Pharez Whitted & Andrew Toombs
Pharez is a trumpet player residing on the South Side of Chicago and has been involved in performance and education ever since he's moved to the area. He has taught at major institutions in higher education and currently teaches at Northern Illinois University.
Andrew was born in Cincinnati Ohio. He has been playing piano since age six and was performing regularly by age 11. He began taking lessons in classical music and jazz at the age of eight.
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Pharez Whitted
Pharez is a trumpet player residing on the South Side of Chicago and has been involved in performance and education ever since he's moved to the area. He has taught at major institutions in higher education and currently teaches at Northern Illinois University. He serves as director of the CYSO Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Mentor for the Ravinia Jazz Scholars, Coordinator for the J@LC Jazz in Schools program in Chicago, and Clinician for the J@LC Essentially Ellington Competition. Pharez is a firm believer in the healing and unifying power of music and its ability to inspire positivity throughout the world. Pharez was named Chicagoian Jazz Musician of the Year in 2016, he has also been nominated for independent Jazz CD of the year. Look for his new CD ,"Pharaoh Smooth," released May 2021. Pharez is on the Board of Directors for the Jazz Educators Network (JEN) Conference and holds degrees from DePauw University and Indiana University in Music Performance and Jazz Studies.
Above photo of Pharez Whitted by Magnus Contzen
Andrew Toombs
Andrew was born in Cincinnati Ohio. He has been playing piano since age six and was performing regularly by age 11. He began taking lessons in classical music and jazz at the age of eight. His solo debut came at age 14 with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, performing several times with the Pops and The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. After high school, he received a full scholarship in 2007 to attend the Berklee College of Music.
He has performed with many artists including: Common, Yolanda Adams, Roy Ayers, Carole King, CeCe Winans, DJ Jazzy Jeff, El DeBarge, Mel Torme, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, Ohio Players, Ted Nash, DJ Hi-Tek, Eric Roberson, Benny Golson, Wilbert Longmire, Hal Crook, Marquis Hill, Chico DeBarge, Jason Palmer, Fred Anderson, Camp Low, Dave Brubeck, Tony Royster, Joe Sanders, Juma Santos, Keith Lockhart, Stacy Dillard, Bootsy Collins, and Pharez Whitted.
