SHOCK G (a.k.a. The Piano Man)
Gregory Jacobs is a man known far and wide, by many names. There are few music lovers who can’t recite at least one verse by his alter egos Shock G or the immortal Humpty Hump. A true renaissance man beyond digital underground’s notoriety, Shock G would also perform, produce, and create visual art under aliases including Rackadelic, Stayin’ Busy Productions and more.
However in 2016, at the suggestion of his longtime manager and business partner Atron Gregory, a lesser-known moniker, “The Piano Man” took his first steps into the spotlight. The sessions, not unlike the legendary recordings of Bluesman Robert Johnson, took place in a hotel room with nothing but a piano and an engineer to capture the magic. These would be the last formal recordings by this brilliant musician before his passing in April 2021.
When TNT Recordings launched Solo Piano Group during the first lockdown of 2020, Shock G saw a place for “The Piano Man” to be a part of it. Mixing sophisticated Ellington-tinged jazz with his trademark joyful hip-hop sensibility, it is with great honor that we present Solo Piano Group featuring digital underground’s Shock G, The Piano Man.
JANICE MAXIE REID
A 30+-year veteran music educator in vocal, piano, and performance, currently on the faculty of the California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, California. Her students included Victoria Theodore (Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé’), Ryan Coogler (Director of Black Panther), and 12-time Grammy nominee Ledisi (Prince). Janice has shared her gifts while traveling the world, performing in tributes to Nancy Wilson and Aretha Franklin and for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
DEREK MCKINNEY
On Friday, July 31, 2020, TNT-Recordings released a third single from Derek McKinney, who has composed scores for numerous films and television productions and worked as an arranger for 12-time Grammy nominee Stanley Clark, entitled “Hello.” Derek’s other credits include “Boyz N The Hood,” (NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Motion Picture), “The Transporter,” “Romeo Must Die,” “Pawn Stars,” “Mob Wives,” “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” NatGeo TV, “Inside America’s Money Vault,” and “Bridging The Gap: The State of Black Relationships.”
MICHAELA OVERALL
Michaela Overall is the newest member of the SOLO PIANO GROUP. She is a former teacher, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, from Hampton University, and most recently completed a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Piano Performance From San Francisco State University under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Neve.
Please meet Michaela in an interview with Gregory discussing her background, her passion for music, her influences, and the importance of music therapy for young people with special needs or behavior issues. “ PEACE AND LOVE” is her first single but as you will hear, it won’t be her last one.
GLEN PEARSON
The Chair of the Department of Music of College of Alameda. Currently serving as the pianist for the Count Basie Orchestra, his credits include musical director of the Boys Choir of Harlem, pianist for Regina Belle, Melba Moore, Diane Reeves, Marlena Shaw, Will Downing, Bobby Hutcherson, Gerald Albright and more.
DEE SPENCER
Dee Spencer is a Professor of Jazz at San Francisco State University. Her musical director credits include award-winning productions, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and “Dreamgirls in Concert” amoung them. She has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, GRAMMY Award winner Ledisi, Jimmy Scott, Louis Bellson, Clark Terry, Regina Carter, X-Factor star Jason Brock and more. She serves on a number of boards and founded the SFJAZZ education program and performed for current Vice President Kamala Harris’ fundraiser at the African American Cultural Center.
