BUSTER WILLIAMS

Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, The Jazz Crusaders, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, and Freddie Hubbard to name a few.

Buster has recorded soundtracks for movies including Les Choix des Armes, McKenna’s Gold with Gregory Peck, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks “Fire Walk With Me”, Spike Lee’s Clockers, and more. His work in Television includes commercials for Coca-Cola, Old Spice, Prudential Insurance, Chemical Bank, HBO, Budweiser Beer and more. TV shows appearances include The Johnny Carson Tonight Show, The Jay Leno Tonight Show, where he performed five of his original compositions with the Branford Marsalis Tonight Show Band. Other television shows include The Today Show, A&E, The Grammy Awards with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Bobby McFerrin. to name a few.

Showtimes:
Saturday ~ 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Sunday | 5:30pm & 8:00pm

Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 +$7.00 fee

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BILLY CHILDS TRIO

Billy Childs has emerged as one of the foremost American composers of his era, successfully marrying the musical products of his heritage with the Western neoclassical traditions of the twentieth century in a powerful symbiosis of style, range, and dynamism.

Thus far, in his career, Childs has garnered seventeen Grammy nominations and six Grammy awards including two for Best Instrumental Jazz Album (Winds of Change in 2024 and Rebirth in 2018), and two for Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist (including New York Tendaberry from Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro, featuring Renee Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma). In 2006, Childs was awarded a Chamber Music America composer’s grant, and in 2009 was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.  In 2013 he was awarded the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award.  He has also been awarded a composers award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2015).  In 2018, Childs was named “Outstanding Alumnus” of the Thornton School of Music (sharing that honor with, among others, Morton Lauridsen, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Marilyn Horne).  Childs has also served as president of Chamber Music America (2016-2022).

Born in Los Angeles, California he entered USC as a composition major, graduating four years later with a bachelor of music in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn. Since then Mr. Childs has received a number of orchestral and chamber commissions from, among others: Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin, the Los Angeles Master Chorale,  Monterey Jazz Festival, the Dorian Wind Quintet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the American Brass Quintet, the Ying Quartet, the Lyris Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, Rachel Barton Pine, and Inna Faliks.

As a pianist Childs has performed with, among others, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, Chick Corea, the Kronos Quartet, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, the Dorian Wind Quintet, Ying Quartet, the American Brass Quintet, and Dave Holland.

Childs’ solo jazz recording career includes four critically acclaimed albums on the Windham Hill Jazz label and two volumes of Chamber Jazz music (Lyric, Vol. 1, 2006 and Autumn: In Moving Pictures, Vol. 2, 2010). Childs expanded upon his talent for seamlessly straddling the lines between jazz and classical worlds with a collection of re-imagined Laura Nyro compositions for Sony Masterworks, released in September 2014.  Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro, was produced by Larry Klein and features as guest artists, among others: Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Wayne Shorter, Alison Kraus, Dianne Reeves, Chris Botti, Esperanza Spalding, and Lisa Fischer.  In 2017, Childs released the first of his three Mack Avenue recordings, the Grammy Award-winning Rebirth, which was followed by 2020’s Acceptance and 2023’s Grammy Award-winning The Winds of Change.

Childs is an in-demand clinician, whose recent invitations include working with students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, masterclasses at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, and an educational residency at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Tickets: $35.00 +$7.00 fee

Showtimes: 7:00pm & 9:30pm

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MIKE STERN

To a generation of contemporary jazz guitar aficionados, Mike Stern is regarded as one of the true guitar greats of his generation. A player of remarkable facility whose searing lines are informed mainly by bebop and the blues while also carrying a rock-tinged intensity, Stern made his mark with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s before launching his solo career in 1985. Since then he has released 17 recordings as a leader, six of which were nominated for GRAMMY Awards. His latest recording, Echoes and Other Songs (Mack Avenue/Artistry), features an All-star cast including, Dennis Chambers, Antonio Sanchez, Christian McBride, Richard Bona, Chris Potter, Bob Franceschini, and Leni Stern.

Born in Boston on January 10, 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music where he met and befriended fellow Berklee students like guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell, bassist Jeff Berlin, drummers Steve Smith and Vinnie Colaiuta. He got his first big break in 1976 going out on tour with Blood, Sweat & Tears, appearing on the group’s studio More Than Ever and live album In Concert that year and also on 1977’s Brand New Day.

Stern was presented with Guitar Player magazine’s Certified Legend Award on January 21, 2012.

Mike Stern Band: Dennis Chambers~drums, Gary Grainger~guitar, Bob Franceschini~saxophone, and Leni Stern~guitar, vocal.

Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 +$7.00 fee

Showtimes: 7:00pm & 9:30pm

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NICOLE HENRY

Celebrating a 20-year recording career with eight critically acclaimed chart-topping albums, Nicole Henry is the recipient of a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” and she has garnered four Top-Ten jazz albums on the U.S. Billboard, JazzWeek, HMV Japan, and U.K. Sweet Rhythms charts. Hot House Jazz said, “Few voices can set a listening room on fire, then let it burn into a cinder like Nicole Henry’s.”

The New York Times, Miami Herald, and Jazz Times Magazine have compared her to Sarah Vaughan, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston for her dynamic range, impeccable phrasing, and ability to connect to a lyric. Whether burning through a swing tune or gently caressing a ballad, Nicole truly makes each song uniquely her own and “aims right for the emotional center.” (Billboard)

Henry has toured in over 20 countries and has recorded with musical greats Kirk Whalum, Julian Lage, John Clayton, and Gerald Clayton. She’s also performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Pasadena Pops, Michael Feinstein, saxophonist Paul Taylor and more.

Showtimes:
Friday/Saturday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Sunday: 2:00pm

Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 + $7.00 fee

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Requisites

Serenade To A Bus Seat ~ Clark Terry Quintet | By Eddie Carter

This morning’s spotlight shines on a remarkable trumpeter who, in my view, always delivered flawless performances. Serenade To A Bus Seat (Riverside RLP 12-237) by the Clark Terry Quintet is the subject of this discussion. Clark enjoyed an illustrious career performing with Charlie Barnet, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, and Oscar Peterson. He was also a member of The Tonight Show Band from 1962 to 1972. Terry’s influence extended far beyond his performances; his jazz career spanned more than 70 years, and he became one of the most-recorded jazz musicians, appearing on more than 900 recordings. He also mentored Terry Lyne Carrington, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Pat Metheny, and Dianne Reeves.

On his third album as a leader, Clark Terry is working with Johnny Griffin, tenor saxophone; Wynton Kelly, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; and Philly Joe Jones, drums. The copy I own is the 1977 Riverside Original Recording Series Japanese mono reissue (SMJ-6209M) by Victor Musical Industries. The opener, Donna Lee by Charlie Parker, begins with Philly’s introduction ahead of the quintet’s brisk melody. Johnny ignites the first solo with bursts of passionate fire, then Clark and Philly share an energetic conversation. Kenny caps off the solos with an impressive display of vibrant energy ahead of the group’s lively closing chorus and dead stop.

Boardwalk by Clark Terry is a blues that begins with an enjoyable, medium-tempo theme by the ensemble. Terry opens with a poised, almost dignified solo, then he engages in a friendly exchange of ideas with Griffin. Kelly then provides the exclamation point with a laid-back interpretation before the group reconvenes for the climax. Terry’s second creation, Boomerang, is a lively little original that takes off with the front line’s melody in unison. Clark gives his undivided attention to the opening solo, then Johnny enters and simply swings. Wynton follows with a strong statement that’s a joy to listen to. Paul takes a short walk preceding the group’s return to the theme’s reprise and close.

Digits by Clark Terry turns the temperature down for an easygoing theme by the ensemble. Terry steps up first to give a relaxing solo, then shares the next happy statement with Griffin. Kelly wraps up everything with a leisurely reading until the quintet returns for the closing chorus. The title tune, Serenade To a Bus Seat by Clark Terry, is a swinging homage to the trips musicians took from city to city with big bands. It’s off to the races with the ensemble’s melody, then Johnny is up first to ignite the first solo with passionate fire. Clark meets the challenge with an effervescent interpretation. Wynton gets the last spot and handles it comfortably before the front line’s fine blowing signals the end.

Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish’s classic, Stardust, is one of the most recorded songs in history. Both horns deliver a gentle introduction leading to Terry’s delicately phrased melody. Terry and Griffin are the featured soloists, and both turn in two beautiful solos that complement each other until the theme returns and the song ends softly. Cruising by Clark Terry opens with an easy-flowing theme led by both horns, before stepping aside for Johnny to lead off with an excellent first solo. Clark speaks his piece in the following statement, then Wynton follows at an unhurried pace, leading to the restatement of the theme and climax.

That Old Black Magic by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer is an old favorite from 1942 that first appeared in the film, “Star Spangled Rhythm.” The quintet wraps the album up in a bow with a short Latin rendition, which begins and ends with Terry using a cowbell and Griffin on the claves. In between, both Terry and Griffin, on trumpet and tenor sax, make swinging comments. Orrin Keepnews produced the initial session, and Jack Higgins was behind the recording console. The Victor Japanese mono reissue is a delight to hear, with a breathtaking soundstage that places the musicians in your listening room’s sweet spot with stunning fidelity.

For anyone who admires Clark Terry or is just beginning to discover his discography and enjoys hard bop, I strongly recommend picking up Serenade To a Bus Seat by the Clark Terry Quintet the next time you’re at your favorite record store. It’s a fabulous album that should make a meaningful addition to any jazz library, especially for those who appreciate the artistry of a masterful trumpeter!

~Stardust, That Old Black Magic – Source: <ahref=”http://jazzstandards.com”>JazzStandards.com

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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