June 26, 2011

What an amazing experience to have our inaugural show feature Kenny Burrell and the Jazz Heritage All-Stars.
Go to youtube http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=drbobbyrod and see our clips.

Photos by Bob Barry

Kenny Burrell & the Jazz Heritage All-Stars

Dr. Bobby Rodriguez-trumpet
Justo Almario-saxophone
Randall Willis-saxophone
George Bohanon-trombone
Billy Mitchell-piano
Trevor Ware-bass
Clayton Cameron-drums

Songs performed are new, live versions of...
Midnight Blue
Kenny's Sound
Listen To The Dawn
Ode To Snufalufagus
Mark I
Be Yourself (solo guitar)
Kenny Burrell Loves Jazz & Blues (original by Dr. Bobby Rodriguez)

Kenny Burrell – guitar - is the most recorded living Jazz guitarist of all time. He pioneered the guitar-led trio with bass and drums in the late fifties. Although he has since worked in countless other formats, from big band to three guitars plus rhythm to solo, he has remained constant in his quest to get the most out of a natural, low-volume, acoustic sound. "My audience has developed so that they come to listen and are quiet," he explains. "Thus I can work in a limited volume range and explore all the subtleties that can happen, which is my favorite part of the music."

Aside from his performing and recording schedule, Kenny is also the founder and director of the Jazz Studies Program at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where he is a professor of music and ethnomusicology for many years. Included in his teaching schedule is a special course that he developed on the music and life of Duke Ellington called "Ellingtonia". Started in 1978, it was the first regular college course on Ellington taught in the United States. He is also a lecturer and director of workshops on guitar and Jazz studies, founder and President Emeritus, of the Jazz Heritage Foundation, and all around crusader for the recognition of jazz as a classical art form.

Jazz Heritage All-Stars:

Dr. Bobby Rodriguez – trumpet/flugel horn - is a Latin legend and Grammy Nominated recording artist, trumpeter, author, producer and an award-winning educator. He is a professor of Jazz and LatinJazz at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, UC Irvine, and Pasadena City College and is very involved in the community. Dr. Bobby has earned a Gold and three Platinum records, produced six of his own recordings, “Celebration,” ”Trumpet Talk,” “LatinJazz Romance,” “LatinJazz Explosion,” “A LatinJazz Christmas,” and “Bobby Rodriguez LatinJazz plays Duke Ellington,” as well as two recordings for the powerful 23 piece HMA (Hispanic Musicians Association) Salsa/Jazz Orchestra, “California Salsa” and “California Salsa II.” He has also produced countless recordings for other artists and as he says, “I’m just one more success story from East L. A.”

George Bohanon – trombone - was born in Detroit, Michigan. He began playing trombone at the age of eight. He attended Northwestern High School, Wayne State University, and the Detroit Institute of Musical Arts, where he decided to pursue a career as a musician. Some of his greatest influences were J.J. Johnson, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane. Motown Records hired Bohanon as their first trombonist, a position he held for seven years, accompanying artists such as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and many more. In 1968 Bohanon moved to Los Angeles and became very active in the jazz and recording studio scenes.

It is no small wonder that the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) awarded George the "Most Valuable Player" award in 1980. His genius approach to trombone playing creates a lyrical quality which rates high in tone color and dynamics. His evolution as a jazz musician has put him in the company of Kenny Burrell, Yusef Lateef, Barry Harris, and Donald Bird, to name a few. He was also a member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet with Charles Lloyd and Gabor Szabo in the early 1960s.

In addition to his position with the UCLA Jazz Studies Program he is also a music contractor, a signatory to the American Federation of Musicians, a music publisher, writer, arranger, producer, clinician, and performer.

Justo Almario – tenor saxophone - is a native of Colombia. He went from child protégé to virtuoso. His was primarily influenced by John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bartok, Debussy and Bach. He studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music before joining the Mongo Santamaria group as musical director. He has also taught at the Henry Mancini Institute and has mentored inner city youth during workshops at the World Stage. Currently he teaches saxophone in the Jazz Studies Program at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

Randall Willis – alto saxophone - is an extraordinary musician with a unique style that captures the integrity and sultriness of traditional jazz, while projecting the energy and creativeness of contemporary sounds. His diverse talents allow him to not only play the music he is passionate about, but to also compose, write and teach the art.

Billy Mitchell – piano - was born in Tarrytown, NY and raised in Buffalo, NY. Billy Mitchell tinkered with the piano as a child but did not get serious about music until he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. While pursuing a political science degree he joined the school jazz band and was soon playing gigs in and around Atlanta. In 1970 Mitchell moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career and was soon backing up such artists as Gloria Lynn, Ester Phillips, Randy Crawford and Linda Hopkins, to name a few.

His solo career has included appearances in film, most notably Clint Eastwood's "Bird." His work as a clinician has centered on his book, "The Gigging Musician" (Backbeat Books) based on interviews and his articles as a writer for Gig Magazine. In 2002 Billy founded The Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy (SAPPA). This program is designed to increase participation of inner-city students in music and arts scholarship competitions.

Trevor Ware – bass - is a bassist/composer currently residing in Los Angeles. Over the last several years Trevor has developed a strong reputation as one of the most spirited and supportive jazz bassists in Los Angeles. He is the bassist of choice for notable drummers such as Billy Higgins (the most recorded jazz drummer of all time), Albert "Tootie" Heath (Modern Jazz Quartet), & Clayton Cameron (Tony Bennett).

Mr. Ware has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival with the acclaimed band Build An Ark. His film credits include the Dreamworks film release Collateral starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Fox and the CBS series Smiths starring Ray Liotta.

Clayton Cameron – drums - was born in Los Angeles, CA and began playing bongos at the age of seven. By age twelve his fascination with drums became so apparent his parents decided to buy him his first drum set and sent Clayton to music school for drum lessons. “I guess they became tired of my oatmeal box drumming as much as I tired of eating those hearty oats every morning.” Clayton went on to get a degree in music from California State University at Northridge.

In 1990 Clayton finished production on his instructional video, “The Living Art of Brushes.” It was the first video dedicated to the art of playing with brushes. In April 1993, he started what has been an unbelievable six years of world wide touring and recording with the incomparable Tony Bennett. “Performing with Tony has been a thrilling experience.” “In 1997 I created my own personal history. I married my real life muse, Karla DeCay. She’s from one of the most musically rich cities in the world, New Orleans. So she understands my chosen profession. Her talents in the corporate business world have inspired me to treat what I do with focus, determination, and humor. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found her in this crazy world. Look for a possible children’s book penned by our dynamic duo in the future.”