Jazz legends to perform in Whitefish
Five "Legends of Jazz" will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Whitefish Lake Restaurant.
The quintet is led by jazz pianist Larry Vuckovich, who was acknowledged as a “Jazz Legend” in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Fillmore Heritage Center in San Francisco.
Vuckovich was Mel Torme’s first call accompanist in the 1960s. He traveled the world with Jon Hendricks (of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), with whom he enjoyed a 25-year association. He toured Europe with drummer Philly Joe Jones and with tenor saxman Dexter Gordon.
Though Vuckovich traveled with his music, he always came back to the San Francisco area where he first arrived from Montenegro in 1951 as a 14-year-old immigrant thrilled and excited by the flourishing jazz scene. The Bay Area is also home to the most of rest of the Legends band — with the exception of drummer Clarence Becton, who will be traveling from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to join the group.
Becton and Vuckovich began their long association many years ago at what used to be Germany’s top jazz club, The Domicile in Munich, where Larry led the house band. Together they performed with artists such as Lucky Thompson and Slide Hampton. Becton toured with Earl “Fatha” Hines and worked with Thelonius Monk, Coleman Hawkins and Clark Terry.
Vocalist Valeriana Quevedo adds Latin flair as well as her passion for jazz to the group. Quevedo is well-respected in the jazz community because of her authenticity, lovely voice and excellent rhythm. She is also a dancer who teaches Argentine tango, salsa, swing and ballroom dance at her own dance company. Quevedo sings with San Francisco’s salsa orchestra Tito Garcia y su Orquesta la Internacional.
Tenor saxman Noel Jewkes was described by Phil Elwood, music critic for the San Francisco Examiner, as “the best mainstream reedman in the Bay Area as of 1998. I don't know of a better contemporary modern saxman anywhere.”
Bassist Jeff Chambers is known for his impeccable timing and improvisational dexterity. He has played with jazz icons such as Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Joe Williams, Kenny Burrell and Amad Jamal. According to Phil Elwood, “Jeff Chambers makes playing upright bass look and sound so easy with his rhythmic sense and melodic vocabulary.”
Tickets to the concert are $27 each. Call Whitefish Lake Restaurant at 862-5285 for tickets and dinner reservations. The show is sponsored by Don “K” Subaru and brought to the valley by Singer & Simpson Productions.
Singer & Simpson has used the “Legends of Jazz” moniker several times in the past. Each time has involved great sidemen whose earlier careers were spent performing, touring and recording with some of the biggest names in jazz.
This will be Vuckovich’s third trip to the Flathead. The last was in October 2009, when he performed with Curtis Fuller on trombone, the late Hadley Caliman on tenor sax, Chambers on bass and the late Eddie Marshall on drums.