Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Julius Wechter was born on May 10, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois and studied and learned to play the vibraphone and percussion, which he did with the Martin Denny group by the time he was out of highschool in the 1950s. The early Sixties saw him moving to movie soundtracks, television and session work for the Beach Boys, the Monkees, Sonny & Cher, and various Phil Spector productions.
His long and successful association with Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass started when he played percussion on their first hit, The Lonely Bull in 1962. He later composed Spanish Flea. He went on to play marimba and vibes on many of Alpert’s songs in the 1960s, as well as writing at least one song on most of those albums.
Encouraged by Alpert, he formed the Baja Marimba Band which was quite successful, hitting four chart songs in Billboard’s Top 100, and numerous on its Easy Listening Top 40. Disbanding in the mid Seventies, Julius turned his attention to television and movies again, but continued to play with Alpert.
In his later years, he devoted himself to psychology, earned a master’s degree, and served as vice president of the Southern California chapter of the Tourette Syndrome Association.
Marimba and vibraphonist Julius Wechter died on February 1, 1999 at his home in California of lung cancer, at the age of 63, a day after his song Spanish Flea was used in The Simpsons episode Sunday, Cruddy Sunday.
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DAVE STRYKER TRIO
Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 30 CD’s as a leader to date), or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and many others, you know why the Village Voice calls him “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.” Hot House magazine awarded him Best Guitarist Fans Decision for 2017. He was recently voted once again as one of the top Jazz Guitarists in the 2019 Downbeat Critics and Readers Polls for the 10th time.
Warren Wolf is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD. From the young age of three years old, Warren has been trained on the Vibraphone/Marimba, Drums, and Piano. Under the guidance of his father Warren Wolf Sr., Warren has a deep background in all genres of music. Vibraphonist Warren Wolf is one of the hardest swinging virtuosos in all of modern music.
The Band:
Dave Stryker – Guitar
Warren Wolf – Vibes
Jared Gold – Organ
McClenty Hunter – Drums
Tickets: $35 – $45 | $3.46 – $4.16 Fees
Shows: 6:00pm & 8:30pm
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Karel Velebný was born March 17, 1931 in Prague, Czechoslovakia and at seven years old, he played piano and at fifteen was a modern jazz enthusiast who taught himself to play alto saxophone. He graduated from Gymnasium then studied drumming at the Prague Conservatory, making his first public performance as a student, and became a full-time professional as soon as he graduated.
From 1955 to 1958 he played with Czech jazzman Karel Krautgartner’s orchestra, then joined contrabassist Luděk Hulan to co-found Studio 5, which became the key ensemble of modern Czech jazz. He continued to work with Krautgartner until the latter emigrated in 1968.
In 1960, the Studio 5 ensemble was absorbed by the Dance Orchestra of Czechoslovakia Radio, but Velebný and the original Studio 5 members soon quit. In 1961, he and flautist Jan Konopásek co-founded SHQ, initially part of the Spejbl and Hurvínek Theatre thus Spejbl and Huvínek Quintet, but later began taking independent performances.
SHQ became one of the most important bands in Czech jazz history. He was its leader, composer, arranger, played as a multi-instrumentalist and taught the younger band members. SHQ’s instrumental line-up and membership changed frequently. Karel played with various Czech jazz ensembles, including Kamil Hála’s orchestra, the Linha Singers ensemble and with other regular collaborators.
As a composer, Velebný concentrated solely on jazz, in compositional styles and arrangements reminiscent of Gerry Mulligan, Chick Corea, Gary Burton and Benny Golson. He wrote mainly for his own ensembles notably Studio 5 and SHQ but also for the Kamil Hála Orchestra, the Karel Vlach Orchestra and others.
In 1978 he was invited to the Berklee College of Music, where he studied jazz teaching and the different approaches of European and American jazz. He organized and led the Summer Jazz Workshop in Frýdlant, Czech Republic until his death. As a teacher, he emphasized knowledge of techniques which could be broadly applied on jazz standards. He also wrote the specialist jazz textbook The Jazz Practical.
Diagnosed with a serious heart disease he was forced to quit as a saxophonist and vibraphonist and was restricted to piano. On March 7, 1989 vibraphonist, pianist and saxophonist Karel Velebný,who was also a composer, arranger, actor, writer and music pedagogue and one of the founders of modern Czech jazz in the second half of the 20th century, died in Prague.
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LIFE, LOVE & LENNY
A Celebration of the life and music of Lenny White
The iconic Grammy-winning drummer, who is among jazz music’s most prolific and celebrated artists, producers, composers and sidemen — will be fêted at a one-night-only celebration filled with music and memories at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.
Presented by Tzedakah 4 All, the event will feature performances in multiple combinations – Return to Forever w/ Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola and orchestra conducted by Maestro Steve Mecurio, Miles Davis Bitches Brew, Red Clay, Echoes of an Era, as well as exploring material from his illustrious five + decade career. Laurence Fishburne will serve as emcee with appearances from fellow artists Buster Williams, Omar Hakim, Patrice Rushen, Al Foster, Mike Clark, Billy Hart, and Billy Drummond.
Tickets: $175.00~$250.00
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TOM BECKHAM TRIO
As a leader, vibraphonist Tom Beckham has released 4 CD’s to date: Suspicions, Center Songs, Rebound and a duo album with guitarist Brad Shepik entitled Flower Starter. He also performs on solo vibraphone. He also co-leads a quartet band with pianist Dred Scott called “Cali Mambo.”
As a versatile sideman in New York for 30 years, Beckham has toured with and performed and/or recorded with Brad Shepik’s “Across the Way” Quartet, George Schuller’s Circle Wide bands, JC Sanford’s Jazz Orchestra, lap steel guitarist Mike Neer, the Motown/Soul group The Soul Night Band; trombonist J. Walter Hawkes, the swing-era ensembles of Lapis Luna and Flying Home; Joseph C. Phillips’ Numinous Ensemble; the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP); pop/lounge artist Sylvia Black, as well as session work for film and TV such as PBS and HBO and has appeared on over 28 recordings to-date.
In 2018 he was featured in the book “Masters of the Vibes” (Mostly Marimba Productions) by Anthony Smith along with his own heroes of the vibes such as Stefon Harris, Joe Locke, David Friedman, Warren Wolf, and many other great players. Tom earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the Berklee College of Music and is a former student of Gary Burton and Ed Saindon.
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