Daily Dose Of Jazz…
George Connell Elrick was born on December 29, 1903 in Aberdeen, Scotland. His first ambition was to be a doctor but financial constraints prevented this. Still in his teens, he began playing drums for local dance bands and by 1928 had formed his own band, the Embassy Band. The group swept the prizes in the All-Scottish Dance Band Championship that year.
Turning professional, George moved to London, England where he became friends with the crooner Al Bowlly, and began singing himself. He joined the Henry Hall Orchestra as a vocalist and drummer and their 1936 recording of The Music Goes Round and Round made him a star. Leaving Hall in 1937 he formed his own band, and two years later began his solo career, which was moderately successful through the years of World War II.
In 1948, he took a touring revue around Britain, and was asked by the BBC to stand in for two weeks as disc-jockey on the morning record request show Housewives’ Choice. The temporary job lasted almost twenty years, as his Scottish accent and liberal use of catchphrases became highly popular.
In later years, he became something of an impresario and acted as an agent for numerous musicians such as Mantovani. He was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, and was also a life member of the Variety Club of Great Britain.
Drummer George Elrick, who published his autobiography titled Housewives’ Choice: The George Elrick Story, died on December 15, 1999.
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JOE STRASSER
Acclaimed drummer Joe Strasser to New York City in 1990 to attend the famed jazz program at the New School. He’s since played with a “who’s who” of jazz, including: George Coleman, Harold Mabern, Etta Jones, Cecil Payne, Jane Monheit, Hillary Kole, Peter Bernstein and countless others. Joe also co-led the Hotpants, a funk band he founded with Roots/Jimmy Fallon saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith.
Cover Charge: $35.00 +2 Drink Minimum
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The Jazz Voyager
Flying back to the West Coast and landing in that city by the bay to drive across the Golden Gate to Oakland to once again be a part of the audience at Yoshi’s with great expectations for another evening of great music.
This Jazz Voyager has a penchant for that side of our country. It’s a little over an hour from Napa Valley vineyards for those of you who want a little wine tasting excursion and a thirty minute drive to Muir Woods for some solitude to one of my favorite nature stopoffs.
This week I’ll be catching a musician I haven’t seen in a couple of decades and looking forward to seeing what new he has to offer. Grammy and Emmy winning pianist and composer Robert Glasper is taking the spotlight and bringing his new group Dinner Party with Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington and 9th Wonder.
Yoshi’s is located at 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607. For more information visit yoshis.com.
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BILL CHARLAP TRIO
The Bill Charlap Trio – with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington – is a jazz super-group with three brilliant, accomplished talents.
Their dazzling interplay and near-telepathic communication has earned a Grammy Award and multiple nominations, plus raves from audiences everywhere. Downbeat gave their new live recording, And Then Again, 4 ½ stars, placing them among “the best of the best ensembles in jazz history” playing at “the epitome of their creative powers.”
Two Shows ~ 7:00pm & 9:30pm | Friday 12.13 ~ 7:00pm Sold Out
Tickets: $40.00 + $3.00 fee
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MATT WILSON
Tree Jazz- The Shape of Christmas to Come Palmetto 20242 The year 2024 marks the 60th birthday of the beloved drummer, composer, and bandleader Matt Wilson. It also celebrates the 15th anniversary of one of Matt’s acclaimed ensembles, the Christmas Tree- O, featuring multi-reed legend Jeff Lederer and revered bassist Paul Sikivie. The band performed their first concert on December 9, 2009, in Brooklyn, NY. They then recorded their seminal album, Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, at Maggie’s Farm studio on a snowy May day in 2010. The album was released in the fall of 2010 by Palmetto Records. Since then, the band has performed extensively across the United States and Canada. Their annual sold-out engagements at the Jazz Standard (now held at Dizzy’s) have become a New York City holiday tradition.
The Band: Matt Wilson – drums | Jeff Lederer – saxophone | Paul Sikivie – bass
Two Shows ~ 8:30pm | 10:00pm
Tickets: $15.00 ~ $20.00
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