Artwork by Rick Hyman
Thousands of music aficionados came from all over California to partake in the rich cultural history that once were evident on Central Avenue-back in the day-from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. Michael Dolphin, Jose Rizo and James Janisse served as Master of Ceremonies.
Central Avenue was part of an early national music circuit that included Harlem, Chicago, New Orleans, Memphis’ Beale Street, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Oakland and I recall my hometown of Tampa, Florida had an area known as Central Avenue.
The Central Avenue of Los Angeles was a densely packed with jazz dens and all-night “breakfast” clubs lighting up the Avenue with neon signs. All of the prominent jazz musicians of the 1930’s and 1940’s played along Central Avenue in places like the Club Alabam, the Last Word, the DownBeat, the Memo Club, Ivie’s Chicken Shack, the Finale Club, and Shepp’s Playhouse just to name a few.
A prior engagement kept me from attending the first day of the Central Avenue Jazz Festival-Saturday, July 28th, I’m sure that I would have enjoyed the stellar line-up that was featured. The day began with a panel discussion with trumpeter/vocalist Clora Bryant as the moderator. The panel shared stories about life on Central Avenue with an attentive audience. Other highlights of the day consisted of The Paul Bryant Trio, Ernie Andrews, Phil Ranelin, Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars and concluded with Arthur Blythe Quintet.
Sunday, July 29th, I caught the last tune of the set featuring an amazing talented group of young musicians. The name of the group JazzAmerica. This group was founded by Buddy Collette, a Los Angeles legend/ and icon in the jazz community and great jazz bassist Richard Simon. JazzAmerica is a L.A.based, tuition-free jazz education organization formed to introduce students to “early jazz”. I always have hope about the future of jazz when I see a group of young musicians perform.
CJS Quintet played a soul-lifting, hard bop set of jazz to the delight of everyone in attendance. They dedicated their set to the late great Benny Carter who would have been 100 years old this year. They featured material from the Benny Carter and Horace Silver songbook as well as original tunes from their previous CD’s An Affair Of The Art, and Let’s Play. CJSQ Personnel-Chuck Johnson-saxophones, James Smith-trumpet, Koji Ono-piano, Curtis Robertson, Jr.-acoustic bass and Keita Akutsu-drums.
Henry Franklin aka “The Skipper” and Crew took the crowd on a wonderful musical journey.
Guitarist Roy Gaines played a scorching set of blues that had the crowd up and dancing through-out his set. Roy Gaines helped me to verify several concerns that I had leading into his set: “You Can’t Lose With The Blues”, “The Blues Is Alright”, and “The Blues Is A Fact of Life”-this last quote came from the late great blues artist Willie Dixon.
For a moment, I felt some of the energy that was prominent on Central Avenue back in its heyday.
Roy opened with an appropriate tune “I’m A Blues Man” and continued with “I’m Paying The Cost To Be The Boss”, “Everyday I Have The Blues”, and “Why I Sing The Blues.”
The crowd rewarded Roy Gaines and his band with a standing ovation. Roy Gaines dedicated his set to Laura Mae Gross also affectionally know as Mama-the owner of Babe and Ricky’s Inn. This is the only club still in existence from the Central Avenue Days of bygone years where one can go to hear some real down home blues. Laura Mae Gross will be honored in the Los Angeles City Hall Chambers before the end of the year as “Jazz Legend of Los Angeles”.
Gilbert Castellanos Latin Trumpet Summit arrived from San Diego to entertain the crowd with a sizzling set of Latin jazz on “Along Came Betty” by Benny Golson and concluded with a delightful version of “When Johnny Come Marching In”.
Charles McPhearson and his band kept the festival in an up tempo mode with a set of straight ahead jazz and be-bop. He concluded his set with another crowd favorite “The Blues”.
Sandra Booker closed out another extremely successful Central Avenue Jazz Festival. The audience greeted Sandra Booker with an amazingly magnificent warm welcome. This was both heartfelt and heartwarming when one considers that Ms. Booker was involved in a life threatening auto accident several months ago. Her doctors were amazed at not only her survivor but also her remarkable recovery. The audience related as she sang with intensity and feelings.
The presenting organizations for the 12th Annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival: Councilmember Jan Perry, Council District 9; City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department; Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles; Coalition of Responsible Community Development and Los Angeles Conservation Corps and Concerned Citizens of South Los Angeles.
Artistic Director: Dunbar Economic Development Corporation. Please visit
www.dunbaredc.net
to learn more about various services offered by this marvelous organization.
----- Ricky Richardson
Made with Macintosh
