Summer Jazz Jam Review
by Natalie Wilson
There was a lot of positive energy floating around the room at SOhO last Sunday at our annual Summer Party/Jazz Jam. The excellent house band consisting of Debbie Denke on piano, Jon Crosse playing a multitude of horns, bassist Kim Collins, and James Antunez on drums opened the show with a couple of lively standards, “There Is No Greater Love” and “Alone Together” played as a rumba. Diana Bacon, the first singer up, was right on with “Come Rain or Come Shine” with nice solos by Debbie and Jon on flugelhorn. With his amazing voice, E J Lynn Jacobs transported us to another place with a beautiful arrangement of “When You wish Upon a Star”, and singer Jodi De Marcos gave us a swinging version of “Speak Low” giving the house band a chance to spread out. Kanga Larado lent her lovely voice to the Johnny Mercer standard, “Skylark”. Next up a trio on singers consisting of Cheryl Fontana, Jan Smith, and I (Natalie Wilson) had fun belting out the Micheal Franks tune, “Scatsville”. MC, Sandy Cummings, closed the first set with “Somebody Loves Me” with a nice clarinet solo by Jon.
During the break, we were entertained by couple of fine pianists, Frank Frost and Dick Dunlap along with bassist Doug Weiss from New York and drummers Ken Heiss and Harold Quay from Los Angeles along with Jon Crosse on soprano sax.
Kimberly Ford got the second portion of the show off to a great start with “Where or When” followed by Alison Tuma and “The Lady Is a Tramp.” House band drummer, James Antunez came out to the center of the stage and put his heart into vocalizing “Teach Me Tonight.” Past Jazz Society President, Dan Mendoza, crooned the touching ballad, “She’s Funny That Way” and Richard Winzeler delivered a swinging “They Say that Falling In Love is Wonderful.” “Summertime” with Robert Taylor on flute with the band and “Time After Time” with some fine scatting from Kim Collins closed out a fun afternoon. Yes, there is a lot of talent in our little city!
Photos by Mark McDonald