LINKS & VIDEO
John Kuri's Elixir & Friends
Portrait by Tayor Ballantyne
August 26th at the Levitt Pavilion, Pasadena.
Michele Tasoff and Carolina Shorter wow the audience with
Jobim's "No More Blues." Flugelhornist Stacy Rowles seated.
John Kuri, Guitar (Acoustic Classical, Acoustic Electric)
It all starts with influences, those wonderful things that grab your imagination. He was thirteen when he first heard legendary, buttery smooth, jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery and that octave sound he developed. During that time John was hooked on the TV cop drama Peter Gunn and discovered Hank Mancini. At about that same moment he heard Michel Legrand’s Columbia release Legrand in Rio. Then, Miles Davis entered John’s life with Kind of Blue. A few years later Antonio Carlos Jobim’s Girl From Ipanema became a global sensation. So for John, it all began with those incredible artists.
John studied classical piano in his early teens and loves the compositions of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven. But he wasn’t allowed to venture to the sound of jazz and as a result lost interest when he went off to school. But the embers were still glowing. He did some self-studying on guitar and fortunately after producing a live broadcast concert with Ray Charles in the mid-seventies John had the good fortune of meeting jazz guitarist Dave Koonse. They became fast and very good friends as Dave mentored John on the instrument. Dave immediately understood what John was desirous of learning.
John’s primary career has been as a writer/producer/director of film and television, and music is always at the core of the development or each project. He produced the classic Louis L’Amour western, Conagher, starring Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross, for which the National Cowboy Hall of Fame awarded him their Western Heritage Award. Emmy nominated, he has produced several of his original screenplays. His filmography includes over 25 titles.
During his career, for the scoring of his films, John has had the opportunity to work with great composers and musicians. And for him, when he is developing a project, locking himself in a world to be explored with words, whether historical or contemporary, it’s all done with music surrounding him. Entering the wonderful moment of post production, when the film is “In the can” and now it’s the art of assembling and shaping it, and bringing to it that all important component of music and sound, that is John’s favorite part of the entire process.
As a novelist John’s historical novel Cheyenne Rising Sun arrived in bookstores in September 2004 and rose to #1 on bestseller lists in several cities. His next novel, Takin’ It Back, released in 2006 at Book Expo America in NY city, is endorsed by Shaquille O’Neal, the National Police Activities League, the NBA, Bill Walton, LAPD Chief William J. Bratton and others. Interestingly, one of John’s first published pieces was a biography he wrote on Wes Montgomery that was published in Just Jazz Guitar.
“Sitting in Wes Montgomery’s home, speaking with his wife Serene, listening to his music on his stereo, in the den he built, this was an overwhelming experience,” John has said. “Then, through a week of conversations with Monk Montgomery, to realize the struggle faced by so many musicians as they fought for recognition while trying to raise families, as was the case with Wes, and adding to that the absurdity of segregation he and so many faced, it is a testament to their spirit and vision that we have the pleasure of their art with us today. And for me, to play the music of those who have so inspired me, and to do that in the company of such great artists, well, it doesn’t get any better.”
Dave Koonse, Guitar (Acoustic Classical, Acoustic Electric)
At the age of four Dave began playing the guitar and was taught the fine art of accompanying by his father, John Koonse, who was an accomplished steel guitar player. He traveled extensively throughout the United States with the Harry James Band orchestra and later went on to become a working member of the innovative Chico Hamilton Quintet after Jim Hall left the guitar position.
Dave went on to work with George Shearing, Red Norvo, Peggy Lee, Les Elgart, and Benny Goodman all of whom he traveled with extensively. In the course of Dave’s career he has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Academy of Music, the Sydney Opera House, and countless other prestigious venues. Dave has also performed with many orchestras all over the world including the Boston Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In recent times Dave has been a working member of both the Buddy Collette Quintet and the Clayton-Hamilton Big Band. Dave’s reputation as a sensitive and solid accompanist has caused him to be in constant demand around town as a sideman in jazz venues and festivals.
Stacy Rowles, Trumpet & Flugelhorn and Vocalist
Stacy is the daughter of the famous pianist, singer, composer Jimmy Rowles. Stacy is a killer hornwoman. She played in the trumpet section of the Ann Patterson Maiden Voyage band – the jazz chair, of course – and at the big Woody Herman 50th anniversary concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1985, where she and her dad tore it up with a surprise set that showcased Stacy’s warm and lyrical ballad style.
Stacy first performed professionally as a teenager at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Stacy has performed with some of the giants like Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Tommy Flanagan, the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra and was a member of Maiden Voyage and its quintet spin-off, The Jazz Birds.
Putter Smith, Contra Bass
This jazz legend has performed with many of the greatest musicians in the biz, including Theolonious Monk Quartet, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Billy Eckstine, Willie Bobo, Dianne Schuur, Sue Raney, Lee Konitz, Jackie and Roy, Carmen Macrae, Bob Dorough, Rio Hondo Symphany, Tootie Heath, Mark Murphy, Blue Mitchell, Patrice Rushen, Art Farmer, Marlene Dietrich, Burt Bacharach, Errol Garner, Gerry Muligan, Jack Sheldon, Charlie Haden, Claude Thornhill Orchestra conducted by Mark Masters, New American Symphony conducted by Jack Eliot, T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, Manhattan Transfer, Lew Tabakin, Yoshiko Akiyoshi, Johnny Mathis, Steve Huffstetter, Shelly Manne, Deorge Duvivier, Tommy Newsome, Roy Mcurdy, Kevin Tulius, Art Pepper, Jake Hannah, Janis Segal, and Stephanie Haynes.
A lifelong friend of Dave Koonse, their playing speaks to this exquisite harmony and musical oneness. Putter is also a motion picture legend, having appeared opposite Sean Connery in Diamonds are Forever” as the forever foiled assassin, Mr. Kidd. And, he still gets fan mail.
David Miller, Contra Bass
David’s musical background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the New School NYC, where he studied with Reggie Workman, Cecil McBee, and Buster Williams. He earned his Masters Degree in jazz performance from the California Institute of the Arts studying under Charlie Haden.
David grew up in Orange County, CA, got serious about jazz performance in his early 20’s and went to New York City to develop his chops. Ten years in Manhattan working in the legendary clubs, with the great sidemen of that city, his understanding of the traditions gives him a unique feel for the art. He knows how to lay back and support the sound, or take the attack and deliver the tastiest solos. He’s toured the world and has played with greats such as Ornette Coleman, Junior Mance, Albert Tootie Heath, Andy Bey, Eric Alexander, the Glen Miller Orchestra, Dave Koonse, Larry Koonse, Joe La Barbera, Theo Saunders, and Royal Crown Revue. David currently resides in Orange County where he is in demand as a performer and music educator.
Tim Pleasant, Drums
Tim arrived in New York City from Chicago in the late 1970's. His background includes a degree in music from the University of Iowa and study with Harold Jones, an alumni of the Count Basie Band.
Tim has performed with Warne Marsh, Sal Mosca, Lee Konitz, Al Cohn, Jakie Byard, Johnny Ray, Charles McPherson, George Coleman and Larry Coryell. His deep understanding of the traditions of swing and be bop brings both dynamics and an element of authenticity to the music that is hard to find in most of the
younger jazz drummers.
Carolina dos Santos Shorter, Vocalist
The extraordinary Brazilian vocalist Carolina Shorter (wife of jazz legend Wayne Shorter). She was born in Sao Paulo Brazil, loving music and theater! Singing is a passion she begin to explore professionally at the age of 18 in a legendary Sao Paulo venue called "O Beco". At 21 she was cast for the Brazilian version of the Broadway musical "A Chorus Line".
In the 90's she moved to Los Angeles where she begin singing with a Brazilian Big Band in venues such as the Jazz Bakery. For several years she has concentrated on another one of her passions which is the work she does for World Peace.
Michele Shaheen Tasoff, Vocalist
Michele established herself as a major jazz artist in Midwest at age 23. She produced her "So In Love" CD and she was a prominent jazz vocalist in St Louis; she left the area at age 25 for LA where she has performed with many great artists including the renowned pianist, Alan Broadbent, and Putter Smith.
In addition to music Michele’s day gig is the talent coordinator for the Jay Leno show on NBC.
Bassam Saba, Virtuoso, Oud, Ney, Violin
His accomplishments include recording and performing with the top International, Middle Eastern and American celebrity artists including composers/musicians Ziad Rahbani, Yo Yo Ma, Marcel Khalife, Wu Mann, Simon Shaheen,Toufic Farroukh (in The Absolute Orchestra) and International acclaimed vocalists Fairuz, Kadim(Kazem) Al Sahir, Majida al-Roumi, Wadi al-Safi, Khaled, Santana, Souad Massi, Sarah Brightman just to name a few.
Saba composes and performs with his own musical ensemble Myriad, and is directing the Middle Eastern Ensemble at Harvard University.
Copyright © 2010 Kuri Productions Inc.