March 24, 2008
Headliners and Special Guests Come Out for 2008 Chandler Jazz Festival
The 2008 Chandler Jazz Festival on April 4, 5 and 6 will host several national headliners and guest performers throughout the weekend, including a special engagement on Saturday night, April 5, at the Center for the Arts.
Saturday night’s featured performer at the Center for the Arts is New Orleans native Dr. John, or Mac Rebennack as he is known to friends and family. Dr. John is universally celebrated as the living embodiment of the rich musical heritage exclusive to New Orleans. His very colorful musical career began in the 1950s. Dr. John established his unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots. He played on records by Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin to name a few. He also launched his solo career, developing the charismatic persona of Dr. John The Night Tripper. After a half century of creating music for others and himself, Dr. John continues to write, arrange, produce and interpret with a passion that has yet to wane. He also continues to dazzle and delight audiences across the globe touring consistently. As a true living legend, Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack will always be a musician who never ceases to explore the endless possibilities that music presents.
Joining Dr. John for the Saturday night concert is Grammy Award nominee Kenny Garrett, an American post bop jazz saxophonist and flutist. Garrett’s career took off when he joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1978, then led by Duke's son, Mercer Ellington. Three years later he played in the Mel Lewis Orchestra (playing the music of Thad Jones) and also the Dannie Richmond Quartet (focusing on the music of Charles Mingus). In 1984, he recorded his first album as a bandleader, Introducing Kenny Garrett. From there, his career has included 11 albums as a leader and numerous Grammy nominations. During his career, Kenny has performed and recorded with many jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Brian Blade, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, and Mulgrew Miller. Garrett's music sometimes exhibits Asian influence, an aspect that is especially prevalent in his 2006 recording, Beyond the Wall.
While the rest of the Chandler Jazz Festival performances are free, tickets for the special engagement on Saturday night at the Center for the Arts with Dr. John and his special opening guests the Kenny Garrett Quartet cost $20 per person. They are available at the Center box office or online at www.chandlercenter.org.
As for the rest of the Chandler Jazz Festival, there will be multiple bands performing in a variety of venues in the historic downtown area, south of Chandler Blvd. and on both sides of Arizona Ave. In addition, there is plenty of free parking in the downtown area. Attendees may want to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor performances.
The festival runs from 4:45 to 9:15 p.m. on Friday, April 4, from 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
Friday night’ performances is headlined by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band in Dr. A.J. Chandler Park. The Dirty Dozen has an innovative blend of traditional New Orleans sounds and modern jazz sensibilities. The ensemble has recorded with artists from Dizzy Gillespie to Elvis Costello, taken on the music of jazz inventor Jelly Roll Morton for the album Jelly and reinterpreted the hymns and parade songs of the Crescent City second-line bands for 2004’s Funeral For A Friend (following the death of co-founding member Tuba Fats). They’ve mixed intriguing approaches to traditional and familiar material, but in a context emphasizing challenging original music composed by the Dozen members themselves. In the course, the band resurrected, revitalized and put distinctly personal stamps on what was a dying tradition of New Orleans brass bands when the group formed in the late ‘70s, inspiring a full-on revival that’s flourished with several new generations of young brass bands each bringing their own twists to the form. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has created a career which spans more than three decades of innovation and leadership in New Orleans music and beyond.
Special performances will take place throughout the weekend by Chuck Findley and Edwin Livingston.
Chuck Findley began playing the trumpet at age 4 and the trombone by age 11. Upon graduation from high school, he won a scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Bernard Adelstein, among others. He then went on the road with the Jimmy Dorsey Big Band led by Leo Castle. While on the road, he studied with Carmine Camso in New York. Later her joined the Buddy Rich Band touring the Orient, Europe, and then the United States. In 1969, he began his successful recording career. Chuck was formerly the lead trumpet player for Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” led by Doc Sevenson in 1989. He later played with Branford Marsalis on the Emmy Award winning “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno from May 94 – June 2001. Chuck Findley can be heard playing with the Jack Radavich Trio on the Main Stage Saturday night at 6:30pm and again on Sunday at the San Marcos Courtyard from 11am to 1pm for the Sunday brunch.
Edwin was exposed early in his life to music. He was in the choir and band in his adolescence and joined the orchestra in high school. He studied with Roger Fratena (assistant principal Double Bass) of the Dallas Symphony while in high school and Dr. Mark Foley (professor of Double Bass) and continued to play many styles of music during this time. After receiving his BM in music performance he relocated several times in pursuit of new musical terrain. Edwin has performed and or recorded with – Elvin Jones, Ellis, Delfeayo, & Jason Marsalis, The Headhunters, Los Hombres Calientes, and many more. He has two CD’s as a leader performing original music, The Edwin Livingston Group and Transitions. Edwin Livingston can be heard twice Friday evening, first at 6pm with the Chris Champion Trio and again at 9:30 for the After Hours Festival Jam Session. Both performances are held at Inspirador in Historic Downtown Chandler. In addition to Friday’s performances, Edwin will perform with Stan Sorenson at Kokopelli Winery & Bistro from 4pm to 7pm.
The complete festival entertainment lineup will be updated regularly online at www.chandleraz.gov/jazz or you can call (480) 782-2735 for more information.
The 2008 Chandler Jazz Festival is presented by Jazz in AZ, Downtown Chandler Community Partnership, Chandler Arts Commission, Chandler Center for the Arts, Thorobred Chevrolet, KJZZ and the City of Chandler.
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