David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson & Joe Sample - 5th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens”

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – Jazz legends, David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson and Joe Sample are set to take the stage during the 5th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” hosted by #1 rated, nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, Saturday, March 20th and Sunday, March 21st at Sun Life Stadium (formerly Dolphin Stadium), 2269 Dan Marino Blvd, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056. Internationally-known and well-respected, these jazz musicians are at the top of the genre, oftentimes pulling in audiences of over 6,000 on their own bill.

Sanborn, Wilson and Sample are just three of the artists on the star-studded line-up for the nearly sold-out festival. Other confirmed artists include the queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige; R&B crooner, Robin Thicke; Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter, John Legend; 90s R&B/pop super group, Boyz II Men; funk/R&B diva, Teena Marie; Grammy nominated R&B vocalist, Melanie Fiona; and R&B newcomer, K’Jon.

“Jazz is definitely alive and well at ‘Jazz in the Gardens’ in the form of Joe Sample, David Sanborn and Cassandra Wilson,” stated event producer, Leon Saunders of Saunders Entertainment Group. “We are absolutely thrilled to have these major acts headlining ‘Jazz in the Gardens’ and bringing their revolutionary jazz sound to our festival.” Although some may find it strange to fuse together the musical styles of the aforementioned jazz legends with the funk of Teena Marie and the soul and R&B of John Legend, it’s one of the main draws of “Jazz in the Gardens.” It invites a plethora of musical styles to come together and form the kind of “super-concert” that can only be found in one of the most diverse and culturally-rich cities in the nation, Miami Gardens.

Jazz in the Gardens, a two-day weekend festival is now in its fifth year, has grown to be one of the top cultural events in South Florida . The jazz festival delivers a diverse mix of music genres that range from jazz, R&B, Caribbean and African sounds. Having something to offer all music aficionados at an affordable price, the 4th Annual Jazz in the Gardens shattered expected ticket sales, enjoying an attendance of almost 40,000, which was more than double the sales of the 2008 festival. In 2009, the Jazz in the Gardens crowd enjoyed the hip-hop flavor of Common, the beautiful neo-soul melodies of Erykah Badu, the smooth R&B of Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and the crowd-stopping soul of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, among other a-list artists.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The iconic David Sanborn truly merits his position as a saxophonist, unrivaled as a player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both. In pop, he is justly famed for his standout solo on David Bowie’s 1975 hit “Young Americans” – one of many celebrated recording projects that evolved out of Sanborn’s live supporting roles. Indeed, his matchless tone has additionally been sought to bolster performances by the esteemed liked of Eric Clapton, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Wonder – many of whom have likewise gone on to enlist Sanborn’s inimitable sax presence in the studio. Sanborn’s high visibility live and on record is only part of his story. His music has been heard in films, most notably on the Michael Kamen penned scores for the “Lethal Weapon” movies. His television work includes the theme for “Saturday Night Live,” sitting in regularly with the Late Night with David Letterman band, and hosting the dearly-remembered “Night Music.” The six-time Grammy winner has consistently recorded his own albums, and since his first album Taking Off from 1975, through his acclaimed Closer from 2005, he has rarely gone over two years between releases. Sanborn’s new album, Here and Gone, is the 23rd solo album of Sanborn’s extraordinary career and features guests such as Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone.

One of the many jazzmen who started out playing hard bop but went electric during the fusion era, Joe Sample was, in the late ‘50s, a founding member of the Jazz Crusaders along with trombonist, Wayne Henderson; tenor saxophonist, Wilton Felder; and drummer, Stix Hooper. Sample, a hard-swinging player who could handle chordal and modal/scalar improvisation equally well, stuck to the acoustic piano during the Crusaders’ early years – but would place greater emphasis on electric keyboards when the band turned to jazz-funk in the early ‘70s. Although Sample had recorded as a trio pianist on 1969’s obscure Fancy Dance, 1978’s Rainbow Seeker was often described as his first album as a leader. Since the early 1980’s, he has enjoyed a successful solo career and has guested on many recordings by other performers and groups, including Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan and The Supremes.

Defying categorization and convention, Cassandra Wilson never fails to surprise and inspire. Sexy, honey-velvet vocals wrapped around her own jazzy blue compositions or inventive interpretations of others’ material led TIME magazine to name her “ America ’s Best Singer” in recent years. Wilson ’s journey can be traced back to Mississippi where she was raised by musician and educator parents. In the eighties, Wilson moved to New Orleans and performed with Earl Turbinton and Ellis Marsalis. Quite by accident, she was relocated to East Orange , New Jersey where she made the decision to take her chances on the New York jazz scene. Her development can be tracked through her discography. From the standards on Blue Skies to the Grammy-winning New Moon Daughter, to the combination of originals and interpretations played by a collection of Mississippi and New York musicians on both the 2001 release, Belly of the Sun, and 2003’s Glamoured, to the 2006 T-Bone Burnett produced Thunderbird, Cassandra continues to evolve. On her acclaimed 2009 release, Loverly, Wilson returns to a more stripped down jazz setting, and gives a tantalizing, rhythmically driven collection of jazz standards new luster.

For more information on the highly-anticipated 5th Annual “Jazz in the Gardens” Hosted by Tom Joyner, go to http://www.jazzinthegardens.com/ or contact the City of Miami Gardens at 1-877-640-5299. All media inquiries should be directed to Circle of One Marketing at 305.576.3790.
From: Jazz Blues Florida Charlie@JazzBluesFlorida.com

Valentine's Week at The Blue Note: David Sanborn Quartet featuring Joey DeFrancesco

Renowned and revered the world over as one of the greatest saxophone players of all-time, David Sanborn is an artist whose music has inspired countless other musicians while creating a body of work that spans the genres of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, pop and jazz. A naturally gifted performer, David has helped defined the saxophone’s modern sound while influencing a generation.

Born July 30, 1945 in Tampa, Florida, David William Sanborn contracted polio when he was only 3 years old. As a part of his rehabilitative therapy, David was introduced to the saxophone. It was an introduction with consequences quite beyond the imagination of his parents, doctors – or anyone else. The selection of the alto sax – a favourite from David’s days spent listening to the radio – would prove to be a pivotal moment in the development of his sound. [Picture David Sanborn]

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, David was tremendously inspired by the rich legacy of great Chicago blues artists who would play their way through town. Before he was finished high school, David had played with names such as Albert King and Little Milton. "When I was 17 or 18,” David has said, "And it was time to figure out what to do with my life, I realized that I didn't enjoy anything as much as I enjoyed playing music. I felt that I had no choice, that I HAD to become a musician. Either that or steal cars."

David studied music for a year at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Iowa. By 20, he was married and the proud father of a son – Jonathan Sanborn – for whom each of David’s records have been dedicated. A phone call from an old friend in San Francisco – drummer Teddy Steward – convinced David to head for California. It was while in San Francisco that another old friend – Phillip Wilson – who had recently joined the Butterfield Blues Band, invited David to Los Angeles to sit-in on recording sessions with the band. “I got on a Greyhound bus from San Francisco to LA, took a bus into Hollywood, slept on the floor of Phillip's hotel room and went to the studio with him.” David has said. “Just had my horn. I think it was because I looked so pathetic, standing there with my horn, Paul Butterfield said, "Why don't you just come and play on a tune?" I sat in and I did okay. And I was with Butterfield for almost five years.”

Those five years saw David –with the Butterfield Blues Band – play Woodstock, among many other classic gigs. But the demise of that band only brought David new opportunities and within a week he was touring with another legend – Stevie Wonder. David played on Wonder’s remarkable “Talking Book” LP, rocked briefly with rock and roll heroes The Rolling Stones then toured with David Bowie, eventually performing his famous solo on Bowie’s 1975 recording “Young Americans.” [picture: Joey DeFrancesco]

It was also in 1975 that David released his first solo album Taking Off. The record enjoyed respectable sales and while David continued working with other performers such as Paul Simon and James Taylor he also continued flexing his considerable muscles as a solo artist, eventually scoring massive popular hits with 1980’s Hideaway and 1981’s Grammy winning Voyeur. 1983 saw David branch off in a new artistic direction with his first acting roll in the Italian film "Stelle Sulla Citta" for which he also scored the soundtrack. It was also in ’83 that David released his landmark Backstreet album which proved a major hit in the world of contemporary jazz.

David was awarded his second Grammy in 1986 for the album Double Vision and in the late 1980s hosted one of the most remarkable musical television programs of all time – Night Music. Offering up old films of jazz legends, music talk and incredible jams by an increasingly eclectic roll call of musicians from different fields, Night Music is fondly remembered among music fans as a groundbreaking and genre-bursting show. Produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, Night Music brought artists as diverse as Sonny Rollins, Leonard Cohen, Hank Crawford, Conway Twitty, Sonic Youth, Al Green and the Pixies together on one program.

Throughout the nineties and into the present, David has continued to tour and record, having amassed a wide and enthusiastic fan base around the world. The albums Pearls, Songs From The Night Before and Essentials reflect the essence of an artist at peace with his own sound and development, yet still hungry – eager to explore the possibilities of his instrument and his abilities. David Sanborn is both musician and artist – that rare breed of popular recording star as eager today as he was in his youth to continue pushing boundaries and to continue making music that challenges the mind as it rewards the heart and soul. David Sanborn, alto saxophone
Joey DeFrancesco, organ
Ricky Peterson, keyboards
Gene Lake, drums
http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=7533

Jam session video taken at 'Steamers Jazz Cafe' located in Fullerton, CA. With funny ending. Thanks to Terence M.Love and "Steamers Jazz Club" for providing this footage.

David Sanborn biography and tour dates....

Biography
Renowned and revered the world over as one of the greatest saxophone players of all-time, David Sanborn is an artist whose music has inspired countless other musicians while creating a body of work that spans the genres of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, pop and jazz. A naturally gifted performer, David has helped defined the saxophone’s modern sound while influencing a generation.

Born July 30, 1945 in Tampa, Florida, David William Sanborn contracted polio when he was only 3 years old. As a part of his rehabilitative therapy, David was introduced to the saxophone. It was an introduction with consequences quite beyond the imagination of his parents, doctors – or anyone else. The selection of the alto sax – a favourite from David’s days spent listening to the radio – would prove to be a pivotal moment in the development of his sound.

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, David was tremendously inspired by the rich legacy of great Chicago blues artists who would play their way through town. Before he was finished high school, David had played with names such as Albert King and Little Milton. "When I was 17 or 18,” David has said, "And it was time to figure out what to do with my life, I realized that I didn't enjoy anything as much as I enjoyed playing music. I felt that I had no choice, that I HAD to become a musician. Either that or steal cars."
David studied music for a year at Northwestern University before transferring to the University of Iowa. By 20, he was married and the proud father of a son – Jonathan Sanborn – for whom each of David’s records have been dedicated. A phone call from an old friend in San Francisco – drummer Teddy Steward – convinced David to head for California. It was while in San Francisco that another old friend – Phillip Wilson – who had recently joined the Butterfield Blues Band, invited David to Los Angeles to sit-in on recording sessions with the band. “I got on a Greyhound bus from San Francisco to LA, took a bus into Hollywood, slept on the floor of Phillip's hotel room and went to the studio with him.” David has said. “Just had my horn. I think it was because I looked so pathetic, standing there with my horn, Paul Butterfield said, "Why don't you just come and play on a tune?" I sat in and I did okay. And I was with Butterfield for almost five years.”

Those five years saw David –with the Butterfield Blues Band – play Woodstock, among many other classic gigs. But the demise of that band only brought David new opportunities and within a week he was touring with another legend – Stevie Wonder. David played on Wonder’s remarkable “Talking Book” LP, rocked briefly with rock and roll heroes The Rolling Stones then toured with David Bowie, eventually performing his famous solo on Bowie’s 1975 recording “Young Americans.”

It was also in 1975 that David released his first solo album Taking Off. The record enjoyed respectable sales and while David continued working with other performers such as Paul Simon and James Taylor he also continued flexing his considerable muscles as a solo artist, eventually scoring massive popular hits with 1980’s Hideaway and 1981’s Grammy winning Voyeur. 1983 saw David branch off in a new artistic direction with his first acting roll in the Italian film "Stelle Sulla Citta" for which he also scored the soundtrack. It was also in ’83 that David released his landmark Backstreet album which proved a major hit in the world of contemporary jazz.

David was awarded his second Grammy in 1986 for the album Double Vision and in the late 1980s hosted one of the most remarkable musical television programs of all time – Night Music. Offering up old films of jazz legends, music talk and incredible jams by an increasingly eclectic roll call of musicians from different fields, Night Music is fondly remembered among music fans as a groundbreaking and genre-bursting show. Produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, Night Music brought artists as diverse as Sonny Rollins, Leonard Cohen, Hank Crawford, Conway Twitty, Sonic Youth, Al Green and the Pixies together on one program.

Throughout the nineties and into the present, David has continued to tour and record, having amassed a wide and enthusiastic fan base around the world. The albums Pearls, Songs From The Night Before and Essentials reflect the essence of an artist at peace with his own sound and development, yet still hungry – eager to explore the possibilities of his instrument and his abilities. David Sanborn is both musician and artist – that rare breed of popular recording star as eager today as he was in his youth to continue pushing boundaries and to continue making music that challenges the mind as it rewards the heart and soul.

Tour Dates
12/01/09 - Blue Note - Nagoya, Japan
12/03/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/04/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/05/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/06/09 - Otofuke Bunka Center - Obihiro, Japan
12/07/09 - Zepp Sapporo Sapporo, Japan
12/08/09 - Zepp - Sendai, Japan
12/10/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/11/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/12/09 - Blue Note - Toyko, Japan
12/14/09 - Kenmin Hall - Toyama, Japan
12/15/09 - Capio Hall - Tsukuba, Japan
12/16/09 - Zepp - Fukuoka, Japan
12/17/09 - Quattro - Hiroshima, Japan
12/18/09 - Sankei Hall - Osaka, Japan

Flora Purim, Elaine Elias, & David Sanborn - Jobim Medley

Flora Purim (vocal),
Elaine Elias (vocal & piano),
David Sanborn (sax),
Oscar Castro Neves (guitar & vocal),
Lee Ritenour (guitar),
Airto Moreira (percussion),
and several other percussionists I can't identify all play a medley paying tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Originally broadcast in 1997.

David Sanborn & Hiram Bullock