Music

Musicians

Check out this eclectic list of jazz, R&B, fusion, funk and great old-school soul performers who will take the stage at the 2009 West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival.  Please check back frequently for up-to-the-minute additions and updates.

Warren Oree and The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble: Bassist, Composer, Producer, Educator

Warren Oree began playing the upright bass in 1973 at age 25. In 1975 he joined the group "Weusi Mutribu" and in 1979 he started the group that he leads today - The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to performing with Arpeggio, Warren has toured and/or recorded with: Jamaladeen Tacuma and Basso Nouveaux; Khan Jamal; Hamiette Bluiette. He has also performed with Donald Byrd, Wynton Marsalis, Odean Pope, and drummer Norman Connors. He has toured Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States.

When Warren isn't performing, he's busy behind the scenes composing, producing and arranging original works. He has composed the score for two documentaries by Harmony Image Productions entitled, "Anna Russell Jones - Praise Song for a Pioneer Spirit," which detailed the life and accomplishments of one of the first African-American Interior designers; and "Moving With the Dreaming," which was an in-depth look at the past and current struggles of the Australian Aborigines. Warren has also composed the theme song for two seasons of "Through the Lens," a TV program produced by Nadine Patterson for WYBE-TV channel 35, Philadelphia. His productions include a jazz opera entitled, "The Dream Tree," and he has written and directed a one act play about the effects of prison life on those inside and outside the prison walls entitled, "Living Forever, Waiting to Die." Most recently, the wireless phone company, T-Mobile has licensed with Warren Oree's production company to use excerpts from his original composition "Wet Walnuts and Whipped Cream."

Since 1990, Warren has been lecturing and presenting workshops on jazz, music composition, and other aspects of music and its business at libraries, public and private schools, and universities. Most recently Warren co-produced and was Artistic Director for the 2003 Philadelphia Jazz and Poetry Festival. Also, he was commissioned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art to compose music for five paintings by African American artists. The genesis of the ARPEGGIO sound was created in 1979 by bassist Warren Oree. The group has recorded seven CDs. The latest, "LifeLine" (SilkSkin) contains original compositions ranging from Afro-Brazilian beats to blues-tinged and uniquely styled jazz improvisations.

- "LifeLine" - Silk Skin, 2002

- "The Po/Jazz Connection: Live from Brave New World" - Silk Skin, 1999

- "Slo/Burn" - Silk Skin, 1999

- "Moving With the Dreaming" - Harmony Image, 1997

- "Zanzibar Blue" - Sosa, 1995

- "Behind the Mountain Wall" - Silk Skin, 1992

- "Le-Le" - Silk Skin, 1987

Warren Oree & The Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble have performed throughout the world, most recently at the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival along with Pancho Sanchez, Chuck Mangione and other notable artists. ARPEGGIO's repertoire includes original and standard compositions. Everyone in the band composes which gives the group a versatile sound that appeals to a variety of audiences. Their music is flexible, ranging from soft, contemplative melodies, to energetic, multi-rhythmic arrangements. It is not unusual for audiences to break out in dance in response to some of the pulsating beats issuing forth from the bandstand. They also have encouraged poets to share their writings and verse along with their musical accompaniment. The nuclei of ARPEGGIO include:

Warren Oree - (acoustic, upright bass), leader of Arpeggio Jazz and Music Ensemble - has traveled extensively, performing at jazz festivals throughout Europe, the Caribbean and South America. He has recorded and produced several CDs, and creates and coordinates a variety of music related community educational programs, seminars and workshops for children and adults providing a forum and outlet for emerging musicians, creative artists and the musically inquisitive.

Umar Raheem - (tenor and soprano saxophone) - has toured and recorded with Hank Mobley, Sunny Murray, Monnette Sudler and others. His musical style transcends all genres. He has a unique approach to his instrument that stands out in a sea of cliches. In 1997, Umar produced and recorded his debut CD as leader, entitled: "Big Boy's Honor" (RHM Records). His talents as a composer are highlighted in this CD as well as his contributions to the ARPEGGIO catalog.

Greg "Ju-Ju" Jones (drums) - has been playing drums for over twenty-five years. He has performed with Donald Byrd, Odean Pope, John Blake and other emerging and established artists. He has toured worldwide, leaving his riveting rhythms echoing across the globe. Having made such an impact in Bahia, Brazil while on tour with ARPEGGIO in 1992, Ju-Ju was embraced by the prestigious drumming society of that country and made an honorary member.

Doug "Pablow" Edwards - (congas and percussion) - is a prolific master of rhythms and tempos. He has provided accompaniment for professional dancers and other interdisciplinary venues. His powerful and driving rhythmic surges can be heard on various recordings, including ARPEGGIO's last four CDs.

Frank Butrey (guitar) - is the latest member of ARPEGGIO. He joined the group in June 2000 and has been a welcome addition to the sounds and moods of the ensemble. Frank has an eclectic background which includes work with the Erie, PA Philharmonic Orchestra and with jazz bassist Jamaladeen Tacuma. He released his first CD "Life and Times" in 1998 and continues to compose and challenge the musical boundaries.

Nina Fletcher (vocals) - prolific composer and arranger, has been with the group for two years and has a unique style that invigorates.

Performance Schedule:

Sunday, June 21, 2009
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Relish Restaurant: 7152 Ogontz Avenue

Bootsie Barnes

"Bootsie" began his musical career at age 6 on piano switching to drums at 10. His grandmother gave him a saxophone at age 19 and he knew he had found his niche. In school, classmates included drummers, Lex Humphries, Bill Cosby, Al "Tootie" Heath; bassist "Spanky" DeBrest, trumpeter Lee Morgan, and a host of Philadelphia giants who went on to help shape the maturing sound of jazz music. Those who had the biggest influence on him were his father, who played trumpet with Bill Doggett's 16 piece big band, and his cousin Jimmy Hamilton, saxophonist and star clarinetist of Duke Ellington's band for 26 years.

In the 60's and early 70's Bootsie played the renowned "Chitterling Circuit" which included clubs such as South Jersey's Dreamland, Cotton Club, Laurettas' Hi Hat, Pearl's Celebrity Room and Over the Top. His highly articulated tenor style also graced Atlantic City's Club Harlem and The Wonder Garden. A few of the legendary Philly clubs at which he performed include The Aqua Lounge, Just Jazz, The Blue Note, Nite Cap, The Showboat and Pep's. Worked with Big Bands of Sam Reed, Johnny Lynch's Club Harlem Band, Bennie Lyons, Lloyd Price's Big Band,(under the direction of the great Kenny Dorham.) and the Al Grey Little Big Band.

A significant accomplishment for Bootsie was being elected the Youngest ever Assistant Secretary of Philadelphia's only Black Local #274 American Federation of Musician's where he served from 1971-1974. This organization was a forerunner of today's Clef Club of the Performing Arts which was founded by the Late Former President of Local #274, Jimmy Adams.

Bootsie toured, performed and recorded with literally all the great organists including Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Don Patterson, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Charles Earland, Trudy Pitts, Poppa John and Joey DeFrancesco and others too numerous to name. In the late 1980's, Bootsie toured with his childhood friend and classmate, Bill Cosby, and made guest appearances on "The Bill Cosby Show," (playing himself) as well as many other television appearances. He recently toured with Cosby, playing the Playboy Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival.

Bootsie has toured Europe as well as the United States and Canada, leaving a lasting impression on audiences all over the world. He has headlined venues from New York's famed Birdland to the very prestigious Le Grand Hotel in Paris. He has won numerous Jazz awards, such as the Marjorie Dockery Volunteer Award from the Urban League Guild of Philadelphia and New York's Greater Jamaica Development Corporation Award, and is often listed within the Top Ten Jazz Picks.

Today, "Bootsie" Barnes is known as "the man with the 'Tenor Touch' because of his dynamic style on the tenor saxophone. His smooth and distinct sound is easily recognizable whether softly caressing a ballad, or swinging hard, during live performances or on CD. JazzTimes magazine sums up his solos thusly: "...plays tenor saxophone with self-assured flair and gorgeous depth..," and "..plays in a classic style reminiscent of Gene Ammons and Hank Mobley...". Bootsie can be heard as a sideman on many, many recordings, (see his discography) he has released one vinyl album and three CD's as a leader; "Been Here All Along", "You Leave Me Breathless" "Hello" and "Boppin' Round the Center"..

Performance Schedule:

Sunday, June 21, 2009
3:30pm - 4:00 pm
Relish Restaurant: 7152 Ogontz Avenue

Jazz Happy Hour with Frank Bey

Frank Bey, master of the art of blues, has been entertaining with his God-given talent since the tender age of 4. Frank enjoyed singing with his mother, Maggie Jordan ,who was a gospel singer, while growing up in Millen, Georgia. In a short time he had acquired the lead vocalist role in small gospel quartet called the Rising Sons. Accompanying him was his 5-year old brother and another pair of cousins, ages 5 and 6.

Frank continued to sing throughout the Southeast Region during his teenage years In the 1960's. He took advantage of an opportunity to tour with the Otis Redding Review. Here he learned how to become personal with the audience and create an atmosphere of excitement. Frank later joined Archie Jenkins and the Incredible Saxtons and toured throughout the United States, Spain and Canada. Bey owns a gritty, soulful voice, and his tightly backed jazzy complements rather than overpowers the vocals.

Performance Schedule:

Friday, June 19, 2009
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Relish Restaurant: 7152 Ogontz Avenue

Henry Grimes & Rashied Ali

Despite the fact that both Henry Grimes and Rashied Ali were born and raised in Philadelphia, are very close in age, and have played with many of the same musicians there and in New York City, their only previous date together before 2OO7 was in 1965 on Archie Shepp's great Impulse! recording "On This Night" (which also featured Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Chambers, J.C. Moses, Ed Blackwell, and Christine Spencer).

 Master jazz musician HENRY GRIMES (acoustic bass and violin, + spoken and written word) has played more than 32O concerts in 23 countries (including many festivals) since May of 'O3, when he made his astonishing return to the music world after 35 years away. He was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended the Mastbaum School and Juilliard. In the '5O's and '6O's, he came up in the music playing and touring with Willis "Gator Tail" Jackson, "Bullmoose" Jackson, "Little" Willie John, and a number of other great R&B / soul musicians; but drawn to jazz, he went on to play, tour, and record with many great jazz musicians of that era, including Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Roy Haynes, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan, Sunny Murray, Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner, and Rev. Frank Wright. Sadly, a trip to the West Coast to work with Al Jarreau and Jon Hendricks went awry, leaving Henry in Los Angeles at the end of the '6O's with a broken bass he couldn't pay to repair, so he sold it for a small sum and faded away from the music world. Many years passed with nothing heard from him, as he lived in his tiny rented room in an S.R.O. hotel in downtown Los Angeles, working as a manual laborer, custodian, and maintenance man, and writing many volumes of handwritten poetry. He was discovered there by a Georgia social worker and fan in 2OO2 and was given a bass by William Parker, and after only a few weeks of ferocious woodshedding, Henry emerged from his room to begin playing concerts around Los Angeles and shortly afterwards made a triumphant return to New York City in May, 'O3 to play in the Vision Festival. Since then, often working as a leader, he has played, toured, and / or recorded with many of today's music heroes, such as Rashied Ali, Marshall Allen, Fred Anderson, Marilyn Crispell, Ted Curson, Andrew Cyrille, Bill Dixon, Dave Douglas, Andrew Lamb, David Murray, William Parker, Marc Ribot, and Cecil Taylor. Henry has also held residencies at Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, the University of Gloucestershire at Cheltenham (U.K.), and more.  He's given a number of workshops and master classes on other major campuses, released several new recordings, made his professional debut on a second instrument (the violin) at the age of 7O, has now published the first volume of his poetry, "Signs Along the Road," and has been creating illustrations to accompany his new recordings and publications. He has received many honors in recent years, including four Meet the Composer grants and a grant from the Acadia Foundation. He can be heard on about 85 recordings on various labels, including Atlantic, Ayler Records, Blue Note, Columbia, ESP-Disk, ILK Music, Impulse!, JazzNewYork Productions, Pi Recordings, Porter Records, Prestige, Riverside, and Verve. Henry Grimes now lives and teaches in New York City.  Further information:  http://www.henrygrimes.com, musicmargaret@earthlink.net.

RASHIED ALI, a student of Philly Joe Jones and admirer of Art Blakey, is a progenitor of the style known as “free jazz” drumming, liberating the percussionist from the role of human metronome.  Rashied Ali studied at Philadelphia's Granoff School of Music, gaining early experience with local jazz and R&B bands around Philadelphia. Associations with Pharoah Sanders, Albert Ayler, Bill Dixon, and Sunny Murray in New York City preceded his tenure with John Coltrane, which began in 1965 and lasted until the latter's death in 1967.  In 1965, Mr. Coltrane decided to complement the playing of Elvin Jones by adding Rashied Ali, and the two drummers shared the bandstand briefly before Elvin Jones left the band.  Rashied Ali almost completely abandoned a steady pulse, adopting instead a rhythmically irregular, textural, super-active approach that propelled the music in a manner at odds with ElvinJones's more literal style. The removal of a steady time, with the multitude of implied meters set by Rashied Ali and bassist Jimmy Garrison, freed John Coltrane to an unprecedented extent. It was with the addition of Rashied Ali to his group that John Coltrane's "free jazz" period truly began. After Mr. Coltrane left this life in 1967, Mr. Ali continued playing with Alice Coltrane for a time before going out on his own as bandleader and musical organizer. In 1972, he helped coordinate the New York Musicians' Festival; the next year he formed his own record label, Survival, and opened his own performance venue, Ali's Alley, a New York City loft space that presented "free jazz" performances until the summer of 1979. In the '8Os and '9Os, Mr. Ali performed on occasion with saxophonist Makanda Ken McIntyre and recorded with tenor saxophonist David Murray and others. In 1987, Mr. Ali recorded as a member of the group Phalanx with guitarist James Blood Ulmer, tenor saxophonist George Adams, and bassist Sirone (Norris Jones). In 1991, Rashied Ali made the critically acclaimed album "Touchin' on Trane" with bassist William Parker and tenor saxophonist Charles Gayle. The '9Os found Mr. Ali at the helm of his band Prima Materia, an ensemble dedicated to interpreting the late works of Coltrane and Albert Ayler. Today, Rashied Ali continues to perform regularly with Sonny Fortune, Reggie Workman, his own quintet, and Henry Grimes. More information: http://www.myspace.com/rashiedali.

Note: The Henry Grimes and Rashied Ali duo CD "Going to the Ritual," recorded in 'O7 and released by Porter Records in 'O8, is available for purchase from http://www.downtownmusicgallery.com/Main/index.htm or at http://tinyurl.com/7w97k5 (amazon.com), and selections can be heard at http://www.porterrecords.com/id27.html.

Performance Schedule:

Sunday, June 21, 2009
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
Stage 2: Relish-7152 Ogontz Avenue


Elliot Levin

Performance Schedule:

Saturday, June 20, 2009
5:30 pm - 6:15 pm
Stage 3: 72nd Street & Ogontz Avenue








Trudy Pitts

Trudy Pitts and Bill Carney have been partners in music, and in life, for half a century. Pitts plays piano and the Hammond B-3 electric organ. Carney, known as Mr. C, backs her up on drums.

Like many married couples who've been together for a long time, they often finish each other's thoughts. When Pitts and Carney play together, they say, words become unnecessary because they speak the private language of music.

"It's about knowing each other and feeding each other air and spirit," Pitts says. "He might do something on snare, or he might do a cymbal thing. If I'm working out something on the keys, he's into the point where he can lead me in a direction that I'm trying to go."

The two musicians met in Philadelphia in the 1950s. Carney had a group at the time called the Hi-Tones. It included a young saxophone player named John Coltrane, but Carney wanted to add an organist.

"I called the union," Carney says. "They said, 'Well, we have a young lady down here that plays everything - funerals, cocktail lounges. She coaches classical musicians.' I said, 'Well, I have to meet her.'"

Over the years, they've played with a who's who of jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Grover Washington, Jr., and Nancy Wilson.

Pitts describes what it's like to create music with her lifelong partner:

"When the two of us are playing, it's being husband and wife; it's being mother and father; it's being up and down; and it's everything rolled into one in your life when you come together to play music," she says.

Carney says they feel that they are "missionaries of the Almighty's private language - and that's music."

"My biggest love is my partner, who is my queen," he says. "And sometimes she's so spiritual and plays so much, I say, 'Well, [God] sent me an angel.... Amen.'"

Performance Schedule:

Saturday, June 20, 2009
5:30 pm - 6:15 pm
Stage 4: Tulpehocken Street & Ogontz Avenue

Odean Pope

Odean Pope was born in Ninety-Six, South Carolina to musical parents who rooted him in the sounds of the Southern Baptist Church. After moving to Philadelphia at the age of ten, his lifelong study of music began in earnest and was buttressed by The Graniff School of Music and Benjamin Franklin High School's music program.

Odean grew up in jazz rich territory with other Philadelphia notables such as: John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Benny Golson, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy and Percy Heath, Ray Bryant, Bill Barron, Kenny Barron, Archie Shepp, Jymie Merritt, Jimmy Garrison, Philly Joe Jones and Dizzy Gillespie. Coltrane chose Odean to replace him in Jimmy Smith's Group when he left for New York to join Miles Davis. Although he was close to Coltrane and continues to revere his artistry, Odean was always searching for his own musical sound. This led him to study with Ron Rubin, the principal woodwind player in the Philadelphia Orchestra. At a later time he studied at The Paris Conservatory for Music under Kenny Clarke. It was there that he received his Certificate in Orchestration, Modern harmony, African rhythms, Be-Bop Art Forms and Arrangement. He studied with the pianist, Ray Bryant, bassist, Jymie Merritt and was significantly influenced by the brilliant, if not eccentric pianist, Hasaan Ibn Ali. Odean adds, "Then being able to study with Max (Roach) from '79 up until '02, was like going to one of the highest institutions in the whole world."

Integrating several musical influences including the church choir of his youth, Philadelphia jazz and R&B of the 50's and classical woodwind chamber music, led Odean in the early 70's to help form Catalyst, a collective of musicians and music representing his new aesthetic. A two-CD set was reissued in 1999 on 32 Records as: "Catalyst: The Funkiest Band You Never Heard." It was music ahead of its time. In 1979, Odean joined the Max Roach Quartet as a regular member for more than two decades. It was as the tenor man with Max Roach that Odean perfected the techniques of circular breathing and multiphonics, both allowing him to stretch his solo improvisations from dazzling elevations to the throbbing, husky sounds for which he is so well known, to all kinds of delicacy in getting from one to the other. Odean won acclaim from Australia to Japan, even winning "Best Tenor Saxophone Player" at the North Sea Jazz Festival.

Odean works with his trio, (Lee Smith, Craig McIver) quartet and saxophone choir. The saxophone choir is formatted with nine saxophones, and was established by Odean in 1977 and premiered in 1985 with a Soul Note album called "The Saxophone Shop." The saxophone choir has been the realization of his southern legacy; a medium for creating the richly textured harmonic sound that has permeated his musical soul since childhood. Even though he plays clarinet, oboe, piccolo, flute and piano, Odean feels an affinity for the tenor saxophone because it most closely mimics the human voice. He constructs layers of melodic sound by playing within the fourth system in different tone scales using multiphonics, achieving several pitches together, for which he is well known. The choir reaches a stunning intensity that is simultaneously one voice and is also, as described by Francis Davis, "harmonically engorged."

Odean has led two musical lives. Whereas his musical legion left for New York, Odean kept Philadelphia as his home base. Having grown up in North Philadelphia, Odean has always felt a strong commitment to his community through working musically with the children. He was musical director of a Philadelphia cultural initiative, "Model Cities." He started the jazz studies program at the Settlement Music School and he continues to give master classes in the School District of Philadelphia, as well as nationally and internationally.

Odean Pope's artistry as performer, composer and arranger has earned him many citations from the City of Philadelphia. Among his many awards are: The Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Music Composition (1992), The Rockefeller Foundation (1992) and several from Chamber Music America.

Performance Schedule:

Saturday, June 20, 2009
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
Stage 4: Tulpehocken Street & Ogontz Avenue

Sam Reed

Performance Schedule:

Saturday, June 20, 2009
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Relish Restaurant: 7152 Ogontz Avenue







Monnette Sudler

Performance Schedule:

Sunday, June 21, 2009
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Stage 4: Tulpehocken Street & Ogontz Avenue