It
was the perfect time of year in Las Vegas to throw an outdoor party:
warm, sunny weather and no wind. And what better picnic accompaniment
than mellow, smooth jazz? (Opening photo by Carolyn Proctor.)
It
was the 11th Annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival at Desert
Breeze Park in Las Vegas, and Jetsetters Magazine was there.
This
was the ultimate outdoor party, with plenty of watchable costumes and
hats, tents and barbecues in every shape and size, personal cooking
stations, powerful cigars, cell phones, and plenty of porto-potties.
This last was a good thing since gates opened for the event at 11 a.m.
(the smart jazz fans arrived at ten for a premium parking spot) and the
music ran from noon until 10 p.m. One vendor told us there were 10,000
people there, and a park policeman said, "between three and four
thousand." In any case it was nearly sold out, a smashing success.
The
City of Lights Jazz Festival is a product of Las Vegas veteran concert
producer Michael Schivo who, as usual, had assembled some of the best
in the business.
His
choice for opening act spotlighted the relatively new Lao Tizer Band.
This is a young group with energy and charisma in concert that has been
described as "a torch bearer for a new generation of Contemporary Jazz
artists and fans." Tizer, 25, is a hot southern California pianist and
composer who released three independent CDs before he was seventeen.
"I
play what comes to me," Tizer says, "what seems natural to me." He's
been playing piano since he was eight; you can have a sample listen on
his website, www.laotizer.com. Lao Tizer believes in the power of touring and books shows according to how he can connect with the audience.
Following
the Lao Tizer Band was an ensemble of three outstanding jazz musicians:
Nick Colionne on guitar, Marcus Johnson on keyboard, and Bobby Lyle on
piano.
Noted for
playing jazz guitar on the funky side, Nick Colionne has been touring
all over the world since he was fifteen with the likes of the
Impressions, Natalie Cole, Curtis Mayfield, and The Staples Singers. He
credits much of his style to the influence of jazz greats Wes
Montgomery and George Benson, even tracking a tribute "Mr. Montgomery"
on his CD "The Seduction". "Just Come On In" is Nick's newest CD.
Marcus
Johnson, keyboard player and leader of Three Keys Music, a hot new
contemporary jazz label, completed his formal education with a law
degree and Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown
University and is self-taught on the keyboard. His music is an elegant
blend of hip-hop rhythms and contemporary jazz stylings inspired by
Quincy Jones, Joe Sample, and Thelonius Monk. His appeal to both smooth
jazz aficionados and the hip-hop crowd is rooted in what he calls
"instrumental R&B." He explains, "People hear the instrumentation
and they're ready to label it contemporary jazz. The two should not be
confused."
Bobby
Lyle, songwriter, producer, arranger, and gifted pianist has enjoyed a
successful three-decade career touring nationally with names from Sly
and the Family Stone to George Benson to Al Jarreau. Bobby Lyle's
latest CD is a two-disc blend of smooth jazz classics and acoustic
piano compositions.
"Combining
smooth AND straight ahead jazz in the same package has never been tried
before," explains Bobby. He credits Johnson's label, Three Keys Music,
for having "the vision and courage" to present him this way.
Together
Colionne, Johnson, and Lyle made a strong impression on a crowd
distracted during the sunny afternoon by food, arts and crafts booths,
and the camaraderie of friends. After all, what could be more
irresistible than shopping for hats, African art and eclectic jewelry
while being serenaded by some of best live jazz musicians in the world?
And if you didn't happen to schlep in your own cooking paraphernalia —
unlike other festivals, especially those with food booths, bringing
your own cooler, fried chicken, portable grill and even alcoholic
beverages was allowed — you couldn't help but be enticed by the smells
emanating from G&G's Barbecue and Pat's Southern Fried Catfish. The
former served up pork ribs, chicken, and hot links, and both sported
long waiting lines.
Pretty,
young Mindi Abair, whose music has been described as "sensitive and
strong", successfully faced this non-musical competition. Mindi grew up
in a totally musical environment, touring with her
saxophonist/keyboardist father until she was five. For her, music
wasn't a choice, it was something she always did. She graduated from
the Berklee College of Music in Boston and developed a distinctive
voice on saxophone.
"I
just love the sound of the saxophone — full, rich, with an edge," she
says. "It's not about playing five million notes and scales. I'd rather
play one note that makes you cry."
Also
a burgeoning songwriter, her first CD, "It Just Happens That Way",
released in 2003, features contemporary jazz laced with R&B/soul
rhythms and pop melodies, all seminal musical influences for her.
Regarding touring with other musicians, including the Backstreet Boys,
Mindi says, "Working with other musicians let me explore those
different areas until I could focus on my own music as both a writer
and performer."
Mindi
Abair's sound is easy on the ears and her looks are easy on the eyes.
"I like bringing a little glamour to a genre that doesn't ordinarily
have a lot," she says, "and I'm proud to be doing something that a
woman doesn't usually do."
When
youthful Brian Culbertson began his set at 5 p.m., the crowd was still
energetic and enthusiastic. A writer, arranger and producer as well as
multi-instrument musician, Brian's music has been described as "soulful
and energetic." His talent was apparent at an early age when his final
7th grade piano recital consisted of entirely original compositions.
He's enjoyed a successful run of chart-topping CDs and number one
singles, and is one of the most in-demand artists for production and
writing collaborations in the business.
"I
was ready for something a little different," Brian says of his seventh
solo effort, the CD "Come On Up". "This CD is definitely more
contemporary. There's more pop, more R&B influence, with a bit of
urban mixed in. It's upbeat and really fun."
Brian's
high-energy stage presence and eclectic sense of humor makes him
popular on the jazz festival circuit, and at City of Lights he didn't
disappoint. Appearing with Brian Culbertson was bright, young
Scandinavian saxman, Michael Lington. Definitely on his way up,
Lington's scored three back-to-back top ten hits in the last two years.
After
the sun went down, the mood changed — not better or worse, just
different. Darkness accented with balmy evening breezes and colored
stage lights made the ambiance somehow more romantic, a perfect setting
for Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum, and Norman Brown as BWB.
Accompanied
by bassist Michael Manson, the three core musicians set out to perform
their own Smooth Jazz hits in an improvisational style defining the art
and soul of today's contemporary jazz.
Rick
Braun, whose latest CD is "Esperanto", has enjoyed a two-decade career
as trumpet man and producer. As a sideman, he's toured with Rickie Lee
Jones, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Tom Petty, and War. As a
producer, he has delivered hits for keyboardist David Benoit, guitarist
Marc Antoine, Avenue Blue, and saxophonist Bryan Savage, and has
received honors as "Best Producer" and "Best Brass Player."
"I
always had this love of music; it always came fairly easily to me,"
Rick says. At an early age he played along with Herb Alpert records.
Saxman
Kirk Whalum's warm, passionate sound was birthed in a Memphis Baptist
church. Beginning on drums, he switched to saxophone in Junior High
because he was "impressed" with the shininess of the sax. After finding
his way to Los Angeles in the 1980s he soon became an in-demand session
player, scored movie soundtracks, recorded and performed with Nancy
Wilson, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, and Quincy
Jones, and for seven years toured with Whitney Houston. Seven Grammy
nominations and one Stellar Award (Best Gospel Instrumental Album)
later, Kirk balances charitable commitments with his music. His 2003
Warner Bros. release "Into My Soul" highlights the homegrown soul
influences of his native Memphis. Kirk says it's "an honor to pay
homage to the city and sounds that have so greatly influenced my music
all these years."
Kansas
City-born guitarist Norman Brown catapulted to fame in recent years
since the release of his debut album "Just between Us"." International
jazz press has labeled Brown "God's gift to guitar playing and "one of
the brightest talents to dazzle the fret board since George Benson."
Norman's energetic guitar style is a contemporary blend of Wes
Montgomery, Pat Metheny and George Benson, with mixes of jazz, pop,
funk and R&B. Norman's latest CD is "Just Chillin'".
Bring your beer coolers, chairs and tents; hey pass me a drumstick and
some potato salad!
(Photo by Carolyn Proctor)
By
7 p.m. the festival's drink concession was out of wine and Bacardi Ray,
and only beer and shots were left. No one seemed to care, enraptured by
BWB's two-hour and fifteen-minute set punctuated with rhythmic voice
and percussion measures.
To
the odor of smoking meat wafting on the air, BWB performed a rousing
version of Country Joe McDonald's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". Kirk Whalum
played a cut from his most recent CD, "Into My Soul". One of their
closing numbers was Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".
"It's
been a very mellow crowd," says Steve Wahl of the Clark County Park
Police. He and his partner are conspicuously uniformed in yellow and
black shirts over black shorts, and move about on bicycles. "The only
complaints we've had was on parking."
Desert
Breeze Park is located approximately 20 minutes Northwest from the Las
Vegas Strip. It's a great location for an outdoor venue. This park has
a lot of trees (shade is a premium in southern Nevada). There were a
number of general admission gates and speedy cooler check points. Those
with VIP tickets (sold out early this year) were able to enjoy a VIP
bar and "executive" restroom facilities.
"City
of Lights is perceived by many veteran festival goes as one of the best
West Coast parties, and there's a certain synergy at this event that I
haven't experienced at others like it," says producer Schivo. "Our fans
over the years have generally come from Arizona and California because
they can drive here, but this year, we had people from 28 states and
even Africa."
The sound system was incredible, sending clear full sound all the way to the back of the venue. The producer of this fine event
listened well to the comment cards collected at last years festival and made many new inprovements this year for the comfort of the jazz patron.
The
Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival was additionally supported by
105.7 The Oasis Smooth Jazz radio in Las Vegas and KJLH 102.3 FM in Los
Angeles. Schivo says, "Fans of smooth jazz have a unique passion for
the music and a zest for life," and it was evident at Desert Breeze
Park. - By Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Jazz Editor and Las Vegas Correspondent.