The Jazz Voyager

This week I’m still masking and social distancing whenever I’m on a plane or in enclosed spaces because this pandemic is not over. I’m following the sun and heading westward to Palm Springs, California for the Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival. The festival is being held at the Palm Springs Convention Center located at 271 N Avenida Caballeros 92262.

Over the course of three days the festival are presenting Nnenna Freelon, Cyrille Aimee, Lea Delaria, Ledisi, and the Divas Of The Desert featuring Hope Diamond, Gennine Francis, Melba Miller, Cynthia Thomas, Chris Bennett, Rose Mallett, Keisha D, Yve Evans, Patrice Morris.

This is my first time visiting this venue and seeing all but one vocalist for the first time. I am so looking forward to this voyage. This trip I’m going to be hanging around for the weekend to have the full music experience. As always, for more information visit notoriousjazz.com/event or palmspringscc.com. The convention center number is 760-325-6611.

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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INDIANAPOLIS JAZZ COLLECTIVE FEATURING TERRELL STAFFORD

There is no better way to celebrate great jazz than with the Indianapolis Jazz Collective featuring Rob Dixon, Steve Allee, Kenny Phelps + Nick Tucker with featured guest artist trumpeter Terell Stafford. Join The Jazz Kitchen and these supreme, creative musicians for a night that explores what jazz has to offer through standards, jams and improvisation.

“One of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player.” – McCoy Tyner

Terell Stafford, acclaimed trumpet player based in New York, is recognized as an incredibly gifted and versatile player, he combines a deep love of melody with his own brand of spirited and adventurous lyricism. Stafford’s exceptionally expressive and well defined musical talent allows him to dance in and around the rich trumpet tradition of his predecessors while making his own inroads.

Showtimes: 6:00pm & 8:30pm

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DENISE KING & THE NEW YORK KOLLECTION

Influenced by Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin, Denise King is an expressive, big-voiced vocalist that combines jazz with elements of R&B, Blues and Gospel. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA at the young age of twelve she discovered R&B and jazz thanks to an uncle who was a record collector that loved jazz. Denise King is, brimming with energy, good humor, and swings with authentic jazz expression! As part of a tradition rooted in the history of jazz, she fully lives the songs she sings.

Though she’s no stranger to standards, one of King’s strong points has been her ability to provide jazz interpretations of rock and soul hits, sharing the stage with such legends as Lex Humphries, Ted Curson, Arthur Harper, Brecker Brothers, Cecil Payne, Cecil McBee, Sid Simmons Christian McBride, Jerry Weldon, Bootsie Barnes and many more. It is with these musicians that she learned the art of Jazz singing.

The European dream for jazz artists remains strong in its history, and a gateway of empowerment for African Américan artists. As an international performer, King has delighted audiences from the USA, France, Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, Serbia, Belarus, Poland, Japan, Kazakstan, Spain, Russia, Siberia,Greece, UK, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Mahachcala, Luxembourg and participated in the International Jazz Day in Paris.

Denise is likened to a“natural singer” for she organically learned to sing, outside of any educational system, but through the natural progression of listening to recordings and watching live jazz performances.

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JOSE JAMES

Often referred to as a jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, New York City-based vocalist José James combines jazz, soul, drum’n’bass, and spoken word into his own unique brand of vocal jazz. While he states his main influences as John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, and Billie Holiday, his sound on early 12″ singles and in live performances brought to mind such icons of ’70s jazz-soul as Terry Callier, and his music felt more like an update of the fluid crossover approach of Gil Scott-Heron, while also being distinctly his own.

 

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FRANK DERRICK BIG BAND

Drummer, Frank Derrick, has led a multifaceted national and international music career. He is a virtuoso performer, composer, and educator.  His many theatrical credits include Bubbling Brown Sugar, The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Sophisticated Ladies, Big River, and Catskills. He has performed with numerous legends and artists including Redd Foxx, Stephanie Mills, Della Reese, Freda Payne, Eubie Blake, The Platters, Eartha Kitt, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Dorothy Donegan, The Pointer Sisters, Ken Peplowski, Dakota Staton, Steve Allen, The Louis Armstrong Legacy Band, Donna Summer, Keely Smith, Maureen McGovern, Ann Hampton Callaway, Benny Carter, and has conducted on the concert stage for John Pizzarelli and Lanie Kazan. He toured worldwide with Cab Calloway for ten years and was drummer for “The David Letterman Show” on NBC.

Frank has served as the drummer, assistant conductor & personnel manager for the Palm Beach Pops and is the conductor and featured artist with the Bob Hoose Orchestra.  Familiar to symphony audiences around the world, Frank Derrick has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic, the New York Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, and the Buffalo Philharmonic. His precision and driving rhythmic styling has been featured on the cast album of Bubbling Brown Sugar, Big City Swing with Veronica Martell, Strong & Graceful Oaks with Rejoice Ensemble, The Cab Calloway Show Live in Freiburg Germany, and Something Old, Something New with The Bob Hoose Orchestra.   His “Straight Ahead” composition garnered the A.S.C.A.P. Special Award and his most recent CD, The Beat Goes On for the Jazzed Media label. He leads his own ensemble, the Frank Derrick Big Band.  Learn more at www.frankderrick.com

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