After finishing up his spring Celebration of Jimmy Smith at Jazzclub Unterfahrt in Munich, Fred will be off to the International Trombone Festival in Columbus, Georgia, then back to Europe with the New JBs after a few weeks rest at home.
Tickets, where available, are on sale now for these New JBs summer dates:
July 27 -- The Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Edinburgh
July 28 -- Manchester Academy, Manchester
July 29 -- Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, London
July 30 -- Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, London
August 9 -- Jazz in Marciac Festival, Marciac, France
August 11 -- Worms: Jazz and Joy Festival, Worms, Germany
Fred's Public Calendar
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Still celebrating Jimmy Smith
With the groovy classic "Road Song" setting the tone for French drummer Tony Match's Celebration of Jimmy Smith, the unit featuring Fred, Tony and Italian organ phenom Leonardo Corradi becomes a trio this week for gigs in Zaragoza, Spain, and Madrid. It then becomes a quintet with the addition of Jesee Davis and Fabrizio Basso for two sold out shows at London's Ronnie Scott's and one Saturday night at The New Morning in Paris.
Last week's quartet shows kept Fred smiling, thanks to friends and fans at a new club in Stuttgart, Germany, and at a familiar favorite just outside Bern, Switzerland. They included a rare glimpse of Fred's vocal improvisation genius on his version of "Got My Mojo Workin'," and featured trumpeter Flavio Boltro and saxophonist Xavier Querou. There also were Paris interviews with Funk-U magazine and TSF Jazz Radio. Here are some photos.
Last week's quartet shows kept Fred smiling, thanks to friends and fans at a new club in Stuttgart, Germany, and at a familiar favorite just outside Bern, Switzerland. They included a rare glimpse of Fred's vocal improvisation genius on his version of "Got My Mojo Workin'," and featured trumpeter Flavio Boltro and saxophonist Xavier Querou. There also were Paris interviews with Funk-U magazine and TSF Jazz Radio. Here are some photos.
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| Fred with Funk-U journalist Noe Termine |
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| Flavio Boltro, Leo Corradi, Fred and Tony Match |
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| TSF Jazz Radio, Paris |
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| Fred and Xavier |
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| Onstage at Club Bix, Stuttgart |
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Back in Europe for a celebration of Jimmy Smith
Fred flew to Amsterdam on Friday to start a tour celebrating the music of the legendary organist Jimmy Smith. Rounding out the band are young Italian organist Leonardo Corradi, music director and drummer Tony Match, and trumpeter Flavio Boltro alternating with saxophonist Jesse Davis.
The first stop was the Jazz at the Lake festival, which also featured star saxophonist and longtime friend Candy Dulfer. Other stops include Ronnie Scott's in London and the New Morning in Paris.
Many thanks to Amsterdam photographer Charline Goud for this excellent shot.
The first stop was the Jazz at the Lake festival, which also featured star saxophonist and longtime friend Candy Dulfer. Other stops include Ronnie Scott's in London and the New Morning in Paris.
Many thanks to Amsterdam photographer Charline Goud for this excellent shot.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Home safe and healthy after seven weeks
Angels and friends worked together to protect, strengthen and delight Fred as he finished his marathon seven weeks on the road with a Cologne, Germany, recording session for the forthcoming Christmas album by his friend and mentor Pee Wee Ellis, followed by a fast-paced 14-city European tour with his band, the New JBs. Many, many thanks to all involved.
Starting on April 18 with a return visit to Le Jam in sunny Montpellier, France, the New JBs tour wound through Castres, Seignosse, Paris, Massy, Guyancourt, Dunkerque, Belfort and Saareguemines, France, before moving through Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenberg, Sweden, then finishing up with dates in Zurich, Switzerland and Schweinfurt, Germany. Phew!
Among the highest of many highlights were a sold-out Monday night at the New Morning on a lovely April day in Paris; a gig-plus-birthday-party for saxophonist Phillip Whack at the beautiful beachfront Salle des Bourdaines on France's south Atlantic coast; the chance to reunite with Juan Rozoff, his B-Fam and the Horn Dogz, who opened the show in the Parisian suburb of Guyancourt; and a second encounter with Pee Wee when he and Fred both were special guests with the Lorraine Jazz Big Band at a Rotary International event in Saarguemines.
Also warranting special mention were the packed houses that greeted the band in Scandinavia, marking Fred's and the band's first time there in some 20 years. Workshops with students in Montpellier and Castres also added to the fun.
Among the angels and friends who made it such an amazing tour were many photographers who shared the best of the photos below. Special thanks to Heinrich Buttler, Danielle Schoenfeld and Gilles Calao.
Enjoy.
Le Jam, Montpellier, France
Lo Bolegason, Castres, France
Salle des Bourdaines, Seignosse, France
New Morning, Paris
Paul B Centre Culturel, Massy, France
La Batterie, Guyancourt, France
Les 4 Ecluses, Dunkerque, France
La Poudriere, Belfort, France
L'Hotel de Ville, Saarguemines, France
Pumpehuset, Copenhagen, Denmark
Fasching, Stockholm, Sweden
Sofia White interviewed the band and wrote this article and took these photos. Thanks, Sofia!
Nefertiti, Gothenberg, Sweden
Axel Olsson, an award-winning entertainer himself and part of the Ultimate Bboys crew, served as the band's host at the Nefertiti Jazzclub and led the team that went above and beyond to make it a great night.
Club Escherwyss, Zurich, Switzerland
Stattbahnhof, Schweinfurt, Germany
The last night of the tour featured another birthday celebration -- an early one marking the 50th of bassist Dwayne Dolphin, the youngest official member of the band, who's been part of it for more than half his life. Thanks to promoter Mark Klein for making the birthday party, and the great concert, happen.
Starting on April 18 with a return visit to Le Jam in sunny Montpellier, France, the New JBs tour wound through Castres, Seignosse, Paris, Massy, Guyancourt, Dunkerque, Belfort and Saareguemines, France, before moving through Copenhagen, Stockholm and Gothenberg, Sweden, then finishing up with dates in Zurich, Switzerland and Schweinfurt, Germany. Phew!
Among the highest of many highlights were a sold-out Monday night at the New Morning on a lovely April day in Paris; a gig-plus-birthday-party for saxophonist Phillip Whack at the beautiful beachfront Salle des Bourdaines on France's south Atlantic coast; the chance to reunite with Juan Rozoff, his B-Fam and the Horn Dogz, who opened the show in the Parisian suburb of Guyancourt; and a second encounter with Pee Wee when he and Fred both were special guests with the Lorraine Jazz Big Band at a Rotary International event in Saarguemines.
Also warranting special mention were the packed houses that greeted the band in Scandinavia, marking Fred's and the band's first time there in some 20 years. Workshops with students in Montpellier and Castres also added to the fun.
Among the angels and friends who made it such an amazing tour were many photographers who shared the best of the photos below. Special thanks to Heinrich Buttler, Danielle Schoenfeld and Gilles Calao.
Enjoy.
Le Jam, Montpellier, France
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| Masterclass at Le Jam. |
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| Concert at Le Jam |
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| Castres Masterclass |
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| Castres Masterclass jamming. |
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| Fred with Masterclass participants |
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| Downtown Castres, France |
Salle des Bourdaines, Seignosse, France
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| Soundcheck |
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| Bruce and Gary on the beach. |
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| Bruce on the beach. |
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| Fred with opening artist Nina Attal and band members. |
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| Birthday boy Phillip with venue hosts Robin and Laurence (Photo by Gilles Calao) |
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| Fred with Robin and Laurence |
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| The whole crew (Photo by Gilles Calao) |
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| TV crew interviews Fred for a documentary on "Soul Train" |
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| Onstage |
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| Onstage |
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| Fred with two young fans after the show. |
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| Souvenir poster with band autographs. |
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| The monumental Lion of Belfort by Frederic Bartholdi, sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. |
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| Soundcheck |
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| Pee Wee and Fred onstage with the Big Band (Photo by Heinrich Buttler) |
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| (Photo by Heinrich Buttler) |
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| Onstage, too (Photo by Heinrich Buttler) |
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| Fred blows (Photo by Heinrich Buttler) |
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| Pee Wee and Fred laugh (Photo by Heinrich Buttler) |
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| Fred with conductor Christian Meyer, and event organizer Alain Heid in background. |
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| Fred with the band's impressive bass trombonist |
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| Fred with saxophonist and arranger Franck Ansalone |
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| Fred sings (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Phillip blows (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Bruce beats (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Singing the "Funk School Hymn" (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Fun onstage (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Gary, pensive, offstage (Photo by Danielle Schoenfeld) |
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| Fred with saxophonist Bobby Ricketts, his wife and a transplanted San Francisco trombonist |
Fasching, Stockholm, Sweden
Sofia White interviewed the band and wrote this article and took these photos. Thanks, Sofia!
Axel Olsson, an award-winning entertainer himself and part of the Ultimate Bboys crew, served as the band's host at the Nefertiti Jazzclub and led the team that went above and beyond to make it a great night.
Club Escherwyss, Zurich, Switzerland
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| Soundcheck |
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| Onstage |
Stattbahnhof, Schweinfurt, Germany
The last night of the tour featured another birthday celebration -- an early one marking the 50th of bassist Dwayne Dolphin, the youngest official member of the band, who's been part of it for more than half his life. Thanks to promoter Mark Klein for making the birthday party, and the great concert, happen.
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| Last soundcheck |
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| One of Dwayne's two cakes |
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| Fire, laughs, champagne and snapshots |
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| Fred with Dwayne |
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