Weekend of Jazz 2012

Sylvan Street | www.sylvanstreetjazz.com | Video | Tickets

Michael G. Nastos of All Music Guide describes the music of Sylvan Street as "slick fusion with attractive horn charts…could easily be identified as a studio band from Los Angeles."

Tucson Weekly writes, "this jazz band's output is cutting-edge and aggressive."

The Arizona Daily Star dubbed Sylvan Street "a formidable player on the jazz scene, both locally and on the road."

Sylvan Street's high-octane collection of original works blends a diverse and eclectic stew of Latin grooves, cool jazz, traditional blues, and driving funk, infused with a progressive rock influenced edge. They also pack a punch innovating tunes by such artists as Radiohead and Chick Corea, performed with Sylvan Street's signature intensity and emotional style.

Formed by band leader and composer Jay Rees, Sylvan Street is an accomplished group of jazz musicians from coast to coast featuring University of Arizona School of Music faculty artists Jay Rees on bass, and Kelland Thomas on saxophone, with Frank Browne on guitar, Andrew Hix on drums/vocals, Kenny Smukal and Chad Shoopman on trumpet, Evan Rees on piano/keyboards, and Michael Faltin on percussion. Doug McCullough, Beavercreek High School Director of Bands, will appear as a guest percussionist. More information about Sylvan Street can be found on their website at www.sylvanstreetjazz.com.

Sylvan Street returns to Weekend of Jazz to perform tunes from their newest CD Here In America (Summit Records). The concert will also include songs from their critically acclaimed debut disc The Perfect Leaf.

Sylvan Street's return to Weekend of Jazz celebrates the band's new Summit Records CD Here In America, which follows their 2009 critically acclaimed debut disc The Perfect Leaf. The group's high-octane collection of original works blends a diverse and eclectic stew of Latin grooves, cool jazz, traditional blues, and driving funk, infused with a progressive rock influenced edge. Here In America is an aggressive and unrestrained musical expression of the human experience characterized with melodic and emotional commitment, lyrical depth, and social awareness. The concert will also include songs from their critically acclaimed debut disc The Perfect Leaf.

Sylvan Street's appearance at the Beavercreek Weekend of Jazz 2012 is part of the group's jazz education outreach tour across the country. Members of the band will conduct clinics and master classes with the jazz ensembles from Beavercreek High School and several other high schools in the region.

The Buddy Rich Big Band | www.buddyrich.com | Video | Tickets
Featuring Gregg Potter and Cathy Rich

Throughout his illustrious career, he played with most of the legends of jazz. Art Tatum, Louis Armstrong, The Count Basie Orchestra, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald and Stan Getz. Of course, Buddy was most widely recognized for his work with his own big band.

Worldwide sales of Buddy Rich original recordings are still going strong. The recent success of "Burning for Buddy," a CD collection co-produced by Cathy Rich and Neil Peart of Rush, featuring the world's top drummers including Peart, Steve Smith (formerly of Journey), and Bill Bruford to name a few, paid homage to Buddy's music. His fans are still seeking the excitement and the music of Buddy Rich.

For the first time in over 25 years, THE BUDDY RICH BIG BAND is available in concert. Emmy Award winning, top recording session & touring drummer, Gregg Potter leads the 15 piece band for an evening hosted by Buddy's daughter, Cathy Rich. The energy, drive and showmanship that Buddy brought throughout his career is alive & present featuring Buddy's original charts along with contemporary material in Buddy's classic style.

Hits include:

"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", "Nutville", "Birdland", "Love For Sale", "Beat Goes On" (featuring Cathy Rich on vocals)