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Some of the biggest names in jazz--including Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock--will join not-so-big-names such as Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers for the two-day Playboy Jazz Festival in June.
The line up for the June 15-16 event at the Hollywood Bowl in California, includes large dozes of both traditional jazz acts and world music artists. Tributes to Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald and Enrico Carusso are a special focus of the 24th annual festival.
The menu of music for June 15, includes trumpeter Marsalis, the only jazz composer to win a pulitzer prize; blues singer Etta James and the Roots Band; trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; tenor saxophonist Joe Lavano; vocalist Nnenna Freelon, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with guest clarinetist Pete Fountain; basist Marcus Miller; the Charles Mingus 80th Birthday Tribute Band; and the Los Angeles Multi-School Band.
For June 16, the lineup is headed by Hancock, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter Roy Hargrove, June 16 also includes Lee ritenour; Patti Austin and the Count Basie Orchestra in a salute to Fitzgerald.
The festival, which runs eight and half hours each day has become one of the nation's premier jazz events with more than 100,000 in attendance over the weekend.
Comedian Bill Cosby again will serve not only as master of ceremonies but as leader of an ever changing jazz group known as the Cos of Good Music. If you live in the Los Angeles area call me at 310-910-0584. Beginning May 1st, Tickets may be available through Ticketmaster. Call the nearest Ticketmaster near you for more information.
[ April 13, 2002, 08:44 AM: Message edited by: Ambrose ]
Posts: 296 | Registered: Mar 2001
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Ambrose: I called the number you provided and left a message. Could you P.M. or e-mail me? I hope to be in Los Angeles, this coming Summer, and would love to see you.
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ICO: Thank you, very plenty for your kind words on the phone. And, I must admit, I had thought myself and a few as radicals, untill you guys came around.
The "Playboy Jazz Festival" has been a yearly event since my sojourn to this great land. When I first came, it was a free show at Santa Monica City College before it was hijacked to UCLA. Now, it's either at Greek Theater, Universal Ampitheater, Hollywood Palladiun or Hollywood Bowl, all in the Los Angeles metrpolis.
But this year's event is exceptional on many grounds: I am part of the organizing committee, on which the legendary Bill Cosby mcees the occasion. I am glad to have spoken to you, and I hope we keep the relationship intact.
When you visit Los Angeles, I bet you, you will be glad you did. Nkem Eugene Ejiofor can attest more to the city of angels.
At the tail end of the just concluded Copenhagen Jazz Festival (14th July 2002), Jazz fans here were treated to a delightful funk � with the one and only Maceo Parker.
If you are a neophyte in Funk, let me start by saying that Maceo Parker, will always be related to James Brown (JB) and the JB�s, and his stint with George Clinton�s Funk Parliament. He became a member of James Brown�s orchestra in 1964, were became JB�s favourite musician � most of us will always remember �Yo Maceo! Blow your horn!�
1970-73 Maceo Parker teamed with his buddy Fred Wesley and in 1975-84 he played spaceship Funk with George Clinton and Boosty Collins under the Parliament, Funkadelic and P-Funk project. In 1984, he rejoined JB, but with JB�s trouble with the law, he decided it was time to make it on his.
Since it was the first time I saw him play Live, I must say his music reminds one of the JB�s. He started with a Chaka Kann�s number (which reminded me of his stint with the artist formerly known as Prince), then some JB�s tracks like You Better Think � with the original singer (Harris) etc. Ending with - We gonna have a Funky Goodtime :-)
In between, he had time to remind the audience his mantra: that they play 2 percent jazz, 98 percent Funky Stuff. Given that, someone in audience could mistake the band for a Jazz Band. After all, it was a Jazz Festival.
Concluding, it was a Delightful funky evening, with a Delightful funk.
Yo Maceo! Blow your horn.
Posts: 191 | From: Denmark | Registered: Apr 2001
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The severe lack of originality in today's music business is quite appalling. The other day, I had mistakenly tuned in to a Hip Hop radio station, and all that blasted was Nelly's "it's getting hot in here, so come on take off your clothes..." Though Nelly accepted he specialized in remix which entitles him to copyright rythms and lyrics, the originality of the rythm belongs to Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers.
As 70's kids, we were the first group of people to have pure funk incorporated into our lives from birth. We were kids during the bricklayer turned musician Chuck Brown released his "Bursting Loose" album which has now made a commercial success in Nelly's "It's getting hot in here."
Nkem;
What about the days of Isaac "Black Moses" Hayes? Remember?: "every morning when I rise, baby I look into your sexy eyes, baby You are refreshing And it's good to me, baby...... You are Joy...?"
The pretty good old days, you sure can't beat it. Now give me some jam or "I be jamming, baby."
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