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The Attucks Jazz Club: Fall 2024

By Mark Robbins
February 23, 2025
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In 2008, under the auspices of the Virginia Arts Festival and the leadership of professor/pianist

John Toomey

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">John Toomey, the Attucks Jazz Series was born in the historic Attucks Theater. Before becoming a full-time jazz professor at Old Dominion University, Toomey spent time on the road with jazz trumpeter

Maynard Ferguson

trumpet
1928 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Maynard Ferguson, singers

Mark Murphy

vocals
1932 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Murphy,

Rene Marie

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Rene Marie, and others. Toomey's eponymous trio consisting of

Jimmy Masters

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Masters on bass (Masters has been an integral part of the local jazz scene for the past 30 years and curates his own jazz series in the summer) and various drummers such as

Frank Russo

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Russo,

Emre Kartari

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Emre Kartari and

Tony Martucci

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Martucci.

Some of the past guest artists have been

Janis Siegel

vocals
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Janis Siegel,

Allan Harris

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Allan Harris,

Denise Donatelli

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Denise Donatelli,

John Abercrombie

guitar
1944 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">John Abercrombie,

Billy Drummond

drums
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Drummond,

Chuck Redd

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Redd,

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Peplowski and too many more to list. This past fall season was no exception with

Kenny Washington

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Washington,

Steve Nelson

vibraphone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Nelson, and

Rex Richardson

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rex Richardson.

San Fransisco's Washington is one of the best-kept secrets in the jazz vocalist world. Vibraphonist

Joe Locke

vibraphone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Locke says, "I think he is one of the most important male vocalists in the world." He has often sung with Toomey's trio and has become a local fan favorite. He is the first to admit that he is not the outgoing personality people expect a performer to be. Washington may be quiet between songs, but once he begins to sing a different Kenny Washington is on the stage. Whether it's a jazz standard, something from the Great American Songbook, or a little R&B, he sings, swings, and scats, and is a joy to hear.

Pittsburgh native

Steve Nelson

vibraphone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Nelson was introduced to the vibes and piano in high school. From those beginnings, Nelson has spent the last fifty-plus years becoming the most in-demand vibraphonist in the jazz scene today. He received a master's degree from the Rutgers University's Jazz Studies program which was led by

Larry Ridley

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Ridley,

Ted Dunbar

guitar
1937 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Dunbar and

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron whose quartet he is a member of and who was recently nominated for a Grammy. Like Kenny Washington, Nelson communicates through his music. Once the tune is established, Nelson takes off on an improvised journey, and the audience is lucky to take the trip with him.

Dave Holland

bass
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Holland said it best: "The reason I use a vibraphone in my quintet and big band is because Steve exists. He's an original thinker who comes to conclusions one wouldn't expect, and he has used our compositions as a vehicle to break new ground for the instrument."

Finishing off the fall season was trumpeter

Rex Richardson

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Rex Richardson. Richardson has been called "One of the finest virtuosos of our time" (Brass Herald) and has been compared to

Woody Shaw

trumpet
1944 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Shaw and

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard. Equally at home in jazz and classical genres, he has traveled the world performing with both jazz and classical bands as well as many solo performances. Playing a few of his compositions as well as some of his favorites from other composers, Richardson treated the audience to a night they won't soon forget. View Slideshow

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John Toomey Concerts

Sep 20 Sat

Jaleel Shaw

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Oct 18 Sat

Joel Ross

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Nov 15 Sat

Ken Peplowski

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Jan 17 Sat

Joel Frahm

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Feb 7 Sat

René Marie

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Mar 14 Sat

Anaïs Reno

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

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