Tucson jazz artists don’t take a back seat to anyone!

by Chuck Graham
tucsonstage.com

Julie Anne

Crystal Stark

Kaytherine Byrnes

Jeff Haskell

Hey, wait a minute. This New Year’s Eve bash to greet a new decade isn’t just about letting ourselves be wowed by a bunch of out-of-towners. Tucson has some pretty good talent that can play really big onstage, yielding no quarter to our visiting guest artists. 

This year’s gala features not only two dance floors but also two concerts. The second concert will feature the Jazz All-Stars, but the first concert is a showcase for Tucson's Triple Threat Divas and vocalist Joe Bourne. Musical director and pianist Jeff Haskell will provide the accompaniment, working with Matt Mitchell, guitar, Rick Peron, trumpet, Jack Wood, bass, and Pete Swan, drums. 

In the Triple Threat Divas – Julie Anne, Crystal Stark, and Katherine Byrnes – you actually get four-shows-in- one. Each of these ladies is a unique soloist in her own right. When they start singing together, particularly on arrangements reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters, the magic blossoms.

Julie Anne sings for her love of classic jazz, paying tribute to the contributions of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Julie London and Peggy Lee. Her resume includes gigs at Ventana Canyon Resort, McMahon’s Steak House, Starr Pass Resort, Westward Look Resort and the DesertView Performing Arts Center at SaddleBrook. As a recording artist, the statuesque singer’s 2007 CD, “Hey, Daddy!” was chosen one of the top 25 independent label releases of the year by Indie-Music.com. On the academic side she has a degree in music education from the UA. 

Crystal Stark, with her bright eyes and magnetic smile, found fame as one of 44 finalists in the fifth season of TV’s popular “American Idol.” The high finish led to appearances on shows hosted by Jay Leno, Regis and Kelly, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres. Stark graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in vocal music education. She stays busy working with Pete Swan’s Trio and a jazz/funk/soul quintet. She also believes in using her talent for a Christian ministry in music, serving as music director for her church, as well as teaching voice and piano lessons in her home studio. 

Katherine Byrnes was the second vocalist to be signed to Park Avenue Records at the UA. She also has a music degree from the university. Not content just to sing, Byrnes stretches out her acting chops, as well, taking roles in the musicals at Gaslight Theatre. Most recently she appeared in a production staged by Chamber Music Plus Southwest presenting the music of George and Ira Gershwin. 

Joe Bourne is a one-man show, literally. After enjoying a lengthy singing career in Europe, opening for such touring American acts as Natalie Cole, the Manhattans, the Pointer Sisters and Dionne Warwick, Bourne retired to Tucson with his wife Flory. Here in the Old Pueblo, Bourne works with all sizes of combos, big bands and symphony orchestras. Appearing frequently in concert at the area’s resorts, Bourne is well- known for his tribute shows celebrating the music of Nat King Cole, Lou Rawls and Sammy Davis Jr. Basically, this stylish entertainer can fit into any kind of musical setting that calls for a classy crooner. 

Proof that today’s jazz will have an audience tomorrow is provided by the Tucson Jazz Institute, a private school with more than 250 students learning to play America’s most original music. The institute’s leading big band will open the New Year’s Eve Jazz All-Stars Gala. In past performances opening TJS concerts, the TJI gang was genuinely smokin’. These players may be young but they are used to winning awards in student jazz band competitions at festivals in Fullerton, California, and northern Arizona.

Tucson Jazz Institute’s Award-Winning Big Band

Joe Bourne

Pete Swan

Jack Wood

Rick Peron

Matt Mitchell

Add the addition- al titles “song writer” and “producer” right along with “keyboards artist” when describing the talents of French- born Philippe Saisse. In fact, on Rick Braun’s new album “All It Takes,” Saisse is not only listed as a co-producer and co-writer, but on some tracks he is also credited with “additional drum programming.” Acquiring this versatility was a career decision Saisse made years ago. Remember the number one hit “Marques” back in 1995?

That was Saisse, known since his early days as a “studio rat” who understood where to find the music amid all those knobs and sliding switches that evolved into computer software.

Subsequently Saisse, though always indentifying himself as a jazz musician, wore a variety of hats while working with the likes of the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Al Jarreau, Al Di Meola and Gato Barbieri. In 2006 Saisse released the CD “The Body and Soul Sessions,” a Billboard number one album that included the hit “Do It Again.”

…for more on Philippe Saisse
www.philippesaisse.com/

With 14 Grammy nominations hanging on his wall at home, it should be no surprise to learn Will Kennedy was named three years in a row as Best Drummer in the electric jazz category by Modern Drummer magazine. The San Francisco native learned a lot as a member of the esteemed and innovative Yellowjackets for more than nine years. Kennedy was discovered by another innovator, Andy Narell. He made the properly pitched steel pan a proper jazz instrument. Kennedy was onboard for multiple recordings and tours in Narell’s band.

Feeling a responsibility to the next generation, Kennedy is also actively involved in passing along his knowl- edge of polyrhythms, counter-percus- sion, and plain old learning how to keep the beat when everyone around you is playing a different.

Kennedy continues to conduct clinics and master classes during his travels around the world. He participates in many educational functions and has a series of drum lessons recorded as “Will’s Practice Room.”

…for more on Will Kennedy, visit
www.drummerworld.com

Over his 40-year career (which started professionally at age 13) jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb has built his reputation as composer, arranger and producer as well as being a player. While still in high school, the precocious lad was a student of the iconic guitarist Jim Hall. Loeb was barely 20 when he moved to New York City, quickly finding quality work with bandleaders Chico Hamilton, Ray Barretto, Hubert Laws and Stan Getz.

Loeb spent the early 1980s as a studio musician, joining the super- group Steps Ahead in 1985 with Michael Brecker, Michael Mainieri, Peter Erskine and Victor Bailey. Leaving Steps Ahead three years later, Loeb continued his on-demand session work while boosting his own career as a solo artist. In 1996 he scored big time with “The Music Inside.” The title track was number one on the contemporary jazz charts for six weeks. Loeb continues to record albums in his own name as well as work with other groups.

…for more on Chuck Loeb, visit
chuckloeb.com