John Curry

John Curry has enjoyed a distinguished career in music as a performer, educator, and writer. In 1984, he was awarded the Fletcher Henderson Memorial Scholarship for his honor’s thesis, “The Evolution of the String Bass in Jazz: 1940-1960.” He then received his Bachelor of Music degree, Cum Laude, and his Master’s of Music degree from The University of Massachusetts. His early performances on bass included appearances with The Springfield Symphonic Pops Orchestra (Marvin Hamlisch, the 5th Dimension), and considerable work in musical theatre including Stage West and The American Stage Festival.

John has taught at schools and universities throughout the northeast, including Holyoke Community College and The University of Massachusetts. In demand as both a teacher and performer, John has also had eighteen of his articles published in The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, the standard reference of jazz scholarship.

For several years now, John has called Western New York his home. He performs frequently in a wide range of styles including jazz, blues, R & B, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, and Latin Jazz. Among others, he has played bass with Wendall Rivera’s Latin-Jazz Ensemble and as accompanist for jazz, swing, and cabaret-style vocalist, Jeffrey Arthur. John’s sense of timing and taste on the double bass has earned him the respect of his peers and audiences alike.