(Continued from page 2)
Saturday, May 20, at the Main Stage (continued)
Saturday, May 20, showcased Tuck and Patti (promotional
photo at right) at the main stage. We saw them before at the Palo Alto
Jazz Festival. That must have been in 1991. We had forgotten what a fantastic
guitarist Tuck is. He was Patti's back up rhythm section in one person.
He was the bass, the drums, and the harmony without an orchestra. Great
lyricism came from both. Their music was a conversation through emotion,
through eye contact, through understanding. When Tuck played a solo piece,
which he composed, "Early Morning Music Box," you could really
hear and see what a magnificent guitarist he is. He called it a "trick"
on his guitar. He plucked at the base of the fret board with his right hand
while he chorded still with his left. He made the sound percussive and the
string tort so it did sound like a music box. It was incredible to hear
and watch him. The next piece he played had a Brazilian sound, but the way
he played the guitar was like playing the piano, with its melody and harmony
clearly distinguishable. Patti joined back in with "Time After Time."
Then Patti did a solo piece with a Brazilian taste. It was also folk music
like. It was an improvisation of vocal sounds. She vocally created the drum-like
sounds and other percussive instruments. It was different. It was very interesting.
And no matter how fast she was singing, you could understand her. The audience
demanded an encore. They stomped their feet so loud I was afraid our seats
might fall. After all, the tiers created for our seats were on stilts and
temporary.
After
Tuck and Patti, Lee Ritenour (photo at left) was announced as the
greatest guitarist. For me, it would be hard to top Tuck. He was accompanied
by Barnaby Finch on keyboard, Melvin Davis on electric bass, and Sonny Emory
on drums. Ernie Watts also joined him on saxophone and flute. By the second
piece of the program I didn't hear much greatness from him, and I heard
rock rather than Jazz. With the amplification too loud to be enjoyable,
we turned in for the night.
Sunday Afternoon, May 21, at the Main Stage
Sunday afternoon, May 21, started with an Asian American All-Star Variety
Show at the main stage at 2:30 P.M.. It featured Vanessa Rubin, Eldee Young,
Ernie Watts, Lee Jung Chic, Tots Tolentino, Terumasa Hino, Redd Holt, Michael
Carvin, Mei Sheum, Eugene Pao, Michael Veerapen, Jay Anderson, John Van
Deursen, and Jeremy Monteiro. They started with Michael Veerapen on piano.
Michael is from Malaysia; Michael Carvin on drums, Eugene Pao on guitar,
Tots Tolentino on alto sax; Jay Anderson on bass, and then Ernie Watts joined
in with his tenor and Terumasa Hino with his trumpet. They started with
"Blue Dolphin Street." Terumasa 
Hino (pictured at right) is an admirer of Dizzy Gillespie, as his trumpet bell
is slightly turned up, and he is developing Dizzy's puffy checks. He liked
the occasional high notes for the show and he sounded like Diz as well.
However, I felt that Eugene Pao was more melodious on his guitar than Hino
on his trumpet.
"Straight No Chaser" started with Jeremy
Monteiro swinging on piano, Red Holt on drums and Lee Jung Chic (photo
below) on saxophone. Lee was adventurous and powerful. He used different
sound effects with his horn which was quite pleasing. Redd Holt showed off
on his drum solo when he bounced a tambourine all over his body while keeping
basic rhythm with his feet. When he battled with Jay Anderson on bass, they
brought the house down.
"Simeon" brought another trumpeter on stage, whose name I didn't catch. With an alto, a tenor, bass and piano, they created a big band sound. The amplification for Vanessa Rubin was almost too loud for the ears, and she performed at lightening speed while singing "Now is the Time."
Take 6 (photo at left)
that followed was an impressive, a cappella
group. With their choreographed moves, they were a fine example of Gospel
and R&B. Their members are Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, David Thomas Mervyn
Warren, Mark Kibble and Claude V. McKnight. They must have been fun to watch,
but after the first tune, we opted to check out the regional groups outdoors.
(Continued on page 3)