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BY MATT MUNOZ Californian staff writer
Wednesday, May 09 2012 04:42 PM
It's a year of transition for the venerable Bakersfield Jazz Festival, and if first-time talent booker Paul Perez wanted to prove he knows what he's doing, mission accomplished. The Bakersfield sax man has pulled in some of the biggest names in jazz today, assembling the strongest lineup the two-day music festival has seen in years.
Try these names on for size:
* Alto-saxophonist Maceo Parker , who began his legendary career with James Brown's band. He's simply one of the most influential musicians working today.
* Silky saxophonist Richard Elliot, who helped popularize the contemporary smooth jazz craze of the 1990s.
* Veteran drummer Alphonse Mouzon, a favorite of nearly every heavy hitter in popular music.
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It's been two weeks, but Maureen Recalde can barely maintain her composure.
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The Bakersfield Symphony closes its 80th season with an all-orchestra concert Saturday evening, challenging the musicians with compositions that were landmark works in their day.
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Firefall guitarist Jock Bartley has always trusted his instincts when it comes to rockin' out.
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Moira Smiley and VOCO, a group known for its unique blend of voices and instrumentation, will visit schools and present three concerts in Kern County Sunday through Tuesday.
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There was a lot to "Hee Haw" about at the Crystal Palace when Roy Clark took the stage Tuesday night.
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A group of home-grown musicians will perform this weekend to raise money and awareness for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
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Bakersfield College instrumental music students will perform their final concert Thursday evening, not only to show off what they've learned, but to remind people that the BC music program is worth supporting.
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Roy Clark spent 17 years at the side of Buck Owens as the two made country music magic as the co-hosts of "Hee Haw," one of the most iconic -- and hilariously cheesy -- shows in television history. So it is with pleasure and anticipation that Clark will take the stage Tuesday at the venue built and beloved by his late friend, whose legacy can still be felt at the Crystal Palace.
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Despite an encore appearance by the Tupac hologram, last weekend's Coachella Music & Arts Festival belonged to the new kids.
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Many images of the great composers show them as mature, even elderly, if they lived that long. But they were once very young, they were once students. And some of them were also young geniuses.
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Country crooner Tracy Lawrence has been singing about human frailty long enough to know that there's a lot of people up to no good at 4 in the morning.
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Bakersfield soul/funk/jazz quartet Soulajar have decided to tap into their Bakersfield roots with a new countrified single, titled "Love's a Funny Thing," released today.
