Rise Up, Jason Parra and the Rhythm Mob

<img style="float: left;" src="http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/jasonparra/MilesHand.gif" alt="" width="77" height="74" /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>
<object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui>
</object>
<mce:style><! st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } --> <!--[endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><! /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} --> <!--[endif]-->
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;<span style="color: #c0c0c0;"> </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #c0c0c0;">Biography: <br /></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; color: #c0c0c0;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp; Jason Parra:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small; color: #c0c0c0;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp; Jazz musician: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piano, Vocalist.</span></span></p>
<hr />
<br /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">&nbsp;Originally from Boise, Idaho; trumpet player Jason Parra is a successful solo artist, with a very diverse musical background. He first played the instrument as a sophomore in high school, several years later than most of his peers. From the beginning, Parra demonstrated an uncanny musical ability, and was a natural on the horn. It was only two years later that Jason won the overall competition for outstanding soloist at the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. The very same year he auditioned for the prestigious McDonalds All American HS Jazz Band; and from the top 20 players in the nation, Jason was selected for the group. Parra has a formal education in classical performance, education, jazz theory and arrangement. He has studied with Bob McCurdy, Paul Mazzio, Marsalis Brown, Brent Jenson and Dick Shearer of the Stan Kenton Orchestra. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">&nbsp;After college, Jason hit the thriving music scenes of Seattle, Portland and New York City. He quickly became a respected jazz and lead player, performing in several big band, rock, funk and jazz groups, and as a studio session player.<span>&nbsp; </span>Parra worked the recording, and commercial industry as well, and has countless album credits as a composer, singer, player, writer, and arranger. Early in his pro career, Parra became the lead singer for a popular Seattle R&amp;B group; and he is often known not only as a trumpeter, but a powerful singer, with a unique and soulful voice. He has performed or toured with over a dozen Grammy Award winning artists. A short list include Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Arturo Sandoval, the James Brown Band, Gene Harris, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Bob Mitzner, Don Menza,<span>&nbsp; </span>Lionel Hampton, Bill Watrous, Ernie Watts, Lew Solaff, Red Rodney and many others&hellip;</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Until recently, Parra was not widely recognized for his ability as a soloist; that all changed with the release of his debut album &ldquo;Two Reasons, by Jason Parra and the X Factor&rdquo;. It quickly dominated the indie and online jazz market, but things really took off with the single release of &ldquo;Aguamala&rdquo;.<span>&nbsp; </span>The album went for Record &amp; Radio ads, had Billboard top twenty listings, and compared favorably with Chris Botti, Rick Braun and Mindy Abair for radio play and popularity scoring in the jazz genre. Parra was featured in several well known international publications, magazines, interviews and features. The outstanding reviews and response the album received from music critics, station managers and listeners were remarkable. Two Reasons continues to be popular in radio and MP3 download markets, and is available at all major online outlets; iTunes, Rhapsody, CD Baby, Yahoo music and over thirty other sites.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">&nbsp;Be on the look out for &ldquo;Parra-Normal-Activity&rdquo; the much anticipated new release by Jason Parra.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img style="float: right;" src="http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk214/jasonparra/miles-davis1x1.jpg" alt="" width="78" height="78" /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>