Jeff Antoniuk grew up listening to 1970s and 80s R&B, and funk like Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire, and Average White Band, in addition to the required Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. He then discovered jazz fusion, which then led to classic acoustic jazz. In between all of this, he was studying classical piano classical theory and his master’s studies also included world music and ethnomusicology. The result is a wide range of musical taste and knowledge that have blended together with his other interests to create a unique voice and approach.
A native of Canada, Antoniuk came to the U.S. in 1986 to study music at the University of North Texas, one of the premier jazz schools in the world. He spent 6 years there and left with a Masters in Jazz Studies and West African Ethnomusicology. Antoniuk then became a founding member of the Unified Jazz Ensemble (UJE), a quintet he co-led for 10 years after leaving North Texas. The group toured the U.S., Canada, far east, and at one point was the flagship band in the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) “Rural Residency Arts Initiative.” The group recorded 5 CD’s, and received much critical acclaim, as well as an award from Billboard Magazine for “Best Instrumental Performance” of the year. Antoniuk decided to leave the band in 2004 in order to form the Jazz Update. In addition to gigging with this band, Antoniuk is on the faculty at Towson State University and plays all over the country as a freelance musician. He also runs his Jazz Band Masterclass and Maryland Summer Jazz programs for aspiring musicians.
The Jazz Update is comprised of some of the finest veteran players in the area, all of whom are faculty members at local universities. The band features the organic drumming of Tony Martucci, the rock solid bass of Tom Baldwin, and the harmonic sophistication of pianist Wade Beach. The group’s first CD, entitled Here Today, was released in early 2007 and has reached the jazz charts in both the U.S. and Canada. Featuring all local musicians, the disc serves as a reminder of the talent in the area’s jazz scene. The album is beautifully recorded and features 7 original compositions by Jeff Antoniuk and three standards, Thelonius Monk’s “Four in One,” Duke Ellington’s “Prelude to a Kiss,” and Benny Golson’s “Stablemates.” The originals are swinging and the playing is top notch. The track that stands out is “Noah’s Little Play Song,” a counterpoint between Antoniuk on saxophone and special guest Dave Ballou on trumpet with the rhythm section providing textural underpinnings.
