Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1992
Programming innovations were continued to be realized during Mayor Jackson’s 3rd term as the Bureau brought in newcomers Gary Motley, Cassandra Wilson and Christian McBride to share the stage with veterans Nat Adderley, Joe Sample and Freddie Hubbard among others. Continuing as Program Director, John Armwood ushered in viable relationships with several radio stations that played jazz – WCLK, WRFG, WREK, Jazz Flavors and WABE as sponsors or media promoters and would enlist not only his voice but those voices of radio personalities Phil Clore, Carl Anthony and H. Johnson to work as staff or masters of ceremonies for festival events.
Returning sponsors for the 1992 Atlanta Jazz Festival over the Memorial Day weekend from May 29th to June 7th were AT&T, The Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Atlanta Penta Hotel, Creative Loafing, WVEE-103 FM and WCLK 91.9 FM. The festival brought three new sponsors into the family with Advanced Media, Concert Southern Promotions and Jazziz.
Performances were held at the Variety Playhouse, Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel, Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Grant Park, High Museum of Art Hill Auditorium and the Robert Woodruff Park for the Brown Bag Concerts.
Performing this year were George Adams, Audrey Shakir, Nat Adderley Quintet, Lonnie Smith Southside Trio, Carl Allen, Malachi Thompson Quintet, Geri Allen Trio, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Anschell Trio, Scotty Barnhart, Bazooka Ants, Rick Bell, David Benoit, Cindy Blackman, Dave Burrell, Joe Chambers, George Coleman Quartet, Richard Davis, Lou Donaldson, Georgia State Faculty Jazz Band, Juedinne Gordon, Bennie Green Trio, Spyro Gyra, Miklos Harsszesi, Joe Henderson Quartet, Vincent Herring, John Hicks, Andrew Hill, Fred Hopkins, Freddie Hubbard, Al Jarreau, Carter Jefferson, Joe Jennings, Obie Jessie, Stanley Jordan, Victor Lewis, Harold Mabern Jr., Howard Mandel, Christian McBride, Gary Motley, Ny Unity, Greg Osby, Don Palmer, Ritual Band East and Joe Sample.
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Atlanta Jazz Festival… 1991
The year was 1991. The baton of Program Director was passed from Rob Gibson to John Armwood, who had previously worked as the coordinator of the festival’s education component. He was instrumental in maintaining classical mainstream jazz in the parks while newer venues hosted smooth jazz, set up jam sessions at the Penta Hotel, established a jazz dance contest with improvisational dancing to improvisational music, and facilitated WLCK 91.9FM radio The Jazz of the City broadcasting the festival live from Grant Park.
Over the Memorial Day weekend performances and workshops and lectures were held on May 31st at Center Stage, Chastain Park Amphitheater, with a late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel. June 1st, 2nd held at High Museum of Art-Hill Auditorium and Grant Park with more late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel. On June 3rd-7th the Brown Bag Concerts were performed in Woodruff Park again ending the night with a late night jam session at Club 590 West/Atlanta Penta Hotel and on June 8th & 9th the festival closed out with performances in Grant Park.
Performing this year were Sonny Rollins, Spyro Gyra, Bob James, Rick Bell quintet, Joe Jennings and Life Force, Cecil Bridgewater, Arthur Blythe Quintet, Jackie McLean Quintet featuring Rene McLean, Ojeda Penn Experience, Bobby Hutcherson, The Harper Brothers, Charles Earland, David “Fathead” Newman, Grant Reed Quartet, Simone & Company, Mark Maxwell Band, Audrey Shakir Company, Eddie Davis Quintet and Johnny O’Neal, Olu Dara, Okra Orchestra, Azanyah, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, Dameronia, Abbey Lincoln, Fusai Abdul-Khaliq Ensemble, Dvae Holland Quartet, Don Pullen Trio and the David Murray Octet.
As well as being on the main stage Joe Jennings & Howard Nicholson, The Harper Brothers also led the nightly Jam Sessions. Critic and editorialist Stanley Crouch hosted a lecture and film presentation.
Sponsoring the 1991 festival were Adams Outdoor Advertising, AT&T, Atlanta Penta Hotel, The Coca-Cola Company/Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Coors Brewing Company, Creative loafing, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, National Endowment For The Arts, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, Southern Keyboards/Kawai Piano Company, WVEE/V-103 FM and WCLK 91.9 FM.
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Hollywood On 52nd Street
The song Ruby was composed by Heinz Eric Roemheld as the theme for the 1952 film Ruby Gentry. It subsequently became a jazz and pop standard, both as an instrumental and with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. The film was directed by King Vidor and starred Jennifer Jones as Ruby Corey/Gentry, Charlton Heston played Boake Tackman and Karl Malden held down the role of Jim Gentry. At the time of the film’s release the theme enjoyed much popularity in an orchestration by Les Baxter with harmonica solo by Danny Welton.
The Story: Ruby, a poor backwoods girl living in the small North Carolina town of Braddock, is still in love with Boake Tackman. During high school, Ruby had rebuffed his aggressive advances, and was taken in for a couple of years by kind wealthy businessman and his wife, who protected her and taught her the skills a lady would need. She moves back home when her father needed her help. Boake’s family used to be wealthy, but after generations of profligacy all he has left is the land he has had drained and farmed. He starts a relationship with her but plans to marry a local woman with a rich family. When Ruby hears the news, she marries her former benefactor, Mr. Jim Gentry, whose invalid wife recently died, despite not loving him.
Her background keeps her from being accepted by most of Jim’s peers, most of whom decline to attend their after-wedding party. Insecure, Jim becomes jealous of her relationship with Boake, has a fight, calls her a tramp and she leaves in tears. Apologies ensue and while sailing she admits her lack of loving him, while a loose rope results in Jim being knocked overboard by the boom, leaving Ruby widowed and distraught. Now she becomes the local gold-digger and murderess, the town rebuffs her and she gets harassing phone calls.
Retaliating, Ruby uses Jim’s money to begin a campaign against everyone who slighted her, calling in debts to close down people’s businesses as well as the newspaper that slandered her. Still holding a soft spot for Boake she returns his promissory note but again he rebuffs her kindness as a way to buy him and her out of the swamp. Once again, woman scorned and she floods Boake land, ruins his crop and once calm, apologizes. However, her estranged brother Jewel begins shooting at them, killing Boake and in turn Ruby kills her brother and then laments her decisions that have caused so much pain. Now alone, Ruby becomes the skipper of a fishing boat, forever looked down upon by the townspeople.
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www.whatissuitetabu.com
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The Jazz Voyager
Heading to the Buckeye state to catch the Wednesday night performance of the Blue Wisp Big Band at 8:30pm at Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock Street, in Cincinnati, OH 45223 / 513-620-4729.
This craft brewery housed in a historic Northside church built in 1876 became the new home of the legendary big band after the Blue Wisp Jazz Cafe closed its doors in 2014.
Offering a taproom and listening space, the plan is to definitely stay over for more jazz slated for every Thursday night. Be advised, the weekends are relegated to other forms of music. Call ahead to discover the food options, as most, if not all, will be portable.
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Voices From The Community
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The Jazz Voyager
Taking a road trip to Venkman’s in my old stomping grounds of Atlanta, Georgia. Located at 740 Ralph McGill Blvd NE, 30312, I am looking forward to enjoying an evening of jazz beginning at 8:00pm with Joe Gransden’s Jazz Jam. With a wealth of Atlanta’s finest musicians, both emerging and established, it has become a lively and packed event, so you might want to make reservations, just in case it becomes standing room only.
The ex–soda bottling plant turned dining establishment in the Old Fourth Ward with subway tiles, an open kitchen and exposed ceiling beams now plates modern comfort food with a contemporary spin in the ambiance of the industrial-chic dining room with a Tuesday night performance of jazz on an ample stage. Phone: 470 225-6162 / Reservations: opentable.com / Menu: venkmans.com
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Voices From The Community
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