Jazz-Pittsburgh.com Event Preview Nemacolin JazzFestJazzFest - John Scofield Jazz Crusaders concert event informationVisit the official Pittsburgh smooth jazz website and premier restaurant directory at Jazz-Pittsburgh.com, the Smooth Jazz festival news and best Dining guide of pittsburgh jazz clubsJazzFest 2003 By Mark O’Keefe
Herald-Standard Reprinted with permission... The JazzFest at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa has been host to a number of jazz stars and legends during its first two years of existence. Stars who have played at the festival include Spyro Gyra, Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione, Freddie Cole, Karrin Allison, Mark Murphy and Ahmad Jamal. Joining their ranks this year for the JazzFest, scheduled for July 4-6, are Wayne Henderson and the Jazz Crusaders, John Scofield and Eric Alexander. "We feel the lineup this year is as strong or even stronger than our lineup in past years," said Ron Cadrette, general manager of Nemacoln Woodlands Resort and Spa. "Al Dowe books the talent for the festival and we rely on his tastes. He's done another good job as usual." "As the festival gets more recognition, it keeps getting bigger and bigger," said Dowe, a native of Connellsville, who operates Dowe's on Ninth, a top-shelf, jazz nightclub in downtown Pittsburgh. "We think the lineup for the jazz festival should definitely attract a lot of people," added Dowe. "The people who come to the shows this year won't be disappointed." Headlining the festival this year are Scofield and Henderson, who will perform on Friday and Saturday nights respectively. One of the great jazz guitarists of his generation, Scofield is probably most famous for having played with jazz legend Miles Davis in the 1980s. But he's also played with a number of other jazz stars over the years, including Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, George Duke, Gary Burton, Jim Hall and McCoy Tyner. Scofield has made several albums over the past decade with his own band, displaying his unique heavy funk-jazz stylings. He recently released a new album, "Up All Night", featuring his touring band playing a mixture of electrified jazz, funk, rhythm and blues and rock. His previous album, "Uberjam", was nominated for a Contemporary Jazz Grammy last year. Henderson was one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, who took the jazz world by storm in the 1960s with their own melding of hard-bop with funky rhythms. The group changed its name to the Crusaders in the 1970s and started the jazz sound called fusion by combining jazz, funk, gospel, blues and soul music. They were one of the top acts of the 1970s, touring with the Rolling Stones and cracking the Top 40 with their smash hit "Street Life." By the end of the 1970s, though, Henderson had departed the Crusaders, starting his own career as a musician, manager and producer. In the 1990s, Henderson returned to the stage reviving the Jazz Crusaders with Wilton Felder, a former member of the Crusaders, and other jazz stars such as Larry Carlton, Hubert Laws, Bobby Caldwell and Poncho Sanchez. He released the album "Happy Again" with the Jazz Crusaders in 1995 to smashing reviews and has continued to tour off and on since then. He plans to release another CD with the Jazz Crusaders later this year called, "Soul Axe-S (Access)." Appearing with Henderson at the JazzFest will be tenor sax legend Ronnie Laws and pianist Bobby Lyles, who have both recorded and played with the Jazz Crusaders numerous times over the years. While Dowe said he was happy to book such established stars as Scofield and Henderson, he said he's pleased to introduce a new face to local jazz fans in Eric Alexander. "Eric Alexander is a great, young sax player who's going to be a very big name someday in jazz," said Dowe. "He reminds me of Joshua Redmon. He's already played with the big boys like Jimmy Smith and Jack McDuff. He's a very soulful player, and I'm sure the people are really going to enjoy him." Also appearing at the festival will be a number of Pittsburgh's top jazz performers, including the Roger Humphries Band, the Sandy Dowe Trio, the Ron Bickel Trio, Harold Betters, Jeannie Luv and the Boilermakers, Frank Cunimondo, the Caribbean Vibes Steel Band, Orchestra Tropical, and the Kenny Blake Quartet. And of course no JazzFest would be complete without Dowe himself on trombone with singer Etta Cox, who was named Pittsburgh Entertainer of the Year a couple of years ago. The dynamic duo has played at the two previous JazzFests to enthusiast crowds and seem to only get better with age. "Etta sings so beautifully and of course Al is great on the trombone," said Cadrette. "The people really love them. We're glad to have them back." "It's such a great place to play," said Dowe. "We're glad to be coming back. We've always enjoyed a good reception up there and we're looking forward to another nice evening." Don't forget to sign the Jazz-Pittsburgh.com Guest List and receive the newsletter to stay tuned to the announcements about what’s going on when and where! Leave any comments and/or suggestions you might have in the Guest Book and spread the word by Telling a Friend! Also view:
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