2001 Flint Jazz Festival Artists

  

Kenny Garrett

Since his late teens, Kenny Garrett has been living the kind of life most musicians only fantasize about. He's been a sideman for legends like Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw and also performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Emerging in the mid-'80s as one of the jazz world's most exciting and eclectic new solos artists, the saxophonist's albums have earned him worldwide recognition, four star reviews and top spots on reader pools and Rolling Stone's "Hot List." Known for years primarily for his adventurous playing and sparkling improvisations, Garrett came into his own as a composer with his 1997 Grammy-nominated Warner Bros. Records release Songbook, his first album comprised entirely of his own compositions. The 39-year-old Detroit native was a sax player almost by birthright, with his tenor saxophonist father exposing Garrett to jazz almost immediately. "Jazz was definitely all around for as long a I can remember and I got into Charlie Parker and John Coltrane in high School," he says, "but my hometown has a lot of great music to enjoy too, like gospel and funk. I even studied classical when I took sax lessons from Bill Wiggins." While critics and fans alike have always been knocked out by Garrett's inimitable blowing style, the saxman is, as Simply Said so beautifully demonstrates, most pleased with is growth as a writer of what he likes to call "haunting melodies." He says, "It's always exciting to grab pieces of those melodies as they float through the air and put them together to create a song people will hum at first and then hopefully come to treasure as time passes. As an artist, I recognize that my listeners want to be moved emotionally and be entertained, and so I put myself in their shoes when I'm writing and performing, thinking to myself, would I like this?"

Los Hombres Calientes Featuring Irvin Mayfield & Bill Summers

Only two and a half years after exploding onto the New Orleans scene, the groundbreaking band Los Hombres Calientes has truly become a force with which to be reckoned, winning over more fans and critics with each performance. Primarily by word of mouth, the band has emerged as an important new voice in the global jazz community. The Los Hombres Calientes sound is the realization of an audacious vision, a fusion of modern, acoustic jazz, New Orleans soul, Latin grooves and an afro-centric "world music" sensibility. It's a captivating gourmet gumbo that appeals to a wide spectrum of listeners. Los Hombres Calientes opened for Santana at the 1999 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and, more recently, the group has expanded its touring schedule to include major jazz festivals in San Francisco, San Jose, Atlanta, Jackson, Birmingham, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Israel, Brazil and France. Los Hombres has also played the legendary Ronnie Scott's in London as well as other club dates in Mexico and various US cities, and has performed on chef Emeril Lagasse's popular TV program. Notable artists that have "sat in" with Los Hombres include Dr. John, Benny Maupin, Danilo Perez, Donald Harrison, Ellis Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo Marsalis and Wess Anderson. Throughout this rapid ascension, Los Hombres Calientes has consistently demonstrated the ability to transcend genre, geography, venue and expectation, connecting with audiences in both a cerebral and sensual manner.

Ronnie Laws

Ronnie Laws' name is virtually synonymous with good music. True Laws fans know, this gifted contemporary music artist is by no means a new comer to the business. A native of Houston, Texas, born October 3, 1950, the third in a famous line of four musicians that include his classically trained jazz flautist brother, Hubert, and his vocalist sisters, Eloise and Debra. Laws taught himself to play alto saxophone at the age of eleven, and after an eye injury sidelined early dreams of a career in professional baseball, partially to fulfill his mom's dream of playing the horn, his instrument became his all-consuming passion. He studied musician High School, at Stephen F. Austin State and Texas Southern University, developing a progressive mastery and technique. In 1970 he moved to Los Angeles, where he found work under the tutelage of such legendary talents as The Jazz Crusaders and Hugh Masakela. His formative training also included stints with jazz pianist Walter Bishop Jr. and organist Doug Cann. He was a member of the 70's much-revered soul group Earth Wind and Fire, where he played tenor and soprano sax for a two year stint, before finally venturing out to pursue a solo career. Assisted by immortal jazz great Donald Byrd, he soon signed his first recording contract with Blue Note Records, resulting in the impressive debut album Pressure Sensitive (1975), produced by family friend, Wayne Henderson, (a founding member of the contemporary jazz pioneers The Crusaders), which rapidly emerged to become the longest selling album, at that time, in the 42-year history of the label. Pressure Sensitive was followed up by his second album Fever (1976). Controversy quickly erupted around him, with so called jazz "purists", criticizing Laws' inventive non-traditional, "Jazz Fusion" style. Laws promptly answered his critics by also scoring unprecedented cross-over success in R&B and Pop, in addition to Jazz, and receiving multiple awards for originality in the process. Laws is a proven natural at combining the exploratory heart of Jazz with the broader reaching strains of Soul and Pop music. His first hit, "Always There" (credited as Ronnie Laws and Pressure on the original 45), was one of the most popular, sax-driven, cross-over hits of the 70's Jazz-Funk Fusion era. He ushered in the sensualization of the soprano sax with Quiet Storm gems such as "Gracie", "Karmen", and "Just Love".

Designated Hitters		Stephenie
Leader and pianist Pat Cronley thought this name appropriate for his group because he uses different musicians constantly.   Be sure to check them out because he always has the best of the best!		Vocalist Stephenie is always a favorite at the Flint Jazz Festival.  You can expect a diverse selection of songs and she is sure to captivate with her versatile voice.  Stephenie has just become a published author of original poems and pictures.

 

George "Sax" Benson

With his name, it's easy to mistake a noted saxophonist for a noted guitarist. But Detroiter George Benson's career commands respect in its own right. A respected teacher (improvisation, theory) at Henry Ford Community College, Schoolcraft Community College, and Wayne State, Benson is a staple of the Motor City jazz scene. His work with the Austin-Moro Big Band, Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, the Jones Brothers (Hank, Thad, Elvin), Yusef Lateef, Sonny Stitt, Erroll Garner, and Gene Ammons highlights a distinguished career.

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