History/Reviews

Frank Zona and Urban Edge performed last Tuesday in the Franklin Lounge at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

On Sunday April 26, 2009, JazzElPaso Connection in cooperation with Lancer's East presented the timeless sounds of Benny Goodman.

Jazz lovers, Willie Hernandez, "La Voz” did it again!
His salsa group, Jazz PR, nearly caught Lancer's East on fire during his second performance of Puerto Rican style jazz!

To kick-off our Jazz Appreciation Month celebrations, The Candice Reyes Quintet reprises "Jazz'n Divas" at Dominic's, April 5, 2009

TRIVIA QUESTION:

Whose January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by many critics as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music." Hint: He played clarinet and would have been 100 this year!

On Saturday Feb 28 , Jazz ElPaso Connection presented yet another SOLD OUT performance at the Philanthropy.

"This Day in History" presented by Smithsonian Jazz. Info on Miles, Dizzy and Louie!

Trivia Question:

Why did Dizzy Gillespie play jazz on a ‘upturned’ trumpet?

Louis Daniel "Satchmo" Armstrong
Singer, leader, trumpet player
Born; New Orleans, LA
(Aug. 4, 1901 - April 6, 1971)

Miles (Dewey) Davis - (born May 26, 1926, Alton, Ill., U.S.—died Sept. 28, 1991, Santa Monica, Calif.)
One of the greatest visionaries and most important figures in jazz history.

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie - (born October 21, 1917, Cheraw, South Carolina; died January 6, 1993, Englewood, New Jersey). One of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time.

Question:

What did Marilyn Monroe have to do with Ella Fitzgerald’s career?

Sunday, January 11 , the patrons at Dominics were wowed by the sounds of Urban Edge, led by saxophonist Frank Zona.

Their sound is a fusion of contemporary jazz and R&B, with a little latin kick provided by Roland Guerrero on congas. They are smooth, polished, and very lively. You wont be falling asleep when these guys are on stage...

Have you ever listened to jazz in Downtown El Paso? I do not mean at the Dome or at Brick & Mortar, but outdoors in the Plazita. I used to with my father, José Villescas, with squadrons of pigeons circling above and Spanish conquistadors staring at us while a few of El Paso’s finest musicians performed for folks taking a break from work or out-of-towners wandering over from the Grey Hound Bus benches where Jack Kerouac slept all those decades ago.

On Saturday, September 13th, at the Plaza Theater’s beautiful Philanthropy Theater, Jazz El Paso was pleased to present Billy Townes in concert with special guest vocalist, Tony Mac to a sold out crowd!

It was so CALIENTE ... the dance floor nearly caught on fire!

Question: Can you name these great jazz legends from this famous Art Kane photograph, "A Great Day in Harlem" (1958)?

Question: One August morning in 1958, 57 Jazz Greats gathered for a photo for Esquire Magazine which came to be know as a “Great Day in ?” What city did that photo shoot take place in?

Youth jazz band brings home trophy! The trip to the Texas Tech Jazz Festival in Lubbock was a total success, and a special time. I’ve always felt we have a great group of young musicians, but it goes way beyond the music. The El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble “ambassadors” represented El Paso well on and off the stage. .

Question: Which famous jazz DIVA won an amateur contest at the Apollo Theatre at age 18, then shortly afterwards,joined Earl Hines' big band as second pianist and singer to Hines and Billy Eckstine? (She was also known for never rehearsing!)

Question: What jazz artist won the 2008 Grammy for “Album of the Year – Best Contemporary Jazz Album”, and what was the name of the album?

Magic is in the air whenever Ricky Malichi is on the gig. He's the set-drummer for many jazz groups in the area including The New Impressions. Ricky keeps the jazz scene alive, performing nationally, internationally, and on El Paso's stages. Read his recent interview with Historian, Ken Vaughan...

Who said this and of whom: “You can’t play anything on a horn that Louis hasn’t played.”

The Youth Ensemble was fabulous once again! Marty Olivas' direction is taking them to new heights with every performance.

Tuesday, January 29th the crowd was treated to the Carolyn Durant Group.

On December 23rd at Dominic’s Italian Restaurant, the jazz aficionados of El Paso were delighted by the marvelous sounds of the El Paso Youth Jazz Ensemble.

Live Jazz at Dominic's!

There’s a lot going on with El Paso’s youth!

On Sunday, October 14, 2007, JazzElPaso Connection presented Candice Reyes and her Quintet featuring Fernie Lechuga on keys for an exciting afternoon of jazz!

Curt Warren is a well-known treasure in the southwest and everyone in El Paso who enjoys jazz guitar knows of his impeccable reputation as a musician.

On Sunday, July 29th, JazzElPaso Connection had their 2nd fund raiser which showcased the very talented saxophone player, Mike Hamilton at the Shadow Lounge. It was “standing room only”, but the music was so hot no one seemed to mind.

From the book, "Ringside Seat to a Revolution: An Underground Cultural History of El Paso and Juarez: 1893-1923", copyright © 2005 by David Dorado Romo. Available through Cinco Puntos Press, www.cincopuntos.com.

Every community is universally proud of some of its individual citizens. Often, these individuals continue to serve without any fanfare or deserved recognition.

The recognized “Father of Hot Jazz”, was a fellow named Joe Oliver. His style was to play improvised jazz “collectively” instead of solos. He taught a young Louis Armstrong his craft, giving him his first coronet, and young Louis idolized him, calling him “Papa Joe”.

Notes on Jazz History