100 Miles at Monkfish
"Miles at 100, Greg at 80"
The Greg Hopkins Nonet
AKA: The Cryogenic Renaissance Orchestra
Plays The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge
Thursday, October 29th, 2026 -- 7:00PM
"Miles at 100, Greg at 80"
The Greg Hopkins Nonet
AKA: The Cryogenic Renaissance Orchestra
Plays The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge
Thursday, October 29th, 2026 -- 7:00PM
This 9 Piece Jazz Ensemble is homage to three brilliant jazz nonets from the past and this current unit. With a repertoire that includes several original arrangements from the influential “Birth of the Cool” recordings, this band might appear to be a mere recreation of the Davis nonet, yet that legendary unit of the late ‘40s is only one of the models that have inspired this new unit. Also identified are two Blue Note albums from the late ‘60s, McCoy Tyner’s “Tender Moments” and Herbie Hancock’s “The Prisoner,” as specific inspirations.
With that historic nod in mind, jazz composer and arranger Greg Hopkins has created yet another body of new works for the same instrumentation in his own unique and original voice.
The group will perform some of the original “Birth of the Cool” music and some McCoy Tyner and lots of Hopkins’ originals at their upcoming performance at the The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge -- Thursday, October 29th, 2026 -- 7:00PM.
The tight knit 9-piece unit boasts some of the best jazz talent anywhere. Hopkins, long time Professor of Jazz Composition at Berklee College, was soloist/arranger for the Buddy Rich Band 1972-1974, before settling in this area.
***Alongside Hopkins, other luminaries in the group are: pianist Tim Ray, drummer Mark Walker, bassist Keala Kaumeheiwa, trombonist Pete Fanelli, French hornist Ken Pope, tubist Greg Fritze, and saxophonists Shannon LeClaire and Ben Whiting. (*** The personnel is not confirmed yet!!)
Bob Blumenthal from the Boston Globe writes:
“Greg Hopkins, the inspired trumpeter/composer is one of Boston’s unappreciated jazz treasures.”
More about the nonet:
This innovative ensemble, which sometimes goes by the name “the Cryogenic Renaissance Orchestra”, is inspired mostly by the famous Miles Davis birth of the cool band. The repertoire features a few of the original gems, including “Moondreams”, “Israel”, and “Boplicity” from the 1949-1950 sessions. In addition, many new compositions by Greg Hopkins, inspired by, but not necessarily in the style of the original Miles group will be performed.
One of the pieces written especially for this ensemble is “The Lost Bagatelles of the Mushroom Empire” by Greg Hopkins. The extended composition explores the textural and technical parameters of the ensemble. The seven-part theme and variations develops into one of the most ambitious forays in this genre.
Other titles include “Mystic Valley”, “Okavongo”, Duke Ellington’s “Such Sweet Thunder”, and McCoy Tyner’s “Mode for John”.
On the name of the band:
The Cryogenic, to freeze for future reference, Renaissance, or rebirth of, Orchestra, so this is “a new rebirth of the coolest”, is here to celebrate these great nonets from the 1950’s and 60’s and much more.
The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra Live at Berklee
The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra
Live at Berklee
Monday, July 20th, 2026 -- 7:30-8:30
in the David Friend Concert Hall
921 Boylston Street
***A Free Concert***
Monday, July 20th, 2026 -- 7:30-8:30
in the David Friend Concert Hall
921 Boylston Street
***A Free Concert***
Please join us for this rare opportunity
to hear this Outstanding Jazz Ensemble
play Hopkins’ original compositions and arrangements
in a stunning jazz setting here at Berklee.
Open to the public, and free,
so come early for a good seat..........
The music is “Hot and Challenging”
but if you’re there, you’ll be “So Cool”.........
Saturday — May 9th @ The Mad MonkFish — Central Square, Cambridge — The GHOP Quintet — Sets @ 7:00 and 8:45
Live music is back on stage at The Mad Monkfish! For those who can't make it to the Jazz Baroness Room, Monkfish now streams live all of its performances on their Facebook page. 1st Show: 7:00-8:15pm and 2nd Show: 8:45-10:00pm
Greg Hopkins, trumpet
Rick DiMuzio, tenor saxophone
Tim Ray, piano
Jesse Williams, acoustic bass
Mark Walker, drums
Live music is back on stage at The Mad Monkfish! For those who can't make it to the Jazz Baroness Room, Monkfish now streams live all of its performances on their Facebook page. 1st Show: 7:00-8:15pm and 2nd Show: 8:45-10:00pm
Greg Hopkins, trumpet
Bill Jones, tenor saxophone
Consuelo Candalaria, piano
John Lockwood, bass
Mark Walker, drums
Performer, composer, and arranger Greg Hopkins first picked up the trumpet as a boy in Detroit, and to this day it would be hard to spot
him without his horn. Hopkins plays even when caught in traffic on commute to Berklee College of Music, where he’s been teaching since 1974 – the year the London Times called him “a real find” for the Buddy Rich Orchestra.
That symbiosis of man and musical instrument is evident in Hopkins’ solo performances by which he has served the orchestras of Louis
Bellson, Billy Maxted, Rich, and Herb Pomeroy, as well as his own small ensembles and big bands. Hopkins began his professional career in 1965, freelancing in the Detroit area for such acts as the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Gladys Knight until 1969, when he graduated Michigan State.
From 1969 to 1974 he toured nationally and internationally, appearing at the Newport, Monterey, and other major jazz festivals. Hopkins has also performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, the Supremes, Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls, Mitzi Gaynor, Michel Legrand, Johnny Mathis, Shirley MacLaine, Marvin Hamlisch, and Lena Home, as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Brass Ensemble.
His theater work includes 42nd Street, Dancin’, Some Like It Hot, Annie, Tommy Tune Tonight, Catskills on Broadway, West Side Story, Porgy and Bess, My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison, The King and I with Yul Brynner, Into the Woods, Ragtime, and A Chorus Line.
Mr. Hopkins busy teaching and performing schedule takes him all over the world doing concerts, festivals, jazz club dates, and clinics. Recently he has visited Italy, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Alaska, Argentina, and many others.
Hopkins works often with his 16 Piece Jazz Orchestra, and also performs regularly with his quintet, and Tim Ray’s trio, Tre Corda.
This Saturday — January 31st @ The Mad MonkFish — Central Sq, Cambridge — The GHOP Quintet — Sets @ 7:00 and 8:45
Live music is back on stage at The Mad Monkfish! For those who can't make it to the Jazz Baroness Room, Monkfish now streams live all of its performances on their Facebook page. 1st Show: 7:00-8:15pm and 2nd Show: 8:45-10:00pm
Greg Hopkins, trumpet
Rick DiMuzio, tenor saxophone
Tim Ray, piano
Jesse Williams, acoustic bass
Mark Walker, drums
Live music is back on stage at The Mad Monkfish! For those who can't make it to the Jazz Baroness Room, Monkfish now streams live all of its performances on their Facebook page. 1st Show: 7:00-8:15pm and 2nd Show: 8:45-10:00pm
Greg Hopkins, trumpet
Rick DiMuzio, tenor saxophone
Tim Ray, piano
Jesse Williams, acoustic bass
Mark Walker, drums
Performer, composer, and arranger Greg Hopkins first picked up the trumpet as a boy in Detroit, and to this day it would be hard to spot
him without his horn. Hopkins plays even when caught in traffic on commute to Berklee College of Music, where he’s been teaching since 1974 – the year the London Times called him “a real find” for the Buddy Rich Orchestra.
That symbiosis of man and musical instrument is evident in Hopkins’ solo performances by which he has served the orchestras of Louis
Bellson, Billy Maxted, Rich, and Herb Pomeroy, as well as his own small ensembles and big bands. Hopkins began his professional career in 1965, freelancing in the Detroit area for such acts as the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Gladys Knight until 1969, when he graduated Michigan State.
From 1969 to 1974 he toured nationally and internationally, appearing at the Newport, Monterey, and other major jazz festivals. Hopkins has also performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, the Supremes, Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls, Mitzi Gaynor, Michel Legrand, Johnny Mathis, Shirley MacLaine, Marvin Hamlisch, and Lena Home, as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Brass Ensemble.
His theater work includes 42nd Street, Dancin’, Some Like It Hot, Annie, Tommy Tune Tonight, Catskills on Broadway, West Side Story, Porgy and Bess, My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison, The King and I with Yul Brynner, Into the Woods, Ragtime, and A Chorus Line.
Mr. Hopkins busy teaching and performing schedule takes him all over the world doing concerts, festivals, jazz club dates, and clinics. Recently he has visited Italy, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Alaska, Argentina, and many others.
Hopkins works often with his 16 Piece Jazz Orchestra, and also performs regularly with his quintet, and Tim Ray’s trio, Tre Corda.
APR 1 THE GREG HOPKINS JAZZ ORCHESTRA FT. RENESE KING @ REGATTABAR 4/1/24
The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra Featuring Vocalist Renese King 4/1/24 Regattabar Stop by for an evening of Scintilating SuperSonic Swingin’ Sets of Sublime Sounds from a Stellar Lineup to Send you Straight for a Smashingly Superb Spring
The Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra
Featuring Vocalist Renese King
4/1/24 Regattabar
Stop by for an evening of Scintilating SuperSonic Swingin’ Sets of Sublime Sounds from a Stellar Lineup to Send you Straight for a Smashingly Superb Spring