Larry Vuckovich Feat. Melissa Morgan
Monday, June 15, 2015
8pm $20
Yoshi's 510 Embarcadero West, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Featuring:
Melissa Morgan, vocals
Josh Workman, guitar
Rob Roth, tenor
Larry Vuckovich, piano
Jeff Chambers, bass
Austin Harris, drums
Hector Lugo, Latin percussion
While a number of Joe Henderson presentations have been done in the Bay Area, this is a first featuring the music of Grant Green and Joe Henderson from their collaboration. Larry Vuckovich presents the music of these two greats including selections from their legendary Blue Note recordings that showcased their close chemistry. The albums "Idle Moments" and "Solid" produced memorable tracks including "Jean De Fleur", "Idle Moments", and "The Kicker". Also on the program will be Joe's original "Inner Urge" from the album of the same title, plus selections from two other Grant Green albums, "The Latin Bit" and "Feelin' The Spirit". Thelonious Monk Competition runner up, Melissa Morgan is the featured vocalist this evening. In the opinion of many jazz followers, the feeling was that Melissa should have won that competition due to her authenticity for jazz singing. She will sing a couple of spirituals/gospel selections from Grant's album "Feelin' the Spirit" and also a vocalese selection joining the band from the album "Idle Moments". Her soulful style adds the perfect spice and balance to this program. The All-Star Bay Area sextet features the front line of guitarist Josh Workman and tenor saxophonist Rob Roth. Latin percussionist Hector Lugo will play the role of Patato Valdes and the rhythm section of Jeff Chambers on bass and Austin Harris on drums will round out the band. Don't miss this swinging night!
Larry Vuckovich has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences for his deeply imaginative style and repertoire heard at prestigious North American and European jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals. He is equally at home in world music/classically influenced modal jazz as he is with hard-swinging bebop, post-bop, contemporary jazz, and down-home blues. The New York Times notes that his unique outlook and collection of influences "set him apart from most pianists who are heard regularly in New York". The Village Voice comments on his "book of piano gems that will keep you guessing." The Toronto Globe and Mail calls him "a musician who sits apart from the rest by virtue...of his taste for both the exotic and the exquisite."