Music in the Park

So it is that time of the year again.  Summer!  My favorite.  Not only is summer the time of year that all my favorite festivals break out, but it is also time for music in the Park.  Picture this.  Nice summer evening,  the temperature is starting to cool down after the hot day, the moon is starting to come up and is shinning nice and bright and the sound of music is filling the air.  Does that not sound like a great way to spend your evening? Don't tell me you would rather have you back side  sitting on that dusty couch watching repeats on that square boring box, Get up!  Best of all these concerts are FREE," my favorite four letter word. "
So I googled  music at the park for Orange County and found out that almost every city has it. If you live in LA area I would imagine they have it also. 
Here is a great website that lists most of them and I also added the one in La Habra Heights as that is my stomping grounds.Try it out. It is a great way to break up the week.

  Enjoy!
Orange County venues for Music in the park: http://www.orangecounty.net/html/events_concerts.html#bp
La Habra Heights-Wed's: http://www.lhhcity.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=92

Wow! Who is that kid?

So last Sunday, the day after the Playboy festival, I awoke tired, hungry and sad that the day of music was over.  So what do you do when you wake up like this?  Well I go Eat, drink champagne and find more music.  Just so happens that I was waking up at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel.  Why does that matter?   Well it's because  that is where my KJAZZ DJ's host their Jazz and Blues brunches at the Twist.  "Problem solved." Everything I needed right downstairs. So who is playing last Sunday but none other then Deacon Jones. Deacon has been around since the 60's and  is known as the king of B-3 Organ. What he does on that Organ is play amazing, down home, Chicago blues.  So here is a quick history of Deacon before I talk about this kid. 

Melvyn Deacon Jones has written over 100 original songs in a variety of genres ranging from pop, R&B, jazz, gospel and country.  His first love is Blues and for over 18 years he served as band leader for blues legend John Lee Hooker. He has performed with Freddie King, Curtis Mayfield, Eric Clapton, Greg Allman, Joe Cocker, Hank Ballard and the late Stevie Ray Vaugn, just to name a few.  My review of his performance on this beautiful day.  EXCELLENT!  Smile on my face wishing there was a dance floor, performance.

 Deacon had 2 guest this day.  1st guest was Lady Gi Gi.  I will be honest.  I had never heard of 

Lady Gi Gi, but man she could belt out the blues.  I definitely give her two thumbs up.

 The 2nd guest to come up and play with the band was the bigest surprise of my weekend.  I would try to describe the performance of this guest but there is no adequate way to describe the indescribable.  This phenomenal guest was referred to as no other then Guitar Ray. Guitar Ray's  full name, I was told by his dad, is Ray Gorin and he is 10.  That's right you did not read that wrong. 10.

Guitar Ray has been playing for a year and a half, but if  you were to have had your eyes closed when Ray came to the stage  you would have thought you were listening to a 50 year old blues guitarist that had been gigging his whole hard life. When I say a 50 year old blues guitarist I should say, "An incredible blues guitarist".    So here is what I think is really cool.  Guitar Ray was watching a couple of utube videos one day of BB King, Stevie Ray Vaugn and Eric Clapton.  He turned to his Dad and said I want to do that.  That was it.  He knew he was a blues artist.  When I spoke to Ray he told me that Stevie was his number one idol and he tries to emulate him whenever possible. When we asked him if he ever played Rock his reply was an adamant No! Ray is 100% Blues.  You can see it when this little man plays.  He has the passion and  soul for the music.  Not only Does Ray play like he is 50 but he has the moves of  a great blues artist, with his head  hung back, he jams with intensity and fervor.  I truly believe that, this day, I witnessed one of the first shows of a future great.  I can't wait to say I was there when, and mark my word, I will be.

 

Playboy Jazz Festival Saturday 12th 2010

Playboy Jazz Festival

How did this wonderful event begin?

In 1978 Hugh Hefner hosted a jazz festival in celebration of 25 years of Playboy Magazine. He rented out the Hollywood bowl and held it over a Friday and Saturday night.  It was a huge success and has just celebrated it;s 32nd year.  Thank you Mr. Hefner.

The ambiance at the playboy festival comes not only from the music, which can be incredible, but also from the people who attend.  Some of which have gone all 32 years.  It is like a big annual jazz lover's reunion for many.  The Venue could not be any better than the Hollywood Bowl.  The acoustics are amazing, and who doesn't want to be out under the stars on a June Evening? The best part of the day, other than the music, is the way all my fellow jazz lovers celebrate it. They line up at the entrance with their picnic baskets of food ranging from crab legs to fried chicken.  They generously fill their ice chest with good wine, champagne and beer.  They cover their tables with table cloths, vases of flowers and snacks galore.  When all of this is done, they sit back in their chairs and ENJOY, ENJOY ENJOY.  This year was my 14th year and I can't imagine ever missing it.  It is a truly an addictive festival.

So lets talk about the music.  The day started out with Jake Shimabukoro.  Jake plays the Ukulele. Yes I did say Ukelele.  Jazz?  No it's not but we will get into that in a bit.  Jake was amazing at his talent.  It was a one man show in which Jake takes the instrument from Bach to Beatles.  Very different, but I did find it a little repetitious after a while.  Maybe I am just not a big Ukulele fan.

One of my favorite things about music festivals is that you never know what can happen, and there is always a pleasant surprise or two that will just knock you off your feet, or even more appropo, will get you up on your feet dancing.  The next act of the day was that surprise for me. Trombone Shorty & New Orleans Avenue. was defiantly the youngest band of the day, with T.S. (Trombone Shorty) being only 25 and his band members around the same. Let me tell you, they blew it out of the park, and when I say "Blew it", I mean that literally.

 TS got his name at age 4 when his older brother. Trumpeter James Andrews saw him marching in a street parade playing a Trombone that was bigger then him. T.S. is more then a Trombonist, he is also a very skilled Trumpeter, singer and bandleader with Orleans Ave. being his first band of his own. What I loved about this band is the energy they pumped out, which was high. At one point T.S. was blowing on his trumpet for what seemed an eternity.  We are talking mind blowing, cheek puffing, bring many to their feet kind of music. Don't let Trombone Shorty fool you with this being his first band.  He has been around as he has played with Neville Brothers, Harry Connick Jr, Norah Jones, Dianna Krall, Rapper-Juvenile, U2 and Green day.  That is to just name a few. The bands high voltage sound can be heard on their new CD Backatown.  They performed Hurricane at the show and that was my favorite.

Next on the lineup was Kurt Elling, a leading bop singer in the industry. This man has the pipes. He can sing any of the standards or ballads but my favorite talent that Kurt has is his amazing gift of scat. This style can be a little low key for my taste but that could have been from the fact he had to follow Trombone Shorty.  It did seem that only have the audience was paying attention.

So we are now getting into early evening.  You can feel the crowd getting more relaxed, as the wine glasses are refilled, the chicken and potato salad is being served up and the blankets are coming out. It is time for Javon Jackson with special guest - the great singer-keyboardist Les McCann.

Javon blows the Tenor Sax and he does it right. Javon Jackson came into international prominence as a member of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. As a member of Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Javon toured and made many recordings with the legendary drummer.  Javon not only has played with Blakey, but many others.  I personally have always loved the sound of the Tenor Sax, and this man has the chops.  I could have listened to him for much longer.  Now you match Javon up with Les McCann and you get pure jazz with that great fun funk sound that Les has been producing since 1956.  In the mid 90's Les had a stroke, but thanks to the jazz gods he is making a come back.

Naturally 7 was next. This group is a cappella group and  one that closely emulates real instruments, sounding like an instumental band.  Again I ask.  Jazz?  I think not.  I could get completely on my soap box right now, but I am not going to bore you..  I do have to say.  LEAVE THE JAZZ FESTIVAL as a JAZZ FESTIVAL.  We don't have many left.  This was completely the wrong band for the day.

Ok I am moving on.  I will talk about positive things such as Marcus Miller-Electric Bassists extraordinaire.  This guy has been playing Clarinet, piano and bass since he was 13, and gigging since he was 15.  All I know is he ROCKS, playing jazz and funk effortlessly. Loved it!!!!!!

Marcus has played with Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Eric Clapton, Mariah Carey and Wayne Shorter just to name a few.  Whew!  Bet you he has some stories.

Well this blog is getting lengthy so here is the remainder of the night.  All greats and all played great.

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra always flawless.  If you didn't appreciate the big band sound before seeing them, you can be guaranteed you will after.

Chick Corea Freedom Band. Grammy award winner Chick Corea and his all star band of Christian McBride, Roy Haynes and  Kenny Garrett. Well with those names you could not be anything but Wonderful.  Even if you tried. 

Next was Legendary Latin Jazz musician  Pete Escoveda mastering the percussion's as always,  and his  Orchestra.  Pete the father of Sheila E. (my favorite percussion diva of all time)  Peter Michael and Juan Escoveda loves playing with his family.  Latin Jazz played with this much skill and fun always gets the audience on their feet smiling from ear to ear.  As it did again.

As I missed the last act of Sax for Stax, I will end with this. 

It was another phenomenal year as always.  I have decided that I am doing both days next year.  The addiction grows.

Doheney Blues festival 2010-Review, parking and seating.

Wow, almost 2 weeks since the festival.  I have been busy busy busy.  But finally, here is my short write up.
First of all I want to talk about the venue in regards to seating or lack of when arriving late.  As I said I have always gone VIP.  I did buy my VIP's for Sunday, but this year I decided to hit Saturday afternoon as well just to go see the Black Crowes.  "LOVE THEM".  Now this is the  1st time I have ever arrived to the festival in the latter part of the day.  I am not sorry I went because my Crowes tore it up.  I think I am still shaking my money maker.  It will however be the last time as it was a bit of a mess. 1st of all parking is pretty much gone.  We had to park about 4 miles a way and be shuttled in.  When we got into festival it was wall to wall chairs without an open space to sit.  I guess it has always been like this but I am there early enough to secure my spot and have never noticed.  After wondering around with my 1st glass of wine to calm my nerves from the parking ordeal we finally met up with friends in VIP who snuck us in carefully.  Sorry, can't tell my secret there.  It was all good after that as I was at the stage where I am happiest, but I did miss the Fabulous Thunderbirds in all the ruckus, and that is just wrong! 
OK, so Saturday-  Black Crowes.  All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Everytime I see this band I am in awe. Chris Robinson-Vocal and his Brother Rich Robinson Guitar are the original band members since 1989 and you have to have both to make this band work, as they are dynamic together. The band has had some turnover but Adam Macdougell-keyboard, Luther Dickenson-Guitar, and Steve Gorman-Drums were as tight as it gets. Sadness!  After over 20 years together the band is taking a very lengthy hiatus.  So I am so glad I didn't miss them. I would go through parking hell anytime for these guys, and they will be missed.  Hurry back guys. (See my previous posts to read what Chris & Rich Robinson wrote as a farewell  and to watch an incredible video. "It just makes me want to cry"
So now it is Sunday and I am up at 6:00 am to leave as I normally do for Doheney.  With excitement for the day I hid my 2 bottles of Chardonnay in my blanket-in-a-tote, and headed out. "That's right, I sneak in my wine as it is better then anything you can get out there and does not cost $12.00 a glass".
This year my group decided to stay overnight on Sunday at the Doubletree Hotel across the street. This I highly recommend as you pull right up to hotel, they take your car immediately and send you on your way.  The walk is short and if you get tired of the elements during the day you can sneak off and go watch a Lakers game at the bar for a while, as some of our group did.
OK, enough of the Logistics.  Lets talk music.  The day was just OK in regards to the bands.  I have seen better and worse.  Crosby Stills and Nash closed and they were solid.  I was actually pleasantly surprised.  I am only going to write about two others as they, in my opinion made the day.

    John Nemeth-Harmonica player of riveting intensity and vocals that have a funky soulful feeling.  The first time I heard John was last years Festival but he was just a mere guest appearance on Elvin Bishop's stage. They have even recorded a few songs together. Not that I don't love Elvin Bishop, but I remember saying to myself, "I could just listen to this guy all day".  Well, he finally got his own stage this year. It  was not the main stage but you just watch, by next year it will be or he will just be too big for this festival. Check him out, you won't be sorry!

     Now the first performance out on the main stage on Sunday was Nathan James with Kim Wilson.  I had never heard these two before and I cant believe that because they were absolutely awesome.  My whole group was in agreement as well as all my fellow blues peeps around us. Nathan on guitar and vocal has been gigging since he was 18.  I don't know how old he is now, maybe 30? But he sounds like he has been doing it for a hundred years, yet still playing a fresh sound.

Kim-A front man for the Faboulous Thunderbirds, (Damn I wish I wouldn't have missed them) is an amazing Harmonica player and his vocals are rich, slightly scarred, and never in a hurry.
You put these two together and you don't want it to end.
I would say overall, even with the bad, the festival was an enjoyment as it always is.  Met new great people.  Hung out with old friends, and danced danced danced.
FYI The event was sold out both days.

A Farewell to the Fans from Chris & Rich Robinson form Black Crowes

To The Fans:
"With a smile so wide you can count my teeth and with a heart so full of love that it is spilling over the rim, I offer a humble and simple thank you.  Thank you for your time, your imaginations, your heartaches and joy.  Thank you for 20 years of cosmic rock n roll. This year the music is only for you as we celebrate what has been, what is now and whatever will be"
.- Chris Robinson
" At this milestone in our career, I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to spend my life making music.  It's been 20 years since we started out on this journey.  I would like to extend my deep gratitude to all of our fans who have been there with us along the way.  We would not have gotten here without your support.  Every night I stand on the stage I feel great pride and respect for what we share with our fans."
-Rich Robinson

The Black Crowes - Seeing Things