28th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival – The West Coast’s Largest Free Jazz Festival Returns July 7 & 8, 2012 from 10am – 6pm

Featuring Kim Nalley in a Special Tribute to Etta James,

Jai Uttal, The King Brothers, and Many More for Two Days of Music, Food and Art

(San Francisco, CA--June 21, 2012)…The West Coast’s largest free jazz festival returns this summer with a weekend of live music, gourmet food and local arts and crafts.  On Saturday and Sunday, July 7 & 8, the 28^th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival, on Fillmore Street between Jackson and Eddy, will showcase the Bay Area’s most talented musicians across the full spectrum of jazz music accompanied by a festival infused with the local flavors and culture of San Francisco’s historic Fillmore District.

This year’s festival will feature more than two dozen bands performing on three different stages, including a heartfelt tribute to Etta James performed each afternoon on the California Street Stage by Kim Nalley, one of the Bay Area’s most acclaimed jazz and blues vocalists. Other performers on the California Street Stage include Radio Jazz, Foxtails Brigade, the Mark Rapp Group, the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Venissa Santi, and the Michael Orenstein Group presented by The Jazzschool.

The Sutter Street – Beyond Stage will feature the best of Bay Area’s world music performers. Saturday’s line-up will feature Dana Leong, the West Africa Hi Life Band, and Locura; while Sunday will focus on Latin-infused jazz music featuring Homengem Brasileira Feminina, Jai Uttal and the Queen of Hearts Orchestra, Yaelisa Y Caminos Flamencos, and the Hip Spanic Allstars.

The Eddy Street Stage will feature a wide variety of the Bay Area’s favorite Blues and R&B performers, including Carlos Zalcito, Dwight Carrier, Bobbie Webb and the Smooth Blues Band Show featuring Vinnie Florres and Paul Palizzola (a.k.a. Paul from the Streets), The King Brothers, Consonance, Jaye & Friends, Scary Larry 8 Piece Band, Coltrain and Sister Monica.

From sunup to sundown, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is a celebration of art and soul right in the heart of San Francisco.  Each year, the Fillmore Jazz Festival attracts more than 90,000 jazz aficionados and music lovers from all over the Bay Area to celebrate and enjoy a rich musical tradition of live jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel while taking in the diverse local culture and cuisine of the storied Fillmore area. 

The Fillmore Jazz Festival offers twelve blocks of music, fine arts and crafts, gourmet food and beverages. Art and crafts include photography, painting, woodwork, metalwork, jewelry, pottery, clothing, hats, and children’s toys – over 200 artists and craftsmen.  Delicious “street food” includes oysters, calamari, fish & chips, grilled chicken, BBQ pork, jambalaya, tri-tip and organic fruits and veggies accompanied by fine wine and beer.

The Fillmore Jazz Festival is hosted by the Fillmore Street Merchants and Improvement Association and produced by Steven Restivo Event Services. Special thanks to our sponsors, including Armstrong Installation Service, ZipCar, TANG Newspaper Marketing Group/San Francisco Chronicle, Xfinity-Comcast, Provident Credit Union, AT&T Advertising Solutions, Summerwinds Resorts/Midvest Equities/Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Stage Active Brand Marketing/Jadot, Renewal by Andersen Bay Area, Polk Audio inc, Bath Fitter, San Francisco Giants, RMD Group, Bay Home & Window, American Laser Skin Care, KBLX, Ellis Eye, Getaround, Ride the Ducks, Inspira Marketing Group/Maille Mustard, Alcone/Wonka, RedPeg Marketing/GEICO, On the Avenue Marketing- NY Times, San Francisco magazine.

                                                    

28^th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival –

The West Coast’s Largest Free Jazz Festival Returns

July 7 & 8, 2012 from 10am – 6pm

Featuring Kim Nalley in a Special Tribute to Etta James,

Jai Uttal, The King Brothers, and Many More for Two Days of Music, Food and Art

WHAT:          28th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival –

The West Coast’s Largest Free Jazz Festival Returns

Twelve blocks of music, fine arts and crafts, gourmet food and beverages.

WHERE:        Fillmore Street, between Jackson and Eddy, San Francisco

WHEN:          Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8

                        10am to 6pm

LINE-UP:      

           

SATURDAY, JULY 7 

California Street Stage:

10:00 - 11:00:  Radio Jazz

11:35 - 12:45: Foxtails Brigade

1:15 - 2:25:      TSP: The Song Project

2:55 - 4:00:      Contemporary Jazz Orchestra

4:30 - 6PM:     Kim Nalley - Dedicated to Etta James

Sutter Street Stage - Beyond Stage    

10:00 - 11:30:  Dana Leong

12:00 - 1:30:    West African Hi Life Band

2:10 - 3:40:      Locura

4:15 - 6:00:      Jai Uttal and the Queen of Hearts Orchestra

Eddy Street Stage    

10:00 - 11:00:  Carlos Zalcito - (R & B)

12:00 - 1:30:    Dwight Carrier - (Blues Zydeco)

2:00 - 4:00:      Bobbie Webb & The Smooth Blues Band Show (Featuring) Vinnie Florres and Paul Palizzola a.k.a Paul From The Streets

4:30 - 6:00:      The King Brothers

O'Farrell Street Stage Dance Floor

12:00 - 12:30: Lesson by Swing U (no partner & no experience needed)

12:30 - 2:30:    Dance floor with DJ's by Swing U

2:30 - 3:00:      Lesson by Swing U (no partner & no experience needed)

3:00 - 6:00:      Dancing continues with guest DJ's and bands to be added by Swing U at SFSwingFest.com

SUNDAY, JULY 8

California Street Stage    

10:00 - 11:15:  Jazzschool Presents Michael Orenstein Group

11:45 - 1:15:    Venissa Santi

1:45 - 3:30:      Norbert Stachel and Electric Forecast featuring Ray Obiedo

4:00 - 6:00:      Kim Nalley - Dedicated to Etta James

   

Sutter Street Stage - Beyond Stage    

10:00 - 11:15:  Homenagem Brasileira Feminina

11:50 - 1:30:    Jai Uttal and the Queen of Hearts Orchestra

2:10 - 3:40:      Yaelisa Y Caminos Flamencos

4:15 - 6:00:      Hip Spanic Allstars

   

Eddy Street Stage    

10:00 - 11:00:  Consonance - (Gospel)

11:30 - 12:30:  Jaye & Friends From The Fillmore- (R & B)

1:00 - 2:00:      Scary Larry & The Monster- (R & B)

2:30 - 3:30:      Coltrane- (Jazz)

4:00 - 6:00:      Sista Monica

O'Farrell Street Stage Dance Floor

12:00 - 12:30: Lesson by Swing U (no partner & no experience needed)

12:30 - 2:30:    Dance floor with DJ's by Swing U

2:30 - 3:00:      Pin-up, Lindy & any-swing-goes Jack & Jill contest by Swing U

3:00 - 6:00:      Dancing continues with guest DJ's and bands to be added by Swing U at SFSwingFest.com

TICKETS:     The Fillmore Jazz Festival is FREE and open to the public

INFO:             Call 800-310-6563 or visit FillmoreJazzFestival.com

# # # #

Tony Saunders Romancing the Bass.

Tony Saunders the son of the late great keyboardist Merl Saunders was destine to be a musician. Merl Saunders got his son Tony started at an early age, by the time he was five he was singing. At the age of eight was playing the piano and his teachers were Herbie Hancock and Sly Stone, when he was ten Sly gave him an organ. Tony was awarded a prestigious fellowship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for the piano. Tony started playing the bass at the age of fourteen. Tony his brother Merl Jr., and Sister Susan known as The Man Child Singers wrote a jingle for the San Francisco Giants in 1969. When Tony was eighteen he began playing with Merl Saunders & the Rainforest Band as a featured musician. Other musicians who had an influence in Tony’s love of the bass were Chuck Rainey, Jack Cassidy and John Kahn. Tony was turned on to James Jamerson by John Kahn and Tony modeled his playing after all of his teachers. Tony was also influenced by other great bass players like Stanley Clarke, Alphonso Johnson, Rufus Reid, Ralphe Armstrong and Marcus Miller. Tony Saunders also has a love for Gospel music, when he has at the age of fourteen he met the Hawkins they inspired him to play the bass. Tony has played with some of Gospels greats like Andrae Crouch, the Clark Sisters, Reverend James Moore, Daryl Coley, James Cleveland and the Williams Brothers. Tony Saunders also gives back to his community and charities he has performed on behalf of Seva Foundation, the Rex Foundation, Rock for Hope, the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, and the Rainforest Action Network. Tony Saunders Tony Saunders has a new CD that is to be released October 26, 2011, called “Romancing The Bass” this album has an piano solo by Merl Saunders on the song “Song for my Dad” this is a beautiful song. I also like “Heart Song” and “Melody In My Heart”. Tony Saunders CD release party is at Yoshi’s in San Francisco on October 26. 2011 if your in San Francisco stop by you will have a great time. You can listen to Tony Saunders “Romancing The Bass” on Streetwise Radio.

LM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Saunders_%28bassist%29

Groove 55 “En Route” Now Playing on Streetwise Radio

Groove 55 presents its new release “En Route”, an uptempo smooth jazz album, foot-tapping, rhythm blended & steeped in rich harmonic original melodies!

Collectively, the four band members bring decades of music experience to the project having worked with Oliver Jones, Gregory Charles, & Zachary Richard to name but a few. So it seems almost fitting that they would come together as a unified collective to share in their many years of creative experience and knowledge to create “En Route”.

The Groove 55 members, all very talented esteemed musicians, consists of Yves Adam (alto, tenor & soprano sax) a graduate of McGill’s music faculty in jazz performance as well as teaching saxophone at The Montreal International Jazz festival Blues Camp. Jacques Mignault (Rhodes, piano, clavinet, synths)studied alongside Art Roberts at Montreal’s Concordia University, he would later go on to win the inaugural grand prize of the Roland Synthesizer music contest among hundred’s of entrants spanning over 22 countries that was judged by the late great Oscar Peterson. Yves Nadeau (bass) is a veteran of the Montreal Jazz scene, having played hundred’s of shows on stages all over Quebec with his bands Solstice & Expresso. Rounding out the Montreal quartet is Jacques Gagne (drums) he himself well known and ensconced early on with some of the biggest TV shows in Quebec and on the touring scene – Together they make up Groove 55 the number that has the remarkable property of being the 10th number of the Fibonacci suite and is the sum of the numbers 1 to 10…..The most important part is it’s groove and this band has it in spades with their new release “EnRoute”!

Our MySpace group page is at: www.myspace.com/groove55jazz

Pamela Rose: Jazz Artist Celebrates Women Songwriters

Pamela Rose: Jazz Artist Celebrates Women Songwriters

By Shelah Moody

Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Rose

            Pamela Rose is one of the Bay Area’s most prolific jazz and blues artists.  Along with being a vocalist, Rose is also an accomplished arranger, songwriter and organist who has toured with the late Merl Saunders and the Zasu Pitts Memorial Orchestra to name a few.

“I love San Francisco and the Bay Area, said Rose, who is married to Steven Dinkelspiel, publisher of “San Francisco” magazine. “I didn’t grow up here, but I feel like it’s the only place I’d want to live.”

            This week, Rose will bring her multi-media show, “Wild Women of Song,” which celebrates some of America’s finest female songwriters, including Peggy Lee, to Yoshi’s, Oakland (Nov. 9) and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz (Nov. 11).

Rose will be backed by a predominantly female band which includes Tammy Hall (piano), Kristen Strom (saxophone), Ruth Davies (bass), Kent Bryson (drums) and Jeff Massanari (guitar).

Q: Tell us about your show, “Wild Women of Song…”

A: It’s not just the music; it’s a whole research project and a very different kind of jazz show.  About a year ago, I recorded an album called “Wild Women of Song: Gal Composers of the Jazz Era,” which was focused on the jazz standards and the American songbooks that were written by women. Songwriters are very important to me. I realized that I knew almost nothing about these women, unless they were famous singers. As an   old literature major, I started digging around, and I was totally fascinated about the research that popped up. What I’ll be doing at (my shows) is a multi-media show.  I project these photo archives of these women and tell their stories and then we perform the music. It’s a jazz and blues show for sure with some great local men and women performers. It’s also a larger educational project that tells compelling stories. We did the show in London and at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. We’ll be performing at the Sonoma Valley Jazz Society and at Feinstein’s in New York in January. There are a lot of exciting things happening for this show. We love these gals. These are some pretty feisty, prolific, hard working women and it’s kind of wonderful to get in their heads.                    

Q: Tell us about some of these women songwriters that you will be celebrating.

A: For instance, there’s Doris Fisher, who wrote a lot of great songs like “You Always Hurt the One You Love,” “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall” and “Put the Blame on Mame.” She was actually called the Queen of the Juke Box, because she wrote so many hit songs. In terms of songwriting royalties, she completely trumped her father and brothers by being gold. Then, she had this fascinating after music life where she became interested in antiques had a little antique store in L.A.  Jackie Kennedy actually had her flown out to help consult about decorating the White House; she was so impressed with her.

Another would be Kay Swift. She was not as prolific as some as these women, but she wrote “Fine and Dandy” and “Can We Be Friends.” The interesting thing about her is that she had a very public and interesting relationship with George Gershwin, her romantic and musical soul mate. Her handwriting and suggestions appeared on Gershwin’s manuscripts from the day they met. Gershwin’s family acknowledges that a lot of his productivity was amazing probably because of her helping him. All the stories are on wildwomenofsong.com.  

Q: Out of all the songs written by women composers, which are your favorites?

A: Oh, it changes every time. Right now, I’m really loving “Just for a Thrill,” which was written by Lil Hardin Armstrong; it’s a ballad that she wrote as a torch song for her husband, Louis Armstrong. Lil was one of the first jazz pianists. She was playing with King Oliver’s Creole Jazz band in Chicago in the 1920s, before (Louis) joined the band.

Q: What was it like working with Merl Sanders?

A: Merl got me my start, really. I was so young when he took me on the road with him. He was so patient with me, because I was so green. I’m kind of crazy about the Hammond B3 organ and I still play with a couple of local organist. Merl really got me hooked on that particular instrument.

Pamela Rose performs:

Tonight, 8:00 p.m, Yoshi’s 's Jazz Club,  510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland.  www.yoshis.com/oakland.

Thursday, Nov 11, 7:00 p.m, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, 320 Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, www. www.kuumbwajazz.org.

For more information, go to http://www.pamelarose.com.

CLUB SQUISITO

CLUB SQUISITO is a jazz-duo composed by Valerio Semplici, member of Black Box - band which dominated the dance scene for a ten year period from 80 to 90's year, and which with the successfull hit "Ride on Time" climbed the musical charts all around the world - and by Mirco (B)ertani, a professional dj and radio anchorman. Club Squisito received excellent reviews by the italian specialized press for the first single in own Menu EP, and received many other positives reactions on differtent internet blogs. The track entered into the first 10 singles hit parade of the singles sold on Juno UK.The second track "Fade Away" has been insterted into the compilation "Styled in Italy Volume 2"edited by Stefanno Cecchi Records. The third single "Miss You EP" is a sale success in Japan and has been broadcasted by ZIP FM. The consacration for the 2 artists arrived with the double vinyl Naked, with the featuring of Zhana Saunders, New Yorker vocalist, who collaboraed with big american artists and band (like DEEE-LITE, BILL LASWELL, MASTERS AT WORK). Naked is comprising 8 versions which range over from the deep house to the jazz, with electro-funk injections.The Odyze's versions are to emphasize, he is an italian artist transplant to New York since many years. His versions are a ambient-pop with a strong emotional mark. Naked has been chosen for the compilation "Fashion Week", which collects the range of the most famous musics used for the fashion shows of New York, London, Milan, Paris and in the compilation "Fashion Clinic", launched in Portugal for the famous fashion and cosmetic Company.The new CD "MAMAYOMA" is a fusion of jazz,electronic music and pop... received excellent reviews In all the Club Squisito's publications there is the artistic/compositive presence and cooperation of Barbara Truzzi, alias Barbara O’Neil. . The production of Club Squisito supported by: CHARLES WEBSTER, ROCCO, MOODYMAN, BEN WATT, TOM MIDDLETON, JIMPSTER, HIDEO KOBAYASHI... In December 2010 forthcoming double cd "WELCOME TO THE CLUB" 2005/2010 CONTAINS THE BEST TRACKS BY CLUB SQUISITO and unreleased
track "BABY TRIP"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXZ8OAo_0kM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oNOPeuLYVE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnml09iQFUQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfdwj_8Rhc4

Stanley Jordan

Stanley Jordan via last.fm

Stanley Jordan is a 50-year old American jazz guitarist from Chicago, Illinois, who is one of the most educated, deep-thinking musicians of his time!  He started studying and playing the piano at age six, before shifting focus to the guitar when he was eleven.

Jordan soon began playing in rock and soul bands, before winning his first award at the 'Reno Jazz Festival' in 1976, however, even more amazing was his rise to educational heights.  In 1981, Jordan received a BA degree in digital music composition from Princeton University, and another degree from Harvard by the end of that same year...while at the same time playing guitar with Benny Carter and Dizzy Guillespie.

It was during this time that Jordan also developed a now-famous "tapping" technique with his guitar by hammering the string against the fret board with your finger, where-by you can produce a note with one hand.

"You don't need to pluck or strum, because the impact of the string hitting the fret causes the string to vibrate", assures Jordan.  "You can use either hand or both, tapping simultaneously and performing independant parts, which easily produces a level of musical and orchestral complexity found only on keyboard instruments".

"I've used the technique on Fender Stratocasters, Gibson Les Pauls and ES-175's, Travis Beans, and others.  Chances are you can apply the technique to your own guitar with a few minor adjustments".

Jordan credits 1950's guitarist Jimmy Webster as the first to use this approach, and claims this "touch" technique(now used world-wide) provides limitless possibilities for musical exploration on the guitar.

During the 1980's, Jordan toured the jazz festival circuit playing at the 'Kool and Montreaux International' festivals, and the 'Concord Jazz Festival' in California....while also jamming with Quincy Jones, Michael Urbaniak, and Richie Cole.

However, since working at 'Birdland Jazz Club' in New York through 1990, Jordan has kept a low profile after becoming upset with several music factions who wanted to claim the "Jordan" sound as their own...thus placing market constraints and demands on him and his music.

But, through it all Jordan has managed to put out thirteen albums, the most notable and recent called "State of Nature".  It is a series of guitar instrumentals that reflect on the relationship between humankind and the natural world.

Through music, Jordan tries to address Man's inharmony toward self, other, and nature....using music to illuminate answers to questions like: "How can we be so knowingly destructive to the enviornment and yet not change our ways, and how might we develop ourselves on the inside to become more harmonious with nature"? Pretty deep for a jazz guitarist!

Jordan's hit single on the album 'Steppin Out', was one of two in his career nominated for Grammy's for Best Pop Instrumental.  Following a brief marriage, Jordan had a 26-year old daughter named Julia,  a singer/song writer living Los Angeles,California who recently released an album called 'Urban Legacy'... which won positive reviews in 2007.

As for Stanley Jordan, he currently lives in Sedona, Arizona and is entrenched in the deep study of music therapy, after becoming a spokesperson for the the American Music Therapy Association.  Not surprisingly, he also attends Arizona State University and is working on a Masters degree in, what else...music therapy!  

Thanks, and keep listening to Streetwise Radio!

PeteaCam4

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George Duke

Image by Haags Uitburo via Flickr

George Duke was born on January 12, 1946 in San Rafael California. George Duke went to Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music from San Francisco Conservatory in 1967. George Duke was raised in Marin City. When he was four years old his mother took him to a Duke Ellington concert, he said his mother told him he went crazy. George said his mother said he ran around saying ’Get me a piano, get me a piano!’ He started studying the piano at the age seven, absorbing his black roots in his local Baptist Church, he said “That’s when I started playing funky”. George Duke teamed up with a young singer named Al Jarreau they formed a group which be became the house band at Half Note Club in San Francisco. George later received a Masters Degree in composition from San Francisco University and taught a course on Jazz And American Culture at Merrit Junior College in Oakland. George Duke heard on a local jazz station that violinist Jean-Luc Ponty was coming to California to record, he sent a tape and a note to Dick Bock at World Pacific Records saying “There is no other pianist for this guy but me”, I guess when your George Duke you have that kind of clout. George made a name for himself with the album The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. The first time I saw George Duke was at ‘Soul on the Green’ concert at the Oakland Stadium in the summer of 1979. When he came out playing “Dukey Stick” the crowd went wild, that was truly one of my highlights that summer. In the mid 1970s George appeared on a number of Frank Zappa’s albums, Chunga’s Revenge, 200 Motel, Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo, Apostrophe, Over-Nite Sensation, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury and Roxy & Elsewhere. George Duke became a solo artist in 1976 with his fusion oriented LP’s ‘From Me To You‘ and in 1978 his funk flavored album ‘Reach For It’ this made George reach high on the charts from small clubs to large arenas George Duke other collaboration include Stanley Clark, Billy Cobham, Cannonball Adderley, his cousin Dianne Reeves, Deniece Williams Jeffrey Osborne, George Clinton, Anita Baker, Regina Belle, Rachelle Ferrell, Marilyn Scott and Mike Mainieri’s fusion group Step Ahead. George Duke was also producer and composer on two of Miles Davis tracks “Backyard Ritual” and “Cobra”.

George latest project is George Duke ‘Dukey Treats’, I like “Every Day Hero’ it is funky. Today is George Dukes birthday, Happy Birthday George God Bless and Keep Bringing The Funk .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Duke

http://www.georgeduke.com/biography.html

LM

GROVER WASHINGTON JR

THE LEGENDARY GROVER WASHINGTON JR

I remember hearing Grover Washington JR for the first time when I was 10 years old. My dad just got a reel to reel tape recorder; he was making a jazz tape. “MR Magic” was playing, I ask dad who that was and what instrument was that. “He said baby that’s Grover Washington JR and he’s
playing the Saxophone”. From that day on I have loved the Saxophone. In addition to “MR Magic, “Black Frost” and “The Best Is Yet to come” were his memorable hits. Grover Washington JR was known as the founding father
of the smooth jazz genre. He played on Bill Withers song “Just the Two of Us” it still plays on the radio today. Grover Washington JR smooth jazz genre brought to the forefront Kenny G, Steve Cole, Pamela Williams, Najee, and George Howard. Grover Washington JR from Seventies through the
Nineties left his mark on the music world, his genius is truly missed.