fasstrack in Michigan

[Joe G]

JOEL FASS QUARTET GOES TO MICHIGAN

Guitarist/composer Joel Fass is taking a quartet to

Michigan on tour July 29-Aug. 4. They will be performing Joel's recent

compositions, standards, jazz favorites on a nine-gig-excursion. These

guys have great depth of experience to bring to the project, a love of

playing together, and audience and artists are sure to have a great

time.

"I really like Joel's 'Not a Bad November'. It's a really classy tune.

I told him send it to Tony Bennett"

COMPOSER/ARRANGER BILL FINEGAN (WINNER OF ASCAP

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

For itinerary, see www.worldclassjazz.org.

PERSONNEL: JOEL FASS, GUITAR

JOHN ECKERT, TRUMPET

BOB WIJNEN, ORGAN

RUDY PETSCHAUER, DRUMS

WISH US LUCK!

~

Should be worth checking out if you can. I'm going to try to make the Monday show in Grand Haven. -- Joe

[blue lake]

That was a fun band. Joel and John were on the air with Blue Lake for two hours last monday, playing records and talking. Randy called in from the road, and so did Chicago guitarist Henry Johnson who had played in Grand Rapids at the John Ball Park Zoo with Chris Forman and Gregg Rockingham. They were listening on the way back to Chicago.

Joel talked about one of his mentors, Jimmy Raney, and how Raney was an early convert to Bird amonst guitarists. Henry called to chime in on that, noting Kenny Burrell was in similar territory at age 19 while playing in Detroit before Dizzy had "discovered" him. And that Wes Montgomery in the Lionel Hampton band of the mid-40's already had his ears for Bird.

However, we did not touch on Tal Farlow as regards the subject.

Needless to say it was an exciting night.

Ecket's observations about working alongside of his friend Jimmy Knepper in the Lee Kontiz Nonet, and on the Knepper's recording "I Dream Too Much" on Soul Note was also insightful.

Anyone catch this band on the tour?

Lazaro