10 minute read
All That Jazz
and…
All That Jazz!
By Steve York
ANDY PAGE Photo by Ashley Warren, Natural Craft Photography
SHANE CHALKE performs at Chef’s Table in Banner Elk
JAZZ! It can be cool. It can be warm.
And it can most definitely be hot! Yet, somehow, it’s always cool. It can be Big Band, quartet, trio, or simply solo. Born in the deep South, “creoled” in New Orleans, “bootlegged” to Chicago and “citified” in New York, jazz, in all its forms, rose to become a distinctively American musical and cultural global export. And all that jazz is just as much at home here in the High Country as it is anywhere.
Although the local jazz scene is at its liveliest between spring and fall, the cold winter months are kept just a little bit warmer by several hot musicians who perform here at both public and private settings, as well as for special holiday events.
One of those is local jazz piano icon, Charlie Ellis. He’s been keeping the music smooth at the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock for years. His most recent Charlie Ellis Jazz Trio—featuring Ellis, Mike Barlowe on drums, and Rick Stapleton on bass—have performed together for over 15 years.
Charlie started his affair with the long 88’s at age eight in his hometown near Fayetteville. After eventually settling in the High Country, he spent several years playing at the Hound Ears Country Club. But it was his own legendary Jazz Parlor in Blowing Rock’s Martin House from 1972 to 1982 where Charlie, his bandmates, and a host of guest musicians really began to juice up the local jazz scene.
After the Jazz Parlor, Charlie could be heard at Blowing Rock’s former P.B. Scott’s, where he’d played with the likes of jazz greats such as Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann and others. Then came his current musical residency at the Green Park Inn. His last Trio performance there was actually recorded live and entitled the Charlie Ellis Trio Finale. Prior to that, Charlie had produced two more recordings called A Consoling Christmas and Above the Hills, the latter featuring both Charlie and several studio musicians.
Not surprisingly, Charlie is much beloved at the Green Park Inn by both patrons and staff. “He’s always a gentleman, a class act and a big draw,” noted the Inn’s management. And that’s where you’ll find him year-round and throughout the winter from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. He’s joined most weekends by renowned guitarist, Dave Braun, as a regular duo. But you never know when another special guest musician or singer may appear and add to the show.
Shane Chalke is another name synonymous with High Country jazz. His “BE Jazz” group—so named for his Banner Elk seasonal setting—is on the musical menu every Wednesday night from spring to late fall at The Chef’s Table within the town’s Village of Banner Elk dining and entertainment attraction.
Picking up the trumpet at age 10, Shane has played in a variety of funk bands, swing bands, and jazz groups over the years before founding his own trio. His most recent and locally inspired albums include “Jazz in Thin Air” and “Jazz on the River.”
Shane’s Trio, in its eleventh season at Chef’s Table, includes Shane on Trumpet, Jim Fleri on keyboard, Ben McPherron on electric bass and, occasionally, local guitarist, Andy Page. As the Village’s developer, Angelo Accetturo, puts it, “Downtown Banner Elk has never been so alive. And Shane Chalke’s ‘BE Jazz’ is a big reason why.”
Other than Chef’s Table in Banner Elk, Shane’s typical High Country seasonal venues include Alpen Inn on Beech Mountain, Chetola in Blowing Rock and Eagles Nest amphitheater on Beech Mountain. His last two High Country gigs for 2021 take place at Chetola on December 17 and at the Chef’s Table Christmas Jazz event on December 23.
Jim Fleri, who is also a regular with Shane Chalke’s BE Jazz group, is equally well known as leader of his six-piece jazz ensemble called the Lucky Strikes Orchestra. This very popular regional band, which he founded over a decade ago, offers a rich variety of musical genres, from Swing and jazz standards to Motown, Beach and Classic Rock from the 1950s through the 1970s, all with a full jazz band sound.
After initially playing various woodwind instruments, Jim began his professional career as a drummer. Since his dad was a professional jazz pianist, being a drummer gave Jim a chance to play along with his father and mentor. But, after his dad’s passing, Jim turned back to his piano roots with his specialty being keyboard bass.
The Lucky Strikes Orchestra runs a busy spring through fall schedule that includes Grandfather Vineyard, Linville Falls Winery, Beech Alpen Inn, Valle Crucis Park, Inn at Ragged Gardens, Todd Community Park, West Jefferson’s Christmas in July and Backstreet Concerts, Lost Province, and the Blue Ridge Theater. And, in the winter, Jim’s The Lucky Strikes Quartet performs regularly at Timberlake’s Restaurant in the Chetola Resort every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
music! Continued on next page
THE LUCKY STRIKES at Chetola in Blowing Rock
Saxophonist TODD WRIGHT Charlie Ellis (center) at Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock, with Dave Braun (right) and guest guitarist Don Miller (left)
Of course, we can’t talk about High Country jazz without spotlighting saxophone great, composer, studio musician, recording artist and Downbeat Magazine’s Gold Award honoree, Todd Wright. Wright, who is Director of Jazz Studies at Appalachian State’s Hayes School of Music, is a world renowned and traveled musician who has played for Presidents and celebrities alike. He’s also played with or opened for more famous musicians than there’s room to list here, including having opened for the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Wright is head of the High Country Jazz Society (formerly Blowing Rock Jazz Society), which brings regional and national musicians together for Second Sunday jazz concerts to help fund App State’s music! Jazz Studies program. Wright keeps a busy year-round schedule, teaching and playing with his App State jazz students, globetrotting, or performing with a who’s who list of local fellow jazz musicians. “I began playing saxophone during the second semester of my high school sophomore year in Kentucky. I also played in a jazz band in undergraduate school but actually didn’t begin jazz training until after I entered graduate school,” noted Wright. From that background, he has risen to a place of notable respect and admiration from jazz peers, jazz music academia and a world of jazz lovers. Wright and his quartet, trio or duo have played at numerous venues across the High Country for decades. He’s even pulled together a Big Band group for special occasions and founded a Latin jazz group called Brazilian Romance. You can catch his duo with guitarist Andy Page every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Casa Rustica Italian Restaurant in Boone. And, aside from his passion for actual performing, his other inspiration comes from guiding his App State jazz students over the past 30 years and seeing many of them also go on to become acclaimed professional musicians. The aforementioned guitarist, Andy Page, is another force for local jazz. He’s been playing and performing for 35 years across all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. He carries a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies and has taught jazz guitar and music history at App State for 20 years. As noted above, he’s played with both Shane Chalke periodically and Todd Wright regularly over the past 20 years. His trio, the Swing Guitars, has ongoing gigs across the High Country. He plays with a vocal group called Belleville Rendezvous every Tuesday at the Beacon Butcher Bar in Boone. And, along with twin brother Zack, The Page Brothers perform with various guest artists any chance they get.
One of Andy Page’s bandmates, Ben McPherron, is equally a key local jazz talent. McPherron, another App State grad, began playing electric base at age 14. He’s performed across all musical genres before swinging mostly to jazz and double bass over the past decade. Aside from his regular spot in Shane Chalke’s Trio, he joins with both Page and guitarist Jim Schaller in playing French-based gypsy jazz with Page’s Swing Guitars trio.
So, you see, all that jazz is exceptionally alive and well here in the highlands, even during our winter season. And, along with their regular public venues, most area musicians are also available for private bookings and special events. As Shane Chalke puts it, “I’ve always been amazed at the audience reception for jazz here in the High Country. I never would have expected to be playing so much jazz outside of a big city!”
Sally Nooney
ARTIST STUDIO GALLERY
Fine Art Paintings Glass Creations & Heirloom Jewelry Scenic Hwy 194 South Midway between Valle Crucis & Banner Elk Tuesday thru Saturday 10-5 828-963-7347 • Nooney@skybest.com sallynooney.com • Commissions Invited! Frank Nooney Furniture Restoration, and Antiques at the Gallery, next door
LL EE AA TT HH EE RR W W O O O O DD M M O O UU NN TT AA II NN SS RR EE SS O O RR TT
"WHERE"WHERE THETHE STARSSTARS AREARE OUROUR STREETSTREET LIGHTS"LIGHTS" LUXURY VACATION RENTALS LUXURY VACATION RENTALS ABUNDANT STREAMS & WILDLIFE ABUNDANT STREAMS & WILDLIFE MILES OF HORSEBACK & HIKING TRAILS G G ee tt AA w w aa y y .. .. ..
MILES OF HORSEBACK & HIKING TRAILS AS SEEN ON PBS NC"NC WEEKEND"
PREMIER EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES PREMIER EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES CAMPGROUND & RESTAURANT CAMPGROUND & RESTAURANT HOMES & LAND SALES HOMES & LAND SALES
M M aa kk ee M M ee m m oo rr ii ee ss .. .. ..
S S tt aa y y FF oo rr ee vv ee rr .. .. ..
FF O O R R R R E E A A L L E E SS T T A A T T E E II N N Q Q U U II R R II E E SS C C O O N N T T A A C C T T
TTrre ev vo orr W Wh hiitts so on n,, B Brro ok ke err/ /R Re ea alltto orr,, L Le ea atth he errw wo oo od d M Mo ou un ntta aiin ns s H Ho om me es s & & L La an nd d S Sa alle es s 880000..44N NCC..M MTTN NSS ((446622..66886677)) . iin nffoo@ @lleeaatth heerrw wooooddm moou un nttaaiin nss..ccoom m
W W W W W W .. LL EE A A TT H H EE R R W W O O O O D D M M O O U U N N TT A A II N N SS .. C C O O M M
where music meets art
Th Ashe e coolest corner o Co f North un Caroli tyna
“The only name you need to know in mountain real estate”
When you get serious about wanting superior, knowledgeable service in buying or selling real estate in our beautiful High Country, then contact Banner Elk’s oldest brokerage firm. Put 42 years experience in our local real estate market to work for you!
John D. Davis, III
Owner/Broker 828.898.9756 (o) • 828.260.1550 (c) PO Box 336, 161 Silver Springs Dr. Banner Elk NC 28604 www.BannerElkRealty.com
CELEBRATING
MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
