First Take PR – Page 10

December 26, 2015September 28, 2023

Akademia Music Awards Chooses Kaylene Peoples “Giant Steps” as Best Jazz Song

Congratulations are in order to Kaylene Peoples for winning Best Jazz Song for the December 2015 Akademia Music Awards.

‘Giant Steps’ has always been known as a rite of passage amongst jazz musicians. Coltrane pretty much set it up like that with his complexities in his soloing and the rapid, consistent chord changes. When I decided to do the song, my first attempt at the recording was more subdued, but I always had intended to have my mentor Hubert Laws play on this track. Imagine how excited I was to learn that Bobby Lyle and Bunny Brunel would also be guest performing,” says Peoples.

Kaylene Peoples and Hubert Laws During MY MAN Recording Session at the Mouse House Studio, Altadena, CA

Kaylene Peoples is a flutist/vocalist and performs both crafts with veteran skill and expertise; and with great pride, she highlights her favorite flutist and mentor Hubert Laws – and it’s no surprise this piece is such an award-worthy recording. Kaylene Peoples sings it with mixed styles reminiscent of Manhattan Transfer and Ella Fitzgerald. Peoples’s own flavor of scatting makes this version of “Giant Steps” commercial and the most unique yet!

Personnel on “Giant Steps” (from My Man CD) are as follows: Kaylene Peoples (Vocals, Producer/Arranger); Mark Hammond (Guitar); Hubert Laws (Flute); Bobby Lyle (Acoustic Piano); Bunny Brunel (Upright Bass); Cory Mason (Drums). Rich Mouser engineered/mixed/mastered the song at The Mouse House Studio in Altadena, CA.

This music award belongs to everyone who participated in making “Giant Steps,” especially John Coltrane for such ingenuity. We jazzers always want to put our own spin on such an incredibly historical piece of music!” – Kaylene Peoples

(All photos by Arun Nevader/Getty Images)

Captions in Order: Hubert Laws, Bunny Brunel, Bobby Lyle, Mark Hammond, Cory Mason, Rich Mouser

December 24, 2015September 28, 2023

BUNNY BRUNEL DESIGNS FOR ESP

After 25 years of designing basses for Carvin, legendary bass player Bunny Brunel has changed companies. He now designers for ESP Guitars, and has
designed four basses, including the special one-of-a-kind bass with his daughter Gigi’s handprint. The basses are available in ESP Guitar stores worldwide, as well as online. Carvin and Carvin patrons didn’t take the news well at all, but when we asked Bunny how he felt about the change, he was delighted.

Bunny Brunel:

Bunny Brunel’s Bass with Gigi’s handprint (Photo: Devino Tricoche)

“It’s been a good 25 years with Carvin, but all good things must come to an end. I feel I will be doing great things as a designer for ESP. I’m excited about the possibilities!”

Image 1 (L) – Bunny Brunel holding his first newly designed bass from ESP Guitars (Photo: Arun Nevader)

Image 2 (R) – The ESP bass which is one-of-a-kind, designed by Bunny Brunel. It has the handprints of Gigi, his 12-year-old daughter. (Photo: Devino Tricoche)

April 20, 2015September 28, 2023

Heartfelt Performances and “Remembering Joe Sample” at the Berks Jazz Fest

Reviewed by Sean McKenzie | The Indie Hotspot | April 18, 2015

As I watched the amazing lineup of jazz royalty remembering the true legend, Joe Sample, I had never been so moved by such a fitting musical tribute. I remember it was only a little over a year ago that Wayne Henderson had been given his regal sendoff. And now, amongst other Sample fans, I experienced a healing concert for yet another Jazz Crusader. Who was on the lineup? Musical director and pianist Bobby Lyle, who also assembled an incredible group of musicians, including saxophonist Wilton Felder; saxophonist Everette Harp; trumpeter Rick Braun; trombonist Jeff Bradshaw; guitarist Randy Jacobs; drummer Jay Williams; percussionist Doc Gibbs; bassist Nick Sample (Joe’s son); and vocalist Lizz Hogue.

(Interesting information: Wilton Felder, Joe Sample, and Wayne Henderson co-founded the Texas based Jazz Crusaders; Joe’s son, Nick Sample toured with his dad right up until illness forced him to retire; and trumpeter Rick Braun was also performing at the Berks Jazz Festival with his band Jazz Attack.)

Each song performed was beautifully and tastefully executed. It met my highest expectations—something I always appreciated when watching Joe Sample perform. “Viva de Funk,” “Spellbound,” “Joe’s Creole Shack (a Lyle original),” “In All My Wildest Dreams,” and “Seven Years of Good Luck” took me way back. Vocalist Lizz Hogue captured the audience with her heartfelt versions of “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” and especially “Street Life!” Aside from the impeccable musicianship showcased that evening, it was a continuous flow of flawless performances, reminding me just how much Joe Sample’s legacy has influenced this genre of music. Hogue also performed “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today,” which was originally sung by the late Joe Cocker in collaboration with the Crusaders and Joe Sample.

Aside from the impeccable musicianship showcased that evening, it was a continuous flow of flawless performances, reminding me just how much Joe Sample’s legacy has influenced this genre of music. Another big highlight was the breathtaking medley of piano solos, which included “Melodies of Love,” “It Happens Everyday,“ and “Ashes to Ashes.” Bobby Lyle held the audience captive with such an endearing remembrance of Joe Sample’s talent as a pianist. It was a very creative display of Lyle’s virtuosity on the piano. But I also felt the profound respect as he tickled each note of that ivory! While watching Lyle, I could see the friendship he had with Joe Sample. I got a sense of the loss Lyle felt for his departed friend. Needless to say I was deeply moved by Lyle’s tribute.

One very appreciative couple who had attended all but one of the 25 Berks festivals stated afterwards that, “This was definitely one of the best shows we’ve ever seen here at Berks. We are both Joe Sample fans, and tonight’s program definitely lived up to his legacy.”—a view apparently shared by many as they stood and applauded the ten performers taking their bows onstage at the show’s end.

The Berks Jazz Festival is known for its excellence in musical performance throughout the years; and “Remembering Joe Sample” on April 18, 2015, in Reading, PA, has lived up to the festival’s high standards. May the memory of Joe Sample’s music live on.

Original Source: http://www.theindiehotspot.com/2015/05/04/heartfelt-performances-and-remembering-joe-sample-at-the-berks-jazz-fest/