Sugar Loaf Music Series ...

About Sugar Loaf Music Series, Inc.

Thirty years ago…
A group of artists and arts advocates convened to discuss the possibility of instituting a series of concerts in the bucolic Hudson Valley crafts village, Sugar Loaf, NY. The nucleus of a performing arts series grew into what was to become one of the region’s premiere presenting arts organizations. The project was envisioned as both a jazz and folk music series. Despite the traditional fiscal concerns of initiating such an endeavor the group was determined that there should be no stinting on the artistic quality of its performers. Jazz artists Etta Jones, Gene Bertoncini, Michael Moore, Sheila Jordan, Charlie Mariano and Harvie Swartz represented the Series’ first jazz ventures while the likes of Tom Paxton, Dave Van Ronk, Christine Lavin, Rory Block and Aztec Two-Step galvanized early capacity audiences in the local Methodist church meeting hall.

Subsequently, the Series moved to the Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville for a season hosting bluesman Bill Perry, Tom Chapin, jazz trumpet player Ted Curson with an all star band and brothers Happy and Artie Traum. Eventually, with its eye on expanding its goal to include educational components, the Series was invited by the cultural arts department at Orange County Community College to facilitate its jazz events. S.R.O. audiences enjoyed mambo king and Latin jazz percussionist Ray Barretto, Grammy Award winner Phil Woods, Kenny Barron, Brazilian jazz icon Thiago DeMello featuring pianist Richard Kimball, Rhythm and Blues Award winner Albert Collins, Joe Lovano, Adam Nussbaum, John Abercrombie, Little Jimmy Scott, The String Trio of NY, Cindy Blackman and a myriad of other internationally acclaimed artists.
Read more: http://sugarloafmusicseries.com/info/about-series/

September 29, 2013 @ 3:00pm

Jazz Guitarists Vic Juris & Bob DeVos

Vic Juris — Guitarist
A native of Jersey City, N.J. Juris took up guitar at age 10 during the summer of 1963 and by the mid-’60s he was playing cover versions of Jimi Hendrix, Cream and the Temptations material in rock and R&B bands around his area. He discovered jazz in his late teens and subsequently studied with Philly jazz guitar legend Pat Martino.

Adept in the wide range of styles; jazz, rock, funk, and po Vic Juris is best-known for his association with alto saxophonist Richie Cole. He made his recording debut with Eric Kloss (1975), gigged with Barry Miles’ fusion group, and started his off-and-on association with Cole in 1976, appearing on some of the altoist’s finest recordings. In addition to recording with Don Patterson, Mel Tormé, and Bireli Lagrene, Juris (a fine hard bop-oriented improviser) has played duets with Larry Coryell, been a member of groups led by Dave Liebman and Gary Peacock, and recorded as a leader for Muse and SteepleChase.

In 2012 he was voted #5 in Jazz Guitar by Jazz Critics in the Jazz Inside Magazine Jazz Awards. - http://vicjurisjazz.com

Bob DeVos — Guitarist/Composer-Arranger
With horn like, blues-drenched lines and a warm, fat sound, Bob DeVos has an enthusiastic following for his signature mix of groove and sophistication. His trio’s tight-knit performances of jazz standards, Rhythm & Blues, ballads, and Bob’s hip compositions and arrangements thrill audiences nationwide. His HighNote/Savant Records releases were on the top ten charts for 46 weeks & on many Top Ten CD lists.

Bob has played with a who’s who of jazz legends both in and outside of the Hammond B3 organ genre, including Richard “Groove” Holmes-Sonny Stitt, Jimmy McGriff-Hank-Crawford, and The Charles Earland Band with Eric Alexander, as well as many modern players. In recent years he has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, the Kitano, SMOKE, plus many national & international festivals.

Critics hail Bob as “the thinking man’s guitar hero, a brilliant, knowing bebop player,” and dig his “infectious, funky groove.”

From: http://www.bobdevosjazzguitar.com