Playboy 32nd Jazz Festival 2010
| Photos By: Peter Iovino | June 12th & 13th 2010 |
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Nestled at the foot of the fame Hollywood Hill, it was a perfect weekend for the over 17,000 fans of jazz to enjoy good music in the California sunshine.
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Sax for Stax and Jeff Lorber Fusion Jeff Lorber along with Kirk Whalum and Gerald Albright open their set with their Sax for Stax with the theme from Isaac Hayes's while the rest of the set highlighted the Fusion keybord of Lorber. |
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Marcus Miller Bassist provided glimpes of his time spent with Miles Davis during the 1980's as he along with Christian Scott slowed down the pace as it was Miles revisited. But the set picked back up with his funk style with The Beatles, "Come Together" which pleased the crowd as his funky groove quintet played a thunderous set. |
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Kurt Elling This year Grammy Winner bopscatting was in rare form, providing songs ranging from Tin Pan Alley to scatting on Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady," as well as from his recent and highly successful tribute to John Coltrane's Ballads, as his trio included legendary saxman Ernie Watts who played like days of old. |
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Naturally 7 An acapella grouup that ranges from big-band to hip-hop with only their vocal cords providing all the instruments sounds, tones and textures of the guitar, trombone, drums, bass, among an variety of other instruments. Naturally 7 was the highlight of day 1. |
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Chick Corea Who performed on his 69th birthday, in which a birthday cake was brought out by none other than Laker legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Chick's wife lead the crowd in singing happy birthday and his Freedom Band featuring bassist Christian McBride, alto sax Kennet Garret and drummer Roy Haynes who by the way is a mezmerizing 85 years of age as each artists provided solo's that delighted the crowd and each other. |
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Jake Shimabukuro The Youtube sensation did wonders with his ukulele giving us a flavor of the innocense of his home in Hawaii with the tune "Shirly Temple," to to love of the Flamengo which he showcased on a miniture uke,litterly amazing. |
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Trombone Shorty Provided a fesity New Orleans atmosphere with beads flying as the funky soul really jump started the afternoon crowd. He is a must see. |
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Pete Escovedo Orchestra With style and showmanship, Pete along with his two son's and his famous daughter in her own right Shelia E, provided a robust set that had people dancing in the isle and forgetting about their dinner as their polish stage presence was very entertaining. |
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George Benson Was day 2 major hit, singing and playing all his majors hits, made it one big party line as people were crushing each other at the edge of the stage, it was a major partyFest. With special guest and past collaborator Earl Klugh as one of his special guest, made for a wonderful dueling guitars by two masters. |
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Salif Keita An albino Malian African superstar making his Playboy Festival debut -- with African beats pulsating it was a pleasure in hearing such great sounds. It was just had to believe that he could remain perfectly still with all those powerful percussion grooves and Western electric guitars. |
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Manhattan Transfer With this group their big-band musical sound can be summed up in one word "FUN". Their artistry, their sounds leaves an exliration lasting impressions has they played homage to Chick Corea. |
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Esperanza Spalding Felt the passion of the crowd which she stated she connected more with the audience this year. Her versaility is something to marvel at as she admits she is still learning the electric bass, but its a joy to sit back and watch a wonderful performance. |
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