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All Genres > Jazz > Traditional Jazz Combo > RONNIE WELLS: Live At 10th Annual East Coast Jazz Festival Ronnie Wells-Elliston vocals A native of Washington, D.C., has performed with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra for the Smithsonian Institution, Kennedy Center, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, and many other concert venues. Shared the stage with Billy Eckstine, Lonnie Liston Smith, Oscar Brown, Jr., Jimmy Witherspoon, Al Grey, Clark Terry and Dorothy Donegan, to name a few. Toured and performed in concerts and at Jazz festivals throughout the world including Holland, Switzerland, France, Norway, Montreal and South America and St. Thomas USVI where she was voted "Best Virgin Island Performer for 1993." Recorded on the CBS/Columbia Record label with The Widespread Jazz Orchestra, and has recordings on Jazz Karma Records, as well as several other independent record labels. This most recent recording on Jazz Karma Records label, "Ronnie Wells, Live at the 10th Annual East Coast Jazz Festival" features selections from a jam session with Ernie Andrews, Keter Betts and Houston Person. Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland since 1983 where she teaches Jazz vocal techniques. Every now and then a project is brought to a producer that is just too good to pass up. This recording is one of those projects. On the one hand, it is a live recording of Ronnie Wells at the East Coast Jazz Festival and on the other hand it is an old time jam session with an all-star cast of characters. Getting Ronnie and Ernie (Andrews) on the same recording is something Ronnie and I have been discussing since the first time they shared the stage at the East Coast Jazz festival (ECJF). That would have been enough to guarantee a hot session but then add in Keter Betts on bass and Houston Person on tenor, and you have a project that becomes both musical and historical. Before we get to the jam session though, there's the story of Ronnie Wells "live". The first time I worked with Ronnie in the studio I told her that I thought live recordings were the only recordings that would give listeners an opportunity to really enjoy her on disc. There was an energy that just couldn't be transmitted through a studio recording even though all of her recordings have a live feel. Ronnie feeds off her audiences. She sparkles and interacts with her audiences as of she's entertaining friends in her home. There is a feel to this recording that can't be described, but once you experience it, you'll know what I'm talking about. Joined by her long time band mates, James King (bass), Mike Smith (drums), Steve Abshire (guitar), Ricky Loza (percussion) with Charlie Young (alto) and Aaron Graves subbing for Ron Elliston (piano), Ronnie is just another member of the band. A lot of vocalists don't make that connection with their groups and their recordings reflect the lack of camaraderie. As for the jam session, there's only one way to describe it-Wow! You'd never guess that these tunes were recorded well after midnight on both recording nights. The feel is that of an after hours jam session because it IS an after hours jam session. While most of us at the ECJF were settling in trying to rest up for the next day's activities, these tracks were being recorded in front of an after hours crowd of night people. Anyone who has ever seen Ronnie and Ernie on stage together will be able to close their eyes and see the sassiness, prancing and dancing that was going on during the recording. Every now and then, you are fortunate enough to capture those kinds of moments on tape. We did and hope that you'll enjoy the results. It's not right to enjoy what you do as much as we did putting this project together but hey, that's what jazz is all about. All I can say is TRY IT BABY! Ron Kearns Producer Ronnie Wells, featuring Ernie Andrews, Houston Person, and Keter Betts made the festival shine like a bright star in the jazzy way. Jesse R. Nettles VP-Jazz Karma and Associates Live at 10th Annual East Coast Jazz Festival Ronnie Wells | Jazz Karma Track Listing: Come on Home; Medley: Love Dance/This Is Always; Blue Prelude; How High the Moon; Easy Street; Mas Que Nada; Lament; The More I See You*; This Can't Be Love*; I'm Glad There Is You*; Try It Baby* Personnel: Ronnie Wells, Ernie Andrews* - Vocals; Aaron Graves - Piano; James "The Tex" King - Bass; Mike Smith - Drums; Steve Abshire - Drums; Ricky Loza - percussion; Charles Young - Alto Sax; Houston Person* - Tenor Sax; Keter Betts* - Bass; Aaron Graves - Piano; Clyde Adams - Drums* This album captures two related events. The first seven tracks are Ronnie Wells' concert at the 10th Annual East Coast Jazz Festival which is a source of funds for Wells' Fish Middleton Jazz Scholarship Fund, which she has been active with for years. On this portion of the program, she is backed by some of Washington, D. C.'s top musicians with Aaron Graves taking the place of long time piano confederate, Ron Elliston. The last four tracks are a part of the same event, but was dubbed the jam session portion of the program where things get a little looser. Wells is joined by such jazz luminaries as Houston Person and Keter Betts and, most of all, by vocal legend Ernie Andrews. Each time I hear a Wells album (and I possess most of them), I find myself getting even more agitated than usual at the music business. This woman is one of the finest purveyors of the contents of the Great American Popular Songbook extant and should be a household name in every jazz residence in the country. Wells puts more of her very talented self into what she sings since the heyday of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Betty Carter, without resorting to the embellishments of the latter two. Her rich, full wide- ranged voice delivers the material as if you are the only one in the audience. She envelops and cushions you with that strong but subtle set of pipers of hers. Listen to her on "Blue Prelude" as she rides in on the guitar of Steve Abshire and piano of Aaron Graves, later taking full advantage of James King's bass and the soulful alto of Charlie Young. In short, she uses everything that has been put at her disposal to their greatest advantage in setting off her unique vocal interpretations. On the four cuts she shares with Andrews, a bouncing version of Barry Gordy's "Try It Baby" takes first prize. Person"s tenor. laying down the soul in the background, make this an R & B Motown-like Treasure, recalling the good days of Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. Highly recommended. Check out Wells web page at www.dcjazz.com/jazzkarmarecords. ~ Dave Nathan Review Courtesy of allaboutjazz.com To experience a seasoned pro in absolute top form, check out Ronnie Wells' Live at the 10th Annual East Coast Jazz Festival (Jazz Karma). Recorded a year-and-a-half ago in Rockville, Md., it's really two short albums combined into one sublime package. First, there's a 40-minute concert that showcases the indefatigable stylist's remarkable dexterity on a mixed bag of treats that range's from the tender embrace of Mack Gordon's "This Is Always" to the gentle sway of the sprightly Sergio Mendes theme "Mas Que Nada." Then, there's a 30-minute "Jam Session" that teams Wells with two ideal playmates-fellow vocal veteran Ernie Andrews and tenor saxophonist Houston Person. Warming up with an easy-going "There More I See You." Wells and Andrews then step up the pace with a spirited "This Can't Be Love" before sliding into a cozy rendention of "I'm Glad There Is You" that could melt the stoniest heart. The real kicker, though, is a 10-minute treatment of Berry gordy's "Try It Baby" that is pure, obstreperous joy. As live recordings go, it doesn't get much more scrumptious tha this. JazzTimes Track List: 1. Come On Home 2. Medley:Love Dance/This Is Always 3. Blue Prelude 4. How High the Moon 5. Easy Street 6. Mas Que Nada 7. Lament 8. The More I See You 9. This Cant Be Love 10. I'm Glad There Is You 11. Try It Baby Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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