Tag Archives: drummer

DALE FIELDER QUARTET ROBERT J. CARMACK PERFORMS JAZZ & POETRY CONCERT

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MOON GLOW PRODUCTIONS presents The SATURDAY JAM                 

eclectic jazz Improvisations and riveting original poetry

THE DALE FIELDER QUARTET  with Special Guest Poet  

Dale fielder sax orange shirtROBERT J. CARMACK          

@ KINGSTON CAFE 333 FAIR OAKS Blvd.  off  DEL MAR Ave.  PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91105

SAT.  APRIL 18 2015   7pm to 9pm 

$15 cover (pay at door only)  

Limited Seating 

Robert J. Carmack Publisher ,writer, musician, playwright ,poet http://www.hipstersanctuary.com

  KINGSTON CAFE    Upscale Jamaican Cuisine restaurant featuring all of your favorite entrees, along with a fully-stocked Bar for your pleasure and delight .

2015 is proving to be a very special year for both talents as The Dale Fielder Quartet is celebrating 20 years as a group, virtually unheard of in today’s music business. Robert co-founded a jazz newsletter 17 years ago (The Hipster) as part of the Atlanta International Jazz Society, thats grown into a full-blown music Blog dedicated to classic Jazz, Blues and Soul music makers and their roots/history.

Both Leos, Dale Fielder & Robert Carmack are longtime friends and artists in constant creative mode. Fielder is set to record his 16th CD; “RESILIENCE.”  A release date has not been set yet.

Carmack has penned another unique musical revue set in the 1950s and 60s Los Angeles, weaving a story around the music scene in L.A. while paying Homage to the music of, Nellie Lutcher, Ray Charles, Etta James, Bobby Blue Bland and Sarah Vaughn to name a few.

“CHITLIN’ CIRCUIT” written,directed and produced by Carmack, is debuting a Sneak Preview in late June 2015, as part of Black Music month (www.hipstersanctuary.com) production. “I met Dale while hanging out at a very popular coffeehouse in the 90s, 5th Street Dick’s in Leimert Park, said Carmack. It was in early 1993 as the area was trying to get back on track after the L.A. riot in 1992. an entire community of artist all came together inside a small area called Leimert Park (Village) groups of small business people, often marketing Afro centric wares, and crafts. One was a former homeless person living on the streets of downtown Los Angeles, who parlayed his 12 step-recovery and saved enough money to open a Jazz coffee-house. That owner gave Dale Fielder a spot hosting the jam sessions at midnight every weekend, while jazz flowed downstairs and out into 43rd  and Degnan sidewalks. People came and came and came including the media cameras, movie celebrities and all the best young cats in jazz to jam and people watch.

This all coincided with what was happening with the Wynton Marsalis crowd, created an upsurge in Jazz spots in LA once again, because of three spots, Marla’s Memory lane, 5th Street Dick’s and Billy Higgins, master jazz drummer & Kamau Daaood developed the World Stage. A performance /workshop for musicians, poets and writers. Dale Fielder was at the forefront of all that. He went on to win the Jazz Discovery artist at TV network, BET in 1995/96. By then, he’d already produced three very solid CDs, including “Dear Sir” a moving tribute to Wayne Shorter’s music and was getting wide rotation and coverage on radio across the country. Fielder even had the blessings of Wayne Shorter himself as Dale performed songs from the newly released CD with the maestro himself in the house staying late and digging on the young saxophonist peppering solos.

Dale has been all around the world practically with the Quartet, sometimes Quintet. After 20 years, the passion has only gotten stronger with Dale, and his historic band, Pianist Jane Getz, Drummer Thomas White and Bassist, Bill “The Count” Markus. This band just knows how to squeeze every drop of soul, power, passion and sometimes romance out of the notes. The stories they tell through their instruments are like classic volumes in your personal library.

Don’t miss out on celebrating 20 years of fun-filled excitement and adventure with Dale Fielder as leader of the DFQ.

Save the date and RSVP for April 18th 7pm to 9pm @ The Kingston Café Pasadena California  

333 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105

For questions about show or tickets *** contact Moon Glow Productions Marcia (626) 818-3160

Hipster Sanctuary.com  Robert 951-840-7120

@Moon Glow

 

RIFFIN’ WITH THE HIPSTER: KICKIN ‘ OFF BLACK HISORY MONTH @ THE WORLD STAGE

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posted by Robert J. Carmack   #blues2jazzguy

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THE DON LITTLETON TRIO    

IT never “Rains” in Southern California is not true, its just a matter of what type rain..as I laugh out loud. I went into Leimert Village  on Saturday, Feb. 7 to catch a special show at the small, but mighty World Stage in Leimert Park Village. Yes, the same one founded by Billy Higgins and Poet Kamau Daaood  over 20 years ago. Tonight , I was invited out by drummer/percussionist Don Littleton who was fronting a TRio of sort “without Piano”  just drums/percussions, woodwinds and Bass Violin.  what an Order!  a quick peek at The personnel told me not to miss it. Though its been over 30 years since I lived in Leimert Park, I still enjoy driving back out from the Inland empire area to “GET MY REAL JAZZ FIX”.  DON had assembled an eclectic trio of master Jazz musicians . including Don himself, Bassist John B. Williams, who many of you may remember in the early days at the Lighthouse Jazz  Club with The Horace Silver Quintet, and fans of the Arsenio Hall first show in the 80s. He was Bass player /Poet in the “POSSE” Band led by Michael Wolff.  Mentors and teachers like Ron Carter,  no wonder John is one the premier bassist on a “first call status.”  Muti-Reed man Pablo Calogero was the glue on saturday night as he weaved his way through Jazz Pioneer’s compositions without piano, with him carrying the onus of melody and creating new melodies off the harmonics of the original. MONK, DUKE ELLINGTON, Coltrane, just to name a few.  The “Entree” was the mastery of improv.   One of the tunes that stood out  for me was a “call and response” ditty by Ellington  re-spunned by the Trio.

(hear original  Angelica by Ellington/Coltrane by clicking on link)

This group was able to get up under the skin and  find your soul  to connect with you in the audience. No fluff  or gimmicks, just pure  Jazz, soul , passion and experience took us on a 90 minute journey.  I was particular amazed at the woodwind player, Pablo Calogero, who played masterfully on Saxes,Flute and a rare appearance of the infamous BASS Clarinet..a monster on any set.   Don Littleton on Traps Don Littleton Trio B w Pablo Colgero & John B

 

John B. made it easy  for us in the audience to complete the picture that was being painted by the group all evening. I love it when I don’t have to deal with musicians just “faxing it in” just because the ideal environment is not there.  all of the musicians were true professionals on an obvious slow night at the door.. it did not bother their creativity one bit. (www.johnbwilliams.com)

Slap drum & Bass Clarinet alone
Bass Clarinet & Soprano sax with Cajons(slap Drums)

 

 

Kindred Spirits: Ndugu Chanceler

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Kindred Spirits: Ndugu Chanceler 

It’s not often you get an opportunity to actually watch the professional growth of a musician up-close through most of their career,but in the case of Leon “Ndugu” Chanceler,I did. There’s many good things about growing up in Los Angeles in the 1950s or 60s..You had opportunities a kid from Shreveport, Louisiana during that era was never going to have. My parents moved us to Los Angeles in 1960. 

By 1963,I was learning saxophone and music theory. As in the case of Ndugu Chanceler, he too was from Shreveport, Louisiana. he started playing and studying music at 13,He grew up in LA (Watts area)in the 60s,just like me! I graduated from Cal State University Dominguez Hills, so did he. I guess that makes us kindred spirits and “Home Boys”. But that’s where the the meter on his side rises and explodes off the Charts. One Night, I was attending the famous jazz club, the Lighthouse where Willie Bobo & the BoGents were the group performing. Willie Bobo, a Purveyor of great talent,a master drummer- percussionist himself. He no longer playing the “Traps”.

 Bobo was out front now on timbales and vocals.. but, seated behind this mountain of drums,cymbals,and gear, was this youngster who hardly looked all of 15 or so. It was,at that time Leon(Ndugu) on drums. And man! could he play. I cut my teeth on listening to all the jazz masters on drums and seeing all I could, when they came to the Lighthouse or Shelly’s Manne Hole in Los Angeles. Billy Higgins,Frank Butler, Louis Hayes,Max Roach and Art Blakey frequented the LA club scene often.. I now have a guy from my generation who displays all of the jazz history and legacy into his playing AND,then piles on monstrous groove patterns at tremendous tempos with the greatest of ease,smiling like he just ate the canary! That was my introduction to Ndugu Chanceler! 

In my humble opinion, the two “baddest Cats” on drums coming out of Los Angeles late 60s to early 70s were, Ndugu Chanceler and “Sunship” Theus(RIP) another great drummer from my generation. These drummers were younger than Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart,Billy Cobham, but still played on a higher level as the 70s emerged. Jazz went all “Electric Fusion”,Fender Rhodes pianos Synthisizers(MOOG)technology was in play, and Ndugu was was right in the middle of that music era strong! Still maintaining his roots in Jazz performing with the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, Bobby Hutcherson, and Gerald Wilson Big Band. In a flash of an eye, doubling up on calls with George Duke, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock’s Jazz Fusion bands. In addition, his recording sessions list was equally stellar also. Chanceler has also worked with Stanley Clarke,Jean-Luc Ponty,Donna Summer,George Duke,Patrice Rushen,Carlos Santana,Hubert Laws,The Crusaders,Frank Sinatra,Weather Report,Lionel Richie,Kenny Rogers,Thelonious Monk,Herbie Hancock and John Lee Hooker. Most famous of all, The King of Pop.” Michael Jackson! THE Drummer on Thriller’s Billy Jean”. 

Ndugu(Leon)Chanceler, from his humble beginnings in Los Angeles at Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor William Cobbs,to, Grammy winning recordings,to being honored at the University of Southern California’s  www.usc.edu/visionsandvoices Visions and Voices Humanities & Arts program Sept 23. 

60 years of Life & Music!

Chanceler is also a member of Percussive Arts Society and has been named as one of the top 25 Drummers in the world! Follow Robert J. Carmack discussions and reviews on jazz at twitter: @blues2jazzguy