| Noteworthy Performances
{Last quarter of 2008}
October 10 - 12 - Pecos Valley Jazz & Arts Festival, Roswell, New Mexico (featuring Houston Person,
Akira Tana, Eddie Erickson, Rebecca Kilgore, Dan Barrett)
October 16 - 18 (recording w/ Melissa Collard, Chris Dawson, Bryan Shaw & Hal Smith for AUDIOPHILE records at Digital Brothers Studio)
October 24 - Master of Ceremonies for book release of Jazz Covers - Taschen Books, The Grove, 7 pm
November 23 - Brady McKay & John Cocuzzi + Fairfax High School "Young Lions" - Catalina Bar & Grill, Hollywood, 6725 W.Sunset Bl. - 11:30 am - 2 pm - please call fo reservations: 323.466.2210
November 30 - December 6 - Crystal Symphony jazz cruise - with Howard Alden, Harry Allen, John Allred, Joe Ascione, Bob Wilber, Randy Sandke, John Cocuzzi
December 10, 17, 24 - Barbara Morrison, at Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10:30 pm
December 20 - pianist ED CZACH at Vibato, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
December 27 - vocalist ERNIE ANDREWS w/JEFF CLAYTON at the Jazz Bakery, Culver City - 8 and 10 pm
December 28 - saxophonist PAT CHARTRAND w/Tom Owens & Lee Spath -the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, 11am - 3 pm
New Year's Eve - Leslie Nesbit, Karen Hammack at Loews Hotel, Santa Monica - 9:30pm - 12:30 am
{Early 2009}
January 1 - SAM MOST w/Joe Partise, Harold Mason (private party)
January 4 - ROGER NEUMANN, DAVE KOONSE, BRYAN ATKINSON - Charlie O's, 8 - 12midnight
January 7 - BARBARA MORRISON, Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10:30pm
January 8 - lecture @ California College for Music, Pasadena
January 10 - ZINOVY GOROW (clarinet) - private party
January 12 - JazzAmerica instruction resumes, Fairfax high school
January 14 - BARBARA MORRISON, Casa del Mar, Santa Monica
January 18 - NEUMANN/KOONSE/ATKINSON - Museum of the Living Desert, Palm Desert - 4-8 pm
January 21 - BARBARA MORRISON, Casa del Mar, Santa Monica
January 22 - (TBA) Lighthouse Cafe, Hemosa Beach, 5 - 8:30 pm
January 28 - BARBARA MORRISON, Casa del Mar, Santa Monica
February 20 - 22 - SAN DIEGO JAZZ PARTY - Peplowski, Alden, Barrett, Sportiello - Del Mar
March 9 - TATENG KATINDIG, David WIlliams, @ pazio's, Sherman Oaks, 8 pm
March 11 - Sherwood Sledge, w/ Stuart Elster, Lee Spath @ Hotel Casa del Mar, Santa Monica, 6:30 pm
March 13 & 15 - JOHN COCUZZI / ALAN VACHE-Norris Theatre, Rolling Hills
April 15 - BARBARA MORRISON - Hotel Casa el Mar, Pico Blvd. @ Pacific, Santa Monica - 6:30 - 10:30
April 16 -GIL BERNAL, ART HILLERY - Cafe 3.2.2, 322 Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre - 7 pm - 11 pm
April 23 - BARBARA MORRISON - Hotel Casa del Mar
April 26 - NICKI HARRIS, LES McCANN, LLEW MATTHEWS - Stroke Assn. funraiser, Catalina BAr & Grill
April 28 - ART HILLERY, YVETTE DEVEREAUX - Duke Ellinton Society / Duke's birthday celebration
April 30 - PAT CHARTRAMD, tOM OWENS - Los Verdes Country Club
May 2 - (JazzAmerica Tentette opens Redondo Beach Pier Festival of Jazz & Art - 10 am)
May 10 (JazzAmerica Tentette celebrates Mothers Day at South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club, 3 pm)
May 12 - TATENG KATINIG Trio - Charlie O's, 8 to midnight
May 22 - 24 -SACRAMENTO JUBILEE Jazz Festival
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I'm proud to serve as Program Director for Buddy Collette's JazzAmerica jazz education program.
In January, 2009, JazzAmerica will resume its after-school jazz instruction at Fairfax high school in Hollywood, CA. Instructors John Stephens, Otto Granillo and Jack Le Compte will round out the faculty. The Young Lions, exceptional young musicians, winners of city-wide and state-wide marching band competitions in 2007, performed on consecutive Sundays last fall: November 16 at Hollywood & Highland, and November 23 at Catalina Bar & Grill.
In the spring of the new year, the Young Lions will participate in a "battle of the bands" to be held at the Grove adjacent to world-famous Farmers' Market. In April, they will perform in Pacific Palisades in a tribute to Jazz Appreciation Month.
Please write for details: UFOBASS@aol.com
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This summer's 19-week series of "WorkChops" attracted upwards of 40 students from all over Southern California.
We studied the works of some great arrangers for big band, including Duke Ellington, Sammy Nestico, and Billy Byers. In a salute to a Los Angeles jazz legend, we've recently added a chart by bassist and bandleader Charles Mingus.
After a rousing set at last month's Central Avenue Jazz Festival, the JazzAmerica big band closed its season on August 31, 2008 at 6 pm. This was our annual appearance at the Sweet & Hot Jazz Festival, held at the LAX Marriott on W. Century Blvd at Airport Bl. Please visit www.SweetHot.org for more details.
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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
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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
John Cocuzzi
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
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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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