Bio

Rafik Cezanne has been performing since childhood. Bringing you over 40 years of performance experience. Influences include his musical and artistic family comprising of his late father the legendary Leslie Scott (of Porgy and Bess) and his brother Kenneth Kamal Scott from the WIZ on Broadway. On his mother's side, (Micheline nee Cezanne), Rafik is a distant relation to the artist Paul Cezanne. Rafik is duly influenced by American roots / classical music of all kinds. From Bach, to Beethoven, Stravinsky, Thelonius Monk, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Chick Corea, The Beatles, Edgard Varese, Miles Davis, the list goes on. In 1999, Rafik started playing tenor sax with one of the premier blues and soul bands in New York City, the hard-hitting Hard Bargain blues band, whose last release is More Than You Bargained For (Bassguy Records @2006). Hardbargain was touted by the NY Jazz and Blues Society as a band 'definitely worth watching.' After a 10 year hiatus HardBargain is back! See the Events section for our NEXT show! Since 2014, Rafik is performing with the entertainer the mighty LeePaul Crisci performing rock and blues standards in and around the city. Rafik is a multi-dimensional musician who also plays flute, alto, soprano and tenor saxes. Rafik is also an avid classical musician creating original compositions and soundscapes. Performed with the rock blues diva Dali Blu (also an HB alumnus). Rafik studied jazz with Sam Obasala Brown, the legendary Lee Konitz, Frank Vicari, Ken Simon, Rashied Ali, Cecil Taylor and Sean MacGloin. Special thanks goes to the great Mr. Lecesse of Sachem High School, Long Island, for his teaching of music theory. Rafik is a retired information technologist and is now performing and teaching music.