| Noteworthy Performances
May 10 - 17 JAZZ CRUISE to TAHITI on the "PAUL GAUGUIN" - w/ Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson
May 27 - Jazz Tribute to JUSTICE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR - Tempe, AZ
May 28 - SWEET BABY J'AI - Hotel Casa del Mar, Pico Bl @ Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10pm
May 30 - ERNIE ANDREWS - Bones & Blues, 119th & Central Avenue, 8 pm - midnight
May 31 - BARBARA MORRISON - Temple Beth Am, La Cienga Bl.
June 1 - ERNIE ANDREWS + Llew Matthews, Jeff Clayton - Warner Center Park (a Playboy prod.)
June 2 - JENNIFER WOOD - Westwood Horizons seniors center
June 4 - BARBARA MORRISON - Hotel Casa del Mar, Pico Bl. @ Pacific Ocean, 6:30 - 10 pm
June 5 - radio interview w/BUDDY COLLETTE - CSUN/Northridge, 3:45 pm
June 7 - JAZZAMERICA instruction begins for Summer 2008 - please visit www.JazzAmerica.org
June 7 - ERNIE ANDREWS - Jazz Bakery benefit, 5:30 - 6:20 pm
June 8 - ERNIE ANDREWS - Yvette Coleman house party - w/Jeff Clayton, Art Hillery
June 11 - BUDDY COLLETTE big band - JazzAmerica benefit - w/ERNIE ANDREWS - Catalina Bar & Grill, 8 pm
June 12 - Pat Chartrand, Tom Owens, Harold Mason - Lighthouse, 30 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach - 5pm
June 18 - Barbara Morrison - private party, Newport Beach
June 20 - RICKEY WOODARD - w/Art Hillery, Ralph Penland - Spazio, Sherman Oaks, 8 pm
June 21 - Ernie Andrews - Avalon Communtiy Center, 3 pm
June 26 - LINDY GROOVE dance - w/Barbara Morrison, Rickey Woodard - Pasadena Masonic Temple
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July 2 - Barbara Morrison - Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10:30 pm
July 4 - "double header"
Pat Chartrand & Tom Owens - Rolling Hills Country Club, 1 to 5 pm
Rickey Woodard, Bobby Rodriguez, Harold Mason - LACMA, 6 to 8 pm
July 5 - (birthday lament) Gil Bernal, Tom Owens - Cafe 3.2.2., Sierra Madre, 8 pm - midnight
July 9 - Barbara Morrison - Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10:30 pm
July 10 - Barbara Morrison - Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills
July 20 - Ernie Andrews - Levitt Pavilion, 87 N. Raymond, Pasadena - 7 pm
July 21 - Tateng Katindig, Harold Mason - Spazios, Sherman Oaks, 8 pm to midnight
July 26 - Ernie Andrews, Rickey Woodard - Central Avenue Jazz Festival, 12 noon
July 20 - ERNIE ANDREWS - Leavitt Pavilion, Pasadena, 7 pm
July 26 - ERNIE ANDREWS - Central Avenue Jazz Festival, 1:15 pm
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 - Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival - LAX Marriott Hotel (see www.SweetHot.org)
Nov. 30 - Dec. 7, 2008 - Jazz Cruise to the Mexican Riviera - Crystal Symphony
call 800-433-0078 or E-mail: jazzdagen@aol.com
featuring
Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Ed Metz, Rossano Sportiello, Nikki Parrott, John Allred...
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I'm proud to serve as Program Director for Buddy Collette's JazzAmerica jazz education program.
On April 13, we staged an afternoon tribute to JazzAppreciation Month at the world-renowned Catalina Bar & Grill, showcasing two student bands and featuring the Plas Johnson Quartet, featuring Dee Dee McNeil.
To read an online Review of the April 13 spectacular:
Paste this Link into your Browser:
http://losangeles.broowaha.com/article.php?id=3468
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JazzAmerica
perpetuating America's indigenous artform
It's an honor to serve as Program Director of JazzAmerica.
Since 1994, this non-profit organization has provided tuition-free jazz education to hundreds of deserving youngsters from all over southern California.
JazzAmerica reflects the vision and dedication of co-founder Buddy Collette,a lifelong advocate of equal opportunity and a fervent believer in the value and power of music education.
Currently, we are providing after-school jazz instruction at Fairfax High School in Hollywood, CA. In the Spring of 2008, we will resume our annual "Summer WorkChops" for students aged 11 through 20.
Further information on JazzAmerica is available on its website, www.JazzAmerica.org.
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Richard Simon
earned a Master of Arts degree and taught English in the Los Angeles Community College District before picking up the bass at the age of 30. He then studied with the legendary bassist, Red Callender, and began working with LA's elder jazz elite, including Buddy Collette, Teddy Edwards, Lorez Alexandria, and Plas Johnson.
Richard plays a broad range of styles: he plays "traditional" jazz with trombonist Dan Barrett, vocalist Rebecca Kilgore and guitarist Eddie Erickson; "mainstream" jazz with Nancy Wilson's pianist, Llew Matthews, and flute virtuoso, Sam Most; and "be-bop" with vibraphonists Dave Pike and Terry Gibbs.
He has toured and recorded with the great clarinetist, Ken Peplowski ("Last Swing of the Century," on Concord), and performed and recorded with the singer, Keely Smith ("Swing, Swing, Swing," Concord). In mid-2006, he recorded with LA's premier jazz vocalist, Ernie Andrews, and tenor saxophonist Houston Person ("How About Me," High Note).
In 1994, Richard began teaching bass in Buddy Collette' s fledgling JazzAmerica program. Today, he is Program Director. JazzAmerica conducts jazz "WorkChops" for middle school and high school students. He recruits the students, hires the faculty, assembles the repertoire, organizes the rehearsals, books the performances and solicits the donations. In 2005-06, Richard wrote a proposal to and received a grant from theLos Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. (JazzAmerica is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.)
Having toured Japan three times, and played with the jazz-loving King of Thailand twice, Richard is among today's avid jazz ambassadors. He is available for tours, festivals and clinics worldwide.
Contact Information
Richard Simon
tel: (310) 836-2277
cel: (310) 993-2277
email: ufobass@aol.com
mailing address: PO Box 661777
Los Angeles, CA 90066
| Sounds
of Richard Simon's recordings can be heard at: www.ufo-bass.com
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Esteemed Colleagues
(a short list of leaders & sidemen through the years)
Joe Ascione
Gabe Baltazar
Gil Bernal
Bill Berry
Jimmie & Jeannie Cheatham
Rosemary Clooney
George Coleman
Jake Hanna
Art Hillery
Gildo Mahones
Barbara Morrison
Maria Muldaur
Pete Fountain
Eddie Higgins
Linda Hopkins
Dick Hyman
Herb Jeffries
Anita O'Day
Sue Raney
Marshall Royal
Bobby Rodriguez
Howlett Smith
Sir Charles Thompson
Maxine Weldon
Gerald Wiggins
Rickey Woodard
| recording highlights
Ernie Andrews - "How About Me"
(High Note Records)
Buddy Collette Big Band - "Live in Concert"
(Bridge Records)
Plas Johnson - "Afternoon Delight"
(Carrell Records)
Eddie Erickson - "It's a Great Feeling"
(Blue Swing Recordings)
Dave Pike - "Bophead"
(Ubiquity Records)
Barbara Morrison - "Double Standards"
Gabe Baltazar - "Back in Action"
(VSOP Records)
Ken Peplowski -"Last Swing of the Century"
(Concord Records)
Keely Smith - "Swing, Swing, Swing"
(Concord Records)
Brady McKay - "Moon Swings"
| noteworthy events
Hawaii Jazz Festival
Gene Harris Jazz Festival (ID)
West Coast Jazz Festival
Atlanta Jazz Party (GA)
Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors (NY)
Otter Crest Jazz Party (OR)
San Diego Jazz Party
Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival
Jam session(s) w/King of Thailand
Japan tour: Concord/Fujitsu Jazz Festival
Pismo Beach Jazz Festival
Chicago's DuSable Museum
One O'Clock Jump/Basie Festival (CA)
Orange County Jazz Festival
Sacramento Jazz Festival
Dixieland Monterey (CA)
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| UFO BASS Records - Presenting the Under-Represented Artists of the West |
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News flash: UFO-BASS Records proudly announces its newest release, "The Buddy Collette Big Band - Live at El Camino College."
This historic concert features the legendary Buddy Collette at the height of his powers as a saxophonist, composer and arranger.
The Big Band includes some beloved LA-based musicians who have since departed--including Red Callender (tuba), Allen Jackson (bass), Bobby Bryant (trumpet), Al Viola (guitar) and Thurman Green (trombone).
This CD is now available from all the usual sources, including Amazon.com Tower Records, and your favorite outlets. Please email UFOBASS.com if you are unable to obtain this special disc.
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Previous releases on UFOBASS Records
(please visit http:/www.ufo-bass.com for details) |
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| Groove Therapy |
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Groove Therapy established UFO-BASS as a viable, significant jazz label, chronicling the great yet often overlooked musicians living on the West Coast.
Woodwinds: Buddy Collette, Gabe Baltazar
Piano: Art Hillery, Gerald Wiggins, Howlett Smith, Ronnell Bright
Guitar: Al Viola Drums: Sherman Ferguson, Johnny Kirkwood
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| Jazz for Thousand Oaks |
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Buddy Collette - saxophone, flute
Sam Most - flute, alto flute
George Bohanon - trombone
Al Aarons - trumpet
Ronnell Bright - piano
Al Viola - guitar
Ndugu Chancler - drums |
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| Covering the Basses |
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...featuring the compositions of bassists - including Ray Brown, John Clayton, Charles Mingus, Christian McBride, Bob Haggart, Butch Warren, Oscar Pettiford.
Buddy Collette - alto saxophone, flute
Gil Bernal - tenor saxophone
Art Hillery - piano, Hammond B3 organ
Al Viola - guitar
Johnny Kirkwood -drums
"One of the year's ten best." -- Larry Nai, Cadence magazine |
The Jazz Masters Trio made its debut in 2001 at the Four Points Sheraton LAX. The group continues to build a following and refine its sound. Sam Most's solos combine dazzling technique with lilting lyricism, while Al Viola provides swinging counterlines and big-band chord voicings.
"This trio's sound is much bigger than the sum of its parts."
Note: with the passing of Al Viola in the winter of 2007, the world lost an exceptionally kind and warm human being. I'll forever miss his generosity, his smile and his zest for life. Heaven is now a better place for having you, Al.
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