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1996

Jacksonville Jazz Festival Jacksonville Jazz Festival

Jacksonville Magazine

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WJCTJacksonville

The 17th Annual WJCT Jacksonville Jazz Festival is internationally recognized ·

Jazz Festival for featuring world renowned jazz artists as well as for showcasing emerging and

Performers local/regional talent. Among the performers for the 1996 event are:

Aquarium Rescue Unit Aquarium Rescue Unit is as novel as its name,

juxtaposing jazz, rock, funk, blues, Latin, soul, Southern-boogie, bluegrass and avant-garde. And it does so with improvisational prowess and song­writing savvy. Rolling Stone gave the group's last release, in a perfectworld, a solid four-star rating, exclaiming, "It rocks , swings, smacks, clangs, walks and runs , this music, with its eyes rolled back in its head." Not surprisingly, this one-of-a­kind band has also attracted a growing and loyal cult following.

The brainchild of eccentric lead vocalist/ philosopher Col. Bruce Hampton, ARU originated in Georgia in the early 1990s. Its first album, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit, captured the band live in concert, revealing its pol­ished genre-jumping and jamming skills. ARU's second studio release, Mirrors of Embarrassment, fo llowed, with eclectic compositions and stunning musicianship.

Major personnel changes preceded in a pe1fect world. Citing ill health due to incessant touring, Hampton left the band, as did mandolinist Matt Mundy. Today, the quintet consists of orig­inal members Oriel Burbridge on bass guitar/vocals, and Jimmy Herring on guitar. Newcomers include vocalist Paul Henson; Kofi Burbridge, Oriel's brother, on keyboards/ flute; and Sean O'Rourke on drums.

Medeski, Martin & Wood New York's street-jazz trio, Medeski, Martin & Wood, plays a

powerful mix of acoustic jazz and funky hip-hop. Keyboardist John Medeski , who plays the Hammond B-3 organ, is the group's primary soloist. Chris Wood holds down the center on bass and Billy Martin is behind the drum kit. According to the Austin (TX) Stateman, "the band's music is undeniably jazz . It's also very enlightened jazz, full of clever quotes from some of the more esoteric tunes of the classic jazz repertoire. "

] A C K S O N V I L L E 33

The trio has toured the U.S. several times since the release of its second album, Friday After­noon in the Universe. A follow-up release is scheduled for this fall.

Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Paquito

d'Rivera, Andy Narell & Dave Samuels

The CaribbeanJazz Project, an unusual sextet formed in New York City in 1993, blends a strong jazz foundation with tropical

rhythms. It is co-led by three of the most popular voices on the contempora1y jazz scene today: Cuban saxophone and

clarinet great Paquito d 'Rivera , steel pan legend Andy Narell and

vibes/ marimba master Dave Samuels. D'Rivera's early professional experience found him soloing

with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra and co-founding the renowned Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna , which he also conducted for two years. In 1981, he joined Dizzy Gille­spie's band, then embarked on a solo career, subsequently releasing more than 15 albums.

Samuels was a charter member of Spyro Gyra , and has recorded four solo albums, including Natural Selection and Del Sol. He has performed and recorded alongside jazz icons such as Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker and Stan Getz, as well as with such diverse pop artists as Frank Zappa, Bruce Hornsby and Pink Floyd.

Narell was introduced to the steel pan at age 7, and, in the years since, he has developed close ties to the people and cul­ture of Trinidad. He is known as the world's premiere purvey­or of the steel pan sound, and has performed solo and with his band in Trinidad, as well as with such artists as David Rudder, Charlie Roots, Len "Boogsie" Sharpe and Robert Greenidge. He has recorded six albums (the latest is Down the Road) and has notched numerous appearances on albums by other artists.

Richie Zellon Guitarist Richie Zellon, the child of a

Brazilian mother and an American father, grew up in Lima, Peru, where he taught himself to play the guitar. His early music influences included the Brazilian music his mother loved, the jazz records he col­lected and indigenous Peruvian forms like festjo and lando, the latter a style of music believed to have its roots in the West African country of Angola.

By the mid-'70s, Zellon moved to the United States to study at the Music and Arts Institute in San Francisco and Berklee

34 NOVEMBER 1996

College in Boston. During these years, he was influenced by gui­tarists Carlos Santana,John McLaughlin and Pat Martino.

In 1982, he recorded an album in Peru called Portrait in Black and White, which was the first Afro-Peruvian jazz album ever recorded. Zellon's current CD, Cafe con Leche, was record­ed in Boston, Los Angeles and Lima, with a talented cast of Latin and jazz musicians. The 12 tracks, ten of which are Zellon's orig­inal compositions, are all based on authentic Latin rhythms.

Zellon is currently a resident of Florida and a veteran of the Central Florida jazz scene.

Richard Elliot Contemporary jazz

saxophonist Richard Elliot landed his first gig when, as a teenag­er, he toured with Natalie Cole and The Pointer Sisters. Later, he joined Kittyhawk, a cutting-edge fusion group, before being drafted to record with Motown favorites Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops and The Temptations.

As one project led to another, he was recruited to play on The Yellowjackets ' second album, embarked on a tour with Melissa Manchester. He became a full­time member of the legenda1y Tower of Power in 1982.

Five years later, Elliot launched a solo career. His first five col­lections were issued by Enigma Records, while the four most recent packages, including City Speak, which was released ear­lier this year, carried the Blue Note label. City Speak features 10 new compositions and a cover tune, "I'll Make Love to You ," originally performed by Boyz II Men. The album closes with a traditional jazz number called "That's All She Wrote. "

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones featuring

Victor Lemonte Wooten, FutureMan and

Special Guest Mike Marshall Bela Fleck and The Flecktones have

been a Jazz Festival favorite ever since the group thrilled the crowd in 1991, and returned as headliners the following year. Back by popular demand, the band fea­tures Bela Fleck on electric and acoustic banjo, Victor Lemonte Wooten on elec­tric bass guitar and "FutureMan" on the Synthaxe Drumitar, a hybrid guitar/ per­cussion synthesizer which he invented.

The Flecktones frequently tour with a rotating special guest roster,

which has featured Paul McCandless, Sam Bush, Bruce Hornsby, Edgar Meyer, Chick Corea, Howard Levy, Matt

Mundy and others. By sharing

the spotlight with guest musicians, the interaction among the live ensemble always changes, and the audience is treated to consistently fresh interpreta­tions of older tunes, while hearing unique versions of new ones---depend­ing upon whom the band is touring with at any given time.

Consequently, while contracting in number, the Flecktones have expanded their sound, adding to their already eclec­tic musical quilt patches of Celtic, folk, blues and even classical chamber music.

Buddy Guy Big Band Blues guitarist Buddy Guy has experi­

enced tremendous success over the past six years. Beginning with his 1991 come­back album, Damn Right I've Got the Blues, Guy has won long-overdue acco­lades. Damn Right won a Grammy in 1991, and Guy notched another Gram­my in 1993 for his Feels Like Rain LP. These honors were then topped by the ultimate tribute-Billboard Magazine 's CenturyAward, recognizing a lifetime of distinguished creative achievement.

Guy started out in the early 1960s as a much-in-demand session player with Chess Records. However, he dreamed of the opportunity to play independent­ly and fully display his distinctive brand

the next two decades, he toured extensively and is said to have inspired Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Born in Louisiana , Guy now lives in Chicago, and owns the club Legends, where he performs when not touring. Four of the songs that appear on Live! The Real Deal, his first in-concert album

WE

E X P E C

G RE

□

0

□

T H E S E

STU DEN

Join us in applauding

a talented group of local students

selected from eight area

high schools to perform as an

All-Star Student Ensemble

at the WJCT JacksonvilleJazz

Festival on November 12 and 16.

These performances are part of

"AT&Tl Jniversal Jazz in the Schools:·

an innovative arts in education

program created by AT&Tl Jniversal

Card Services and WJCT

For performance information,

call 354-6304. Don't miss your

chance to hear education

at the speed of sound.

---AT&T

AT&T Universal Card

Feeling Left Behind?

j A C K S O N V I L L E 35

in over 20 years , were recorded at the artist's own venue.

"I play for people," he says. "When I walk out on stage, they motivate me. I know that they are saying, 'Give me all you got, Buddy.'"

Saxophonist Boney James plays November 9, 9:25 p.m. at Mayport Naval Station. Boney James

While touring in Europe in 1987, Boney James, a saxo­

phonist, remarked about the low per diem he was receiving, and complained that he would be forced to skip a few meals to save money. A fellow band member jokingly called him "Boney," and the name stuck.

"Boney" James Oppenheimer was born in Maine, raised in New York and moved to Los Angeles in 1975. He was initially known as a keyboard player rather than a saxophonist. From 1985 to 1989,James was a keyboardist for Morris Day's post-Time band. His increasing popularity then earned him gigs with Randy Crawford, Bobby Caldwell, Vesta Williams, Gino Vanelli and the Isley Brothers.

James' three albums have been well­received. The first , Trust, was released in 1992 on the Spindletop label and subse­quently re-released by Warner Brothers. It was followed by Backbone in 1994, then Seduction in 1995-which was the number one album on Radio & Records national jazz charts for more than 12 weeks.

When it comes to creating his own music, James tunes out other styles and focuses on what comes from within. "It's like magic . You can't describe it in words, but you know it's what makes my music me," he says.

Carmen Bradford Premier vocalist Carmen Bradford has a

reputation for an ability to apply her vocal skills to a diverse range of material. Raised in California, the Austin, Texas native was

Continued on page 42

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) AC K S ON V I L L E 37

17th Annual WJCT Jacksonville Jazz Festival

1996 Schedule Saturday, October 26 at Metropolitan Park Principal Health Care Jazz on the Run ...... 8:30 a.m.

Friday, November 8 at the Jaguars' Stadium Club Festival Patrons' Party featuring the Louie Bellson Big Band, Pretty Boy Freud, the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring Bonnie Eisele and the First Coast Dixieland Band .. .. ...... . . 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 9 at Mayport Naval Station

Florida A&M University Jazz Band . ... ... ... 11 a.m.

Fats Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. . ....... noon

Navy Band Jacksonville. . . ... . . . ... 12:55 p.m.

ReBirth Brass Band . . .. .. . ;,.. . . . . . . . . : .. 2:10 p.m.

The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band featuring Bonnie Eisele . .. . ... ... --~·- .. 3:25 p.m. Yagozo . . . . . . ... .. .. , .... . . ..... .... 4:30 p.m.

U.S. Navy Steel Band. .. . .... , . . ... . .. .. 5:35 p.m. ' Sha-Shaty .. . . .... . ... .. . ..... . . . .... 6:50 p.m.

Aquarium Rescue Unit . . . .. .. . .. ... .. . . 8:05 p.m.

Boney James ... . . .. ... .. ..... . • .. . . 9:25 p.m.

Monday, November 11 at the Florida Theatre

Liquid Blue .... . . . .. .. .. . ~ .. .... . 7:30 p.m. Yellowjackets .. .. . . .. . .. . . 8:15 p.m.

Tuesday, November 12 at the Jacksonville Landing

AT&T Universal All-Star Jazz Ensemble, Ken Navarro ........... .. . ... . .. .... . .. 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 13 at the Florida Theatre

The Great American Jazz Piano Competition featuring Biella Da Costa .... . .............. 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 14 at Metropolitan Park

Teddy Washington with Frontl ine ..... . . . . 6:20 p.m.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones featuring Victor Lemonte Wooten, FutureMan and Special Guest Mike Marshall . . . .. . . 7:20 p.m.

Lisa Kelly Jazz Quintet . .. : . . . . 8:25 p.m.

Richard Elliot ......... . . ~. . . . . 9:15 p.m.

Friday, November 15 at Metropolitan Park

Richie Zellon ....... . . . . . . . . 6:30 p.m.

Carmen Bradford with the UNF Jazz Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:25 p.m.

Kevin Bales . . ............ .. . . . . . 8:35 p.m.

The Buddy Guy Big Band ... . ... . . . . . 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 16 at Metropolitan Park

AT&T Universal All-Star Jazz Ensemble .... 10:30 a.m.

Surge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . ... 11 :05 a.m.

Roomful of Blues .... .. .. . . . . . . . .. 11 :50 a.m.

Medeski, Martin & Wood . . . . . . .. . . 1 :05 p.m.

Gary Starling Group ... ..... . . .... . . 2:10 p.m.

Marcus Printup ........ . . .. ... . . 2:45 p.m.

Piano Competition Winner with Jay Leonhart & Danny Gottl ieb . . .. 3:55 p.m.

Tamara Danielsson Quintet . . . . . . . . 1 . . 4:20 p.m.

Bob James ........... ... ...... . .. . . .... 5 p.m.

Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Paquito d 'Rivera, Andy Narell & Dave Samuels .. .. 6:20 p.m.

Noel Freidline Quartet .... ........ . '. .. 7:25 p.m.

Diane Schuur w ith the St. Johns River City Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8:05 p.m.

Longineu Parsons ............ . .. . . .. ... 9: 10 p.m.

George Benson ..... .. ..... . . . ... . 9:45 p.m.

Times and artists subject to change. Metropolitan Parkregulations prohibit coolers, bottles, food, beverages, audio and video recording devices or flash cameras during the FestivalFor the safety of all, please, no pets, skateboards, bicycles, roller-skates, rol ler-blades or umbrellas. For more information, call WJCT's Jazz Hotline at (904) 358-6304.

JACKSONVILLE 39

42 N O V E M B E R 1 9 9 6

Festival Performers Continued from page 3 7

immersed in music from an early age (her father is jazz trumpeter-composer Bobby Bradford; her mother is singer­songwriter-Broadway star Melba Joyce). Bradford studied classical music at the University of Texas, then performed with an eclectic group of artists-including Lou Rawls,James Brown and Willie Nel­son-before joining The Count Basie Orchestra in 1983. •

In 1990, Bradford paired with George Benson on the song, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" from his Gram­my-winning Big Boss Band album. Then, a year later, she began her solo career in earnest with the album Finally Yours. The debut offering showcased a mixture of jazz, rhythm-and-blues and pop, while the musical focus of her most recent collection, With Respect, is jazz.

Now based in Chicago, Bradford also performed a guest vocal on a 1994 Her­bie Hancock album, and performed with Lena Horne at a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen in early 1993.

Marcus Printup Jazz trumpeter Marcus Printup is tout­

ed as one of the best emerging talents in all of jazz. Despite his youth, 29, he has accumulated a wealth of experience with some of the industry's greats.

Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts tapped Printup to play with him, and to serve as apprentice road manager during Roberts ' 1992 solo piano tour. Printup also has traveled the world with Wyn­ton Marsalis and the All-Star Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and with singer Betty Carter and her group, Jazz Ahead, a crew of up-and-coming talents.

Printup's 1995 debut album, record­ed for Blue Note, Song for the Beautiful Woman, garnered attention for its improvisation, its quiet intensity, and its strong, original musical compositions. On his second and most recent Blue Note album, Unveiled, Printup showcas­es his technical maturity and advance­ment as a writer.

Printup is a native of Conyers, Geor­gia, and studied at the University of North Florida.

Roomful of Blues Count Basie once said that Roomful

of Blues "is the hottest blues band I've ever heard. " The Boston Herald declared it, "The baddest blues band in the land. "

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First formed in 1967, the Rhode Island­based group has since established itself as an American blues institution. The nine-member band is anchored by drum­mer John Rossi, tenor/ alto saxophonist Rich Lataille and baritone saxophonist Doug James- all of whom have been with Roomful since the beginning.

Carl Querfunh doubles as trombonist and producer of the group's records. Lead guitarist is Chris Vachon, while the vocals and harmonica solos are provided by Sugar Ray Norcia. Bob Enos plays trum­pet, Kenny Grace is on bass, and Matt McCabe tinkles the ivories.

Profoundly influenced by Count Basie, Roomful of Blues' tunes range from the hard-core Chicago blues of the 1930s to the danceable beat of first-generation rock-n-roll.

Diane Schuur Diane Schuur has in­

spired raves from around the world as "the new first lady of jazz." She has been awarded two Grammies as best jazz vocalist, twice played the White House and her recordings have regularly topped the charts.

Schuur, who has been blind since birth due to a damaged optic nerve , began singing at the age of 2. She was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, who brought her on stage at the 1979 Mon­terey Jazz Festival. Since then, she has recorded more than a dozen albums. Her latest release is Love Walked In.

Schuur has also recorded "Summer­time" with Bany Manilow and "Heart to Heart" with B.B. King. In addition, she has made several television appearances, including a concert with Stan Getz at the White House for the PBS series, In Per­formance at the White House. In addi­tion , Schuur appeared 11 times on TheTonight Show with Johnny Carson . 0