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Newport Beach Jazz Party 2012: Newport Beach, CA, February 16-19, 2012

By Patricia Myers
March 12, 2012
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12th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party
Newport Beach Marriot Hotel
Newport Beach, CA
February 16-19, 2012

An abundance of top-level jazz in the glamorous ocean-side setting of the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel has made the annual Newport Beach Jazz Party one of the most popular on the circuit. The extended President's Day weekend event attracted listeners from 27 states and Canada, and as far away as Australia, England and Austria. The party was billed "right down the middle and straight-ahead jazz," and fulfilled that premise.

Thrilling tributes, swinging big bands and exhilarating combos filled 40-plus hours of live jazz from some eighty musicians. The strongest audience response of the weekend was earned by Australian trumpeter

James Morrison

multi-instrumentalist
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">James Morrison, whose virtuosity on multiple brass instruments had long ago gained him the nickname "The Wonder from Down Under." He lived up to that billing with incredible range and power that involved breathtaking leaps into awesome heights. He's also a musical gymnast on trombone, shifting with elastic ease from extremely high notes to bottom-low sounds, always with agreeable charm, never an egotistical attitude. As a leader, Morrison enticed with the ballad "The Second Time Around," then blazed white-hot on "Basin Street Blues." He never failed to thrill, entertain and surprise, as he once did by sitting at the piano to create a left-hand accompaniment while playing trumpet with his right.

A crowd favorite was a solo set by Romanian pianist

Marian Petrescu

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Marian Petrescu. Quicksilver treble runs and rumbling bass chords replicated the dazzling keyboard ability of

Oscar Peterson

piano
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Peterson, but lacked the feeling of the late great's luminous heart and soul. Repeated cascades of notes made it seem like Petrescu was playing to impress rather than to express, more Roger Williams than Oscar Peterson. In combo sets, Petrescu's solos and support work came across as more jazz-inspired.

Another crowd-pleaser was Los Angeles-born guitarist

Graham Dechter

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Graham Dechter, at 25 displaying sheer virtuosity and a warm, swinging sound reminiscent of

Joe Pass

guitar
1929 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Pass and

Joe Pass

guitar
1929 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Pass. He sprinted through "Broadway" with dazzling dexterity, then created murmured nuances on "The Nearness of You" before getting downright greasy for the

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington classic, "I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues." The audience seemed mesmerized during every moment of his set with the stellar

Jeff Hamilton

drums
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Hamilton.

Graham Dechter—? 2012 Patricia Myers

The Hamilton trio always delivers precise connectivity and inventive arrangements, many written by pianist

Tamir Hendelman

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tamir Hendelman, who created stunning solo after solo. The trio's bassist,

Christoph Luty

" data-original-title="" title="">Christoph Luty, had a recent hand injury, but sub

John Clayton

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">John Clayton fit perfectly and, as always, never played an extraneous note. Hamilton's expert use of cymbals is unparalleled, and the element of using only his hands and fingertips is always refreshing to watch and hear.

A "Four Others" tribute to

Woody Herman

band / ensemble / orchestra
1913 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Woody Herman's famed sax foursome was emphatically delivered by leader

Harry Allen

saxophone
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Harry Allen,

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Peplowski,

Rickey Woodard

saxophone, tenor
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Rickey Woodard and

Adam Schroeder

saxophone, baritone
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Schroeder. Their tight harmony and imaginative solos infused new life into the legendary chart. The quartet also delivered fresh explorations of

Irving Berlin

composer / conductor
1888 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Irving Berlin's hit "Be Careful, It's My Heart," and Allen's "Great Scott" homage to

Scott Hamilton

saxophone, tenor
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott Hamilton.

For many, the event's three powerhouse orchestras brought the weekend's highest peaks. Opening night's "Basie, Benny and Buddy Big Band" lived up to its billing of tribute to these valued icons of jazz (the concept created by trumpeter

Byron Stripling

trumpet
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Byron Stripling, whose other professional obligations precluded his participation).

The

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie focus featured the band's drummer for 15 years,

Butch Miles

drums
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Butch Miles, who powerfully propelled that memorable sound. Familiar charts such as "Moten Swing" and "Corner Pocket" provided elegant Italian pianist

Rossano Sportiello

piano
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Rossano Sportiello plenty of opportunity to channel Basie's great swing and stride licks. Peplowski led the

Benny Goodman

clarinet
1909 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Goodman element, playing classic clarinet on gems from the

Fletcher Henderson

arranger
1897 - 1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Fletcher Henderson book, "King Porter Stomp" showcasing two of L.A.'s top trumpeters

Wayne Bergeron

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Bergeron and Willie Murillo. A favorite Goodman chart, "Down South Camp Meeting," was followed by a lilting rendition of "Spring Is Here" that showcased Peplowski's impressive chops. The

Buddy Rich

drums
1917 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Buddy Rich salute featured Miles again, driving the band on "Love for Sale" and "Time Check" to rebirth the musical excitement that was Rich's trademark.

The second orchestra, led by Cuban-born trumpeter-pianist

Arturo Sandoval

trumpet
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Arturo Sandoval, had most of the same personnel, this time burning an Afro-Cuban mode. The leader launched the set with an a cappella horn rendition of "God Bless America," a salute to his achieving political asylum in 1990, and U.S. citizenship nine years later. "Jazz is freedom," he declared.

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

Then the trumpet titan erupted into an avalanche of fiery bebop licks spiked by fluid scatting. Two vocals by

Rebecca Martin

guitar
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Rebecca Martin showcased her stunning style on "Quizas Quizas Quizas" and "A Night in Tunisia" with the big band solidly supportive. Sandoval then called Bergeron out of the brass section to elevate the set's excitement with dueling trumpets on

Gordon Goodwin’s Little Phat Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Gordon Goodwin��s Little Phat Band "Maynard and Waynard," the pair delivering notes so high the coyotes must have been howling in the hinterlands. The set ended with a mambo, Sandoval adding some dance steps from his heritage.

Closing night featured the

Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with bassist John Clayton out front, his brother

Jeff Clayton

saxophone
1954 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Clayton on alto sax, and co-leader Jeff Hamilton at the drums. The band delivered excellent dynamics via strong section work and intense solos, but occasionally sounded a bit rough around the edges, especially during the segment with vocalist

Ernie Andrews

vocals
1927 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Andrews, who crooned and delivered some righteous blues in his brief spot.

The few other vocalists at this mostly instrumental-jazz weekend were always audience-pleasers.

Barbara Morrison

vocals
1949 - 2022

" data-original-title="" title="">Barbara Morrison, recently recovered from a leg amputation, didn't need the sympathy vote to gain accolades for rich renditions of jewels such as "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," "I Loves You, Porgy" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Her command of range and depth of emotion was amazing and moving. Octogenarian vocalist Frank D'Rone cancelled due to a health issue, replaced by Palm Springs entertainer Mike Costley, who ably sang and scatted from the standards book, including the

Joe Williams

vocals
1918 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Williams late-career hit, "Here's to Life." Classy

Mary Stallings

vocals
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Stallings exuded elements of

Lena Horne

vocals
1917 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Lena Horne in her lush crooning of "How Deep Is the Ocean," A Foggy Day" and "Lullaby of the Leaves."

Three afternoons of poolside sets included

Luther Hughes

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Luther Hughes

Cannonball Adderley

saxophone
1928 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Cannonball Adderley/

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane homage, Harry Allen's Brazilian excursion, the Heavy Juice duo nod to the memorable coalitions of

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young-

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor
1904 - 1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Coleman Hawkins and

Zoot Sims

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Zoot Sims-

Al Cohn

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Cohn by Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen, and a vocal ensemble,

Pacific Standard Time

" data-original-title="" title="">Pacific Standard Time, from California State University at Long Beach.

The two champagne brunches weren't light in either food or musical fare. L.A. trumpeter

Gilbert Castellanos

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Gilbert Castellanos led a strong quartet with Scott Hamilton on tenor,

Llew Matthews

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Llew Matthews at the piano,

Chuck Berghofer

bass, acoustic
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Berghofer on bass and Butch Miles on drums to deliver a high energy set as early as 9:30 a.m. A set co-led by vocalist Andrews and tenor balladeer

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Houston Person delivered a satisfying nostalgic trip to the golden age of jazz. At 84, Andrews still performed with the zest and timing of his earlier years, in both big band and combo settings.

Throughout the weekend, L.A.'s first-call rhythm players were mixed and matched, among them bassist Berghofer (creator of that opening bass slide on the 1966 Nancy Sinatra hit, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"), guitarists

Larry Koonse

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Koonse and

Doug MacDonald

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Doug MacDonald, and drummers

Joe La Barbera

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe La Barbera and

Paul Kreibich

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Kreibich.

Three well-attended "round midnight" bonus nightcap sessions included James Morrison alternately playing trumpet and trombone, one in each hand. At Person's annual "Saturday Night Dance Party," the tenor man delivered standard after standard without sounding corny, aided by the always swinging Matthews. Hammond B-3 whiz

Tony Monaco

organ, Hammond B3
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Monaco employed his agile fingers, bouncing foot and facial contortions to energize his colleagues on "Tangerine" and "Tenderly," then a gritty blues fueled by Scott Hamilton's tenor, Dechter's guitar and Jeff Hamilton's drums.

In addition to the all-events menu of 30 hour-long sets in the hotel, there were 14 optional dinner-hour small-combo and solo sets in two restaurants, the hotel's Sam and Harry's and The Ritz across the boulevard. Those sets included tributes to

Paul Desmond

saxophone, alto
1924 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Desmond (Bruce Babad) and

Nat King Cole

piano and vocals
1919 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Nat King Cole and Chet Baker (

John Proulx

keyboards

" data-original-title="" title="">John Proulx and

Ron Stout

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Stout). Comic relief was adroitly delivered in two sets of the zany Pete Barbutti, plus Peplowski's unending acerbic wit when he was anywhere near a microphone.

Two Austrian tourists made time for the party at the end of their motorcycle tour of the West. Andreas Werth called the experience "a dance of quality, the way the style and mood changed with different combinations of musicians." Alex Matauschek simply termed the performances "amazing and incredible."

When the four days and nights of live music finally ended, it wasn't over yet for pianist Petrescu and trumpeter Morrison, who returned to the stage of the vacated ballroom at 1 a.m. to play just "One More Time."

The party was coproduced by Joe Rothman and John McClure. The pair also has scheduled another "Sunset Jazz at Newport" series of Wednesday nights during summer, July 11-Sept. 19, in cooperation with radio station KKJZ.

Photos Credit

Patricia Myers

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