Gene Knific comes by his mixed pedigree of classical and jazz influences honestly.
The son of violinist Renata Knific ( professor, Western Michigan University) and bassist Tom Knific (professor, chair of Jazz Studies, Western Michigan University), this eclectic young composer and pianist, with his trio, were invited to perform for the Fontana Summer Festival this weekend.
Gene talks to Cara Lieurance about his Kalamazoo upbringing, and the teachers who started him down his musical path. A student of the University of Miami, he's focused on composing and arranging for his trio, which includes Evan Hyde on drums and Geoff Saunders on bass.