Artist Bios…

Monday, July 12, 2021 GRAND OPENING NIGHT –
Celebrating COUNT BASIE and JOE WILLIAMS with the SCOTTY BARNHART – JAMIE DAVIS BAND

The Count Basie Orchestra’s Director- Scotty Barnhart, together with Basie vocalist Jamie Davis, are teaming up with the band’s current bassist Trevor Ware, guitarist Will Matthews and one time Basie drummer, Clayton Cameron plus pianist Andy Langham to comprise a first time ever evening of Basie rhythm section players to celebrate Count Basie and Joe Williams! The CD, All About That Basie, executive produced by Scotty, was the inspiration for the putting together of this band.
About William “Scotty” Barnhart -(born Oct. 27, 1964) As an American jazz trumpeter and two-time Grammy winner, he has played since 1993 as a featured soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra. In September 2013, Barnhart was announced as the new director of the Basie Orchestra. He has multiple recording with pianist Marcus Roberts, as well as recording with Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Ray Charles and Tito Puente. A solo CD, released with Unity Music, is titled Say It Plain and features Clark Terry, Ellis & Wynton Marsalis and Jamie Davis. Also active as an educator and clinician, Scotty is author of The World of Jazz Trumpet and is professor in the College of Music at Florida State University.
About Jamie Davis (born April 4, 1949)- Great male vocalists have been few and far between in jazz, with one singer generally dominating each generation. Without a great deal of recognition Jamie Davis has honed his skills so that he can now confidently step into the role as the dominant voice of his day. Basie trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, a man who knows his way around music as well as anyone says of this date, “From the very first note of whatever you put on, I guarantee you'll feel better from listening to it." One would be hard put to argue with him. Just one listen to the sound of Jamie Davis and you'll agree. It's a very good thing

Monday, July 19, 2021
DEBBY BOONE and the QUINN JOHNSON QUARTET featuring Sal Lozano

In 2009 Debby Boone appeared at the 15th Annual West Coast Jazz Party, presenting a tribute to her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney with her band conducted by the late, John Oddo. Upon John’s passing, a friend of ours and notable pianist -Quinn Johnson, became Debby’s musical director. We want to give our appreciation to Quinn for extending our invitation to Debby to again, give us her “Reflections of Rosemary” along with other influential artists in her show- “A Song For You”. Quinn’s quartet will feature Trey Henry (bass), Kevin Winard (drums) and Sal Lozano (reeds).
About Deborah Anne Boone (born September 22, 1956)[1] is an American singer, author, and actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life", which spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[2] and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year.[3] Boone later focused her music career on country music, resulting in the 1980 No. 1 country hit "Are You on the Road to Lovin' Me Again". In the 1980s, she recorded Christian music which garnered her four top 10 Contemporary Christian albums as well as two more Grammys. Throughout her career, Boone has appeared in several musical theater productions and has co-authored many children's books with her husband Gabriel Ferrer.

Monday, July 26, 2021
BENNY BENACK III -

As a trumpeter/vocalist from NYC, Benny will prove he has “A Lot of Livin’ To Do!” with All-Stars Bill Cunliffe (piano), Mike Gurrola (bass), Kevin Kanner(drums) and guitarist Grant Geissman. After appearing with the Tom Scott Quintet in the Sunset Jazz Supper Club series, Benny is quickly building a West Coast fan base, many who have seen his occasional guest appearances on Emmet Cohen’s streaming show- Emmet’s Place. Welcome back Benny!
About Benny Benack III - By age 28, trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be a rare talent: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the postbop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Blue Mitchell, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). And he’s a highly capable pianist as well.

Monday, August 2, 2021
CHAMPIAN FULTON TRIO and CARL SAUNDERS

Champian performed at the 2019 Sunset Jazz at Newport summer series and created quite a stir with a number of jazz patrons asking for her return! Thus, we are welcoming her back, again with bassist Mike Gurrola and this summer, Charles Ruggiero on drums- plus the legendary trumpeter, Carl Saunders.
About Champian Fulton- Born in Oklahoma, Champian is considered one of the most gifted pure Jazz musicians of her generation. She grew up with music in the home; her mother and father (Jazz trumpeter and educator Stephen Fulton) recognized her fascination with music at an early age. The presence of her father’s musician friends, including Clark Terry and Major Holley, inspired her focus on Jazz. Her first paid musical engagement was with her own band at Clark Terry’s 75th Birthday Party; she was 10 years old. Since then, her piano and voice skills have been recognized by peers and critics as distinctive and sophisticated. This young woman from Oklahoma captivates audiences in New York’s finest Jazz rooms and in concert halls around the world.
About Carl Saunders-
A superior bop trumpeter inspired by Don Fagerquist, Carl Saunders has long been one of the top jazz soloists based in Los Angeles, but has recorded far too infrequently to gain the fame he deserves. As a teenager, he played with Stan Kenton (1960) and his uncle Bobby Sherwood (Dave Pell is also an uncle). Saunders picked up experience touring with Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Harry James, Buddy Rich, and Maynard Ferguson (1967), and played regularly in show bands in Las Vegas until moving to Los Angeles in 1984. Since then, Saunders has worked in the studios, performed with the new Dave Pell Octet, popped up in many local big bands, and finally, in 1995, recorded a CD of his own for the small S&L label.

Monday, August 9, 2021  - Tuesday, August 10, 2021
THE FOUR FRESHMEN –In Concert
Since their inception in 1948, The Four Freshmen have continued to tour worldwide. The group was heavily influenced by Stan Kenton and his orchestra as well as the sound of Mel Torme’s Mel Tones. They scored their first hit in 1952 with “It’s a Blue World”, followed by “Moody Indigo”, “Day by Day” and “How Can I Tell Her.” The Four Freshmen became influencers in their own right with their four-part harmonies guiding the musical stylings of The Manhattan Transfer and The Beach Boys. Bob Ferreira is currently the longest member of the Freshmen, having joined the group in 1992 and sings the bass vocal part and plays drums. Tommy Boynton sings 2nd tenor & plays bass along with the newest member Ryan Howe singing 1st tenor and Jake Baldwin singing 3rd part and playing trumpet. This Freshmen’s appearance will be their only show in Orange County this summer and they always sell-out so be sure to reserve your seats early.

Monday, August, 16, 2021:
BOB ANDERSON – An evening in Las Vegas with Frank, Dean, Sammy and Bob!

With “The World’s greatest singing impressionist”, this night promises to be a “one of a kind” show! The first set will feature Bob singing a great selection of Great American Songbook standards then in Act II, he will absolutely amaze you with his impressions of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mel Torme and a number of other celebrities. Bob will be accompanied by pianist Tom Ranier (Tony Bennett), bassist Chuck Berghofer (Frank Sinatra) and Kendall Kay on drums (Jack Jones).
About Bob Anderson- Anderson’s career was started in 1973, when he was in Las Vegas and got a chance to watch a Nancy Sinatra rehearsal. Nancy got into an argument with The Everly Brothers and went off stage. Later she contacted performers but on the suggestion of entertainment journalist Mark Tan, Anderson got an opportunity to perform with Nancy on stage after his successful audition.
Anderson’s first appearance on national television was with Nancy Sinatra to The Merv Griffin Show and he got a standing ovation. Merv Griffin later wrote an act for him and introduced Anderson to the world in Caesars Palace.
Anderson has mastered the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, and his Frank The Man The Music was backed by a 32-piece orchestra in which he looks, sounds, and moves like the late musical icon for 90 minutes.[4] which according to BroadwayWorld was voted "Best Live Show", "Best Headliner", and "Best Live Performance" at the annual Las Vegas Best of the Best Entertainment Awards in 2015.[5] Anderson spent hours watching videos of Frank and mimicking them and turned to Hollywood makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji.
Anderson focuses on legendary Vegas entertainers, including the Rat Pack, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and Bobby Darin.
People magazine has called Anderson as “America’s Greatest Singing Impressionist”

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 - Wednesday, August 25, 2021
JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO

Making his seventh return to our stage, John has enjoyed an over 30-year career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He was hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” And the Seattle Times saluted him as “a rare entertainer of the old school.” John’s syndicated radio show, “Radio Deluxe with John Pizzarelli,” cohosted with his wife, Broadway star Jessica Molaskey, airs in more than one hundred markets and can be heard locally on KKJZ at 6am on Sunday mornings. His performance highlights include headlining concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl and New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center plus opening for Frank Sinatra’s World Tour in 1993 and an annual month-long engagement with Jessica at New York’s famed Café Carlyle. All during the pandemic and with the untimely deaths of both John’s famous father Bucky Pizzarelli and his mother Ruth, John & Jessica isolated themselves in their upstate New York cabin on a lake, producing a popular weekly show, It’s 5’Oclock Somewhere streamed to fans around the world. During this time, John welcomed the challenge of diving deep into Pat Metheny’s moving material and recording a solo guitar CD called- “Better Days Ahead”. John also was a co-producer on James Taylor’s “American Standard” album, winning a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album! Our great thanks, from Joe and John, to John Pizzarelli, for desiring a return to perform with his trio at Sunset Jazz, each summer.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021
BYRON STRIPLING-BOBBY FLOYD QUARTET with BRUCE FORMAN & JEFF HAMILTON

A spectacular trumpeter with a very wide range, a beautiful tone, and the ability to blend together many influences into his own style, Byron Stripling is the Artistic Director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, leader of his own quartet, and constantly in demand to play with pops orchestras around the world. The happiness that exudes through his trumpet and his vocals is reminiscent of Louis Armstrong yet very much his own. It is not surprising that Byron was selected to play the lead in the touring musical “Satchmo: America’s Musical Legend.“ Joining Byron will be jazz organist Bobby Floyd, who happens to be a featured player with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, having shared the stage with Dionne Warwick, Doc Severinson, and many others. Also featured in the quartet will be acclaimed guitarist Bruce Forman, who performed on Clint Eastwood’s Oscar-winning film- Million Dollar Baby and the highly respected drummer- Jeff Hamilton who is regarded by his peers as a musical drummer and supportive accompanist, is considered one of the finest drummers in the world of jazz. Jeff is no stranger to Sunset Jazz as he has presented both his piano and organ trios and performed a number of tribute evenings to the great Ray Brown. And for those fans who happen to own Byron’s newest CD- “Have Trumpet, Will Swing”, you will be treated to a number of his swingin’ tune selections such as “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To”, “Love For Sale”, “Sometimes I’m Happy” and “Honeysuckle Rose.” For those who have never seen the Byron Stripling-Bobby Floyd Quartet- this is the time to catch them up close and personal!

Wednesday, September 8, 2021
BARBARA MORRISON’S BIRTHDAY CONCERT with the Peak Experience and RICKEY WOODARD

Celebrating Barbara’s Birthday has become a fun Sunset Jazz tradition. Barbara continues to dazzle music lovers worldwide as she delivers rich, unique, soulful and highly spirited interpretations of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and Pop songs. Always an advocate for others, Barbara opened the Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center in the historic Leimert Park district of LA in 2010, followed by the California Jazz & Blues Museum, the first such facility in the state which showcases photos of jazz & blues artists, inspired art plus offering lectures and performances by many prominent musicians, including Barbara herself! She continues to be an inspiration to so many, as she overcomes her battle with diabetes with great courage and determination.
About Mike Peak- bassist, educator and founder of The Peak Experience, retired from the engineering construction business in 1997 to return full time to the music business and his love for straight ahead jazz. In addition to making his band available to perform for fund raising events, Mike and his wife Lucy produce six to eight charitable events a year in their home to raise funds for school music education programs and for such worthwhile organizations such as WISEPlace, a community of housing and hope for women in crisis in Orange County. With Mike’s band having appeared numerous times at the Newport Beach Jazz Party and more recently with Barbara Morrison at the Barclay Theatre in Irvine, Barbara’s annual Birthday Celebration was the ideal occasion to present them together, along with everyone’s favorite saxophonist- Rickey Woodard!
About Rickey Woodard- Rickey hails from Nashville, where his father, who played classical piano, organ, and saxophone, was an important influence. Rickey joined Ray Charles in 1980, stayed for seven years, and then moved to Los Angeles. He has recorded numerous albums as a leader as well as a featured performer with Horace Silver, the Juggernaut, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham’s Sweet Baby Blues Band, and Barbara Morrison.

Monday, September 13, 2021
KEN PEPLOWSKI-CHUCK REDD QUINTET- A swingin’ Evening of Benny & Beyond!
The pairing of clarinet and vibes, along with piano, bass & drums, should create just the right kind of excitement needed for the one fully instrumental act booked for this series! And there was no doubt in accomplishing that when Ken Peplowski and Chuck Redd, both veterans of the Sunset Jazz summer series, were invited.
About Ken Peplowski-
Ken Peplowski has been touring ever since he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow, after his first year of college. Morrow had heard Ken's quartet at a Cleveland jazz festival and right there offered him lead alto and a featured clarinet showcase with the rhythm section. While in that band he met and began studying with Sonny Stitt, who he calls "an inspiration." When Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band in 1984, he hired Ken as a tenor player. He has approximately 50 recordings as a soloist, and close to 400 as a sideman for, among others, Charlie Byrd, Mel Tormé, Rosemary Clooney, Hank Jones, Peggy Lee, Bill Charlap, Woody Allen, and Madonna. He has headlined the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club among many others.
About Chuck Redd-
Chuck began touring and recording when a joined the Charlie Byrd Trio at the age of 21 and also joined The Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis), all his heroes.To his credit are 25 European tours and six tours of Japan with the Barney Kessel Trio, Ken Peplowski, Terry Gibbs and Conte Candoli. Redd was the featured vibraphonist with the Mel Torme All-Star Jazz Quintet from 1991 until 1996. While appearing in New York with Torme, Ira Gilter of Jazz Times magazine wrote: “Redd’s vibes were equally notable for vigor and melodiousness.” Redd has been a regular featured performer (on both vibes & drums) at The Oregon Festival of American Music, The Roswell Jazz Festival, The Newport Beach Jazz Party and the W.C. Handy Music Festival and served as Artist-in-Residence at The Smithsonian Jazz Café in Washington DC from 2004-2008. In addition to leading his own groups, he was a member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra for 15 years.

Monday, September 20, 2021
CALABRIA FOTI in “A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening” with the CHRISTIAN JACOB TRIO.

As the summer begins to ease into early days of Fall , we thought it would be appropriate to close this series with the wonderful song stylings of Calabria Foti, accompanied by the acclaimed Christian Jacob Trio. The evening will feature selections from the Great American Songbook, with Calabria sharing her talents as a violinist and vocalist.
About Calabria Foti- Born into a family of musicians from Upstate, New York, Calabria Foti (Cah-LAH-bree-ah FOE-tee) was completely immersed in music from the very beginning. Says Ms. Foti, “As a kid I was always around some kind of music. On any given day, I could hear my mother playing Chopin Etudes in one room, while in another room my father would be playing Bach Partitas on trombone, and on another day they would be playing American Songbook standards together, like Gershwin, or Porter or Berlin, or sometimes a song they wrote. It was a great way to grow up!” Calabria Foti is a kind of musical renaissance woman. In addition to her talents as a performer, she is also a gifted songwriter and vocal arranger. Her passion for music education has led her to coaching and conducting vocal and string ensembles of all performance levels in both jazz and classical music. Also an accomplished violinist, Calabria created the jazz violin sound for Fox TV’s Lisa Simpson. About Christian Jacob- Born in Lorraine, France, Christian Jacob fell in love with classical music at age 4 and discovered jazz at age 9. After graduating with “First Prize” from the Paris Conservatory, Jacob came to America to focus on improvisation at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While attending Berklee Christian won a number of awards, including the Oscar Peterson Jazz Masters Award, the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and “Downbeat” magazine’s distinction as Top Collegiate Jazz Soloist. He went on to teach at Berklee, tour with Maynard Ferguson, perform and record with a number of jazz legends and was listed by The Japan Times as one of the best-selling foreign jazz pianists in Japan. His extensive discography includes five critically acclaimed trio recordings and seven Grammy nominations from his alliance with vocalist Tierney Sutton, drummer Ray Brinker and bassists Trey Henry and Kevin Axt. Christian also received a Grammy Nomination as an arranger with The Phil Norman Tentet.