Atlantic City’s rich history of jazz festivals stretches back to 1960 when promoter Sid Bernstein leased the Boardwalk’s Warner Theatre for three days in July and presented a lineup of certifiable jazz legends, including Count Basie, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughan, Gerry Mulligan, Cannonball Adderley, Oscar Peterson, Art Blakey and more.
In 1979, area jazz fans Estelle and Elzie Street presented a one-day fest at Gardner’s Basin, which they billed as “the biggest jazz festival in the history of New Jersey,” and again in 1981 at Boardwalk Hall. Maynard Ferguson, Nancy Wilson, Herbie Mann, Buddy Rich, Mongo Santamaria, Billy Eckstine, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Melba Moore, Grover Washington, and Bobby “Blue” Bland were just some of the artists who performed.
This Atlantic City jazz festival legacy has continued, thanks to two production companies in the area: The Majestic Entertainment Group and YTR Productions, LLC. This year’s Atlantic City Jazz Festival, coming to Sound Waves Theatre at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11-13, is the seventh annual jazz festival to be presented in the city.
Smooth jazz fans will love it. Jazz purists, who have often turned up their collective noses at practitioners of smooth jazz, should consider opening their ears. The genre is nothing new. Jazz innovator Charlie Parker, in an attempt to reach a wider-non jazz audience, recorded popular songs with a saccharine string section as early as 1949. Though the years, saxophonists like Charlie Ventura, Hank Crawford, David “Fathead” Newman, Eddie Harris, Michael Pedicin, Jr., and Grover Washington, Jr., had no problem emphasizing the melody and backed by a danceable beat, with the hopes of reaching as large an audience as possible. And note, for the record, that the world’s most well-known smooth jazz artist, Kenny G., is simply a very good saxophone player who has never claimed to be anything else than what he is. Bottom line is that, though the backgrounds and the rhythms may be funky and may not swing in the traditional way, and the repertoire will likely not include “How High the Moon,” the performers in this jazz festival are good jazz improvisers.
The lineup on Friday is exceptional. Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum is a veteran disciple of Grover Washington, Jr. Whalum has been in the public eye since his first recording was released in 1985, and through the years, he’s worked on a number of film scores and spent seven years touring with Whitney Houston. The other saxophonist on the bill, Marion Meadows, is a soprano saxophonist. He’s a lyrical, smooth jazz player who has also composed some catchy melodies like “For Lovers Only.” Swiss jazz pianist Alex Bugnon, classically trained, can play straight ahead jazz with the best of them. After all, his uncle was iconic jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, but he’s still elected to go the smooth jazz route. Saxophonist Jeanette Harris, who studied at the Berklee College of Music, cut her rhythm and blues teeth touring with the famed Teena Marie. She’s had several Billboard Magazine chart toppers through the years and has been touring internationally since 2010. Trumpeter Tom Browne started out playing straight ahead jazz alongside noted saxophonist Sonny Fortune, but branched out into smooth jazz as early as 1981 with his R & B songs, “Funkin’ for Jamaica” and “Thighs High.”
Saturday night’s headliner is Grammy-nominated guitarist/vocalist Norman Brown, who was originally influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Then he heard Wes Montgomery, and decided to go the jazz route. His superb technique and funky sound combine beautifully to make some memorable melodies, heard to fine advantage on his award-winning recording from 1994, “After the Storm.” There’s no doubt that Maysa, the only solo vocalist at the festival, is a soul singer. Her training came by way of singing backup for Stevie Wonder, but what sets her apart is her beautiful, cliché-free sound. There’s no doubt that Maysa knows what she wants in terms of material, but she’s got the kind of voice I’d love to hear on an American pop standard. Like Trombone Shorty, Jeff Bradshaw, who appeared here at last year’s festival, is proud of, as he once said, “Making the trombone hip.” Indeed he has, whether it’s been backing Michael Jackson, Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, or performing with his own groups.
Sunday’s 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. brunch features saxophonist Reggie E. Harris, who makes no bones about the fact that he was influenced by Grover Washington, Jr. Now a Jersey native and successfully making the rounds of area festivals, Harris is an emerging artist that we’re going to hear from.
In other jazz news for the fall, The South Jersey Jazz Society’s Monday night jazz series at Gregory’s in Somers Point has just resumed. Artists featured this season included vibraphonist Behn Gillece, trumpeter Benny Bennack, vocalist Gabriella Stravelli, and others to be announced. And the dates and artists for the Society’s “Jazz at the Point” festival, which will take place at the Gateway Playhouse and Gregory’s in Somers Point, have been recently announced. This seasons’ confab, taking place October 15 to 17, is called “Red, White & Louis” and will honor two giants, both major contributors to America’s only original art form. Honorees are Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, and the late, great and beloved WRTI Radio broadcaster, Bob Perkins. Participating artists named thus far include vocalist Paula Johns, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, trumpeters Jon Faddis and Terell Stafford, and noted Louis Armstrong historian, author and Director of Research Collections for the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Ricky Riccardi. Fans of straight-ahead, swinging jazz should note that artists like Gordon and Faddis rarely grace these parts with their presence and talents. This year’s “Jazz at the Point” festival is shaping up to be memorable, as these iconic contributors rarely make it to these parts. Look for more details as we get closer.
Bruce Klauber is the author of four books, an award-winning music journalist, concert and record producer and publicist, producer of the Warner Brothers and Hudson Music “Jazz Legends” film series, and performs both as a drummer and vocalist.
