Barbara Morrison © Andrea Canter

Jazz Singer, Educator and radio host Barbara Morrison will appear at Steamers Jazz Club,  located at 138 W. Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton on Friday, June 19th. Born in Ypsilanti, Michigan and raised in Romulus, Michigan, Barbara Morrison recorded her first appearance for radio in Detroit at the age of 10. Well known in the Los Angeles area for her duo and trio dates Ms. Morrison also tours extensively, blazing a trail as a Jazz and Blues legend in her own right across the Continental United States, Western Europe the Far East and "Down Under, ' wowing audiences with her band. 

Luther Hughes Quintet, L.to R.: Ed Czack (piano), Luther Hughes (bass/leader), Glenn Cashman (t/s), Bruce Babad (a/s) and Paul Kreibich (drms)©Glenn A. Mitchell

The Cannonball/Coltrane Quintet Project is now in its seventh successful year. The Quintet has already completed three fantastic CDs that have all scored high on the jazz charts, plus they have performed regularly all over Southern California as well.  The project began with Luther Hughes hearing the only record that alto sax great, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, and tenor sax giant, John Coltrane, recorded together in Chicago, IL.   

The Muckenthaler Jazz Series takes place every May and June in Fullerton, CA, in a beautifully spacious outside amphitheater and is now in its fourth year.  The concerts are put together by founding producer Eric Futterer, founding director Dr. Glenn Cashman and honorary chairman (famous entrepreneur of the famed Lighthouse and Concerts By the Sea) Howard Rumsey.  These gentlemen have presented some excellent jazz groups, including the Cannonball/Coltrane Project (CCP) on June 4, 2009.  

Brian Blade, photo by Thomas Radlwimmer

Renowned drummer/composer Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band come to Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Wednesday, June 10th through Saturday, June 13th. The Fellowship band includes the formidable talents of pianist and composer Jon Cowherd, Chris Thomas (bass), Myron Walden (alto saxophone, bass clarinet), Melvin Butler (tenor saxophone) and Brin Bladr (drums). The Fellowship's latest album, Season of Change, features nine moving new works by Blade and Cowherd, and offers a compelling distillation of the compositional eloquence and collective chemistry that have made Blade and his longtime bandmates one of contemporary jazz's most respected ensembles. In recent years, he's balanced his Fellowship activities with his parallel career as one of today's most in-demand drummers, with a resume that includes recording and/or live work with a broad range of musical artists that includes Daniel Lanois, Bob Dylan, Bill Frisell, Kenny Garrett, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Joshua Redman, Seal and Wayne Shorter.

L. to R.: Hammack, Colangelo, Kreibich and Haynes (Photo by Glenn Mitchell)

Longtime vocalist Stephanie Haynes has been living in Las Vegas for nearly a decade and made a welcomed visit to L.A. during May.  She sang at three jazz venues, including Crowne Plaza LAX, Thursday, May 14th.  Many of Haynes’ adoring fans were there to hear her.  Pianist Karen Hammack provided captivating backup along with bassist Chris Colangelo and Paul Kreibich at the drum set.  Hammack has backed singers professionally for many years and also helps in many workshops put on by well-known vocalists. Her piano work was wonderful this night. 

Haynes loves to mostly present songs from the Great American Songbook.  Her voice is extraordinary, remarkably identifiable, always coming out soothing and smooth to all her many fans. She also sings in three languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese.  Her musical influences (of many) are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Carmen McRae.  When you hear Stephanie Haynes, you hear the real thing.