Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Norman’s annual Jazz in June concert series showcases some of the best jazz and blues musicians in the country.
The free event runs Thursday through Saturday. This year’s lineup includes:
• bluesman Duke Robillard;
• the Herb Alpert tribute band, A Taste of Herb;
• the Justin Echols Trio;
• Purcell singer/songwriter Parker Millsap;
• and, as headliners, New Orleans’ legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Scheduled for Saturday at Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws, are the Paseo Street Walkers, playing contemporary instrumental jazz. The Oklahoma City trio produces an eclectic sound with a jazzy overtone, categorizing its music as a “jazz-funk infusion.”
“‘Infusion’ is a very loosely defined term,” said Jake Fischbach, bassist. “We are literally fusing different styles, and we all draw on a lot of different influences to create our music.”
To achieve their synthesized sound, the Paseo Street Walkers incorporate jazz fundamentals with their personal tastes and collective ear for musical innovation, appealing to more than devotees of the uniquely American genre.
“For the people who don’t listen to jazz, or just haven’t acquired an ear for it yet, we could be the band to get them going in that direction,” said Hugh Conine, guitarist and keyboard player.
For those with aversions to nuances of conventional jazz, worry not; Fischbach said the group is anything but antiquated. He and Conine agreed that Oklahoma has become a new breeding ground for musical innovation, and both men want to help develop the ever-burgeoning scene.
“We
really respect some of the old jazz cats, but we’re not really sure
what they’d think about what were doing,” Fischbach said. “It’s not
necessarily a traditional sound.”
As with every year, Jazz in June also spotlights Norman music’s relative newcomers. The Norman High School Jazz Combo performs twice during Saturday’s festivities.
In
addition to the concerts, the festival hosts special clinics Saturday
at The Performing Arts Studio, 200 S. Jones, led by Echols, Dirty Dozen
Brass Band and jazz guitarist Fareed Haque (formerly of world-music jam
band Garaj Mahal). Respectively, they will address crooning, “second
line” dancing and Moog instruments.
Note this:
Jazz in June highlights
Thursday
Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson
7 p.m. Parker Millsap
9 p.m. The Duke Robillard Band
Friday
Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson
7:15 p.m. A Taste of Herb
9:15 p.m. Fareed Haque and MathGames
Saturday
Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws
6:45 p.m. Paseo Street Walkers
7:10 p.m. Justin Echols Trio
9 p.m. Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Hey! Read This:
• Justin Echols interview
• Parker Millsap interview
