Detroit JazzStage

This DJS Jazz Spotlite features the legendary Dr. Yusef Lateef.

Known for his innovative blending of “Eastern” music with American jazz, Lateef’s main instruments are tenor saxophone and flute, but he is one of few to play oboe or bassoon in jazz, and also plays various world music instruments.

Dr. Lateef came up in a very fertile period in Detroit. Some of the Detroit musicians he performed with include vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Elvin Jones, and guitarist Kenny Burrell.

By 1960, after already playing a year with Dizzy Gillespie’s orchestra, he began performing with Charles Mingus, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, and obtained a BA in music and a MA in music education from Wayne State University.

This true renaissance man has continued to write music that crosses stylistic and artistic boundaries. He has taught at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and the the Manhattan School of Music. He has toured the world with his ensembles and other musicians performing in concert halls and music festivals. Dr. Lateef continues to perform, record and expand the boundaries of music.

Dr. Lateef participated in a panel discussion held in the Jazz Talk Tent at the 2007 Detroit International Jazz Festival. The discussion focused on the Dr. Lateef’s life and his many accomplishments. In the segment featured in this Spotlite, Dr. Lateef discusses how he started exploring non-western musical instruments. The other participants in the discussion included Detroit Saxophonist Steve Wood, author Herb Boyd, and producer/educator/author/jazz historian Ira Gitler

To learn more about this amazing musician, and human being, go to yuseflateef.com

Music

Cry Tender

Musicians

Trumpet – Lonnie Hillyer

Piano – Hugh Lawson

Bass – Herman Wright

Drums – Frank Gant

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Tim Brockett**

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P. Go to bopculture.com for more information

A special thank you to author Herb Boyd for acting as liason between Dr. Lateef and JazzStage Productions. Make sure to check out the book he coauthored with Dr. Lateef called The Gentle Giant. It is a highly recommended read.

The photo comes courtesy of Hans Speekenbrink Podiumfotografie. His many other fine works can be found at http://hansspeekenbrink.nl

This Spotlite was sponsored by the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Go to http://www.detroitjazzfest.com to find out more about this wonderful end of summer tradition.

**Past DJS Jazz Spotlite’s have wrongly credited Dave Luther as the Riff3 composer. JazzStage Productions stands corrected and would like to apologize to Mr. Brockett for this oversight

Your guest for this DJS Jazz Spotlite is the New York-based vocalist-songwriter-bandleader and Mack Avenue recording artist Sachal Vasandani. This fresh, young talent displays a singular, deep-brewed voice and possesses an uncanny sensibility to straddle the fine line between jazz and pop. You will hear a cut from his latest CD, Eyes Wide Open.

Vasandani is in the company of his established trio comprised of Pianist Jeb Patton, Bassist David Wong and Drummer Quincy Davis.

Guests on the CD include Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, Trumpeter Marcus Printup and Guitarist Doug Wamble. The album is produced by esteemed Bassist/Bandleader John Clayton and veteran staff producer Al Pryor, engineered by Joe Ferla and mastered by Bob Ludwig.

For more information on Sachal visit sachalvasandani.com.

Music

Send ‘Em Up To Heaven

Musicians

Vibes – Stefon Harris

Piano – Jeb Patton

Bass – David Wong

Drums – Quincy Davis

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Tim Brockett

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P. Go to bopculture.com for more information

This Spotlite was sponsored by the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Go to http://www.detroitjazzfest.com to find out more about this wonderful end of summer tradition.

For more information on the many fine Mack Avenue Records artists, go to mackavenue.com

Mack Avenue Records Recording artist Sean Jones has revealed himself as among the most immensely expressive, versatile and gifted players of his generation. With each new project, the Warren, Ohio native has peeled back another layer to show us a fresh peek at his soul. His 2004 solo debut, Eternal Journey (recorded when he was 25) introduced Sean as a deft expressor of modern bop for the 21st century via originals and standards in a quintet format. Saxophonist/Composer Tia Fuller’s composition Gullyism will be presented in this Spotlite.

Sean joined moderator W. Kim Heron and fellow panelists Charlie Gabriel, Howard Mandel, Lajoie Butch Gomez in the Jazz Talk Tent at the 2006 Detroit International Jazz Festival for a discussion on New Orleans Brass Bands. Here Sean discusses the resourcefulness of late 19th Century New Orleans musicians learning to play the many instruments left over from the U.S. Civil War, and how they developed playing techniques that have an impact still to this day.

Information on Sean Jones can be found at http://www.seanjonesmusic.com

Music

Gullyism – Tia Fuller

Musicians

Sean Jones – Trumpet

Charles Fambrough – Bass

Ralph Peterson – Drums

Tia Fuller – Saxophones, Flute

Mulgrew Miller, Orrin Evans – Piano

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Tim Brockett

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P.

This Spotlite was sponsored by the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Go to http://www.detroitjazzfest.com to find out more about this wonderful end of summer tradition.

For more information on the many fine Mack Avenue Records artists, go to http://www.mackavenue.com

This DJS Jazz Spotlite features multi-award winning pianist Rick Roe. He is a respected educator and one of the Professors of Jazz at Michigan State University. Rick has served as an educator/clinician at the University of Arizona, North Texas University, the University

of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Michigan, and the Montreaux/Detroit Jazz Festival. He has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, Rodney Whitaker, Frank Foster, Gerald Cleaver, Louis Smith, and many others.

Rick won First Place in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 1994, was twice a Semifinalist in Thelonius Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, in 1993 and 1999, and has been a featured performer in the Jacksonville (Florida) Jazz, Savannah (Georgia) Onstage International Arts, Montreaux/Detroit International Jazz (now the Detroit International Jazz Festival), Birmingham Jazz, Lansing Jazz, Flint Jazz, and Hawaii Jazz (with Frank Morgan) Festivals.

This DJS Jazz Spotlite will feature the title track from Rick’s latest album, Minor Shuffle. The album also features the great, young bassist Josef Deas and smokin’ drummer Thaddeus Dixon.

To learn more about Rick or to purchase any of his superb recordings please visit his Myspace page at  http://www.myspace.com/rickroe.

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Dave Luther

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P. Go to bopculture.com for more information

We are thrilled to present to you an original composition, plus commentary from Hal Galper. With over 82 recordings to his credit, 20 as a leader in his own right, pianist, composer, publisher, educator, author and touring artist, Hal Galper is best known for his work with Chet Baker, Cannonball Adderley, John Scofield and the Phil Woods Quintet. His recordings as a leader with Mike and Randy Brecker are considered among the best. Listen in as Hal talks about the development of his recently conceived rubato concept of playing technique followed by the composition Waiting For Chet from his Agents Of Change CD

For more information on Hal go to http://www.halgalper.com

Musicians

Hal Galper – Piano

Tony Marino – Bass

Billy Mintz – Drums

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Dave Luther

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P. Go to bopculture.com for more information

Pianist Steve Richko lives in Dearborn, MI. He is a 27-year-old prodigy who fell in love with the music of Oscar Peterson at the age of 12. Since then, Steve has made a thorough study of Oscar’s piano artistry and career. Today, Steve Richko is regarded as one the finest young pianists on the Detroit jazz scene. Steve’s virtuosic piano technique is astounding and his understanding of ensemble playing and trio arranging makes for a spectacular presentation. He plays with great feeling and charisma, at once lush and rhapsodic, then bluesy and greasy, then lightning fast bebop! Steve Richko’s musical star is just now rising and the sky is the limit for this amazing jazz sensation!

More information on Steve can be found at http://pkorecords.com

Music

Title track from Steve’s CD – To Oscar, With Love: A Tribute To Oscar Peterson

Sales of this CD benefit ALS Foundations dedicated to finding a cure for Lou Gerhig’s Disease.

Musicians

Piano – Steve Richko

Bass – Paul Keller

Drums – Pete Siers

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music -Riff3 – Dave Luther

Motor City Horns (motorcityhorns.com)

Trumpet – Ben Toman

Trumpet – Mark Byerly

Alto Saxophone – Dave Luther

Tenor Saxophone – Keith Kaminski

Trombone – John Rutherford

Background Music – Mark Byerly’s the resurrection available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P. Go to bopculture.com for more information

This Spotlite was sponsored by the Detroit International Jazz Festival. Go to http://www.detroitjazzfest.com to find out more about this wonderful end of summer tradition.

Alto Saxophonist, and Origin Records recording artist Alex Graham has performed with several of today’s top jazz artists including Wessell Anderson, Nnenna Freelon, Louis Smith, Diane Schuur, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Mark Levine, Peter Bernstein, Steve Davis, Joe Magnarelli, Michael Weiss, Aaron Goldberg, Rodney Whitaker, Jim Rotundi, Sam Yahel and Dena Derose. He has performed at festivals and clubs in the United States, Europe and Japan and has appeared on several recordings.

In addition to writing arrangements for vocalists Diane Schuur and John Boutte, he has also composed and arranged for small group, big band and studio orchestra. He has taught and lectured at the college level, and is currently teaching “Jazz Performance Workshop” at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where he is pursuing his Doctorate in Jazz Studies. A resident of New York City for 10 years, Alex moved to Mackinac Island, Michigan after becoming the music director at Grand Hotel in 2001. Under his leadership, USA Today has praised Grand Hotel’s music as its best amenity. His latest CD, The Good Life, received significant national airplay in 2006 and was designated “chartbound” by jazzweek.com.

Alex discusses his career, soon to be released CD “Brand New”, and his upcoming performance at Music Hall in Detroit, MI on February 1st, 2008 with hosts Jim Gallert and Rodney Reeves

For more information about Alex, go to http://www.alexander-graham.com

Music heard on this show

Explosion – from The Good Life.

Alex Graham – alto sax, Rick Roe – piano, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Joe Strasser – drums.

Rocket Science – from Brand New

Alex Graham – alto sax, Jim Rotondi – trumpet, Steve Davis – trombone, David Hazeltine – piano, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Carl Allen – drums

Pig Pig – from Brand New

The Mole People – from Countdown

Alex Graham – alto sax, Louis Smith – trumpet, Joe Magnarelli – trumpet, Rick Roe – piano, Rodney Whitaker – bass, Joe Farnsworth – drums.

More Or Less – from Hi-Fi

Alex Graham – alto sax, Whitney Ashe – piano, Gary Wang – bass, Matt Jorgensen – drums.

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music – Mark Byerly’s Marks Mood available on the self titled CD Bop Culture

Closing Music – Mark Byerly’s Erroenious available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P.

Go to bopculture.com for more information

This episode is sponsored by the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit, MI. For more information on the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts go to http://www.musichall.org/

This month we are featuring trumpeter, composer, and arranger Walt Szymanski. Walt began his musical journey from a small home on the east side of Detroit that was constantly resonating with the sound of music. Listening to his mother play and sing the Broadway standards on the family piano and hearing the records of Nat Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie and Al Hirt as well as the constant refrains of the ever present Motown sound presented him a tremendous musical foundation upon which to build.

Walt discusses his career and the many wonderful personalities he’s encountered along the way.

For more information on Walt and where to purchase CD’s, go to http://www.waltszymanski.com

Music

Trippin’*

90º With 100%**

7th Avenue Slope*

Que Es Esto Mi Amor?*

Herbie’s Harem*

Campo Izquierda***

Loves Brief Departure*

Ensembles

*Motor City Jazz Quintet

Walt Szymanski – Trumpet

Scott Petersen – Tenor Sax

Phil Kelly – Piano

Paul Keller – Bass

Jon Knust – Drums

**Unity

Walt Szymanski – Trumpet

Alex Harding – Bari Sax

Andy Bemke – Piano

Massa Kamaguchi – Bass

Jon Knust – Drums

***Emergence

Walt Szymanski – Trumpet

Tino Derado – Piano

Wayne Batchelor – Bass

Gene Calderazzo – Drums

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music – Mark Byerly’s Marks Mood available on the self titled CD Bop Culture

Closing Music – Mark Byerly’s Erroenious available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P.

Go to bopculture.com for more information

We’d also like to thank jazz vocal great Kurt Elling for introducing this episode. To learn more about Kurt and his music, go to http://ww.kurtelling.com

This episode is sponsored by the folks at www.allaboutjazz.com

This month on Detroit JazzStage, we welcome poet M.L. Liebler and jazz guitarist/poet Ron English. M.L. fronts the group, M. L. Liebler & The Magic Poetry Band. By day, he is a Wayne State University professor (and St. Clair Shores, Michigan’s first Poet Laureate). Over the last twenty plus years, M.L. has combined his insightful, urban poetry with the funky tones of modern jazz, resulting in a perfect elision of sound and vision. Ron has enjoyed a long and varied music career, with roots wide and deep in blues, Broadway, bebop, avant-garde, funk, Motown, and gospel. M.L. and Ron share their views of how poetry and jazz are intertwined, plus discuss their 2007 CD The Kurl Of The Butterfly’s Tongue. Their Detroit experience is peppered with some of the people and places they have encountered through the years such as the Detroit Artists Workshop, the Detroit Contemporary 5, Cobb’s Corner, Jack Kerouac’s first wife Edie Parker and many more.

Ron also discusses his latest CD by his group Psalm 150 Ensemble. His CD, titled Devotions, features a stellar Detroit lineup. The Psalm 150 Ensemble perform Ron’s arrangements of negro spirituals and traditional sacred music.

Information on where to purchase both CD’s can be found at http://detroitradiocompany.com

Poems

The Twilight Blues

Rock ‘N’ Roll

Music

Magic Poetry Band – The Kurl Of The Butterfly’s Tongue

The Jazz/Foster’s – M.L.

A Work in Progress/Dragons – Faruq Z. Bey

The Blower – Ron English

The Kurl of the Butterfly’s Tongue/Spectrum – Faruq Z. Bey

Musicians

Faruq Z. Bey – Tenor Sax

Ron English – Guitar

Jef Reynolds – Bass

Bill Hulet – Drums

Psalm 150 Ensemble – Devotions

I  Know It Was The Blood – Traditional Spiritual – Ron English solo Guitar

Jacob’s Ladder – Traditional Spiritual

Musicians

Ron English – Guitar

Dean Moore II – Alto Saxophone

John Dana – Bass

Gerald Cleaver – Drums

Acknowledgements:

Opening Music – Mark Byerly’s Marks Mood available on the self titled CD Bop Culture

Closing Music – Mark Byerly’s Erroenious available on Bop Culture’s CD The E.P.

Go to bopculture.com for more information

This episode is sponsored by the folks at www.allaboutjazz.com