Tag: bunny brunel

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Editor at Large Bunny Brunel Features the Legendary Ron Carter on the Cover of VIRTUOSO BASS, Issue 2.

VIRTUOSO-BASS-Issue-2-Cover

Inside this long-awaited second issue includes the following: “Bunny Brunel Moments” and his time with the late Chick Corea; interviews with Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Forbassplayersonly.com founder Jon Liebman and his new book FUNK/JAZZ/BASS, and Roger Linn of LinnStrument; a spotlight on Tal Wilkenfeld and a retrospective on Chick Corea that includes Corea’s last interviews; CD reviews with Bakithi Kumalo, Buster Williams, and reviews of “Unconventional Releases” by Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, and Ron Carter (including Carter’s documentary FINDING THE RIGHT NOTES)!

By Sean McKenzie

Since the official launch of Virtuoso Bass back in the fall of 2020, a lot has happened. The pandemic held up plenty of editorial calendars and the legendary Bunny Brunel waited for just the right time to put out the second issue of the much-anticipated lifestyle magazine for iconic jazz bassists. Virtuoso Bass seized the moment to retain Ty-Ron Mayes (America’s Next Top Model, Daymond John, Agenda) and NY photographer Udo Spreitzenbarth (Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Legend) to create the fashion/lifestyle editorial of Ron Carter titled, “Ode to the Upright.”

“A lot has happened since the launch of the first issue back in 2020. I was all geared up to feature some amazing bass talent. Sadly, when covid came, it destroyed a lot of people’s plans and Virtuoso Bass was not immune. But we’re glad to be back with a brand new issue, featuring phenomenal bass players. Being a bassist is not just about supporting the band, even though that is definitely the main purpose, but there is a level a player reaches when suddenly people sit up and take notice. My vision is still to put a spotlight on bass players who’ve made a real impact, are at the top of their game, and even created their own sound and style. Ron Carter is one of those bassists. Buster Williams, another great bassist who plays the upright is such a great musician and another player with an impressive number of performances. And we will always include women bass players just like in our first issue when we profiled female bassist Carol Kaye. This issue we chose another talented woman, Australian-born bassist Tal Wilkenfeld.” —Bunny Brunel

Ron Carter is highly featured throughout the issue with his recent release of the PBS documentary, Ron Carter: Finding the Right Notes. The timing couldn’t have been better. Virtuoso Bass was able to feature a review.

“The most recorded bassist in history tells his story in this intensely moving documentary. This detailed biography gives us an insight into the life of the revered jazz icon.”—Virtuoso Bass

Carter is also included in the reviews of unconventional album releases: Ray Brown Jazz Cello; Ron Carter Dear Miles; and Paul Chambers Bass On Top.

“Working with Bunny Brunel to help him realize his vision for Virtuoso Bass is not only exciting, but it’s a real education. To be able to co-curate such a beautiful periodical and learn about jazz bass on such a deep level is compelling. I met Ron Carter after seeing him perform at the Catalina Jazz Club in Los Angeles back in 2015. Virtuoso Bass has given me the opportunity to experience this legend again. After exploring Carter’s music, watching his documentary, and poring over the images to make the final selection for his lifestyle editorial, I am unbelievably honored to be a part of this incredible history in the making! —Kaylene Peoples, Executive Editor

“What an honor it was to add a little extra sparkle to double bassist Ron Carter’s star. The maestro of jazz has got swag all day long and I wanted to show that he is still ‘mad fly.’ The moment I saw that woven, wool military-style suit with black iridescent flecks intricately peppered through the ensemble by Cillian Atelier, paired with that classic beret, I knew our cover would not only capture the look of the moment, but would also successfully define the tone of Virtuoso Bass, exemplifying the strength of this multi-Grammy Award-winning musical soldier. Carter’s editorial also highlights his “ageless” spirit that has experienced a life that still has so much to offer.” –Ty-Ron Mayes

Included in this issue is Bakithi Kumalo’s review of his CD “What You Hear Is What You See” and Buster Williams’s (& Something More) review of “Audacity. Journalist Sheryl Aronson interviews the revered bassist, Buster Williams, who has performed with a range of musicians including Thelonious Monk, Sonny Stitt, and Sarah Vaughan.

“You create something that is unconstrained; it doesn’t come from talking about this is what we’re going to create. You just start playing, you’re enjoying each other. Another thing is repertoire doesn’t necessarily change so drastically. You’re playing the same tunes, night after night, and because of your creative being, you strive to do something different. And you’re developing, you’re growing. So, the music develops and grows. What happened with Herbie [Hancock] The Sextet, is we were willing to let the music grow to the point where the music was the defining determinant of our actions. Rather than going on the bandstand and saying, ‘okay, this is what we’re going to play tonight.’ No, the music told us what we were going to play, and how it’s going to happen. This can’t happen without trust. And trust like that can’t really happen unless you’ve built a body that the collective reality of each one of you surrenders to. This collective body is what is determining things. This collective body belongs to the music. It wasn’t about any one of us, it was about the trust that we had.” –Buster Williams, Virtuoso Bass

Jon Liebman is the founder of the popular website Forbassplayersonly.com and has interviewed 800 bass players including Sting, Paul McCartney, etc. After publishing nine very successful instructional books for bass players, he recently put out Funk/Jazz/Bass endorsed by Bunny Brunel, Alain Caron, Carlitos Del Puerto, Bakithi Kumalo, and Chuck Rainey with the Foreword by Nathan East. Funk/Jazz/Bass is Liebman’s first non-instructional book that “illustrates the numerous possibilities of playing funk/jazz bass by analyzing how the bass greats have done it.” In Liebman’s interview, he talks about his background as a bassist, and what inspired his website and his latest book. “Funk/Jazz/Bass is ‘a play in the style of’ book. And I tried to get a good cross-section of some of my bass heroes. [There is] Richard Bona, Bryan Bromberg, Meshell Ndegeocello, there are 30 altogether.” –Jon Liebman, Virtuoso Bass

“Remembering Chick Corea” is a retrospective on the legendary keyboardist’s life. Anybody who knows anything about Bunny Brunel, knows his career was launched as a result of his nine years playing with Corea. It was Bunny’s desire to pay tribute to the brilliant fusion pianist who changed his life. Inside issue 2, Virtuoso Bass delves deep, profiling the 23-time Grammy-winning pianist and featuring highlights from Corea’s most recent interviews, his important releases, and his wildly prolific career. And in “Bunny Brunel Moments,” Bunny talks candidly about his time with the keyboard giant whose music will always live on.

Virtuoso Bass investigates two fast-growing Facebook Groups, For Bassists and Jazz Rock Fusion. And if you ever wanted to know who invented the drum machine, interviewed this issue is Roger Linn who tells the backstory that leads up to his latest technology, the LinnStrument.

Virtuoso Bass features contributions from Bunny Brunel (Editor at Large), Kaylene Peoples (Executive Editor), Florentino Buenaventura (Tech Editor), Sean McKenzie (Managing Editor), Sheryl Aronson (Buster Williams Interview); Udo Spreitzenbarth (Cover & Editorial Photographer), Ty-Ron Mayes (Stylist for Cover & Editorial), and Quintell-Williams Carter (Fashion Assistant for Cover & Editorial)

Advertisers: LaBella Strings, SIR Studios, and The Gibson Bass Book

Published by KL Publishing Group, a Verum Company

About Virtuoso Bass:

Bunny Brunel is the Editor at Large of the premier lifestyle magazine for bass players. Launched in 2020, the very first issue featured Bunny Brunel on the cover, Kyle Eastwood (back cover), Eddie Gomez, Carol Kaye, Larry Dunn, Stanley Clarke, and AMPEG SVT. Bunny Brunel talks about his mission for the magazine. “I want to talk about great players, and some of these guys, nobody ever mentions. If the media is going to publicize bass players, they should focus their attention on those great players who are responsible for what followed after,”—Bunny Brunel.

To purchase the print version of Virtuoso Bass Issue 2, visit Amazon.com. To get the digital copy, visit virtusosbass.com. For an exclusive autographed copy of Virtuoso Bass magazine by Bunny Brunel, please visit bunnybrunel.com/bunnys-store

Release Written by Sean McKenzie for First Take PR

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The 5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival Closes the Summer Festival Season with a Variety of Jazz Styles and Legendary Musical Artists

5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival Highlights

Jeffrey Osborne and Eric Darius headlined at the 2022 Oxnard Jazz Festival that featured a talented lineup of musicians with Kelly’s Lot, Queens of Soul Jazz, Blake Aaron, Gold Coast Horns, Hiroshima; Thee Travis Miller, Erin Stevenson, Paula Atherton, Bunny Brunel, The Emotions, & Darryl Walker. And Executive Producer Chuck Dennis was honored by the City of Oxnard.

September 17, 2022 – Oxnard, CA

On September 10th-11th, 2022, the Oxnard Jazz Festival presented a bigger-than-life concert event following a two-year hiatus. Lovers of jazz, soul, Latin, blues, and R&B came out in droves. The outdoor festival accommodated over 4,000 ticket holders with a sea of vendors, great cuisine, and most of all, great music. The festival featured artists with household names, as well as local talent. The top contemporary jazz bands graced the OJF stage, many are Billboard-charting artists. What is unique about the festival, it offers a stage and embraces diversity, women musicians, and honors legends. Paula Atherton, whose new release is climbing the Billboard charts performed on Sunday. This multi-instrumentalist not only played sax and flute, but she sang, too. Queens of Soul Jazz, starring Billboard chart-topping artists saxophonist Jeanette Harris and flutist Althea Renee brought the house down with their highly skilled instrumental set, and renown singer Erin Stevenson captivated with her soulful vocal performance. The Oxnard Jazz festival brought to the stage top smooth jazz artists saxophonist Eric Darius, vocalist Darryl Walker, guitarist Blake Aaron, and introduced the new group Gold Coast Horns with Billboard artists saxophonist Jeff Ryan, trumpeters Lin Rountree and Johnny Britt performing.

The Oxnard Jazz Festival showed the world that we only get better with age. Legendary Musicians with 40-year careers fascinated the crowd who enthusiastically embraced and praised these seasoned icons. The Grammy-winning group, The Emotions, are still performing and evoking old school memories. During their performance, people crowded around the stage to sing along to their well-loved songs. Fusion giant Bunny Brunel played the groove-heavy music of his Grammy-nominated band CAB as the audience listened and watched in awe the former Chick Corea band member. Hiroshima who has sold over 50 million albums in their career is still penetrating souls with their esoteric, thoughtful music. And the 70-something, multi-Grammy-nominated crooner Jeffrey Osborne, is still the stirring entertainer he was in his 40s—nothing has changed! Osborne was engaging and comical during his show while he performed his litany of hit songs at the Oxnard Jazz Festival. Even with the inclement weather on that Saturday, the headliner told the audience, “If at 74 years of age, I can feel energetic, then so can you. Let’s party with me singing my “old school” songs. Are you with me? And the audience’s approval kicked Osborne’s performance into high gear. He brought the house down!

On the opening day of the festival, Oxnard’s mayor, John C. Zaragoza, presented Chuck Dennis a Certificate of Appreciation for the 5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival. Dennis was also honored by Ventura’s city council with Vince Stewart presenting.

Chuck Dennis, Producer of the Oxnard Jazz Festival:

“The highlights of the festival for me was watching the faces and the expressions of the audience of people really having a good time. The Oxnard Jazz festival is not just me, it also includes my great team. And I was especially thrilled to have been able to introduce my personal group, The Gold Coast Horns, on the OJF stage. We have a brand-new single called ‘Bounce to This’—this was their introduction to the world!”

Sheryl Aronson, OJF’s PR Director of Artist Relations

“The community of Oxnard works together to put on this great festival. The staff is very loyal and has worked with Chuck for years, we’re just such a great team, making the absolute best experience for the ticket holders. The motto is “Feel the Groove,” and you can really see that. Everybody gets up and dances. People and some of the VIPs have been coming back for years and everybody knows each other. It’s just like one big happy family get-together!”

The all-star lineup with two days of performances, as well as a diverse range of music, gave the festival goers a potpourri of styles. The OJF is an outdoor festival, held at the Oxnard Beach Park, and those in attendance came out in droves in spite of the weather. Day 1 was unprecedently gloomy with intermittent rain. Guests said that it was a break and a relief from the heatwave Southern California had been experiencing. On day 2, the sun came out and temperatures exceeded 100 degrees, but it didn’t stop the party. Music lovers filled the venue both days and some even traveled across the country to see their favorite musicians; and Kyle Eastwood and Sherry Gordy were just a few of the celebrities that were also in attendance.

OJF’s Lineup on Saturday, September 10, 2022:

Kelly’s Lot; Queens of Soul Jazz (Jeanette Harris and Althea Renee); Blake Aaron; Gold Coast Horns (Johnny Britt, Jeff Ryan, Lin Rountree); Hiroshima; and Jeffrey Osborne

OJF’s Lineup on Sunday, September 11, 2022:

Thee Travis Miller; Erin Stevenson, Paula Atherton; Bunny Brunel; The Emotions; Darryl Walker; and Eric Darius

“Shout out to Oxnard. The entire city is amazing, I’m just so thankful to be here. Everybody is so wonderful and they know all the lyrics! It’s just such a blessing to still be doing this. I’m 70 years old, but I still feel 30. I love singing, and that’s what keeps me young.” –The Emotions, Wanda Hutchinson-Vaughn

“I had a great time playing to such a welcoming crowd at the Oxnard Jazz Festival. I was joined by some amazing musicians, playing the music of CAB as well as honoring the person who started my career, Chick Corea. I always pay a small tribute to him on my shows with tunes like we did today, ‘The Slide’ and ‘Spain.’ I have to give it to Chuck Dennis for extending his platform to jazz-fusion.” –Bunny Brunel

“We never consider the people who listen to our music as fans but as a part of our growing cultural community. The whole point is [to bring people together], it’s about unity, and that’s why June [Kuramoto] can play from her heart because she wants to bring people back there every time she plays.” –Hiroshima, Dan Kuramoto

About OJF’s Headliners:

Jeffrey Osborne OJF 2022
Jeffrey Osborne (Photo: Sheryl Aronson)

“The audience makes it fresh because it’s always different. I am striving to touch the people who come to my concerts, which is the most important component to my performance. I want to make sure everyone enjoys themselves and has a good time—it stays fresh with me. My first love is performing live. I love recording, but there is a cold aspect to it. It’s just me and an engineer. But performing live, I’m out in front of people that have been my fans for many years and their chemistry is what gets me going. I feed off of them and they feed off of me, and there’s no other feeling like it.”—Jeffrey Osborne, AGENDA Magazine

Eric Darius Oxnard Jazz Fest 2022
Eric Darius (Photo: Sheryl Aronson)

“I’ve evolved in every single way. When I go back and listen to my older albums, I feel everything has been elevated. I’m always pushing myself musically. From a stage performance standpoint, I’m bringing new dimensions to my show.” Eric Darius goes on to say, “I’m passionate about what I do; I am someone who gives 110% and someone who truly loves sharing his gift of music. I believe God has blessed me with this gift. The fans motivate me and inspire me. I’ve stayed true to myself and stayed true to my music.”—Eric Darius, Schmooze Jazz Magazine

The 5th Annual Oxnard Jazz Festival Sponsors:

  • Presenting Sponsors: Chuck Dennis Production, Alexander Cadillac, Stella Artois, Advocate Society Wellness, T-Mobile, The Port of Hueneme, Bard Boys, Victoria Entertainment, LLC
  • Gold Sponsors: Coast Cart, Hueneme Beach Festival, Schmooze Jazz Magazine, Coca-Cola, City of Oxnard, Mission Healthcare
  • Media Sponsors: KJLH 102.3 FM, Fuego 97.1 FM, Old School 104.7 FM; Alpha Digital Printing (ADP), Divine Brown Media Group, Emerald City Communications & Marketing, LLC
  • Community Partners: Bud Light, Bomb Life (Ventura County), Good Choice Catering, Costco Wholesale, Holiday Inn Express (An IHG Hotel), IMW – IVIE McNeil Wyatt Purch & Diggs; Fantasy Life Car Show, Marriott Ventura Beach, Pucker Up, Residence Inn Marriott, Nestle; Orange Theory Fitness, Salzer’s Records, Union Bank, Switch Car Club, Sparkletts, Mission Healthcare, Victoria Entertainment, LLC

“After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, it was very exciting to work on this year’s jazz festival. As the festival’s executive director, the goal for our fifth year was to bring A-list Jazz, Latin, Soul, Blues, and R&B musicians, vibrant retail, and diverse food vendors, as well as many other inviting attractions to make the festival a top-level event and destination to close out the summer festival season. With over 4000 attendees smiling, dancing, singing, enjoying friends and family among the swaying palm trees near the beach with beautiful white sand dunes and the Pacific blue waters in the background, I think we accomplished our goal!”—Daphne King, Executive Director of the Oxnard Jazz Festival

About Oxnard Jazz Festival:

With the motto, “Feel the Groove,” OJF is a cultural music celebration offering a diverse concert experience with the option of VIP seating in an incredible outdoor setting, complemented by scenic beaches, vendor booth shopping, cultural foods, and many other inviting attractions that make the festival a top event and destination to close out the summer festival season. The Oxnard Jazz Festival is a medley of jazz, Latin, soul, blues, and R&B. Southern California’s best-kept secret, Ventura County, is the gateway to the “Gold Coast” and home to some of the most respected jazz musicians in the country. The city of Oxnard is a vibrant and culturally diverse community, and known as the “Strawberry Capital.” Its historical, recreational, and environmental assets make it listed as one of the wealthiest areas in America, cultivating an exciting celebration of music. The Oxnard Beach Park has beautiful white sand dunes and Pacific blue waters in the background, offering a resort experience. The beaches are known for their sunshine, mild surf, and easy access; they are a five-mile stretch of sand that’s a romantic spot for sunset watchers. If you love music, you will love the Oxnard Jazz Festival! (oxnardjazzfestival.com)

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Concerts.Cafe Presents Myron McKinley’s “The Speakeasy” with Rebecca Jade, Adam Aejaye Jackson, and Sy Smith

Florentino Buenaventura (CEO of EnterTalk and founder of Concerts.Cafe) launched the first of many in-person musical performances with artist-branded coffee and an all-star musical lineup!

A spectacular evening, starring The Myron McKinley Trio, featured Sy Smith (Chris Botti), Rebecca Jade (Sheila E.), Adam Aejaye Jackson (Toni Braxton), and dancer/choreographer Sonya Enchill Om (Alvin Ailey). These dynamic performers entertained the San Diego crowd on Sunday, September 12, 2021, at 7:00 pm at the Pavilion Theater. The in-person event was just one of many concerts headed by EnterTalk’s CEO Florentino Buenaventura who has erected a unique concert-going experience. Buenaventura is a pioneer who has continued to put on live (and streaming) concerts before and during the pandemic. He launched Concerts.Cafe last spring (with Paul Berezetsky, COO) as a promotional outlet and resource for musical artists and bands looking to build their online presence while supplementing their income via digital ticket sales and signature consumable merchandise. Partnering with The Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa, Concerts.Cafe launched its first monthly in-person concert at their 500-seat theater. The Roaring Twenties-themed show was a nod to the early 20th century variety/cabaret shows with art directed sets and the essence of theater. The talented musicians were bandleader/pianist Myron McKinley (Earth, Wind & Fire), upright bassist Ian Martin (David Foster), drummer/percussionist Stacey Lamont Sydnor (The Jacksons) with guitarist Tony Pulizzi (Stevie Wonder), and saxophonist and Grammy winner Gary Bias (Anita Baker). The spectacular band filled the evening with an amalgamation of New Orleans jazz, blues, and soul, accompanying the incredibly gifted vocalists.

Sonya Enchill Om, Gary Bias (R), and Tony Pulizzi in Back (L) (by Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

In attendance were bass fusion giant and 2-time Grammy-nominated Bunny Brunel (CAB), multi-award-winning recording artist/producer Kaylene Peoples (Hubert Laws), drummer/percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Chicago), and San Diego’s own producer/bassist Josquin des Pres (Jason Mraz, The Gipsy Kings)

The Featured Performers:

Myron McKinley is a Juilliard-trained pianist, producer, songwriter, film composer, and is the current musical director and keyboardist for the legendary ensemble Earth Wind & Fire. He has toured extensively with Stanley Clarke, Chaka Khan, En Vogue, Whitney Houston, and many others. Sy Smith has a vocal range spanning five octaves, doing background gigs with Whitney Houston in the late 90s, and has worked with trumpeter Chris Botti and Foreign Exchange. Rebecca Jade has a chameleon-like quality to her voice, where she delivers each song uniquely. Touring with Sheila E., she appeared in the Emmy-nominated Let’s Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute to Prince, and sang background vocals for Sir Elton John at the 2020 Academy Awards. And Adam Aejaye Jackson, a native of Detroit, Michigan, began singing in church at the early age of three and has worked with Toni Braxton, Melissa Manchester, David Foster, and others.

Featured Vocalists Adam Aejaye Jackson & Rebecca Jade (by Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

“The Speakeasy” highlighted contemporary songs, arranged in styles from the Roaring Twenties! A bold statement of the era entertained the audience through music, set design, and costumes. Southern blues kicked off the festivities and set the tone for the awaiting audience. Tony Pulizzi was dynamic as he shredded on his guitar and ushered in vocalist Adam Aejaye Jackson. The audience was transfixed during Jackson’s moving rendition of ‘Walk on By.’ Other highlights of the evening were Rebecca Jade’s interpretation of Nat King Cole’s ‘Nature Boy,’ and closing act Sy Smith, who was stunning in her form-fitting 1920s quintessential black gown, gave a powerful performance of Sting’s ‘If You Love Somebody Set Them Free’; Smith’s entrance and exit was pure theater! With the audience eager for more, the musicians stepped up with a rousing encore with the Beatles classic, ‘Eleanor Rigby.’” –Schmooze Jazz Magazine

Sy Smith & Ian Martin (by Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

 

Florentino Buenaventura Talks About the Concept of Concerts.Cafe:

“We do concerts with coffee so people can engage the brand. If you weren’t present at the show, you will be able to see it recorded later online, but that magic from those in attendance is once-in-a-lifetime. The people there, the audience . . . it’s all a part of that magical experience. The energy was electric. With Myron—when he’s not on tour with Earth, Wind & Fire—we’re looking to do a more regular series. For the next one, we’re thinking about doing the 70s era with disco, soul, and featured singers.

Florentino continues . . .

“We don’t make money on music anymore, and sustaining a career for musicians, the music is in the marketing. For genre-specific musical styles, we can take it [worldwide] and give people access to a far-reaching live concert experience. During the pandemic, we were doing a lot of that. Then when we launched in April, we had a surprisingly big audience. In May, the live venues opened back up, causing a severe dip in revenue. Live streaming is the long game and an in-person concert . . . you’ll either sell-out or not. When you bring the two together, you have a residual income to go along with a one-off show. With Concert.Cafe, we’ve got the platform, the ticketing, and the ability to do the bundling packages with coffee and the concert or a dinner show. The food is simply amazing at The Legacy Hotel.”

EntertTalk’s CEO Florentino Buenaventura (Concerts.Cafe) poses with Renowned Bassist Bunny Brunel (by Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

About Concerts.Cafe

As the first interactive and immersive live streaming concert venue for lovers of live music and gourmet coffee, Concerts.Cafe is a unique, online concert experience for music fans and coffee connoisseurs. It is a web platform dedicated to pairing ticketed live music events and signature artist shops with consumable merchandise, offering shows in all genres with some of the finest organic flavors available in coffees and teas. Serving as a new revenue resource for music artists, Concerts.Cafe offers gourmet, artist-branded consumables and on-demand or live streaming music content to fans. Launched in April 2021, with a fantastic lineup of multiple music events and artist-inspired coffee flavors from which to choose Concerts.Cafe features special live streams and now in-person performances and artist coffee selections from a variety of musical artists and bands. (All in-person concerts adhere to Covid restrictions.) Visit https://concerts.cafe/

About The Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa

In the midst of California’s breathtaking natural beauty and moments from San Diego’s world-renowned beaches, you’ll find Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa. Surrounded by the Legacy International Center, a state-of-the-art complex with countless features and attractions, the resort is unparalleled amidst San Diego and Southern California hotels. There is no more ideal destination for both leisure and corporate travel than right here at 875 Hotel Cir. S, San Diego, CA 92108. Visit: https://legacyresortandspa.com/

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Kaylene Peoples Romantic Bossa-Nova Is Breathtaking and a Must See Musical Feast!

Romantic Bossa-Nova-Full Band

During these uncertain times and the unpredictability of opening and closing of concert venues, in between a bit of calm was a concert to be remembered with heartfelt romantic music, equipped with LA’s top musicians. Leading the way was the dynamic Kaylene Peoples with her show titled “Romantic Bossa-Nova” – a breathtaking concert that has found its way into the hearts of serious Bossa-nova enthusiasts on July 17, 2021. For starters, guest performer Larry Dunn, a 7-time Grammy-winning artist and original member/songwriter/keyboardist (formerly) of Earth Wind & Fire opened with a gripping performance of his composition “Runnin’.”

(Gallery Photos by Alex Kluft Photography)

Bunny Brunel (who became famous from his nine-year stint with Chick Corea), the 2-time Grammy-nominated bassist performed on fretless and (his BBEUB) upright bass; and probably wore the most hats that evening (at the Catalina Jazz Club) as musical director. The French-born American sang in Brazilian Portuguese and soloed on his fretless bass on Kaylene Peoples’s intriguing arrangement of “Aguas de Março” (Waters of March) from her Romantic Bossa-Nova 2020 release. With Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa) on drums and Grammy-nominated Dennis Hamm (Thundercat) on the 9-foot grand piano at the revered Catalina Jazz Club, the musical score was beyond dynamic. Joined by Guitarist Joe Calderon (Dianne Reeves) and percussionist Jon Brooks (Macy Gray), the performers laid the foundation for an evening of “soulful” Bossa-nova, as described by Levy Lee Simon, who was in attendance that night.

Kaylene Peoples Singing (Photo: Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

“I am a big fan of Bossa-nova, and it was my first time seeing Kaylene Peoples perform her show; I was blown away by it. Her voice magically elevated and took me on a ride to another place and time. I don’t know many artists—male or female—that can sing and play the flute equally well. And to top it off, the show is so damn s**y. Peoples exudes sensuality with every move, with every sound, with every note. Kaylene’s band with Bunny Brunel and guest artist Larry Dunn is exceptional. I had a great time—I believe a great time was had by all.” –Levy Lee Simon, Multi-Award Winning Writer/Actor/Director/Producer

Photo: Alex Kluft (Dennis Hamm & Larry Dunn
Dennis Hamm & Larry Dunn (Photo: Alex Kluft )

There have been many incarnations of Bossa-nova since the style took off in America with “Desafinado” from Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s Jazz Samba in 1962; Dave Brubeck Quartet in January 1962, recording “Vento Fresco” from Bossa Nova USA; and Herbie Mann’s “One Note Samba” from his Brazil, Bossa Nova & Blues in late 1961 or early ’62. (Referenced from Jazz.FM 91 “How Brazil’s Bossa-nova Became All the Rage in ‘60s America,” by Marc Myers.) What Kaylene Peoples brings to the genre is a mix of American soulful tradition, jazz improvisation, and instrumental virtuosity, making “Romantic Bossa-nova” an original embodiment of the style. Kaylene’s love for music started as a child as she learned to solo on the flute while her father, who was a self-taught musician, would play the blues on the piano.

Kaylene Peoples on Flute (Photo: Alex Kluft)
Kaylene Peoples on Flute (Photo: Alex Kluft)

 

“I always love to talk about how I got started improvising. Sometimes my dad and I would be up at 3am just jamming, playing my flute until my mom would cut it off! I was just a kid. I had to get up in the morning and go to school! Those are fond memories for me. I thank my dad for pushing me. I loved it! And to this day, I incorporate my flute in my compositions and my performances.”—Kaylene Peoples

These early musical experiences inspired Kaylene to compose and arrange music. She went on to study composition with Academy Award-winners Walter Scharf, David Raksin, and Henry Mancini. She’s written symphonies, a ballet, and countless string arrangements throughout her career. This education comes through as a recording artist and can be heard in her jazz albums off of her Boogsey Music label: All Jazzed Up! (2005), The Meaning of Christmas (2013), My Man (2015), Carol of the Bells (2017), and Romantic Bossa-Nova (2020).

Chad Wackerman (Drums), Jon Brooks (Percussion), Nina Harris (BG Vocals), Joe Calderon (Guitar), Larry Dunn (Guest Artist) (Photo: Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

“Music speaks to our souls. I can change a scene or change a MOOD. Creating something from nothing, and watching how it affects others is what moves me. Whether it is a standalone composition or a new arrangement on a well-loved song, I love to watch people’s faces when they hear my compositions and arrangements. And countless people have told me that they were blessed by my music. Those testimonies are what moves me the most!” Formidable Women’s Magazine, “Kaylene Peoples – The Renaissance Woman” Interview by Jules Lavallee

Joe Calderon (Photo: Alex Kluft)
Joe Calderon (Photo: Alex Kluft)

 

Kaylene Peoples Romantic Bossa-Nova was inspired by a private concert that featured singer/actress Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Leeta) with guest performer Dave Pell (Saxophonist & Founder of West Coast Jazz). Sadly only a few months after that first “Romantic Bossa-Nova” show, Dave Pell passed away. Kaylene Peoples in collaboration with Chase Masterson, and co-composer Bunny Brunel wrote “Dave Pell-Just for Fun.” The song is featured on the Romantic Bossa-Nova CD. So what can one expect from Peoples’s show: “So Nice” and “Spain” off of My Man CD; “Once I Loved,” “How Insensitive,” “One Note Samba,” and “Girl from Ipanema” from All Jazzed Up! Then from Romantic Bossa-Nova, “Berimbau,” “Telephone Song,” “Agua de Beber,” “Corcovado,” “Waters of March,” “Bésame Mucho,” and “Dindi.” Every Kaylene Peoples concert comes with an element of mystique. Whether it’s a surprise giveaway, or a heart-to-heart with an audience member during a set, or maybe even a surprise celebrity guest performer.

Designer Kevan Hall, Luisa Dunn, and Larry Dunn (Photo: Sheryl Aronson, SasaPhotos.com)

 

“I was so very blessed to sit in on a couple of songs during this beautiful concert with the extremely talented and beautiful Kaylene whose vocals and flute performance was off the chain, which also featured my buddy, world-renowned bassist Bunny Brunel, along with the other unbelievably top notch musicians! It was truly an honor playing with these extremely talented “peoples”, no pun intended! And I am such a lover of Brazilian music, at any rate, all I can say is I had a ball and y’all should’ve been there!” – Larry Dunn

 

“I enjoyed this concert immensely. The ambiance and atmosphere was so relaxing, and seeing happy faces, it was so nice to get out and hear some real live music. The performance was wonderful and dreamy, and being of Latin decent, it was so refreshing to hear the hypnotic Brazilian rhythms. Kaylene’s vocals AND flute interpretations were awesome. Both original compositions and classics are so beautiful. I have the CD, and I love it; it was so wonderful to hear it live. And Bunny Brunel—everybody knows him as a bass giant; so many were surprised to hear him sing. What a treat. And Larry Dunn always brings some fire by playing those beautiful melodic solos. All the band members were on point and beyond! Great concert. So glad I was there.” Luisa Dunn, Vocalist/Producer/Composer, and Award-Winning Recording Artist

Kaylene Peoples Romantic Bossa-Nova
Kaylene Peoples Romantic-Bossa Nova

Kaylene Peoples will be performing “Romantic Bossa-Nova” with opening performer Gary Stockdale on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at 8:00 pm at Feinstein’s at Vitello’s, located at 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, CA, 91604.

For Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kaylene-peoples-romantic-bossa-nova-tickets-166528171243

“I like to keep people guessing. I’ll change up my material and even introduce a new flavor to the set. I just love observing the reactions of the audience. And as long as those beautiful souls are smiling and dancing in their seats, I’m happy. With my next Romantic Bossa-Nova concert, there just might be a surprise guest performance. You’ll just have to buy a ticket to find out!” –Kaylene Peoples, Multi-Award Winning Recording Artist & Producer

About Kaylene Peoples: L.A. Music Awards-winning Producer Kaylene’s first jazz CD All Jazzed Up! (2005) made a splash across the nation when her single “Do You Remember” was played across the country. The single climbed to the top of the independent charts (AC40/NMW! Top 100 Chart/FMQB & ACQB! and Indie 100 chart). Her 2015 release, My Man, blew up the airwaves and impressed concertgoers. Her song “Giant Steps” is an (Akademia) award-winner, featuring Hubert Laws, Bunny Brunel, and Bobby Lyle. And her CD Romantic Bossa-Nova (2020) is a smash hit amongst Bossa-nova fans. This former model and two-time State Beauty Pageant winner boast a rare 5-octave vocal range, is a multi-instrumentalist, and is a composer/arranger/conductor. Kaylene’s soloing instrument of choice is the flute. In honor of her father, she incorporates it heavily into her music. Peoples has performed/recorded with Bunny Brunel, Bobby Lyle, Hubert Laws, Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Goldblum, Larry Dunn, and others. Kaylene Peoples continues to blow her audiences away with her incredible vocal performances and equally impressive instrumental virtuosity! Visit: https://www.kaylenepeoples.com

The Romantic Bossa-Nova CD: Romantic Bossa-Nova is a breathtaking musical performance with a uniquely heart-warming interpretation of Bossa-nova at its best. Antonio Carlos Jobim, Cole Porter, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius de Moraes, and others with the songs “Night & Day,” “Corcovado,” “Waters of March,” “Dindi,” “Berimbau,” “Besame Mucho,” and more sung in Portuguese, English, and French by award-winning recording artist/producer/musician Kaylene Peoples. The CD features internationally acclaimed and 2-time Grammy-nominated bassist Bunny Brunel with a special treat on “Waters of March” (Aguas de Marços), where Bunny sings a duet in Brazilian Portuguese with Kaylene, and Bunny plays a “mean” Brazilian rhythm guitar the entire album while soloing and grooving on fretless and upright bass in the traditional Latin style! Since the first Romantic Bossa-Nova concert in 2016, Kaylene Peoples has been performing this show and touching the hearts of romantics, leading up to the release of the album in 2020.  Romantic Bossa-Nova is touted as the most romantic show in town, and growing in popularity with every performance!

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Tom Wright Unveils His New Paintings at the West Hollywood Summer Free Jazz & Art Festival with a Live Jazz Concert.

Top jazz musicians Bunny Brunel and Kaylene Peoples perform “Romantic Bossa-Nova” to celebrate acclaimed artist Tom Wright’s newest abstracts at La Bohème Café in West Hollywood on Thursday, July 8, 2021.

Abstract painter Tom Wright will be unveiling his bigger-than-life canvases at the West Hollywood Summer Free Jazz and Art Festival on July 8, 2021, from 9 am throughout the evening at La Bohème Café, located at 8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA. As a long-term resident of West Hollywood, Mr. Wright has supported the community for years. “These are large, full-color art pieces, painted on a canvas that is 9 feet by 15 feet and 6 feet by 9 feet . . . with vivid colors and patterns of happiness,” says Wright. This is the second exhibit Tom Wright has had at La Bohème Café. His previous showing was only a month prior where he showed his framed paintings chosen from his vast collection of abstracts.

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Tom Wright (Abstract Painter)

“If you look up “Renaissance Man,” surely the name “Tom Wright” would come up — If nothing more than discussing his varied art which imitates life. Through his complex journey as an artist, his forms and expressions are reminiscent of the Picassos, the Van Goghs, and the French impressionists. Something as basic as a shopping bag could be his subject.” —Agenda Magazine

“This artist has been attracting a lot of attention lately due to his ‘think outside of the box’ approach to abstract art.” —TheHollywoodTimes.today

Internationally famous, two-time Grammy-nominated bassist Bunny Brunel and award-winning recording artist (jazz vocalist/flutist) Kaylene Peoples will perform “Romantic Bossa-Nova” with Grammy-nominated keyboardist Dennis Hamm, guitarist Joe Calderon, and drummer/percussionist Jon Brooks. The concert is from 11 am to 12:30 pm.

The event is at La Bohème Café (The Outdoors Cafe) , located at 8400 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 on Thursday, July 8, 2021, with the Tom Wright art exhibit starting from 11 am – all day.

The Outdoors Cafe

About Tom Wright:

The Los Angeles artist, Tom Wright, exhibited three examples from his catalogue of paintings that were created over his lifetime. His abstract entitled “The Wolf at the Door” may unlock your fear of the unknown by focusing on the wolf’s menacing image at the door to your world, peeping through the door blinds. On further evaluation, there seems to be a faceless image with an orange hat that makes the viewer question whether or not the wolf is on the inside, and the orange faceless image is looking in! Tom will often combine many worlds in his paintings and may even incorporate more lines and levels to keep the gallery of people guessing where he’s going with his art, leaving much to the viewer’s interpretation. A prolific painter whose art crosses multiple platforms, Wright’s medium of choice is acrylics and he is a master at impressionism and complex abstracts, using anything from canvas to paper bags, and painting satire to self-portraits with themes ranging from somber to joyful to alarming.  Great use of the color palette, Tom Wright’s paintings are imaginative, colorful, and emotionally stirring, and a favorite amongst local galleries. Visit: IG mrtomewright

About Bunny Brunel:

When it comes to the bass, two-time Grammy-nominated Bunny Brunel is the master and a musician’s musician! From defining his signature style on fretless, upright, and electric basses, to authoring numerous instructional books on bass technique and theory, there is no end to Brunel’s musical mind. Bunny has 15 albums from his first, titled Touch (1978) to his latest, the highly praised historical CD Bass-Ball (2017), a co-production with Bunny Brunel and Stanley Clarke. Bunny’s band CAB earned a Grammy nomination for CAB 2 Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Bunny Brunel is revered as one of the four who started the jazz-fusion bass movement (with Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius, and Jeff Berlin). He was a member of Chick Corea’s band for 9 years, earning him his first Grammy nomination, and has played with Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, etc. He has graced the covers of (PN’P) Plug N Play, Bass Musician, Basics; and has been featured in Bass Player, No Treble, Bassiste, For Bass Players Only, and others; and now Brunel holds the prestigious title as the Editor at Large of Virtuoso Bass magazine! Visit: https://www.bunnybrunel.com

About Kaylene Peoples:

L.A. Music Awards-winning Producer Kaylene’s first jazz CD All Jazzed Up! (2005) made a splash across the nation when her single “Do You Remember” was played across the country. The single climbed to the top of the independent charts (AC40/NMW! Top 100 Chart/FMQB & ACQB! and Indie 100 chart). Her 2015 release, My Man, blew up the airwaves and impressed concertgoers. Her song “Giant Steps” is an (Akademia) award-winner, featuring Hubert Laws, Bunny Brunel, and Bobby Lyle. And her CD Romantic Bossa-Nova (2020) is a smash hit amongst Bossa-Nova fans. This former model and two-time State Beauty Pageant winner (Miss California Young Miss; Miss Golden State) boasts a rare 5-octave vocal range, is a multi-instrumentalist, and a composer/arranger/conductor. Kaylene’s soloing instrument of choice is the flute. In honor of her father, she incorporates it heavily into her music. Peoples has performed/recorded with Bunny Brunel, Bobby Lyle, Hubert Laws, Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Goldblum, Larry Dunn, and others. Kaylene Peoples continues to blow her audiences away with her incredible vocal performances and equally impressive instrumental virtuosity! Visit: https://www.kaylenepeoples.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bunny Brunel Featured in “Bassiste” France Issue 72 – Translated to English

Basiste pg 26-27

THIS IS A BASSIST ALBUM FOR BASS PLAYERS!

By Paolo Coccina

How did an album like this come about?

The idea was born quite a while back when Stanley and I talked about it some time ago.  Because of busy schedules, it took us a very long time to finish – It took us five years, with getting all the different musicians to participate. A lot of overdubs were made possible thanks to the internet. Steve Bailey and Victor Wooten recorded their parts at their own studios and uploaded the tracks that I included in the mix. Others like Armand Sabal-Lecco recorded at my studio (Gigi’s Studio) where most of the album was recorded, but we also used Stanley’s studio for most of his parts, as well as Billy Sheehan’s. Recording at those different studios also helped contribute to the extra time spent finishing up the project.

Bassiste Magazine Features Bunny Brunel
Bunny Brunel is featured in the June 2017 Issue.

Besides Josquin Des Prés and Hadrien Feraud, who reside in California, I guess that for all the French musicians involved everything was done through the internet?

That’s right! I wanted to have Marc Berteaux; he is a fantastic bass player that never got the attention that he deserves. He plays a long solo at the end of “Freedom Jazz Dance.”

I wanted to do something special for the city of my birth place “Nice” with the title “Bay of the Angels” that is the name of the the bay in the front of Nice. For this title, I asked some musicians from Nice to play, including Alex Perdigon (trombone), Eric Giausserand (trumpet), and the bassists Tony Bonfils, Fifi Chayeb, and Dominique Bertram; as well as the drummer Steve Ferrone, who used to live in Nice. We went to the classical conservatory together.

Why two versions for that title?

Stanley wanted to have a shorter version for radio air play.

You co-wrote a title with Victor Wooten and Stanley. How did you do that?

If we take the first title “Nothing But The Bass,” which is a play on words on “Nothing but the best,” Stanley came up with some chords on the piano that I took and made the title using each of the different parts and solos sections. My daughter Gigi helped me with the melody of the bridge, that is why her name is mentioned in the credits.

On “Bass Ball” we also found a new version of “For You To Play” that was originally record on the album of the same title back in 1994.

That’s right, this tune was composed by my ex-wife Nicol Mecerova, an opera singer that made the melody of “For Me to Play.” Because I composed it on the Piccolo Bass Synth, I thought that it would be great to record it again with Stanley on the piccolo [bass] as well. He overdubbed the melody on the upright bass with the arco, and played a great solo with it.

My piccolo bass is a 5 string tuned E-A-D-G-C, it’s great to play chords.

Aren’t you afraid that people will say: It’s a bass player album for bass Players?

No, on the contrary; this IS a Bass player album for bass players! That is why we called it “Bass Ball.” There are going to be a Bass Ball 2 and 3 because there are more bass players that need to be presented to the public.

We are happy to hear that. You are doing a great job producing this. Nobody will complain!

This type of album helps connect the new generation of talent with the already established talent. I think that this is very important. I remember when I discovered Eddie Gomez on the live recording of Bill Evans at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, he showed me that I was in the right direction and that it was possible to do what I wanted to do. After that, there were many more for example such as Stanley Clarke who was with the original band Return To Forever; and also . . . it was Jaco Pastorius that offered me the challenge of playing melodies.

It looks like you play a lot of fretless on this album?

I do play fretless most of the time. If I don’t slide it sounds like a fretted bass but I do play my 4-string fretted on Gigi, for example.

Yes, lets talk about equipment. You left Carvin to play ESP now?

Carvin makes fantastic instruments but the problem is that they only sell in the US, they do not really distribute around the world; and they never copied my original design that I made for Gibson in 1986. By the way, my longtime student Kyle Eastwood  has 3 or 4 of those Bunny Brunel Gibsons.

ESP, on contrary, agreed to make my basses exactly the way I designed them. They are making a 5-string fretted, a 5-string Fretless, and a 4-string Fretted. All the ESP basses I designed have Aguilar pickups and electronics. I do not have any 6-string basses. I don’t like the sound of the hi C. I’d rather go up on the G string to play the high notes; the sound is better.

And for the amplification?

In the studio I use the ART preamp for my mixing board; and on stage I use an EDEN Amp system. I used to have a lot of effects a long time ago, but now I only use Digitech pedals such as PB 200 and for intimate venues PB80.

Basiste pg28-29
Bunny Brunel Featured In the French Magazine “Bassiste” June 2017 Issue #72

Did you plan to tour to advertise the album?

We are giving some concerts this summer. But we are thinking of getting to different place with a rhythm section, and inviting some bass players who are in the area to join us.

Interesting. Do you have any plans with the group CAB with Tony MacAlpine and Dennis Chambers?

Not right now, but I started recording an album with Patrick Moraz and Virgil Donati for a new group called “INOW.”  I am very excited about the project. Patrick’s music is complicated, but very beautiful.

It’s reminiscent of when it all started for me. Remember . . . it  is because of Patrick Moraz that I ended up with Chick Corea in 1978 when I was playing at the Ronnie Scott Club in London with Tania Maria and André Ceccarelli.

You’ve been really involved in writing a lot of books and videos, teaching the bass. What are you doing now?

I always give lessons, and because of the internet I can give lessons to anybody anywhere in the world now, using Skype. I am in the process of developing  an app [for bass lessons] for smart phones and tablets

Back to original news item:

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Bunny Brunel’s CAB Performing at the Baked Potato May 20, 2017

Get a dose of electric, jazz fusion with legendary performers Bunny Brunel (Bass), Virgil Donati (Drums), Mitch Forman (Keyboards), and Julian Coryell (Guitar) With Guest Performers.

Show Times 9:30PM | 11:30PM Doors open at 8PM

Tickets: $25 PER SHOW
http://thebakedpotato.com/GiftShopPages/GiftShopAdvSalesCAB.html

Address:
The Baked Potato 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City, CA 91604
Call for reservations: (818) 980-1615

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/747292102120405/

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No Treble Features Bunny Brunel: Bass Players to Know

By: Ryan Madora | April 20th, 2017 | http://www.notreble.com/

Like any aspiring bass player, I went through a “fusion phase” (otherwise known as college). I spent countless hours infatuated with complicated harmony, the wild and masterful displays of technical ability, and the jammiest of jams. It wasn’t long before I discovered the CAB albums featuring Tony MacAlpine, Dennis Chambers, Brian Auger, and bass player Bunny Brunel. This quickly sent me down a rabbit hole of fast paced licks, chord extensions, and the world of instrumental music. Years later, I’ve had an opportunity to revisit some of the CAB records and dig a bit deeper into Brunel’s catalogue of work with artists including Chick Corea, Mike Stern, Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke, and countless others. Between his signature basses, educational books and DVDs, and extensive career as a composer and producer, Brunel is an obvious choice for a Bass Player To Know.

So Who Is Bunny Brunel?

Brunel grew up in France and began playing bass as a teenager. While he was mostly self-taught, he did attend a music conservatory to focus on upright technique and later ventured into fretless bass. Heavily influenced by jazz and Brazilian music, he spent most of his twenties working with various artists and touring through Europe. While performing in London at Ronnie Scott’s, he was introduced to Chick Corea who invited him to come to the United States. Brunel joined Corea’s band and recorded the albums Secret Agent, Tap Step, and Summer Jam, 1979: Live Under the Sky; this quickly solidified him as a force to be reckoned with in the jazz community.

To read the entire article, go to the Original Source at http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2017/04/20/bass-players-to-know-bunny-brunel/

 

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“Real” Jazz and the Inspiration Behind “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook”

Kaylene-Peoples-StandardStories-April2-2017-6-21

By Sean McKenzie | The Indie Hotspot | April 11, 2017

“I wanted to let people know more about some of these well-known songs, many of which have evolved into jazz standards. Every song has a backstory.  I also thought it would be a good way to introduce real jazz to a young audience, too. I really think that was accomplished with this recent private concert,” states Kaylene Peoples

kaylene-peoples-stories-and-standards-the-great-american-songbook
Kaylene Peoples performs at “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook,” April 2, 2017 (Photo: Robert Fisher)

Kaylene Peoples does a lot of things.  She has been called a renaissance woman more than once in the press and her musical disciplines are varied. These disciplines range from jazz, classical, and even pop.  Since her release of her first jazz album All Jazzed Up!, Kaylene has embraced “real” jazz with a bear hug. Kaylene released her second jazz masterpiece titled My Man, and with that she invited legends Hubert Laws, Bunny Brunel, and Bobby Lyle to guest perform, seeming to further make her point . . . “It’s all about the ‘real’ jazz.” Between these two albums, the performances and new arrangements of songs from the Great American Songbook have been the theme with the exception of “Run Away with Me,” “My only Crime,” and the song that charted independently back in 2005 “Do You Remember?” . . . her three originals that could easily be mistaken for standards off of All Jazzed Up!  

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Host Chase Masterson performs at “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook,” April 2, 2017 (Photo: Robert Fisher)

Ultimately, Kaylene started a private Facebook group just for real jazz lovers.Back in 2012, she created the Indie Hotspot Jazz Series to bring more ‘real’ jazz to Los Angeles on a regular basis. And it’s not so hard to understand why her live performances consist of only ‘real’ jazz. What is real jazz? The term defines when the medium became popular in the United States. Many songs that were featured in classic Old Hollywood films by a well-known group of composers and performed by popular singers of the time. This practice continued for almost a century now, but has broken up into many different styles of jazz.

bunny-brunel-at-standards-standards-the-great-american-songbook
Bunny Brunel performs at “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook,” April 2, 2017 (Photo: Robert Fisher)

Jazz is defined as an improvisational discipline, where the instrumentalists use modal jazz changes as their guide. Classic vocal jazz consisted of jazz chords with subtle to extreme vocal improvisation, sometimes incorporating scatting. Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook was a concept Kaylene Peoples had to marry standards with real jazz. [Footnote: Today we have a genre called smooth jazz, which is often confused with real jazz. The theory of the two genres are very different, yet they both have their own unique appeal. And sometimes these two genres cross over into the other genre’s style.]

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Larry Dunn and Luisa Dunn attend “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook” April 2, 2017 (Photo: Robert Fisher)

Kaylene Peoples Standards and Stories from the Great American Songbook premiered April 2nd, 2017 at the Mouse House Studio in Altadena, the third private concert put on by The Indie Hotspot. It was an intimate setting with an impressive lineup: Kaylene Peoples (vocals/flute), Bunny Brunel (acoustic bass), Mahesh Balasooriya (grand piano), and Bryan Cabrera (drums). Chase Masterson narrated and sang three Peggy Lee standards. Using a traditional trio and old-fashion storytelling, the audience was captivated by the stories and performances by this mega-talented ensemble.

Continue reading ““Real” Jazz and the Inspiration Behind “Kaylene Peoples – Standards & Stories from the Great American Songbook””

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Larry Coryell Tribute at the Blue Whale: A Stroll Down Memory Lane

By Kaylene Peoples | Agenda Magazine (www.agendamag.com) | April 10, 2017

The Blue Whale in Downtown L.A. is known for organic music, featuring a variety of styles such as fusion, contemporary jazz, new age, and those that thrive in a cozy, ambient atmosphere. Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 9:00 PM to 11:45 PM was filled with the essence of Larry Coryell, and I had never seen this intimate venue so packed. The tribute concert was spearheaded by Larry’s surviving son Julian, who proved to his father’s fans, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Following the memorial of Larry Coryell (which occurred earlier that day) the concert was to be a celebration of the man and his music. The original lineup was to include Julian Coryell on guitars, Bunny Brunel on bass, Brian Auger on Piano and B3 organ (he took ill that night and was replaced by keyboardist/organist Matt Rohde); and drummers Gerry Brown the first set, and Andy Sanesi the second set.

The song list was filled with some of Larry Coryell’s greatest compositions. Julian played flawlessly those songs, which included the following: “Spaces Revisited,” “Sink or Swim,” “Treats Style,” “First Things First,” “Low Lee Tah, “After Later,” “Bird Fingers,” and “Good Citizen Swallow.” As spirited as those performances were, the show was further commemorative of the fusion style with two tunes by the late, great fusion/soul drummer Alphonse Mouzon, who passed away earlier this year. The ensemble performed Mouzon’s “The Cover Girl ” and “Poobli”; and early in the second set, Julian Coryell and Bunny Brunel did a duet by René Thomas called “Renée’s Theme.”  This was famous duet originally performed by Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin from the album Spaces..

Continue reading “Larry Coryell Tribute at the Blue Whale: A Stroll Down Memory Lane”

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