Open Space

Carlos Francis is a native of Brooklyn, New York currently residing in West Orange NJ. Carlos has performed at a number of venues and festivals which includes Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, The Pori International Jazz Festival, The Ottawa International Jazz Festival, Birdland, The Blue Note, Sweet Basils, Tavern on the Green, Cipriani's, The Cincinatti Art Museum, The Newark Jazz Festival, Duc Des Lombards, The Kentucky Performing Arts Center, The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Virginia Art Museum, Princeton University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, The African World Festival, The Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Festival, Jazz Vespers Bethany Baptist Church, WBGO "Jazz For Kids" and many more. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Leading his own group at Montclair State University 1980;Performing a solo with The Jazzmobile Student Big Band under the direction to the great Dizzy Gillespie for CBS TV show "60 Minutes" with journalist Ed Bradley 1981;Receiving a standing ovation performing at his alma mater, Montclair State University with jazz organist Charles Earland 1982;Performing his arrangement of "Can You Stop The Rain" (Peabo Bryson) at the restaurant "Top Brass" (Robert Treat Hotel, Newark, NJ) with his idol Grover Washington in the audience. Grover shook his hand,took his number and asked if he could record an arrangement of "Can You Stop The Rain"1996;Performing a funk version of "All Blues" with The Spirit Of Life Ensemble in Pori Finland with (surprisngly) bassist Marcus Miller in the audience 1996;Releasing his first cd "Good Vibes at the 12th Circle 2000;Creating and directing the Washington Academy of Music (East Orange NJ) Brass Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble 1999-2001; Meeting and being offered a role by playright Tyler Perry 2003;Performing and directing "The Brass Jammers" student jazz ensemble at The Luna Rossa Restaurant (Passaic NJ) 2004;Directing a combined student jazz ensemble of inner city youth (Hart Middle East Orange NJ) and suburban youth (Montclair Kimberly Academy) at Montclair State University 2005;Releasing his second cd "All De Tings For De Band" 2006. Carlos has performed with Lionel Hampton,Jimmy McGriff,Charles Earland,Don Patterson,Gene Ludwig,Shirley Scott,Gloria Coleman,Bernard Purdie,David "Fathead" Newman and many more. Carlos has also been a music educator for many years and is currently teaching East Orange,NJ School District. BLOODLINE: Carlos francis bloodline is filled with music. GreatGrandfather Alfred Francis played the violin Grandfather Romeo Francis played all the saxes and was a bandleader Father Carlos Francis Sr. plays the tenor sax Uncle Claud "Junior" Walker played the drums and was a bandleader Carlos Francis plays the trumpet,flugelhorn and is a bandleader.