Teresa Ross (jazz
vocalist extraordinare)
Better Than Anything has been
chosen among the top twelve Annual Blue Chip Jazz CD Awards in the jazz
vocal category by Dr. Herb Wong (jazz historian, educator, writer, etc.)
The list will be published in the March issue of the IAJE
Journal.
John's Review of a Teresa Ross Concert
Rio Jazz is a band from Pagosa Springs, a little town in the Southwest corner of Colorado.
Lee Bartley - Keyboard
DC Duncan (aka Captain Rumbelly) - Drums
A. John Graves - Keyboard(bass)
Bob Hemenger - Saxophone
The musicians:
Lee Bartley - Keyboard -
website
Lee Bartley is a graduate of Denver University with a degree in music theory
and composition. He also studied at Northwesten University and the University
of Southern California. He has played piano for 45 years, with studies
in both classical and jazz piano. For three years he was composer-in-residence
at Stephens Perry-Mansfield, a college dance camp for ballet, modern
jazz, and ethnic dance. From 1981 to 1999 he was principal composer and
keyboardist for the jazz group "Images," with six national
releases, among them CD's for both MCA Universal and Capitol Records.
In September, 1999 Mr. Bartley signed a publishing contract with the
USA based international publishing company, Gold Leaf Productions, Inc.
In January of 2000 he released his firtst solo CD, "Adrift in Time." This solo CD is a diverse collection of songs, rich in harmony and technique, with a refreshing emphasis on melody. His music is presently receiving airplay in the USA, Canada, Germany, and Japan.
DC Duncan (aka Captain Rumbelly)
- Drums website
Born March 2, 1951.
DC started drum lessons at the age of 11. He played his first professional
gig with the Brack Sheppard Trio (1967).
Took lessons from Mitch Peters (L.A. Philharmonic) 5 years and took lessons
from Paul Guerrero (Woody Herman). Jimmy Zitano was mentor and friend (Jazz
Workshop in Boston, Billie Holiday, Al Hurt, etc.)
79th Army Band (1970)
Concert tour with Jay Boy Adams/Point Blank 1974 - Bill Hamm (ZZ Top), producer/manager.
Studied music at Richland College in Dallas 1975-1976
Released 2 national albums (Derrick Records), 2 Texas Music Awards, concerts, radio and tv with The Bees' Knees (1977-1980).
Opened concerts for: Linda Rondstadt (2X), Cheech & Chong, Elvin Bishop, Dr. Hook, Sea Level, Ronnie Milsap, Spirit, Savoy Brown, Mose Allison and others.
"Eat A Chiquita" written and produced by DC featuring Airto and Jimmie Carl Black (Mothers of Invention) in Santa Fe 1983.
"Captain Rumbelly & The Panhead Pirates" by DC 1996 & 1999.
Recorded with: Johnnie Taylor, Marc Benno, Mickey Raphael, Jimmie Spheeris, Airto, Jimmie Carl Black, Michael J. Martin and others.
Performed with: Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers), Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Ford Coley, Roger Miller, Scott McGill, Anson Funderburgh, Michael J. Martin, Dickie Lee and others.
Played with the Dennis DeCreny Jazz Band in Dallas, 1970's.
Played in various rock, country and jazz 110bands in Santa Fe in the 1980's, including four years with The Ravin' Brothers.
Moved to Pagosa Springs, CO from Maui in 1991 and played with Dog At Large as well as other bands until present.
Jazz Bands: DC Duncan & Friends in Durango 1993-94 at The Pelican's Nest; Rio Jazz in Pagosa Springs.
A. John Graves - Keyboard(bass)
Born February 19, 1928.
John started playing professionally in 1942 at the age of 14. He toured
the west and mid-west with two different combos, providing dance music
and three floor shows a night. Played piano bars in Los Angeles for four
years. He was pianist on The Betty White Show, a daytime variety show,
and pianist-performer-arranger for The Gloria Hart Show with Art Kassel
and His Castles in the Air on KLAC-TV, Los Angeles.
Furthermore he played private parties for and accompanied singers and
performers, including:
George Burns, Judy Garland, Jimmy Durante, Groucho Marx, Redd Foxx, Danny
Thomas, Rudy Vallee, John Wayne, Rosemary Clooney, Jack La Lanne, June
Christy, ABC, NBC and MGM.
Recorded for Liberty and Windsor Labels, including "ghosting" piano for Martin Denny on his Exotica album.
Was pianist with Orrin Tucker and Art Kassel big bands and Ray Linn's dixieland Chicago Stompers.
Played over three thousand private parties, as single, leader, or sub-leader
at virtually all banquet facilities in the Los Angeles area, including:
Beverly Hills Hotel, Bonaventure Hotel, Beverly Hilton, Biltmore Hotel,
Beverly Wilshire, Los Angeles Hilton, Century Plaza, Huntington Sheraton,
Bel Air Hotel, Mariott Hotel, Disneyland Hotel The Queen Mary, Disneyland
Convention Center, Anaheim Convention Center, Los Angeles Country, Club
Bel Air Country Club.
Also, during thirty five year career as a TV and film executive and producer, worked with outstanding composers, conductors and arrangers such as Henry Mancini, Jerry Goldsmith, Gil Melee, John Scott Trotter, and Nelson Riddle. (And even the Monkees!)
Bob Hemenger - Saxophone
Bob grew up in the suburbs of Detroit and has played in numerous Rock,
Rhythm and Blues, Funk, and Jazz bands over the last 25 years. He played
lead tenor sax in CMU's Jazz Lab 1 where he had the chance to perform
with Phil Woods, Bobby Shew, Doc Severinsen and Bill Wattrous. He has
also warmed up for Chaka Khan and Styx. Bob never thought he'd have a
chance to play Jazz with such talented musicians in "lil' old" Pagosa
Springs.
Here's what John has to say about Teresa Ross...
Thrilling, Vintage Jazz Emerges at the Sidecar Lounge
February 28, 2006 | Special to the Durango Herald
by A. John Graves
One of life's distinct pleasures is the thrill of discovering world-class talent or a work of art in relatively obscure surroundings. Last Friday and Saturday nights in the Sidecar Lounge at Scoot 'n' Blues, it was both. The talent is Teresa Ross and Actual Proof; the work of art is the outstanding vocal and instrumental presentation by Ross and the exciting new jazz group that backs her.
Experiencing Saturday's show was like reliving the most exciting days of this art form's excellence. Here, talented and trained musicians blended tight, well-rehearsed arrangements, (featuring inspired ad lib solos by all the instrumentalists), with the swinging, sophisticated stylings of Ross. Their playlist has the same eclectic repertoire found on her new CD "Better Than Anything": straight-ahead jazz, classic standards, bossa novas, a scattering of bebop, and occasional special material.
"Outstanding" is the adjective that should precede considerations of pitch, tonality, phrasing, and showmanship as applied to this ensemble. Of course, as Irving Mills and Duke Ellington cautioned in 1932, "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." No worries here.
Granted that the lyrics of the classic standards of Gershwin, Porter and Rogers tend to focus on romance rather than today's more meaningful social issues, Teresa Ross has a rare ability to bring any lyric to life. Through her amazing timing, articulation and control, she expresses an unerring sense of romance, drama and comedy. She even manages to bring sheer musicality to her scat singing, wherein real words are replaced with "made up" nonsense syllables. No matter how short the syllable, it is delivered with precision and tonality. There are no "throw-away" notes.
Four masterful music makers from the Four Corners make up Actual Proof: Lee Bartley and Bob Newnam from Mancos, Bob Cordalis from Dolores, and Durango's Brad Tarpley.
Pianist, composer, arranger, and recording artist Lee Bartley is at the keyboard. Incidentally, during the 18 years he was composing and playing for the Denver jazz group Images, they brought his six foot grand piano with them for every booking! He plays with the technique and assurance of a classical artist, but his innovative arrangements and jazz solos bring a distinct identity to the group.
Bassist Bob Cordalis has played with just about every kind of musical group in the area: blues, rock, jazz - and he was even principal bassist for the San Juan Symphony. His powerful driving beat and inventive solos reflect this versatile background.
Bob Newnam's trumpet and flugelhorn will not blast your eardrums with screeching high notes. But every mellow note he plays will reflect his good taste and creative instincts.
Percussionist Brad Tarpley has performed with blues luminaries Pete Pearson and Guitar Shorty, The Crewcuts, country legend Lynn Anderson, and jazz artist Carla Valente. Unlike many drummers, Brad can play with subtlety and nuance, or with wild abandon - whatever the style and the arrangement requires.
St. Patrick's Day may be the day for Teresa's big break. For her first out-of-town gig she'll headline at Dazzle Jazz Lounge in Denver, accompanied by the Eric Gunnison Trio (Eric was Carmen McCrae's accompanist). Her appearance at this noted jazz club may well bring her to the attention of important jazz figures.
On that auspicious evening in March, Denver, and maybe soon the nation, will have the delayed delight of discovery.
