Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Leslie Priestley Carew was born on August 15, 1908 in London, England but spent his formative years in Shipley, Yorkshire. The son of theatrical parents, it wasn’t till after working in the local mills in his post-school years that he found himself drawn to music and the trombone, upon which he progressed rapidly.
Known to the music world as Les, he began playing in dance bands and eventually returned to London and caught the eye and ear of Jack Hylton. In the 1930s he became a featured trombonist in the Jack Hylton Orchestra during their international heyday performing all over Europe.
He was known for his comedic performances, as an actor and a natural comedian, Carew appeared with his Hylton bandmates in films She Shall Have Music (1935), The Playboy (1938) and Calling All Stars (1937).
Leaving Hylton in the Forties he added vocals to his performance arsenal and recorded as a member of Bert Ambrose and His Orchestra. By the time World War II ensued, military service was curtailed by health deficiencies, and during the latter part of it he led the Ambrose Octet.
After the war Carew freelanced in London with Geraldo, Eric Robinson, Mantovani, George Melachrino and many others. In 1970 his first wife, Elsie, died and he subsequently married the music lecturer Avril Dankworth – founder of the children’s music camps bearing her name – a partnership which lasted the rest of his life.
Trombonist Les Carew died of Parkinson’s disease, shortly after completing his autobiography in 1994 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Anthony Dowd was born on August 14, 1957 in Richmond, Virginia and started playing piano by ear at age six. Listening to what he heard on television he figured out on the piano before beginning formal lessons at age 12, studying for about five years. During high school he came across his parent’s big band records and got hooked on swing and looked for more jazz piano.
A few weeks after graduating Benedictine High School, Anthony got a job playing piano with a local big band, The Kings Of Swing, at Kings Dominion Amusement Park. That led to jobs with Busch Gardens and Carnival Cruise Lines. In the early 80s’ he moved to Hartford, Connecticut and honed his solo piano skills at local restaurants, modeling his playing after pianist Dave McKenna.
Returning to Richmond in 1985 he landed a residency leading the house trio at Benjamin’s Restaurant until 1992. In 1994, while playing at the Jefferson Hotel, he hit a high point. Frank Sinatra was in town for some concerts, and after finishing his dinner, joined Dowd at the piano and sang a few tunes. After playing in the mid-Atlantic region, he took a break from playing piano, moved to Tennessee and spent time raising his daughter.
He returned to Virginia in 2003 and found his reputation as an all-around pianist as strong as ever. His style mixes the playing of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. His debut release as a leader was Can’t Sleep in 2009. He is featured on bassist Jason Jenkin’s albums and with Roger Carroll on their duet release. He recorded with the Children’s Miracle Network
As an educator he has lectured on jazz piano history for the Retired City of Richmond Employees, Rappahanock Community College and the Northumberland Library System. He formed the Richmond Association of Jazz Artists to promote concerts.
Pianist, singer and songwriter Anthony Dowd, who has composed close to 60 songs, continues to perform, record, compose and sell his tunes to publishers.
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THE PURPLE AFFAIR
The james M. Dixon Foundation presents The Purple Affair starring keith David, Maria Howell and Noel Friedline for an afternoon into a night of fine dining, jazz and celebration in honor of incredible individuals and organizations to raise funding and awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.
The Honorees: Dr. Robert Kaufman, Sonder Health, Jacquelyn Thornton, Dr. Glenna Brewster, Jamila Jones, Bob Baldwin and Barbara Clayton Hudson.
The Honorary Chair is Janean Courtney Armstrong, the emcee is WCLK Morning host Morris Baxter, and The After Affair features keyboardist Bob Baldwin.
General Tickets: $150.00 | After Affair: $50.00
Patron Tickets: International Caregiver $350.00 | Daddy’s Closet: $500.00 | Food Insecurity: $750.00
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Marguerita Page was born on August 10, 1950 in Clarksville, Tennessee and first sang in church. At the same time, absorbing the sounds of the blues and R&B, her saxophonist father introduced her to jazz.
Marguerita’s mature style blends her gospel and blues roots with jazz in an elegant original way. She has written lyrics to the works of Charlie Parker and Wes Montgomery. Her 1995 debut release All My Friends features saxophonist Charles McPherson.
Moving to California, Page performed as soloist and director of the One Human Family Community Choir, at the Idyllwyld Jazz Festival and at On Broadway in San Diego. She has been featured on television, is writing music to some of the sacred scriptures of the Baha’i Faith and recording a soundtrack for an interactive autobiography titled The Dawn At My Back by San Diego State University professor Carroll Blue.
Back in Tennessee, Marguerita’s current projects and performances feature pianist/songwriter Will Barrow. Vocalist, composer, voice teacher, and choir director Marguerita Page continues to perform and record.
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NICOLE HENRY
Nicole Henry is a jazz vocalist out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her debut release, The Nearness of You received critical acclaim and earned Henry the “Best New Jazz Artist” award by HMV Japan and landed on most jazz radio playlists in the United States. Henry’s Teach Me Tonight reached #1 in Japan and was named HMV Japan’s Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2005. She won the 2013 Soul Train Music Award for Best Traditional Jazz Performance.
She has recorded eight albums to date with her latest Time to Love Again hit the online shelf in 2021. She continually performs around the States. From classic jazz to classic soul, and a sprinkling of everything in between, Nicole Henry will perform material including “A Lot of Living to Do,” “You Taught My Heart to Sing,” and more.
Cover: $45.76
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