THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 | Editor: Jennifer Self • Phone: 395-7434 • Email: jself@bakersfield.com
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AT A GLANCE Nut Festival back for third year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Empty Space . . . . . . . . 23 Symphony staging season finale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Conductor Kalia gets his opportunity . . . . . . . . . . 24
Art show explores ‘Historical Oildale’ . . . . . . . . . . 25 The Lowdown with Cesareo Garasa . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Liberty opera stages ‘The Merry Widow’ . . . . . . . 29 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33
Jazz with a note of thanks Annual Bakersfield festival doubles as tribute to key figure BY MATT MUNOZ AND CESAREO GARASA For The Californian
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here is a flip side to any and every event, positive or negative, according to a list of personal beliefs left behind by Adele Davis, who for 29 years was the behind-the-scenes, clipboard-wielding muscle of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival. Still coming to grips with Davis’ untimely death in March, organizers of this year’s festival will be trying to locate that flip side this weekend as they attempt to imitate her machinelike efficiency: welcoming fans, shepherding musicians, organizing volunteers and everything else that is required to put this juggernaut together. “On our festival poster this year, it has the line: Dedicated to Adele Davis, our Festival Heart,” said Doug Davis, Adele’s husband and founder of the festival. “We all feel her loss. Many call to volunteer to work who have not heard of her passing. Of course, we both break in half when I give them the terrible news. She easily gave 300 hours to this festival each year.” But this will be no subdued affair, said booking agent Paul Perez, and Davis wouldn’t have wanted it to be. On the main stage Friday — party night — will be the highenergy soul of Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Latin mambo masters Boogaloo Assassins, and the smooth jazz of The Braxton Brothers. Saturday starts with the Kern County Honor Jazz Band, followed by Bakersfield’s Jay Smith Group, stellar New York guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and his quartet, Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, a fireworks display, and the infectious big band/traditional ska outfit Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra. Entertainment also will be provided on a side stage located
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOUG DAVIS
Western Standard Time ska orchestra will perform on Saturday at the 2015 Bakersfield Jazz Festival.
next to the food vendors. “The fest was created to provide scholarships to music students attending Cal State,” Perez said. “That was Adele’s main concern and really that’s what it’s all about. “Aside from that, I always hope our audience discovers something new for themselves — whether it be an artist they'd never heard of or a style of music. Of course I always like to hear that everyone enjoyed themselves, had a great time and can't wait for next year!”
Friday The Braxton Brothers Friday, known as the “party night” of the Bakersfield Jazz FesPlease see JAZZ / PAGE 30
Louis Hayes will lead the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band on Saturday night.
Boogaloo Assassins will perform on the opening night of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival.
29TH ANNUAL BAKERSFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL When: 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday Where: CSUB Amphitheater, 9001 Stockdale Highway Admission: Friday: $36, $26 students;
Saturday: $41, $29 students; two-day combo: $60, $40 students; free for CSUB students and staff with ID and children under 12. vallitix.com or 3225200.
Bring: A blanket or folding chairs. Coolers containing picnic items are allowed, as are umbrellas (but be considerate of other audience members). Reserved seating snags a six-seat table, which includes
waitress service for wines and specialty beers; complimentary Dewar's chews. Don't bring: Alcoholic beverages Information: Bakersfieldjazz.com
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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 7, 2015
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tival, features a line-up of the chilled, the spicy and the funky, kicking off with the sounds of smooth jazz twin brother duo The Braxton Brothers. Brothers Wayne Braxton, on saxophone, and Nelson Braxton, on bass, have created an undeniable blend of grooves ideal for opening the festival’s main stage. After mixing it up as jazz and rock sidemen during the early part of their careers, the Braxtons have carved out their own niche, straddling the jazz and R&B worlds. Reminiscent of the smooth jazz radio boom of the late ’80s, the Braxtons’ sound is contemporary and soulful, with added beats sure to have listeners moving in their seats. The Braxton Brothers’ latest CD, “True Love,” will be available at the festival. Boogaloo Assassins As purveyors of the Latin boogaloo made popular in the streets and clubs of New York during the ’60s, Los Angeles power ensemble Boogaloo Assassins are always ready for a showdown on the dance floor.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOUG DAVIS
The Jay Smith Group will perform Saturday at the 2015 Bakersfield Jazz Festival.
“We have a very broad appeal,” said Charles Farrar, one-third of the group’s three-part vocal section. “I've had fans up in their 70s as well as much younger teenagers. I love the people who tell me it reminds them of New York or their youth. I guess we're doing something right.” Unfamiliar with what separates boogaloo from its musical first cousin salsa? Bandleader and pianist Bill Purdy offered an explanation in rhythmic terms. “In a few words, the boogaloo songs are just
jams that everyone loves to dance and party to. We love all Afro-Cuban music, but the combination of AfroCuban rhythms with American rhythm-and-blues influences is uniquely ‘American.’ It has a timelessness and freshness that still works well today.” A popular draw in the SoCal music scene since their formation eight years ago, the group is well versed in boogaloo music history. The group has garnered props from one of the music’s most iconic record labels, Fania, which
ATTENTION VENDORS The 2nd Annual KidsFest is coming to the Kern County Museum
on Saturday, July 18th! KidsFest Bakersfield is a great place to get your products and services in front of thousands of forward-thinking, modern families. • • • • • KidsFest Bakersfield will allow Kern County kids and parents the opportunity to touch, feel and experience your product while they explore 16 acres of creative fun.
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invited the Assassins to back Latin vocal legend Joe Bataan. The label also rereleased the group’s debut, “Old Love Dies Hard.” “Both times we have traveled to New York we have had great responses from the audiences there. Though the salsa scene is nothing like what it was in its ’70s heyday, New Yorkers are very cool about what we are doing with their classic style of music,” Farrar said. “I've always loved the music. My family is from New York. I was born in the Bronx. My mother was born in Cuba. My father was a Latin percussionist in the ’70s, so Latin music, including boogaloo has always been a part of our family. I didn't see too many bands doing boogaloo, so Bill and I decided to go for it. The beat, the rhythm, the singing, it sounds absolutely perfect.” One of the group’s most interesting musical experiments is a reworking of the Dawn Penn reggae classic “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” into a smoking bilingual salsa burner that kicks off “Old Love Dies Hard.” That number is just one of the group’s many live show sock-it-to-me moments. “Even if you don't understand the language, the rhythms will connect with you on a basic, primal, human level,” Farrar said. The Boogaloo Assassins will have copies of their latest releases available at the festival. Big Sam’s Funky Nation Rounding out Friday’s line-up on a seriously funky tip will be Grammynominated New Orleans trombone sensation Sammie “Big Sam” Williams and Funky Nation. Williams, a veteran of the festival circuit, touts a live show with a solid reputation for inciting crowds into a dancing frenzy with all the “bam” of a spicy serving of gumbo. It’s a badge worn with honor by Williams, who got his start performing as a member of the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the age of 19 before going solo to become one of New Orleans’ most celebrated musical ambassadors. “New Orleans music and jazz have always been improvisational, starting out with blending and borrowing from African and European rhythms and then incorporating Caribbean sounds,” said Williams on his recipe for keeping tradition balanced
A CREDO FROM ADELE DAVIS After the sudden death of his wife, Adele Davis, in March, Bakersfield Jazz Festival founder Doug Davis discovered a credo of sorts among her papers. He agreed to share her thoughts with our readers as he gears up for another jazz festival, which his wife helped him run for 29 years.
This I Believe By Adele Davis This is a collection of personal thoughts motivated by a book called “This I Believe” that I am reading. It prompted me to examine some of my personal beliefs and feelings about everyday, normal things as well as deeply personal, sometimes spiritual things that I rarely deal with in a straight ahead manner. This is an ongoing process. 1. I believe that I am entitled to my own belief system as are others. 2. I believe that everyone is entitled to the benefits of a sound basic education and medical attention. 3. I believe that everyone must be responsible for his/her actions, and should know it. 4. Everyone should, at some point in his/her life, do something for someone else that is totally unselfish but benefits the other in an unforgettable way. 5. There is always a “flip side” to any and every event, whether it be something negative or positive. When it happens, one cannot usually see the flip side. Sometimes it takes years to really realize these outcomes…… 6. Any and every good deed comes back to you “in spades.”
with the modern age. “As we continue to develop New Orleans music, the new influences are pop, rock and hip-hop that is where we are borrowing from today but always keeping the roots and origins present.” Spreading his funky message to the masses has never been difficult for Williams, who spends ample time on the road touring alongside the likes of Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint when he’s not
Doug Davis, left, director of the CSUB Jazz Program and organizer of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival, with his wife, Adele. 7. I believe that when one is spoken to, there should be some indicator of having heard the speaker — even if the one spoken to cannot respond at that moment. 8. I believe that one should be recognized for positive effort, creativity, and thoughtfulness even if there is no immediate result. 9. I believe that the give and take between people/peoples is what fosters understanding and forgiveness. 10. I believe that we should try to aid those who need help no matter how small the effort is to be of assistance. 11. I believe that everyone in a family should feel that they are valued and each should have some indication of the importance of that value often, without falseness or placation. 12. I believe that teachers, in teaching something to someone, should be sensitive to the student’s way of learning and not base the student’s success on speed at which the student learns or the specific way that proves successful for the student. We all learn in our own way.
fronting the Funky Nation and expanding his fan base globally. From downbeat to the last drop of sweat, no notes are wasted with each glide of Williams’ slide. “We have played so many great festivals in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Brazil. It is always great when we get to a new festival and turn the audience on to our sound. We just finished playing the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which is always Please see JAZZ / PAGE 31
Thursday, May 7, 2015 The Bakersfield Californian
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The Braxton Brothers will play the opening night of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival.
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great because it is a musical reunion of sorts as all the local bands that are usually on the road touring are home and we get to play together again.” Eager to share his musical heritage with Bakersfield, Williams plans to win over the crowd with funky intensity pulling from his vast catalog of party hits, including “Funky Donkey,” “Ain’t Nothing But a Party,” “Big Sam’s Blues” and “Coffee Pot.” “We have been in many cities in California but this is the first visit to Bakersfield for the Funky Nation. Expect to experience a party and be prepared to dance. We want the audience on their feet.” Also performing on the festival side stage between main stage acts on Friday will be all-star Bakersfield Steely Dan tribute the Blue Deacons.
Saturday Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra The 18-piece Los Angeles ensemble fuses the sound of big-band jazz with the sound of Jamaican ska. “We definitely straddle both; it’s not totally either,” trumpeter Eitan Avineri said. “What we try to do is keep the music grounded and not make it forced; to keep it a seamless combination of the two where the groove isn’t lost.” Formed in 2011, the group will be promoting their just-released “Volume 2: A Big Band Tribute to the Skatalites,” which finds them not just re-creating deep cuts by the iconic ska band but covers by other groups like The Monarchs’ take on the jazz standard “All of Me” that is almost unrecognizable from the traditional versions but undeniably upbeat and danceable. “From an orchestration standpoint, jazz listeners will be able to enjoy it and also appreciate its authenticity. We wanted it that even if you took out the horns, it still sounded like the Skatalites; and the horns had more of a Count Basie/Duke Ellington approach to the arrangements,” Avineri said. If you close your eyes and listen to Western Standard Time, you’ll hear the percolating snare-ping sound of Jamaican ska, but when you open them, you’ll see a big band in all of its matched-blazer-and-boxmusic-stand glory. Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band Cannonball Adderley might have been eclipsed in pop culture by the two giants — Miles Davis and John Coltrane — who
also played on the seminal “Kind of Blue” album, but the impact the alto saxophonist had on both the instrument and jazz music in general is undeniable. Or as Legacy Band leader and drummer Louis Hayes said, “He influenced with his mind and facilities.” Hayes should know. He played with Adderley as far back as 1959 (Adderley died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1975) and has been leading the Legacy band since 2000. Legacy Band saxophonist Vincent Herring’s tone doesn’t just sound like Adderley’s; it channels it. The group can turn from jubilant to sorrowful in an instant and the performances are as soulful as the man who inspired the band. Besides his playing with Davis, Adderley was a bandleader in his own right whose 1966 recording of Joe Zawinul’s “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” became a crossover hit. “The members of the group love this music and art form, “ Hayes said. “We never tire of playing Cannon’s classics.” The Jonathan Kreisberg Quartet New York-based guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg, 42, has been making quite an impact as a bandleader and guitarist on the East Coast. His outstanding new album “Wave Upon Wave” is a focused, harmonically confident release. Drummer Colin Stranahan’s playing is insanely melodic, rolling and mischievous, or as Kreisberg said via email, “a great combination of organic risk-taking and studied precision.” From the start-and-stop playful interplay on the title track, to the airy closer “Peace,” the album simmers at a high heat but never boils over; a testament to the power and control of the band. The album’s best track, “Being Human,” manages to be menacing and mysterious and sentimental and beautiful, all within the space of a few measures. Kreisberg is hot at the moment, on the verge of a career breakthrough. That’s the best time to watch an artist and his group perform: right at the culmination of their previous work and at the start of a new ascent. As Kreisberg said, it’s “tough to differentiate the end of a chapter and the beginning of the next when you are a character in the book!” “Really looking forward to getting back to Bakersfield,” Kreisberg said. “I remember from my last visit that there are some folks out there that really like to think for themselves and check out music that is raw and alive. I think that this festival will be a great opportunity to do just that and I hope to see them soon.”
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