NATALIE COLE has recovered from a recent kidney transplant operation to begin touring. She is scheduled for a comeback performance on September 9th at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. Cole is also recovering from the death of her sister on May 19th, the same day as Natalie’s successful surgery. Our sincere sympathy is extended to Natalie Cole and her family.

Multi talented singer/songwriter/educator and actress, BARBARA MORRISON, will be honored on September 20th at the Twin Palms Restaurant in Old Pasadena, California by the Friends of Levitt Pavilion Pasadena. Levitt Pavilion Pasadena provides over 50 free music concerts for the Pasadena Community and brings the gift of music to over forty thousand people each summer.

Barbara Morrison continues to blaze a trail of community outreach worldwide, performing and teaching Jazz, Rhythm and Blues and also making great strides with her musical stage plays. She is on the faculty of UCLA and founder/director of her own school of music in Inglewood, California (soon to be expanded closer to her roots in Detroit, Michigan.) This year Barbara celebrates 35 years in the music business. Call 626-683-3230 for tickets to the upcoming event that celebrates the contributions of Ms. Morrison.

Kudos to MERLE KREIBICH and the California Jazz Foundation for putting together an amazing line-up of talent last week at the All Saints Church in Pasadena. ERNIE ANDREWS stole the show with his always amazing and riveting performance. He was a guest with the LLEW MATTHEWS quartet featuring Ricky Woodard on Saxophone, Richard Simon on bass and Roy McCurdy on drums.

Speaking of drummers, Gerry Gibbs presented an extraordinary high energy set featuring his Thraser Band. The group tempos and rhythm changes boggled the mind and their spontaneous creativity revved the crowd with intensity. Reedman Doug Webb was an outstanding part of that ensemble. The Bill Cunliffe trio, featuring Tom Warrington & Joe LaBarbara settled the crowd down to a hush.

As always, Cunliffe’s arrangements were challenging and lovely; his dexterity on the keys spellbinding. Special guest Janis Mann was vocally dynamic. I regret that I missed Marilyn King’s set, but I enjoyed Bennie Maupin’s IKEDA KINGS ORCHESTRA. I even had an opportunity to perform two songs with them. It was joyful and we got a front page mention on the Pasadena’s Star News cover.

By the way, The California jazz Foundation is an organization founded to assist musicians in need. If you haven’t already, please join them! www.californiajazzfoundation.org

Dee Dee McNeil
July 19 2009

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