WELCOME TO DESERT BREEZE PARK
WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR COMMENT CARDS FROM LAST YEAR.
ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK WILL BE A SHADE AREA CONSISTING
OF MORE TREES FOR YOU TO COOL OFF DURING THE DAY.
WE HAVE REVIEWED YOUR COMMENT CARDS FROM LAST YEAR.
ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARK WILL BE A SHADE AREA CONSISTING
OF MORE TREES FOR YOU TO COOL OFF DURING THE DAY.
OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO YOU... OUR LOYAL FANS WILL BE
MORE GENERAL ADMISSION GATES AND SPEEDIER COOLER CHECK POINTS.
IN ADDITION, THEIR WILL BE MORE FOOD AND DRINK VENDORS
AND THE SOUND SYSTEM WILL BE DOUBLED THIS NEXT YEAR
WE GUARENTEE THAT EVERYONE ATTENDING WILL HAVE GREAT SOUND
EVEN AT THE FURTHEST POINT FROM THE STAGE.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM LAST YEARS FESTIVAL
EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME !
VIP AND GENERAL ADMISSION PATRON VIEW
PHOTO LEFT PHIL PERRY AND CROWD
PHOTO CENTER STEVE COLE, JEFF GOLUB, PETER WHITE, RICHARD ELLIOT
PHOTO RIGHT FLYING FREDDIE RAVEL AND CROWD
PHOTO LEFT CHUCK LOEB AND KIM WATERS,
PHOTO CENTER BRENDA RUSSELL,
PHOTO RIGHT BOB BALDWIN
PHOTO LEFT RICHARD ELLIOT,
PHOTO CENTER JEFF GOLUB,
PHOTO RIGHT KIM WATERS
2003 10th Annual JAZZ FESTIVAL REVIEW
The gale force winds that blew out of the Red Rock National
Recreational area west of Las Vegas the night before the 10th Annual City
of Lights Jazz Festival were no where to be found on a bright and sunny
Saturday that saw over 10,000 jazz fans perched on the grounds of the
Desert Breeze Park with their picnic baskets and lawn chairs.
The
only wind howlilng today was from the melodious wind 
instruments, and the velvety jazz
vocals. Everyone thinks of Paris as the city of lights, but Vegas can
account to that claim in both the power of the Strip wattage, and the
power of the jazz performers that makes this festival better each year.
The City of Lights Jazz festival has steadily increased in size and
scope, bringing fans as far away as London, Los Angeles,
New York and New Orleans.
The
mid afternoon headliner was what made this jazz festival special for me.
Kim Waters has built a solid fan base over the last six or seven years.
Waters started his musical training on the violin, but luckily for us, he
switched to the saxophone later in his career. Waters performed his set
with trusted mate, guitarist Chuck Loeb. Word has it that Waters still
plays the violin.
It is hard to believe that the throaty, gutsy sax
that Water displayed was actually influenced by Lawrence Welk, with a
Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderly twist thrown in. Now that is
cross-generational culture. Between the violin lessons and the performance
we witnessed in Vegas, Waters also toyed with rhythm and blues, actually
cutting a couple of albums, before switching to contemporary jazz.
The hot spring sun pressed the jazz press core in the VIP section
(the best seating for only a few bucks more that general admission made
all the difference) to seek a quest for beers and the spicy Thai food
served by vendors stretching behind the General Admission crowd, or you
could hit the VIP booze section.
It was enjoyable to see a man mastering his music, and
Waters has performed in the past with the late vocalist Phyllis Hyman and
pianist Cyrus Chestnut. He also cut an album with Isaac Hayes. Waters has
recorded some hits, including, 'Waterfall', a long twenty minute lament
that kept everyone's attention at the festival; and he had a hit with 'In
the House', which he performed with Loeb on this fun Vegas jazz event.
Probably his biggest hit to date is the CD "Someone To Love You" that was
on the contemporary jazz charts for over eight months, but years ago. This
is the first time that Waters and Loeb performed at the City of Lights
Jazz Festival, but hopefully they return next year.
Prior to Waters, Freddie Ravel got the Festival going
in the right direction with hot latin jazz that energized the festival fans.
He was followed by keyboardist Bob Baldwin,
accompanied by vocalist Phil Perry and sax player Marion Meadows. Baldwin
played like it was a snapshot of life itself, performing with passion,
creativity and uniqueness. Baldwin is a spiritual player that is united in
his music. His debut album was a masterpiece, released in 1990, and called
"Rejoice!" He also has an exceptional indie release called "City Sketches
1: Welcome to the Games" that is not as Gospel slanted as his debut, but
the indie cut pays homage to the Olympic Games, where he performed in the
Olympic Village.
It was wonderful to see his Nevada debut with his
latest album "Standing Tall" that mixed the '70s funk with contemporary
keyboard licks. It was an uplifting rendition of cuts that he had
performed with singer Will Downing and Meadows at the World Trade Center
site after 9/11 as part of the New York smooth jazz radio station CDs
101's jazz series, one of the few recorded responses to the tragedy. He
also had recorded 'America The Beautiful' and 'God Bless America' on that
CD. Waters and Loeb, meanwhile put out their own homily to the shattering
skyscrapers with the "American Spirit" CD - with both CDs recorded on the
Shanachie Label.
Baldwin had a #7 Billboard hit with 'Reflections of
Love', which he performed for us; it was cut before Atlantic Records
closed their jazz section. He has been with Shanachie ever since, with his
first waxing with them in 1997 with "Cool Breeze". He has a viable success
(he has a business degree) selling his CDs on the internet, going so far
to name one of albums "Bobbaldwin.com". He received a lot of free
advertising when the deejays announced that a song was from
"Bobbaldwin.com" What a genius marketing idea.
I don't know if he played anything from Bobbaldwin.com this day, and I
had not lugged my laptop to the festival to download any of the album, but
the sunny, breezy atmosphere reflected the notes spilling off the stage. I
am certain to pick up both Waters and Baldwin CDs soon.
Baldwin has been blessed with superb pitch, a genetic
anomaly given to him by his jazz pianist father who performed with Art
Davis, Keter Betts and Max Roach. His mother's cousin was Blood, Sweat and
Tears first keyboardist. So he had in-house musical training from the day
one. Masters of the art form start early.
Baldwin is serving as the
first ambassador of jazz as the musical director for the upcoming
Brazilian American Jazz Festival. Or you can find out his travels at,
where else,"BobBaldwin.com".
Another hit at this year's festival was
Brenda Russell, who I saw first at the Barbados Jazz Festival a few years
back. She is a world-renowned performer, singer, songwriter, arranger and
producer. She has toured with Dave Koz, and performed with Diana Ross,
Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle and Kirk Whalem, and many others. She is a
tremendous talent, all on her own.
The sun left the mountains to the West of the stage
in a solid slate sheet of coolness, when the coolness of Richard Elliot's
sax hit the Desert Breeze Park temporary band shell. Eliot performed with
acoustic guitarist Peter White, sax player Steve Cole, and electric
guitarist Jeff Golub - as the last act of the night.
Elliot has produced over 13 albums of
jazz (11 with Blue Note, the last two with GRP) throughout his exuberant
17-year career. He hit the scene with the debut album "Initial Approach"
in 1986, and hasn't looked back since, with each disk getting more
airplay, promotion, and funding. He played numerous cuts this evening from
his latest GRP CD, "Ricochet".
He seems to write and play about things
he loves in his life. An example is that as a private licensed pilot, he
scored a modest success with "Take To The Skies". Maybe he will be a
Nellis Thunderbird pilot, with his Fairchild Metroliner parked at the
Vegas military airbase, rather than with the photoged Blue Angels depicted
in his flight of fancy jewel case on that album. Vegas is an Air Force
town! He needs the Metroliner for his extensive tour dates, including the
tour de force "Guitars and Sax" schedule (http://www.richardelliot.com/).
I profoundly
thought that Kim Waters on sax had a more versatile and creative touch
than Elliot's renditio
ns, but that is what separates jazz fans - their own
personal tastes. Local Vegans are just happy to have jazz at all, in a
town that was once the hotbed of jazz and swing. Most of the major jazz
clubs have closed down, including the Blue Note Jazz Club. The Four Queens
no longer offers Monday night jazz.
And
even the local musician's union (now defunct) was ineffective in promoting
jazz artists in a not so long ago haven for jazz. Michael Schivo deserves
credit in his endeavours to bring his 39 years of concert promoting to the
populace with this year's City of Lights festival hit, in cooperation with
Las Vegas Events, Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, Clark
County Parks and Recreation, and 105.7 The Oasis. Partial proceeds from
the festival benefit the Clark County Parks and Community Services
donation fund for scholarships.
By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine.
MORE GENERAL ADMISSION GATES AND SPEEDIER COOLER CHECK POINTS.
IN ADDITION, THEIR WILL BE MORE FOOD AND DRINK VENDORS
AND THE SOUND SYSTEM WILL BE DOUBLED THIS NEXT YEAR
WE GUARENTEE THAT EVERYONE ATTENDING WILL HAVE GREAT SOUND
EVEN AT THE FURTHEST POINT FROM THE STAGE.
CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM LAST YEARS FESTIVAL
EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME !
VIP AND GENERAL ADMISSION PATRON VIEW
PHOTO LEFT PHIL PERRY AND CROWD
PHOTO CENTER STEVE COLE, JEFF GOLUB, PETER WHITE, RICHARD ELLIOT
PHOTO RIGHT FLYING FREDDIE RAVEL AND CROWD
PHOTO LEFT CHUCK LOEB AND KIM WATERS,
PHOTO CENTER BRENDA RUSSELL,
PHOTO RIGHT BOB BALDWIN
PHOTO LEFT RICHARD ELLIOT,
PHOTO CENTER JEFF GOLUB,
PHOTO RIGHT KIM WATERS
2003 10th Annual JAZZ FESTIVAL REVIEW
The gale force winds that blew out of the Red Rock National
Recreational area west of Las Vegas the night before the 10th Annual City
of Lights Jazz Festival were no where to be found on a bright and sunny
Saturday that saw over 10,000 jazz fans perched on the grounds of the
Desert Breeze Park with their picnic baskets and lawn chairs.
The
only wind howlilng today was from the melodious wind instruments, and the velvety jazz
vocals. Everyone thinks of Paris as the city of lights, but Vegas can
account to that claim in both the power of the Strip wattage, and the
power of the jazz performers that makes this festival better each year.
The City of Lights Jazz festival has steadily increased in size and
scope, bringing fans as far away as London, Los Angeles,
New York and New Orleans.The
mid afternoon headliner was what made this jazz festival special for me.
Kim Waters has built a solid fan base over the last six or seven years.
Waters started his musical training on the violin, but luckily for us, he
switched to the saxophone later in his career. Waters performed his set
with trusted mate, guitarist Chuck Loeb. Word has it that Waters still
plays the violin.
It is hard to believe that the throaty, gutsy sax
that Water displayed was actually influenced by Lawrence Welk, with a
Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderly twist thrown in. Now that is
cross-generational culture. Between the violin lessons and the performance
we witnessed in Vegas, Waters also toyed with rhythm and blues, actually
cutting a couple of albums, before switching to contemporary jazz.
The hot spring sun pressed the jazz press core in the VIP section
(the best seating for only a few bucks more that general admission made
all the difference) to seek a quest for beers and the spicy Thai food
served by vendors stretching behind the General Admission crowd, or you
could hit the VIP booze section. It was enjoyable to see a man mastering his music, and
Waters has performed in the past with the late vocalist Phyllis Hyman and
pianist Cyrus Chestnut. He also cut an album with Isaac Hayes. Waters has
recorded some hits, including, 'Waterfall', a long twenty minute lament
that kept everyone's attention at the festival; and he had a hit with 'In
the House', which he performed with Loeb on this fun Vegas jazz event.
Probably his biggest hit to date is the CD "Someone To Love You" that was
on the contemporary jazz charts for over eight months, but years ago. This
is the first time that Waters and Loeb performed at the City of Lights
Jazz Festival, but hopefully they return next year.Prior to Waters, Freddie Ravel got the Festival going
in the right direction with hot latin jazz that energized the festival fans.
He was followed by keyboardist Bob Baldwin,
accompanied by vocalist Phil Perry and sax player Marion Meadows. Baldwin
played like it was a snapshot of life itself, performing with passion,
creativity and uniqueness. Baldwin is a spiritual player that is united in
his music. His debut album was a masterpiece, released in 1990, and called
"Rejoice!" He also has an exceptional indie release called "City Sketches
1: Welcome to the Games" that is not as Gospel slanted as his debut, but
the indie cut pays homage to the Olympic Games, where he performed in the
Olympic Village.
It was wonderful to see his Nevada debut with his
latest album "Standing Tall" that mixed the '70s funk with contemporary
keyboard licks. It was an uplifting rendition of cuts that he had
performed with singer Will Downing and Meadows at the World Trade Center
site after 9/11 as part of the New York smooth jazz radio station CDs
101's jazz series, one of the few recorded responses to the tragedy. He
also had recorded 'America The Beautiful' and 'God Bless America' on that
CD. Waters and Loeb, meanwhile put out their own homily to the shattering
skyscrapers with the "American Spirit" CD - with both CDs recorded on the
Shanachie Label. Baldwin had a #7 Billboard hit with 'Reflections of
Love', which he performed for us; it was cut before Atlantic Records
closed their jazz section. He has been with Shanachie ever since, with his
first waxing with them in 1997 with "Cool Breeze". He has a viable success
(he has a business degree) selling his CDs on the internet, going so far
to name one of albums "Bobbaldwin.com". He received a lot of free
advertising when the deejays announced that a song was from
"Bobbaldwin.com" What a genius marketing idea.
I don't know if he played anything from Bobbaldwin.com this day, and I
had not lugged my laptop to the festival to download any of the album, but
the sunny, breezy atmosphere reflected the notes spilling off the stage. I
am certain to pick up both Waters and Baldwin CDs soon. Baldwin has been blessed with superb pitch, a genetic
anomaly given to him by his jazz pianist father who performed with Art
Davis, Keter Betts and Max Roach. His mother's cousin was Blood, Sweat and
Tears first keyboardist. So he had in-house musical training from the day
one. Masters of the art form start early.
Baldwin is serving as the
first ambassador of jazz as the musical director for the upcoming
Brazilian American Jazz Festival. Or you can find out his travels at,
where else,"BobBaldwin.com".
Another hit at this year's festival was
Brenda Russell, who I saw first at the Barbados Jazz Festival a few years
back. She is a world-renowned performer, singer, songwriter, arranger and
producer. She has toured with Dave Koz, and performed with Diana Ross,
Tina Turner, Patti LaBelle and Kirk Whalem, and many others. She is a
tremendous talent, all on her own.The sun left the mountains to the West of the stage in a solid slate sheet of coolness, when the coolness of Richard Elliot's sax hit the Desert Breeze Park temporary band shell. Eliot performed with acoustic guitarist Peter White, sax player Steve Cole, and electric guitarist Jeff Golub - as the last act of the night.
Elliot has produced over 13 albums of
jazz (11 with Blue Note, the last two with GRP) throughout his exuberant
17-year career. He hit the scene with the debut album "Initial Approach"
in 1986, and hasn't looked back since, with each disk getting more
airplay, promotion, and funding. He played numerous cuts this evening from
his latest GRP CD, "Ricochet".He seems to write and play about things
he loves in his life. An example is that as a private licensed pilot, he
scored a modest success with "Take To The Skies". Maybe he will be a
Nellis Thunderbird pilot, with his Fairchild Metroliner parked at the
Vegas military airbase, rather than with the photoged Blue Angels depicted
in his flight of fancy jewel case on that album. Vegas is an Air Force
town! He needs the Metroliner for his extensive tour dates, including the
tour de force "Guitars and Sax" schedule (http://www.richardelliot.com/).I profoundly thought that Kim Waters on sax had a more versatile and creative touch than Elliot's renditio
ns, but that is what separates jazz fans - their own
personal tastes. Local Vegans are just happy to have jazz at all, in a
town that was once the hotbed of jazz and swing. Most of the major jazz
clubs have closed down, including the Blue Note Jazz Club. The Four Queens
no longer offers Monday night jazz.And
even the local musician's union (now defunct) was ineffective in promoting
jazz artists in a not so long ago haven for jazz. Michael Schivo deserves
credit in his endeavours to bring his 39 years of concert promoting to the
populace with this year's City of Lights festival hit, in cooperation with
Las Vegas Events, Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority, Clark
County Parks and Recreation, and 105.7 The Oasis. Partial proceeds from
the festival benefit the Clark County Parks and Community Services
donation fund for scholarships.
By Kriss Hammond, Editor, Jetsetters Magazine.