The Ken Peplowski Quartet Brings the Audience to Its Feet at Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store

I try to attend as many of the Jazz dates at Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store as I can because I have never been disappointed in the high quality of the musicians that perform live for these events.  The Ken Peplowski Quartet that performed on February 18, 2019 was certainly one of the best groups I have heard in the "Jazz for Jazz Lovers" series.  First, the group was made up of seasoned Jazz veterans, Ken Peplowski and special guest Ron Stout who were joined by some younger but spectacularly talented professional musicians, Josh Nelson on Piano, Katie Thiroux on Bass and Matt Witek on Drums.  For tonight's performance, Ken Peplowski picked some traditional Jazz tunes along with several songs from the "Great American Songbook".

Ken Peplowski is a giant in the Jazz world and for good reason.  He is certainly one of the best Jazz Clarinet players performing today.  Also, at Monday's performance, he proved he is one of the best Jazz Tenor Sax players also.  You don't hear many Clarinet players these days but listening to Ken's warm tones was so wonderful that you had to be thinking, we need to hear more Clarinet sounds in the Jazz world.  I know this is what I was thinking!  Ken's improvising is just about perfect, it's creative, spontaneous, soft and simply beautiful!

Ken put together some suburb younger musicians in his Quartet, and he made sure that each member of his group had their time to shine.  And shine they did starting with the remarkably talented Josh Nelson on Piano.  I have had the pleasure of seeing Josh play several times in different venues and as good as he is, he seems to get even better each time I see him.  Josh also makes an effort to help younger musicians by supporting them on live performances and on CD's.  I see his name on many of the new CD's I review every month.

On Bass was Katie Thiroux, one of my favorite Bass players.  I reviewed Katie's first, very successful CD on this site and encourage you to look-up the review up to find out more about Katie.  Katie reminds me of my favorite all-time Bass players, starting with the great Ray Brown.  She knows the importance of melody and when she improvises she makes sure that her creative lines never forget the melody.  I think it puts her into a class of her own when it comes to Bass playing.  Katie also has a unique voice and even though she did not sing tonight,  you should check out her two CD's to hear her sing,

Matt Witek was on Drums tonight.  I had never heard Matt play before but shortly after he started playing, any listener would realize he is a special player.  Too many of today's Drummers think that loud is the only way to stand out.  What a pleasure to hear a Drummer that works with sounds and understands the purpose and use of brushes.  Matt used his hands several times to produce some great support for the group which was very enjoyable.  In addition, the percussion section of Katie and Matt were perfect together.

Veteran Trumpeter  Ron Stout was an announced special guest tonight, and he was indeed very special.  I have heard Ron play many times and he is a treat.  No drama here.  Ron can solo anytime he is called;  he understands Ballads and he never overshadows the other players in the band.  If I had a band, Ron Stout would be the Trumpeter I would want to join me!

If you are in the Palm Springs area, Pete Carlson's is the best place for live Jazz with music events every week throughout the winter season.
        
I have attached a live video of the Ken Peplowski Quartet playing "I Wish You Love".

Trish Hatley And Mark Kahny Create A Special Happy Hour At The Purple Room In Palm Springs CA

The Southern California area is blessed to be the home of some of the most talented singers in the country.  And at the top of the list of outstanding vocalists you will find Trish Hatley's name.  Trish has the ability to sing standards as good as anyone I have heard, and she also can sing popular tunes  just a well.  Trish is currently performing every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00 PM to 6:00PM at Michael Holmes' Purple Room in Palm Springs, California.  Trish is joined by Mark Kahny on Piano and Vocals.  The results of putting these two superstars together is some great duets of classic American songs.

Trish Hatley has one of the purest and clear voices you will ever hear and she has recorded some of the best songs in the "Great American songbook".  Her sense of lyric is perfect as is her feel for musical phrasing.  If you love to listen to standards,  you will just love Trish.

Vocalist and Piano master Mark Kahny is sought after by many singers here in the Coachella Valley because as an experienced singer himself, he understands the need to give singers room and at the same time knows when to fill when they need it.  He is a Pro in all aspects of performing.  When he does duets with Trish he has no trouble keeping up to her vocally and that's no easy task considering Trish's strong clear voice.  They make wonderful music together, and I guarantee you will enjoy every minute of their performance.   The Purple Room, former home to the Sinatra "Rat Pack", is the perfect setting to enjoy hearing Trish and Mark sing the standards that made Sinatra a legend!

I was not able to get a clear recording of Trish and Mark performing but I did find a "YouTube" of Trish singing "Shiny Stockings" from fabulous Standards CD "Trish Hatley, I Remember".   I also found a "YouTube" of Mark playing and singing at his home,  the Billy Joel classic, "Piano Man". I know you will enjoy both of these great musicians!

The Unique and Wonderful Yve Evans Appears At Woody's Palm House Every Tuesday

Yve Evans is a unique musical treasure who continues to bring joy to her thousands of music fans in the  Coachella Valley Area.  Yve, first and foremost is a wonderful, loving and caring person.  She is always the first one to offer help and aid to anyone in need without hesitation  She also has an understated sense of humor that never gets old!  But what really sets Yve Evans apart from her musical group is her magical voice.  Listening to Yve brings back memories of the greatest singers in Jazz history starting with Ella and moving on to "Sassy" Sarah, Lina Horn, Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.  She has performed with every major singing star in the Valley and if you mention her name to any of them, their response will be "great singer and wonderful person".  Yve likes to laugh and she mixes humor into her performances to the delight of her audience.  But don't be fooled by Yve's comedy. Yve Evans is a superb singer with a range that most singers would die for.  I have been fortunate to be at enough of her performances to catch her when she is immersed into a medley and lyric and it's heaven to hear.

Yve is performing every Tuesday at Woody's Palm House in Palm Springs with the legendary, John Bolivar sitting in with her.  John has been taking it easy recently due to some medical issues but he enjoys playing his Woodwinds and Flute especially with his long-time friend, Yve Evans.  Be sure to call for reservations (760-230-0188)  in advance because Yve always fills the house.

I found a "YouTube" that recorded Yve playing and singing one of her famous medleys in 2017 at the Monterey Jazz Festival that will give you some insights as to why she is so loved by her audiences.  She is joined by two of her favorite playing partners, Bradley Austin Bobo on Bass and Larry Washington on Drums.  Please enjoy the wonderful Yve Evans!

CD Review: Magela Herrera "Explicaciones"

Vocalist, Composer and Flute Virtuoso Magela Herrera has just released her first solo CD, "Explicaciones".  Magela is Cuban born and has a unique background that includes Latin Jazz, Euro Jazz and classic Afro-Cuban traditions.  She credits the time she lived in Norway for her "Aha" moment when she discovered her musical personality.  "I honestly wanted to make an album earlier in my career, but I was too shy, and I could never complete a tune.  At the time, I was limiting myself to Cuban music and hadn't really explored other styles. I consider my time in Norway to be my "Aha" moment.  All my professors there were more into inspiring and pushing students to find our own sound, whatever genre it happened to be.  They didn't force us to follow rules.  On "Explicaciones" applying that freedom to classic Cuban tunes really helped me hone in on my sound as an artist". Another major influence occurred when Magela moved to Miami.  For the past two years she has immersed herself in the city's vibrant Jazz, R & B, Funk and Electronica scenes.

The music on this CD represents the influences and changes in Magela's musical life. Each song tells of her experiences.  The title track, "Explicaciones" written by Magela begins with a simple Percussion-Flute dance and then moves into a beautiful lead vocal, sung in her native Spanish.  Magela did the Arranging for the CD.  I have attached a "Youtube" of Magela Herrera singing the title song from the CD below.  It will give you a musical taste of Magela's many musical talents.  This CD is being released on January 21, 2019 and it's sure to be major candidate for the list of the best Latin CDs for 2019!  I highly recommend it!

PLAYERS:

Magela Herrera- Voice, Flute, Compositions and Arrangements

Tal Cohen-Piano

Nestor Del Prado-Bass

Dion Keith Kerr-Bass

Hilario Bell-Drums

David Chiverton-Drums

Greg Diamond-Guitar

Jean Maze-Trumpet

Philbert Armenteros Bata-Drums

PLAYLIST:

1. "Two Sidewalks"

2. "Que Te Pedi"

3." Principios"

4. "Explicaciones"

5. "Ahora"

6. "Bésame Mucho"

7. "Danson Para Papa"

8. "My One and Only Love"

  

CD Review: Shelley Yoelin's Jazz workshop Septet; "Secret Steps"

Tenor Player, Composer, Educator and Arranger, Shelley Yoelin leaves his Jazz community in Chicago every winter and travels to the sunny Coachella Valley for the warm weather but also for the chance to play Jazz with some of the talented musicians in this area.  Shelly is a great musical gift to our area, and he is has no trouble finding willing venues to share his music.  Currently he is playing at AJ's on the Green on Tuesdays and Woody's Palm House on Wednesdays.  In addition, you can usually find him sitting in at all of the Jazz spots in town when he doesn't have a regular gig.  Shelly just retired as Chair of the Fine Arts Department and Director of Bands and Jazz Studies at Triton College.  Shelly just loves to play and joining the Jazz community here in the Valley allows him to do just that!

Shelly has gathered 6 outstanding musicians to join him on his new CD "Secret Steps" which resulted in some wonderful Jazz performances.  There are 9 tunes on the CD and Shelly wrote 3 of them including the title tune "Secret Steps".  Yoelin writes this about the title tune he wrote, "It's a novel conflation of the harmony to Sammy Fain's "Secret Love" and John Coltrane's "Giant Steps".

I have attached a "Youtube" of the group playing "Secret Steps" that I know you will enjoy!  "Giant Steps" is a great CD for any straight-ahead Jazz fan.  You can pick up a copy next time you visit Shelly live at AJ.'s or Woody's . Don't miss the chance to hear Shelly perform  at Woody's Palm House in Palm Springs or AJ's on the Green in Cat City!

By the way, the beautiful 1969 series II Fixed Head Coupe Jaguar E type on the CD's cover was restored by Shelly in the few hours of the day when he was not playing.

"The Phil Norman Tentet" Wows an Overflow Crowd at Pete Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store in Palm Desert, CA

I would venture that any real Jazz fan living in Southern California knows that on Saturday nights the only place to be is at Peter Carlson's Golf and Tennis Store in Palm Desert, CA.  During the day, Pete's place is one of the biggest and best golf and tennis stores in the country but on most Saturday nights, Pete's team cleans out the golf bags and golf clubs in one room and as if by magic, it turns into a Jazz Club!  Pete rolls out a baby Grand and then it's straight-ahead Jazz for the night.  Pete has been hosting these world-class Jazz sessions since 2010.  The proceeds from these 30 or so concerts each season go to support music education and scholarships for young musicians in the Coachella Valley and the American Jazz Institute.  It's a great win for everyone.  Jazz lovers get to hear the best current live Jazz in the Country, and the kids get financial support to keep music playing in their schools!  It's a lot of work for Pete and his wife Edna, but it is a labor of love!

Pete is also a founder, director and broadcaster at a new local 24-hour Jazz radio station right here in Palm Desert, KAJI 95.3 FM.  For anyone not living in this area, you can tune in to the station by logging onto your computer at www.amjazzin.org.   The radio broadcasting legend, Alan Schulz is the program director for KAJI and also hosts his own show.  Alan has spent the major part of his life involved in the Jazz world and has wonderful stories he shares about every Jazz great, past or current. 

Tonight Pete hosted "The Phil Norman Tentet" one of the most talented and respected Jazz bands playing today.  The musicians in this band are stellar, every single one is multi-talented and a Jazz star in his own right.  Take a look at the advertisement posted above and you are sure to know most of the veterans who play in this band.  This wonderful band filled the house wall to wall with Jazz fans from all over the Valley and they were not disappointed.  From the first downbeat, these masters of Jazz performed one great Jazz tune after another.  The arrangement charts were also as good as it gets bringing memories of the great bands from years ago.  Mark your schedule for next week, Saturday, January 26 when the outstanding flutist, Holly Hofmann, will be joined by the Mike Wofford Quartet. 

The band played many great songs last night, but I particularly enjoyed their arrangement of "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" and I have attached a "YouTube" of the band performing it.

Shelley Yoelin Hold Musical Court At Woodys in Palm Springs Every Wednesday

David Ring, Shelley Yoelin and Andy Fraga Jr.

Woody's Palm House in Palm Springs is a great spot to hear live music any day of the week because they have live music 7 days a week.  And the quality of the performers is always some of the best the Desert music scene has to offer.  The owner of Woody's Palm House, Wayne Woodliff, is a former musician himself and he personally selects every act that performs there.  Tonight, I enjoyed the Shelly Yoelin Trio that performs regularly every Wednesday night.  Shelly usually invites one of our great Desert singers to be a special guest and tonight the fabulous Michael Dees joined the group.  Michael has had a long career of doing studio, movie and TV work in LA until he moved to Palm Springs a couple of years ago.  His singing and his original compositions are top draw.  He is simply one of the finest singers on the scene today even though we only get a few chances to hear him sing locally.  I try never to miss one of his gigs.

Tonight Michael vocally joined the Shelly Yoelin Group consisting of Shelly Yoelin on Tenor and Flute, David Ring on Keys and Andy Fraga Jr. on Drums.  These are three of the most talented musicians anywhere and when joined by Michael Dees, it's magic!  Michael sang many songs tonight including the evergreen "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life" the song Michael sang for the movie "The Happy Ending".  Michael also sang several beautiful and sensitive songs he wrote the music and the lyrics for, one in particular is the sensational, "In A Moment".  It was a great night for quality music!
 

I recorded Michael singing a swinging version of the classic "All or Nothing At All" at the event.  I was recording from my table and caught some of the crowd sounds but I think you will still enjoy Michael Dees and the Shelly Yoelin group.   Enjoy!