
For tickets, go online to normandepot.org or call 307-9320.