Sunday, June 21 - Musician Bios
Sunday, June 21 - Musician Bios
Benny Green Solo See listing for Saturday, June 20.
Brian Molley Quartet When Brian Molley picks up his tenor saxophone, he hits the ground running with a full-throttle, muscular sound. Based in Scotland, Molley is the go-to guy for jazz bands ranging from small groups to the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He's also been enlisted by top UK pop groups, not to mention the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. (RN) brianmolley.co.uk/BrianMolley/Home.html
Hard Logic Since 2001, Hard Logic has been on the a-typical side of jazz fusion. Combining energy and improvisation with a contemporary sound, the group appeals to a wide audience. Throughout their 14 years, the band has produced three full-lengths, and in 2008 their songwriting won first place in Billboard's World Songwriting Competition with the cut "Crudites." (NP) hardlogic.net
Jane Bunnett and Maqueque See feature on page XX.
Joey Alexander See listing for Saturday, June 20.
Kat Edmonson What were you doing when you were nine years old? Kat Edmonson was writing music. The young lady is a singer-songwriter with a penchant for classic songs. She's done duets with Lyle Lovett, appeared on "American Idol," and has landed in the Top 20 Billboard Jazz Charts. (FD) katedmonson.com
Kneebody With gorgeously strange harmonies and wild flights of fancy, Kneebody is bound to offer one of the festival's most adventurous musical journeys. The instrumentation may be typical — trumpet, saxophone, keyboard, bass, and drums — but Kneebody sets itself apart by drawing inspiration from artists ranging from Ornette Coleman to John Cage, from Frank Zappa to Radiohead. (RN) kneebody.com
New West Guitar Group What separates this guitar trio from other ensembles is the application of both electric and acoustic guitars on recognizable pop hits, from artists like Tears For Fears, to its own sparkling originals. Throughout the bands harmonious blend, the tree components remain creating its own delicate space. (FD) newwestguitar.com
Nils Berg Cinemascope Whether he's playing various saxophones, bass clarinet, or a world of electronics on the laptop, Nils Berg paints a vivid aural picture. His evocative soundscapes greatly enhance the imagery on the screen behind the band, which also features Josef Kallerdahl on (sometimes arco) double bass and the innovative Christopher Cantillo on drums. (RN) nilsbergcinemascope.com
The Rad Trads See listing for Friday, June 19
Raul Midón See feature on page XX.
Shannon & Barrett A cross-Canadian tour in support of Chris Isaak led Shannon Whitworth and Barrett Smith to realize that the songs they were selecting for a mixtape happened to be songs they both wanted to record themselves. They later converged at a studio in Asheville where they and their musician friends recorded the set, crafting an elegant tribute to their favorite songs and songwriters. (NP) barrettsmith.com; shannonwhitworth.net
Stephane Wrembel To conjure up the early decades of the 20th century in "Midnight in Paris," Woody Allen used winding cobblestone streets, magnificent boulevards, and the Django Reinhardt-like music played by guitarist Stephane Wrembel. But that's only one facet of Wrembel's oeuvre. His distinctive brand of world music ranges from rock to flamenco. (RN) stephanewrembel.com
Soul Rebels The Soul Rebels are so revered in its native Crescent City that its was asked to record the official soundtrack for the 2015 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. It's a parade on stage that rapidly sends the crowd into a shrimp boil. (FD) thesoulrebels.com
Tessa Souter A favorite at the XRIJF from the beginning, Tessa Souter will be bringing her gorgeous voice to the festival for the fifth time. Whether she is singing standards, original compositions, or great classical works by Beethoven, Ravel, and others that she has set lyrics to, Souter can be counted on for an ethereal performance. (RN) tessasouter.com
XRIJF Nightly Jazz Session with The Bob Sneider Trio See listing for Friday, June 19.
