Two Important Musical Events You Will Not Want To Miss

I wanted to give all my Desert music followers a heads-up about two musical events that I know you will enjoy.  First, on Saturday, January 31 at 1:00pm at the Indian Wells Resort Hotel, Chase Huna is having a fundraiser to get his new song, "On The Chase" to radio.  Chase's band will include Eddie Reddick on Bass, Tateng Katindig on Keys and Craig Chestnut on Drums.  For more information on this event contact show host Carl Davis at 760-567-0690 or email Carldavis3@verizon.net.

The second event includes everyone's favorite performer, Yve Evans who is staring in the musical play, "A Handful of Nickels & Dimes" at the Indio Performing Arts Center in Indio.  Yve says the cast of this musical is stellar and the show is fast paced and hilarious.  The play opens on February 20 and will run until mid-March.  You can get tickets on line at: www.Indioperformingartcenter.org or by calling 760-775-5200.

Both Chase and Yve would love to have you support these events.

Bill Saitta Hosts Another Great Jazz Party at Backstreet Bistro

Jay Lewis, Bill Saitta, Craig Yancey and Linda Peterson

Bill Saitta

Craig Yancey

Jay Lewis

The Great Linda Peterson

Tom Keenlyside, Bill Saitta and Craig Yancey

Ron Kalina, Jay Lewis, Bill Saitta & Craig Yancey

Bill Saitta & Chase Huna

Tuesday night is always Jazz night at Backstreet Bistro.  On Tuesday April 8th, Bill Saitta put together a sensational group of musicians who put on a wonderful Jazz show to the delight of the standing-room only Jazz-loving crowd.  Tonight's music was particularly special because of the addition of everyone favorite singer and keyboard player Linda Peterson.  Linda has not been in the Desert much this season, but tonight she reminded us of how good a performer she is.  It was somewhat strange seeing her as a side-man, but the results were outstanding for the audience and the group.

Craig Yancey played Soprano, Alto and Tenor Sax tonight and he was very, very  impressive.  His tone on all three Saxes was superb and he played his heart out on every song.  I have heard Craig play before, but I have never heard him play as well as he did tonight.  Great work Craig!

Bill Saitta was on Bass and again showing us how hard he has worked to produce fresh, intelligent solos that set him apart from other Bass players.  Bill's growth as a Bass player and a singer continue to surprise all of us.  In addition, Bill deserves recognition for putting together the music lineup for the Backstreet Bistro Tuesday night Jazz series.  It's never the exact same players but always top draw talent.

Jay Lewis continues to play impressive drums night after night.  Jay is a Drummer with soft hands and plays with great taste.  He never overplays, provides perfect tempo and when called puts together very tasteful solos that seem new each time you hear one.

We had some really outstanding musicians sit-in tonight also.  First, world-class flute player, Tom Keenlyside joined the band and the fun.  Then one of the greatest Harp players in the country, Ron Kalina showed the audience why ballads from the "Great American Songbook" are still being played 100 years after they were written!

The evening concluded with a performance by 14 year old Chase Huna.  Jazz lovers in the Desert have seen Chase sit in with various Jazz groups since he was 10.  Tonight's performance was the first time I had an opportunity to hear Chase this season. It proved that Chase has arrived.  He has his own style, and his solos were new and creative.  I am sure it won't be long before we see Chase performing full-time with his own group.

The Coachella Valley: "Jazz Centre Of The World" By J. Crawford Reid

La Quinta Desert Flowers

J. Crawford Reid is a Canadian who loves Jazz especially Jazz in the Coachella Valley and he is our guess author of this post.

The Jazz Centre of the World--New York City?  No.  Birdland?  No. I think the Jazz Centre of the World is the Coachella Valley in Southern California.

My wife and I started regular vacations in Palm Desert 8 years ago.  We went there for all the usual reasons, the weather, good dining, shopping and lots of nice places to see.  We really didn't anticipate that Jazz would become a very important reason for returning year after year, in addition to all the other benefits of the area.

Let me talk about some of the places and people that have so impressed us. First, without doubt, is the Backstreet Bistro, where it started for us.  Perfect hostess, Lavane, perfect music, and really good dining!  A must every Tuesday night.  In that context, I have to thank Bill Saitta, who plays there often.  A great Bassist, but also a great leader, and a guy who creates a lot of work for Jazz musicians.  We have so enjoyed Jay Lewis' Drums and Steve Madaio's Trumpet.  This year, a new guitar player, James Moody (not that James Moody), and some nights, Chase Huna, a teenage saxophone player who's getting better each year--may be the most perfect Jazz Club anywhere.

At the other end of town, Vicki's!  In addition to Jazz almost every night, they have great Sunday afternoons!  A delightful Band with many different guest vocalists.  In past years, we've heard some brilliant guest musicians who travel out from LA, like Dave Pell.  The regular front line is Stan Watkins on Trumpet and Don Shelton on reeds.  Don is a superb Saxophonist, but also a brilliant singer.  He paid his dues in Singers Unlimited.  On Bass in that band is Larry Holloway, one of the best Bass Players I've ever heard.  This Band sometimes features the very good Tom Keenlyside, a transplanted Canadian.  Tom is outstanding on Flute and Reeds.  Are you starting to get the picture of the musical strength in this area?

Across the street from Vicki's is the Indian Wells Hotel, which has good music several nights a week.  Frank Di Salvo does a great Sinatra-type show, and on Tuesday nights, there is Ron Kalina on Piano and Harmonica, with again, the great Larry Holloway on Bass and Gino Antonacia on Vibes.

Can't leave out Palm Springs.  Palm Springs has Woody's!  A hamburger place which presents Jazz very, very well.  Yve Evans entertains there on vocals and Piano just about every month.  Yve would be welcome in any Jazz community in the world.  Brian Nova is a regular every Wednesday playing his wonderful Guitar.  Brian has been in the area for years, and Woody's is his current home base.  Brian's trio consists with him on guitar, Andy Fraga, Jr., on Drums and (again) Larry Holloway on Bass is among the best anywhere! Woody's features Jazz almost every night

One of the secrets of this Valley Area is that musicians and singers are welcome to sit in.  It happens at all of the venues, and can make for a very exciting evening.

I haven't covered all of the places where good music is offered, but I've tried to give you a sense of why I think the Coachella Valley is the Jazz Capital of the world.  This has happened for years.  I hope it never ends!

Bill Saitta and all that Jazz at Backstreet Bistro

Bill Saitta Playing and Singing Up A Storm at Backstreet

Jay Lewis, Bill Saitta, Craig Yancey and James Moody

Craig Yancey

Jeanie Monroe, Jay Lewis and Bill Saitta

Chase Huna, Jay Lewis and Bill Saitta

Bass player Bill Saitta's current group includes  Drummer Jay Lewis,  Sax Player Craig Yancey and Guitar player James Moody. These four finely tuned veteran musicians are producing some of the best Jazz sounds in the valley these days on Tuesdays at Backstreet Bistro.  I have been listening to Bill Saitta play bass and sing for the last couple of years and each time I heard Bill I hear something new and better than the last time I heard him.  Bill Saitta is not just a great stand up Bass player, he is a student of his trade. Bill is always pushing the envelope when he plays and sings, never satisfied with the status quo of music.  He is always looking for better ways to approach his trade.  He is playing better than ever and he has worked very hard over the last year or two to improve his singing skills.  The results are impressive in both areas. Even though Bill is a master musician, he continues to reach out to other talented musicians to help them get work and book gigs. Finally, Bill is one of the few musicians I have know that has applied sound business principles and planning to his trade. I believe this business planning has played a key role in Bill's successful career. 

Tonight was the first time I got to hear Craig Yancey play sax and I was very impressed.  His solos were imaginative and tight. But the quality I liked the most about Craig was the way he projected his love for performing and playing Jazz. Can't wait to hear more of Craig Yancey.

There were two excellent musicians that Bill call up to perform this night,  First, Jeanie Munro delighted the audience with some great singing. I understand that Jeanie is getting married soon and wish her much happiness. I hope I can hear more from her in the future.  Next, 13 year old Chase Huna came up to join Bill's quartet playing his soprano sax. Chase regularly sits in with many groups in the Desert and it is just remarkable how much he improves each time I get to hear him.  Tonight he played a couple of song with the band including a version of Ellington's "Take The A Train" that just cooked!

This particular Bill Saitta group plays at Backstreet a couple of Tuesdays every month. If you love Jazz, call Backstreet Bistro to find out when the group will be appearing again and be sure to make a reservation as Bill usually sells out the space.

  

Brian Nova Trio Plays Great Jazz at Backstreet Bistro

Brian Nova

The Brian Nova Trio: Jay Lewis, Larry Holloway, Brian Nova

Larry Holloway and Brian Nova

Larry Holloway

Jay Lewis

Chase Huna and Brian Nova

Missoni Lanza and Brian Nova

The Brian Nova Trio and Carole Hampton

The legendary Harp Player, Ron Kalina

The night I went to Backstreet Bistro to hear Brian Nova, the outdoor event was cancelled due to high winds.  So when I heard that Brian would be performing on April 3 at Backstreet, I returned.  It was well worth it and proved to be a very entertaining evening.  Playing with a trio composed of Jay Lewis on drums, Larry Holloway on bass and Brian as lead with his guitar really cooking. Working with these two talented musicians provided the perfect background for Brian to showcase his amazing dexterity and imaginative improvising on the guitar.  In addition, Brian sang several great jazz tunes to the delight of the standing-room-only crowd at the Backstreet Bistro. Brian is an understated musical performer for all the lucky residents in the Coachella Valley.  If you love great jazz, you have to put hearing Brian on your "To Do" list. 

Of special note tonight was some killer-bass-playing from Larry Holloway and the always great drum playing from Jay Lewis. This trio sounded like they have been playing together for years and provided Brian with perfect backing.

As one would expect, there were several performers in the audience Brian called up to perform. First was a young sax player, Chase Huna.  Chase is 12 years old and is in the 7th grade at the Palm Desert Charter Middle School and has only been playing for 3 years.  But don't let that fool you, he can play and improvise on sax exceptionally well.  Keep up the studying Chase, you have what it takes to become a great player in the very near future.  Next up was the lovely and talented singer and friend to all musicians in the Desert, Carole Hampton.  Carole has a wonderful voice and sings effortlessly to the delight of her admiring audiences.  Thanks for the great sounds, Carole!

Next up was one of my personal Desert favorites, Ron Kalina.  I just never get to hear enough of Ron's harp playing.  However, I just found out that Ron has put a trio together and will be performing at The Indians Wells Resort on Tuesday April 17.  This is a performance that should not be missed.  Mark your calendars and call the Indian Wells Resort at 760-345-6466 to reserve your table