The Gary Motley Trio introduces young audiences to the quintessential American musical art form in this fun, interactive, and free performance. Designed for young listeners but perfect for music lovers of all ages!
Gary Motley is a jazz pianist, teacher, composer, arranger, and author who has been a prominent figure in the jazz scene of the southeastern United States since he started his solo career in 1994. He is renowned for his exceptional skills as a pianist and composer across various genres, such as straight-ahead jazz and chamber music. His talent has been recognized by multiple organizations like the American Composers Forum, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. In 2015, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Gary has collaborated with many leading jazz artists and released over 30 albums. His latest album, Spectrum (2024), features Edwin Livingston (bass) and Clarence Penn (drums. He has appeared as a guest on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland and performed with renowned musicians, including Dave Brubeck, Regina Carter, Mel Tormé, and Bob Mintzer. His compositions span multiple genres and have premiered at national and international festivals.
Apart from his artistic work, Gary is committed to jazz education. He is a teaching professor and the founding Director of Jazz Studies at Emory University. Gary authored Harmonic Development and Contrapuntal Techniques for the Jazz Pianist (Taylor & Francis, 2024).
Emrah Kotan, an accomplished and versatile musician, hailing from Turkey, has established himself as a distinguished percussionist with a rich blend of classical training and contemporary jazz expertise. Graduating with a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University in the United States, Emrah’s musical journey knows no boundaries.
Emrah’s performances have graced illustrious stages across the globe, from the vibrant Istanbul Jazz Festival and the captivating Singapore Jazz Festival, to the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival and the legendary Blue Note in New York. His artistry transcends genres and cultures, reflecting a profound and unique musical sensibility that captivates audiences and peers alike.
Bassist Andy Eulau is a musical product of the vast diversity that defines his native New York metropolitan area.
A veteran of the New York music scene, his “drive and rich sound” (Downbeat Magazine) led to associations with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, the BMI Jazz Orchestra, Gene Bertoncini, S.Y.O.T.O.S., and the Gary Morgan Pan-American Big Band, as well as several theater and symphony orchestras.
Andy has performed all over the world in the concert halls and jazz clubs of four continents—Africa, Asia, Europe and North America—with a long list of artists—most notably Ray Barretto, Anthony Braxton, Freddie Bryant and Bobby Sanabria.
Recording credits include dates with the Bill Charlap Trio, Cliff Korman and the Brazilian Tinge, and the Anthony Braxton Quartet.
Publications such as Downbeat, All About Jazz, The Sunday Herald, and Guardian Unlimited have given him favorable mention. He’s been honored as a Jazz Ambassador by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with the U.S. Department of State.
Andy holds a Master of Music degree from world-renowned North Texas University, winning awards in both the Jazz and Classical performance areas. His education includes formal private study with Lyn Christie, Eleanor Hancock, Jack Messing, Ed Rainbow, and Irwin Stahl. He’s also studied informally with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, Rufus Reid, and Harvie S.
His education methods are informed by not only his wide musical performance palette, but also by his extensive teaching experience at The Steiner School, New York University, Rutgers University, Kean University, Drew University, and New Jersey City University, where he taught applied lessons in classical and jazz double bass and bass guitar as well as jazz improvisation and jazz history classes. He also conducted and coached combos, chamber groups and jazz ensembles.
Upon relocating to the Atlanta, GA area in 2019, he enjoys widening his musical palette and sharing his skill set with others in his new home. He is currently teaching at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville Alabama, and Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.