SJFS 2014 Night 1 recap April 23, 2014

Posted by Mike C. in Internet, Jazz, Media, Music, Personal, Photography, Travel.
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For eight years, I’ve traveled to Milford, Connecticut, for Jay Rowe‘s Smooth Jazz for Scholars benefit concert.  This is the first year that has taken place on Easter weekend.  My original plan was to only come to this first night – Friday, April 18.  But when I spoke to Jay between sets at Jeff Kashiwa’s Houndstooth Pub show in February, he convinced me to come to both nights.  I’m glad I did.  I’ll recap the second night in a separate post, but let’s focus on the first night.

The night began just after 8PM with an introduction from Kevin McCabe:

The first song of the night was by select members of the Foran High School Jazz Ensemble.  Pictures from that song can be found in the set list below.

As for the main band, you had SJFS founder Jay Rowe on keyboards:

Dave Anderson on bass:

Trever Somerville on drums:

Steve Scales on percussion:

…and for nine songs, Rohn Lawrence on guitar:

SET LIST
1. Pick Up the Pieces (Average White Band cover)
Featured musicians: Foran “Average High School Ensemble,” as they called themselves

Applause:

After the ensemble performed, Kevin McCabe returned to the stage to resume his introduction, then he tossed to Jay Rowe:

2. Rosemary’s Tune (Jay Rowe)
Originally heard on: “Live at Daniel Street,” 2011
Featured musicians: Jay Rowe (keyboards), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

3. Just a Natural Thang (Steve Cole)
Originally heard on: “True,” 2006
Featured musicians: Steve Cole (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

4. Going in Circles (Steve Cole; The Friends of Distinction cover)
Originally heard on: “Pulse,” 2013
Featured musicians: Steve Cole (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

5. The Music Inside (Chuck Loeb)
Originally heard on: “The Music Inside,” 1996
Featured musicians: Chuck Loeb (guitar)

6. Hacienda (Jeff Lorber)
Originally heard on: “Hacienda,” 2013 (Jeff Lorber Fusion album)
Featured musicians: Jeff Lorber (keyboard), Steve Cole (tenor sax), Chuck Loeb (guitar)

7. Tune 88 (Jeff Lorber)
Originally heard on: “Water Sign,” 1979 (Jeff Lorber Fusion album)
Featured musicians: Jeff Lorber (keyboard), Chuck Loeb (guitar), Rohn Lawrence (guitar), Kim Waters (alto sax)

8. Waterfall (Kim Waters)
Originally heard on: “Someone to Love You,” 2002
Featured musicians: Kim Waters (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

9. In the House (Kim Waters)
Originally heard on: “From the Heart,” 2001
Featured musicians: Kim Waters (alto sax), Chuck Loeb (guitar), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

10. With You All the Way/All ‘n All (Steve Cole)
Originally heard on: “Pulse,” 2013
Featured musicians: Steve Cole (tenor sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

11. Silver Lining (Chuck Loeb)
Originally heard on: “Silhouette,” 2013
Featured musicians: Chuck Loeb (guitar), Jeff Lorber (keyboard)

12. Silhouette (Chuck Loeb)
Originally heard on: “Silhouette,” 2013
Featured musicians: Chuck Loeb (guitar), Jeff Lorber (keyboard)

13. Red Wine and You (Kim Waters)
Originally heard on: “My Loves,” 2013
Featured musicians: Kim Waters (alto sax), Rohn Lawrence (guitar)

14. Confirmation (Charlie Parker cover)
Keyboard duet: Jay Rowe, Jeff Lorber

15 (Finale). Toad’s Place (Jeff Lorber)
Originally heard on: “Water Sign,” 1979 (Jeff Lorber Fusion album)
Featured musicians: Everyone

Let’s move on to various pictures of each musician.

We start with Jay Rowe:

A call and response with Chuck Loeb on “The Music Inside”:

Dave Anderson:

Trever Somerville:

Steve Scales:

Prompting the audience to clap during “Waterfall”:

Rohn Lawrence:

I love when he creeps up the fingerboard.

I love this, too:

Steve Cole:

Chuck Loeb:

Chuck worked scat into his “In the House” solo:

Kim Waters:

Kim briefly switched to keyboard – Jeff Lorber’s keyboard – during his “In the House” solo:

Jeff Lorber:

On to wide shots, beginning with “Rosemary’s Tune”:

“Going in Circles”:

“Hacienda”:

“Tune 88”:

“In the House”:

“Confirmation,” a duet by Jay and Jeff:

The finale – “Toad’s Place”:

The first night of Smooth Jazz for Scholars was in the books.  Jay gave it up one more time for all performers.

Afterward, I had brief conversations with Steve Cole, Chuck Loeb, Kim Waters, and Jeff Lorber.  I also got pictures with three of them, starting with Jeff:

Then Kim:

And Chuck:

There were more musical thrills on the second night.  Click here to see.