Brian
McNight performs through Jan. 5, Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330
Fillmore St., San Francisco (415) 655-5600,
www.yoshis.com/sanfrancisco
Greetings to
All,
I
wish all of you a joyous & prosperous new year!
For
those in the Bay Area, a great way to celebrate this new year would
be to go and support my friend, Brian McKnight.
He
is performing at Yoshi's in San Francisco with his full band.
However, I told him that he needs to hire actual HORN PLAYERS,
and stop trying to make synthesizers their substitute. He
giggled then said: "I feel you Rob." He's a funny dude &
super cool, indeed. For those here who don't know him, he is an
R&B icon; one of the best pianists / vocalists in the world,
so check him out if you are able.
Hope
to see you all at some point during this new year!
Yours,
Robert
About
Brian McKnight
As
an artist who needs no introduction, Brian McKnight has earned
himself a spot in contemporary music history. He has released 15
albums to date, seven of them have gone platinum, with several going
2 and 3x platinum, and he has sold more that 20 million albums
worldwide. McKnight is also a multi- instrumentalist who plays nine
instruments including piano, guitar bass, drums, percussions,
trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet.
In an industry known
for a constantly revolving door of artists, McKnight has easily
established himself with an enviable record of chart consistency, has
toured successfully for over a decade, and has collaborated with
performers across every genre including Quincy Jones, Justin
Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Diddy, Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts,
Nelly, Vanessa Williams, Willie Nelson and Kenny G.
McKnight’s
15th studio album, “More Than Words,” once again shares with the
listener the songwriting, production, and vocal talents that have
been at the forefront of Brian’s lasting and acclaimed career.
McKnight continues to release music and perform to sold out audiences
globally. He has sold well over 20 million albums worldwide, with
several albums going multi-platinum.
McKnight is the
recipient of numerous awards including Soul Train Awards and Image
Awards, as well as 16 Grammy nominations. Additional nominations
include MTV Video Music Awards, BET Awards and American Music
Awards.
With seemingly endless talent, McKnight has
successfully crossed every medium in entertainment. From producing
some of today’s hottest acts, to a red carpet host for “Extra!”
to scoring movies for Tyler Perry, and garnering outstanding reviews
in “Chicago” on Broadway. Brian has hosted both his own
syndicated radio and TV shows simultaneously.
McKnight
is that uniquely talented individual who can multi task effortlessly
with a never ending supply of creativity.
About
Robert Stewart
Amazingly,
Robert Stewart did not even begin to play the saxophone until the age
of 17. Born and raised in Oakland, CA, basketball had been the
primary passion of his youth. His 6 ft. 4 inch frame, earned him
varsity shooting guard status on the Fremont High School basketball
team for two years. However, Stewart was struck by divine revelation
shortly after graduating from Fremont. While surfing the radio to
find a rap or R&B station, Stewart stumbled upon a traditional
jazz piece being performed by a tenor saxophonist who sounded as
though he were literally possessed or enraged. The intense pace of
the tune was unbelievable. This piece was immediately followed by
another of romantic or heavenly qualities, by a different individual;
However, playing the very same instrument. These two jazz giants were
John Coltrane and Ben Webster. The contrast in mood and timbre of the
instrument played by the previously mentioned so overwhelmed Stewart,
that he immediately asked his father to purchase a saxophone;
Stewart's father happily obliged.
Though
completely self-taught on the saxophone and music in general
(incorporating only an elementary saxophone manual for guidance),
Stewart enrolled in a Jazz Jam Session class (under the persuasion of
his ever insightful mother) hosted by the Bay Area piano legend, Ed
Kelly. Another giant of the present day was also enrolled in this
class with Stewart, Joshua Redman. As though the two previously
mentioned weren't enough for a wonderful beginning, the saxophone
titan Pharaoh Sanders would regularly jam in the class room with
Stewart and the rest. Stewart's initial reaction to the eclectic,
white bearded, tenor titan was: "Mr. Kelly, who is the dude with
the white beard hanging down to his stomach like Santa Claus?"
Kelly's response: "Man, that's Pharaoh Sanders; He played with
Trane (Coltrane)." Consequently, the mere mention of the name
(Coltrane) induced immediate respect and admiration for the bearded
tenor titan. On a similar note, Pharaoh (while Stewart was playing)
leaned over to Kelly and stated: "Ed, I hear something in this
one." Hence, Pharaoh passed Stewart a note which stated: "Come
over to my house tomorrow afternoon. I can help you with your horn."
Stewart (living only 6 blocks from Pharaoh at that time) did as
instructed. Stewart and Sanders maintain a blood brother relationship
to this day.
However,
it was through an elder Bay Area trumpeter (Robert Porter) that
Stewart was introduced to the saxophonists and music of early
America, such as Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Sidney Bechet, Lucky
Thompson, etc. Consequently, it was Stewart's vast knowledge and
performance of early American music styles that compelled the trumpet
colossus and living legend Wynton Marsalis (whom Stewart first met
and played with in a Jam Session in Oakland over a decade ago) to
hire him for his Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (in which Stewart
served a 4 year stint), and purchased a new horn for Stewart to do
so. Stewart (whom Wynton has tellingly dubbed: "THE REVEREND")
performs with Wynton and orchestra on the Columbia/Sony recordings:
“They Came To Swing,” and the Pulitzer prize winning “Blood On
The Fields.” The latter is a three-hour oratorio featuring
Cassandra Wilson and John Hendricks. Stewart has also been filmed
with Wynton on the award-winning television program Sessions At West
54th Street, “Marsalis On Music” (with legendary conductor Segi
Ozawa), and the South Bank Series for Bravo Television. Stewart has
toured the world with Marsalis and has also performed, recorded, or
toured with the following: President Bill Clinton, Dizzy Gillespie,
Max Roach, McCoy Tyner, Doc Cheatham, Benny Golson, Jimmy Smith,
Pharaoh Sanders, Eddie Harris, Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, Billy
Higgins, Donald Byrd, Barry Harris, George Coleman, Branford
Marsalis, David Murray, Kenny Kirkland, Jeff "Tain" Watts,
Bobby Hutcherson, Pony Poindexter, Big Jay McNeely, John Lee Hooker,
John Handy, Donald "Duck" Bailey, Freddie Redd, Jon Faddis,
Billy Mitchell, Etta Jones, Cassandra Wilson, Ernie Andrews, Eddie
Moore, George Cables, Ray Drummond, Chico Freeman, Roy Hargrove,
Marcus Roberts, John Hendricks, Les McCann, Cyrus Chestnut/Donald
Harrison, Joshua Redman/Brian Blade, James Carter, Bobby Watson,
Sonny Simmons, Lavay Smith, Jules Broussard, Greg Philingains
(Michael Jackson), Terri Lynn Carrington (Arsenio Hall), Lenny White
(Tower of Power), Felton Pilate (Confunkshun) and many others.
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