A native of Cleveland, Ohio and currently living in Los Angeles, Sherry began her bass studies at The Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. It was here that Sherry pursued three majors in music: music education, jazz bass performance, and classical bass performance. She studied jazz and classical bass with Tony Leonardi, an in-demand bass player in the area who had studied bass with the principal bassist of the Cleveland Orchestra and toured with the Woody Herman band in the mid 1960’s.
While maintaining her coursework, ensemble rehearsals, and concerts, Sherry performed for five years in the Downbeat award-winning Jazz Ensemble I. She had the opportunity to perform with many jazz greats in the ensemble including Bill Watrous, James Moody, Terry Clark, Bob Mintzer, Marvin Stamm, and Jiggs Wigham. She also recorded two CD’s with Jazz Ensemble I titled “Live at Peabody’s Down Under,” and “Things to Come.”
In 1992, Sherry was selected to play in Ohio’s All-state college jazz ensemble directed by saxophonist and renowned jazz educator Jamey Aebersold. Her classical training led her to a position in the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra bass section which she held for three years while finishing her degrees. Sherry also performed and recorded with the Akron Symphony Orchestra on a CD titled “American Voices-The African-American Composers Project,” which featured compositions by David Baker, Billy Childs, and William Banfield.
Sherry has also performed in numerous musicals in the orchestra pit including “West Side Story,” “The Music Man,” “The Boyfriend,” “Les Miserables,” Bye Bye Birdie,” “Cabaret,” “The Man of La Mancha,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” and “Gypsy,” as well as a six week run of “Tapestry,” a tribute to the famous songwriter Carole King.
After graduating from college, Sherry performed both acoustic and electric bass on Carnival Cruise lines for four months touring the Caribbean. She returned to Cleveland and soon became a member of the Fat Tuesday Big Band led by saxophonist Ernie Krivda. The band hosted and performed with jazz artists Oleta Adams, Ernie Andrews, David Sanborn, Louie Bellson, and Terry Gibbs. The band also recorded two CD’s titled “Perdido,” and “The Band that Swings.” Sherry recorded with a classical chamber ensemble for the CD “Focus on Stan Getz, Live at Severance Hall,” featuring Ernie Krivda, Rufus Reid, and Adam Nussbaum.
After obtaining her master’s degree in classical bass performance in Cleveland in 1999, Sherry moved to Los Angeles to further her performance career. She has become an in-demand player who has performed with the late TV/film composer and pianist Joe Harnell, pianist and composer Tamir Hendelman, as well as top notch ensembles including Maiden Voyage, Dekajaz, and the Richard Sherman Trio. Sherry has had the privilege to take lessons and pick the brains of LA’s top bassists including John Clayton, Al McKibbon, Tony Dumas, Herb Mickman and Christoph Luty.
Her most recent recordings on the west coast include one CD with the group Dekajaz titled “Eclectikos,” sound clips for the movie “Lunch Box,” for violinist and composer Dorian Cheah, recording an original composition written and sung by vocalist Maria Jacobs titled “Pour me a Cup of Yesterday,” and a full CD recording with vocalist Tera Johnson titled “The Other Side.” Sherry continues to freelance, playing in various trios and quartets and is pursuing more opportunities to record and perform whenever possible. Check back often on the website for the latest performing and recording updates.
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