Houston Person, Rene Marie and Etienne Charles Among Headliners For 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

 

 Houston Person

The line up for the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, to be held February 16th through 19th , 2017 at the Hilton Hotel in Rockville, MD has been announced with over 150 artists performing. Artist groups appearing on our main stage include Rene Marie, Houston Person, Etienne Charles, Vanessa Rubin, Kathy Kosins, Paul Carr, The Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Jazz Orchestra with guest conductor Delfeayo Marsalis, Russell Malone, Bobby Broom and Paul Bollenback and Steve Turre. A first this year for the MAJF Event and its producer the Jazz Academy of Music, is the pre-festival Mardi Gras fundraiser Gala featuring our own Jazz Academy Youth Orchestra opening for Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. This pre-festival gala offers a New Orleans theme with New Orleans Jazz, New Orleans Cusines and New Orleans Fun. The Mardi Gras Galla will be held on Thursday February 16th, 2017 starting at 6pm at the Hilton. Proceeds from the Gala will support the Jazz Academy Education Programs. Also new for this year will be a Discovery Stage for which emerging artists can submit an application to Paul Carr, Executive and Artistic Director of the Festival. 

As stated this year opens with a Festival Gala on Thursday evening February 16 and features Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra. Also appearing will be the Jazz Academy of Music under Paul Carr's Direction. Friday Night opens on the Ronnie Wells Main Stage with the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Collegiate Orchestra, conducted by Delfeayo Marsalis followed by the wonderful vocalist Vanessa Rubin with tenor saxophonist Houston Person closing this evening's main stage. Herb Scott and Candice Bostwick will be performing in the MAJF Club and David Cole and Main Street Blues will be laying down blues in the MAJF Juke Joint. At Midnight, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the MAJF Midnight Jam Session with the Wes Biles Trio takes place in the MAJF Club.

Rene Marie

Saturday Afternoon has the "Mid-Atlantic "2017 Jazz Voice" Finals," the Festivals annual jazz vocal competition on the Ronnie Wells Main Stage. Performing in the MAJF Club in the afternoon are vocalist Chad Carter, the Terry Koger Sextet and Iva Jean Ambush and Ambuscade. Vocalist Iva Jean Ambush will be doing a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.

Saturday evening Kathy Kosins Group opens the Ronnie Wells Main Stage, followed by a Guitar Summit featuring: Russell Malone, Paul Bollenbeck, and Bobby Broom. Etienne Charles and Creole Soul, featuring the marvelous trumpeter will lose the Main Stage this evening. Performers in the MAJF Club this evening include Tacha Coleman Parr and Anthony Compton; and Maija Rejman, while Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark will be performing in the MAJF Juke Joint.

Sunday morning has the traditional gospel brunch and MAJF Women's Collective featuring Akua Allrich, Janelle Gill, Amy Shook, Savannah Harris are the first afternoon act on the Ronnie Wells Main Stage. Also in the Main Stage will be the Greg Hatza Organization and the Lavenia Nesmith Group who will perform a Tribute to Nancy Wilson. The Lovejoy Group and Petra Martin.

The Festival's last evening has a Tribute to Paul Carr Featuring the Paul Carr's Bantam Orchestra; the Steve Turre Quartet featuring the famed trombonist and conch shell player; and the terrific vocalist Rene Marie. The Festival concludes with the MAJF Midnight Jam Session with the Wes Biles Trio. There are likely some other performers that will be added including those at the Discovery Stage. There are also workshops, interviews with artists, screenings of film, a High School Big Band Competition and more.

Etienne Charles

The Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival continues the legacy of the East Coast Jazz Festival that ran for 15 years starting in 1992. The ECJF originated in honor of Elmore “Fish” Middleton, a Washington, DC jazz radio programmer, whose commitment to promoting jazz music and supporting emerging jazz artists became the guiding principle behind the festival. The driving force of the ECJF was the late Ronnie Wells, a Washington DC jazz icon. After her passing, so did the ECJF.

As stated on its website “The Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival (MAJF) represents an auspicious renewal of the spirit and intent of the ECJF, as a showcase for some of the DC area’s finest established and emerging artists, student ensembles, and a healthy dose of renowned touring jazz artists as well. MAJF is designed to take the ECJF mid-winter jazz festival tradition to the next level and to further enhance arts & culture in the Washington, DC region.” Under the auspices of Washington DC area saxophonist and educator, Paul Carr, the Festival has a focus on not simply bringing some of the best local and national jazz performers to the area, but to help nurture and support Jazz Education. As seen in my brief description of the Festival performances, this remains true.

For more information on the Festival, including hotel accommodations, visit http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org/tickets.

Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Returns Standing Up For The Real Jazz

Christian McBride will be a featured performer

 at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival

Presidents Day Weekend is always a reason for celebration for jazz-lovers in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area as the annual Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival returns. Standing up for real jazz, this year’s edition “will celebrate  the soulful side of Real Jazz, otherwise known as ‘Soul Jazz.”  Among those featured will be the legendary Les McCann who will lead a group that includes saxophonist Javon Jackson. But there is much more to be heard Friday Evening February 14 through Sunday night February 16 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

The Festival is organized under the leadership of saxophonist, composer and educator Paul Carr as a showcase and benefit for his Jazz Academy of Music. Performances along with workshops and educational programs characterize this event. Notable performers appearing this year include vocalists Giacoma Gates, Vanessa Rubin and Freddie Cole for Friday Night’s kickoff the Ronnie Wells Main Stage performance. Area vocalists Kristin Callahan and Heidi Martin will perform in the MAJF Club Room, while David Cole will play the blues in the Juke Joint.

Vocalist Sharon Clark

Saturday, February 15, there will be atrium performances by a variety of high school bands. At noon in the Main Stage, the Festival will present the first The Mid-Atlantic "Jazz Voice"--Vocal Competition. Next on the main stage will be three of the area’s preeminent vocalists, Sharon Clark, Dick Smith, and Lena Seikaly backed by the Chris Grasso Trio. The Ronnie Wells Main Stage that evening will present the Gary Bartz Quartet, a Trombone Summit with Delfeayo Marsalis, Frank Lacy and Steve Turre with the Christian McBride Trio closing the main stage. On Staurday, highlights of the Club Stage include Aaron Seeber Quartet (with saxophonist Tim Green); vocalists Janine Gilbert-Carter and Chad Carter; and Nadine Rae will be shouting her soulful blues in the Juke Joint.

Delfeayo Marsalis

Sunday, February 16 opens with saxophonist Bobby Watson and the Howard University Jazz Ensemble on the Main Stage. Vocalist Dee Daniels will be backed by the Eric Bryd Trio and then the legendary Benny Golson Quartet cones on. Starting the evening on the Main Stage will be trombonist Reginald Cyntje and his Group that includes steel pan player Victor Provost. Cyntje’s CD “Love” was one of the most impressive and moving new jazz releases by a Washington DC area artist in 2013. After Cyntje will be the pairing of Les McCann and Javon Jackson with the festival’s headline set. Paul Carr closes the Festival main stage with a tribute to the late pianist Mulgrew Miller with a group with Bruce Barth on piano and Steve Nelson on vibes. 

Gary Bartz

Performances in the MAJF Club sunday include the Kenny Rittenhouse Septet, The Jazz Academy Orchestra featuring Delfeayo Marsalis, and Leslie Sumney. Linwood Taylor will be playing in the Juke Joint. This night, like the other evenings, will conclude with a midnight jam in the club room led by Wes ‘Sugar’ Biles. For more information (including ticket packages and accommodations) and to support real jazz, visit the festival’s website, http://www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org.

All photos © Ron Weinstock

Cedar Walton Sounds Ageless on The Bouncer

Cedar Walton has a new release, The Bouncer (High Note) that fans of hard bop and modern jazz piano will find of interest. Walton has had an impressive career starting with his days with J.J. Johnson and Art Blakey, than the numerous sessions with bassist David Williams and the late drummer, Billy Higgins. Whether leading his own sessions or backing the likes of the late Clifford Jordan or Dexter Gordon he was predictable in the sense that one would expect rhythmically swinging, solid and fresh melodic playing and music. On this date he is joined by Williams and drummer Willie Jones III with Vincent Herring on saxophones and flute on five of the eight selections, Steve Turre on trombone for two and Ray Mantilla on percussion for one.

The opening title track is a melodic Walton original based on its tempo with Walton, Herring and Turre each taking solos that establish a lively feel. J.J. Johnson’s Lament is the first time Walton has recorded this with only a trio, and his clean, relaxed touch helps establish the mood before we are engaged with his lengthy solo. With Herring featured on tenor, Walton provides another lively swinger, Bell For Bags, followed by a lovely waltz, Halo, that showcases Herring woody tone on flute. Underground Memoirs is a sextet performance with Turre, Mantilla and Herring on board for a bossa nova tinged rendition of this somber composition with Turre featured prominently here. Drummer Jones is featured on the trio swinger, Willie’s Groove, with Williams also prominent. Williams composed Got To Get To The Island, a driving number with herring in a bluesy mood before the leader’s solo over bassist Williams firm bass lines and Jones’ rock solid groove.

Another trio number, Martha’s Prize, is another lively and youthful sounding performance that closes The Bouncer in a lively mode. While Cedar Walton may be nearing eighty, but on this recording he plays with a vigor with equally engaged players for a recording that is quite striking.

This review was originally drafted for Jazz & Blues Report and my review copy was sent to me by them. The review appeared in the February 2012 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 340). Here is a video of Cedar, David Willaims and Jimmy Cobb.

Steve Turre's Bright Musical Rainbow

Trombonist Steve Turre’s latest album, Rainbow People, is his third under the HighNote imprint and brings the veteran together with pianist Mulgrew Miller and saxophonist Kenny Garrett with whom he performed together with in Woody Shaw’s Band, along with longtime Dizzy Gillespie drummer, Ignacio Berroa (who played with Turre in the United Nation Orchestra); bassist Peter Washington and youngblood trumpeter, Sean Jones, who has toured with Turre. Percussionist Pedro Martinez, a guest here, has played in Turre’s Latin jazz Ensembles and in the Shell Choir.

Six of the nine performances are Turre originals, starting with the title track, a number that recalls some of the late Shaw’s marvelous compositions and opens with some warm trombone by the leader along with marvelous group playing throughout and a nice solo by Garrett. Turre’s tone is sublime, ranging from buttery smooth to a gruff blues bluster, and Turre’s rhythm section is wonderful throughout this date.

Turre is the sole horn on a tribute to Ray Charles, Brother Ray, with a bluesy flavor, followed the funky Groove Blues, with Garrett taking the first solo followed by Miller’s down-in-the alley piano. Midnight in Madrid, which also features trumpeter Jones, is a tone poem which conjures up thoughts of bullfighting and flamenco dancers. McCoy Tyner’s ballad, Search For Peace, may be a special highpoint in terms of not simply displaying Turre’s tone but his fertile musical mind.

Charlie Parker’s Segment, is crisply delivered bebop with crisp playing by him and Garrett. The closing Para el Comandante, is dedicated to Mario Rivera and is the only selection with all of the participants. This Latin jazz number sparkles with Garrett, Jones and Miller providing strong solos before Turre is heard on the shells.

Another excellent addition to Steve Turre’s body of recordings.

The review copy was likely provided by Jazz & Blues Report.