JULIE DEXTER

Meet Julie Dexter, a world renowned, award winning, British singer, songwriter and producer considered by many to be one of the most influential female vocalists of our generation. Having shared the spotlight with a host of cutting-edge artists, including Mint Condition, Caron Wheeler, Jill Scott, Lalah Hathaway, Omar, Ledisi, Doug Carn, Third World and Maxi Priest to name a few, Julie not only holds up her own with them but has been praised and respected by them too.

Influenced by legends such as Nancy Wilson, Abbey Lincoln, and Bob Marley, as well as popular icons Omar and Sade, Julie takes classic soul to the heart of Artistry. Fans and critics across the globe have followed her journey through the circles of Jazz, Broken-Beat, Bossa-Nova, Reggae, Afro-Beat and Soul and she was recently honored at the Black Women in Jazz Awards with the Afro Caribbean Soul of Jazz Award.

It was in 1999 that Julie took a leap of faith and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she now resides. She launched her own label, Ketch A Vibe Records and in 2000 released the critically acclaimed EP Peace of Mind, followed by Dexterity (2002) ,Conscious (2005) and New Again (2011). Moon Bossa, a collaboration with Khari Simmons was released in 2007 and her single “Ketch A Vibe” was featured in national radio ads for Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama.

Julie’s latest album “Deja Vu” takes us on a journey from Bossa to reggae. From Jazz to World Music, Soul and beyond, Julie Dexter is one of an elite few whose talent can transcend genres. She makes it all work on her own terms, as an audaciously independent artist with an undeniable connection to her audience.

Don’t miss the experience of Julie Dexter. Be a part of a tradition of great music. In the words of her smash single ‘Ketch A Vibe’, ‘Don’t let it pass you by…Ketch [Julie Dexter’s] Vibe’…

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BOBBY WATSON & CURTIS LUNDY

Bobby Watson is a saxophonist, composer, and educator. Born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended the University of Miami at the same time as Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, and Bruce Hornsby. He graduated in 1975, moved to New York City, and became music director for the Jazz Messengers from 1977 to 1981. After leaving the band, he was productive as a session musician, recording with Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Max Roach, Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter, and Carmen Lundy. He formed the band Bobby Watson & Horizon with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, with whom he played throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Curtis Lundy is a double bass player, composer, producer, choir director and arranger. Lundy is best known for his work as part of jazz vocalist Betty Carter’s band and is the brother to vocalist Carmen Lundy.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Lisle Ellis was born Lyle Steve Lansall on November 17, 1951 in Campbell River, British Columbia. and began playing electric bass in his teens and worked professionally from an early age in numerous environments including studios, radio & TV shows, and strip clubs. He studied at the Vancouver Academy of Music with Walter Robertson and attended Douglas College in Vancouver, Canada. He later studied at the Creative Music Studio in New York City from 1975-1979.

He moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where he resided from 1982 until 1983 and then went to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for nearly a decade until 1992. Lisle became the inaugural recipient of Canada’s Fred Stone Award in 1986, given annually to a musician for integrity and innovation. The Eighties saw him as a conspicuous activator of musician alliance organizations, performance venues, and concert series presentations in Vancouver and Montreal. One collective in particular, Vancouver’s New Orchestra Workshop, is still active nearly thirty years later.

After moving to the United States in 1992, he settled in San Francisco, California where he worked with Glenn Spearman for nine years. In 1994, he was a member of the Cecil Taylor band for a brief tour of California. He lived in San Diego, California from 2001–2005 and then crossed the country to New York City where he presently lives.

Since the late 1990s, he primarily focused on developing an electro-acoustic interface he calls “bass & circuitry”. By 2008 he turned his attention back to acoustic music projects with an emphasis on jazz based improvisation and to finding a balance between his electronic and acoustic music interests. Bassist and composer Lisle Ellis, who professionally has used both L. S.  Ellis and L. S. Lansall-Ellis, and is known for his improvisational style and use of electronics, continues to explore the realm of jazz.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Nick Travis was born on November 16, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and  started playing professionally at age 15. In the early Forties he played with Johnny McGhee, Vido Musso, Mitchell Ayres, and Woody Herman.

In 1944 he enlisted, however, after his service he played with Ray McKinley, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Ina Ray Hutton, Tommy Dorsey, and Tex Beneke. By the 1950s he was playing with Herman once more for a short stint, Jerry Gray, Bob Chester, Elliot Lawrence, and Jimmy Dorsey. From 1953-56 he played with Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, with whom he featured on the one session he led for Victor Records, and was a soloist in the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.

After this he became a session musician for NBC, Most of his work was in big bands, but he also played in small ensembles. Trumpeter Nick Travis transitioned at age 38 as a result of complications from ulcers on  Oct. 7, 1964 in New York City.

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Three Wishes

Buddy Catlett was able to succinctly sum up his wishes with one answer when Pannonica asked him what his three wishes would be:

1. “I don’t know if I can word it right… To try and complete myself as a human being! That’s about it. That takes care of all three of them.”

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