Hello everyone,
I hope all is well with you. I hope you were able to go to Fell’s Point Fun Festival last week-end. I was hoping to meet you there, but I was a little under the weather with my back and was unable to stand or walk too well, so I decided to stay in and rest. I have been scheduled with my doctor to have major back surgery on Wednesday, October 23 at Mercy Hospital. I was told by doctors that I will be laid up for at least 6-8 weeks, so if you don’t see me hanging out, this is the reason. Please keep me in your prayers. I hope to be coming out swinging again soon.
I want to talk to you about the “True Blue Jazz Festival, located in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, that Shorty and I have attended many times. If you have never been to their festival, you are missing out. This year, as always, they are hosting a Hell-la-VA festival! Check this out. There will be 21 free local live bands performing from October 18 to October 20. Bill Charlap Trio will perform on Friday, October 18 at Boardwalk Plaza for two shows. Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap, piano master, makes his second appearance with the “True Blue Jazz Festival.” His trio will accompany him on bass and drums. Kenny Washington will be on drums and David Wong on bass. The shows continue with “The Big Band Jazz Marathon” for six hours on Saturday, October 19 at the Rehoboth Fire House from noon to 6 p.m. The Big Bands featuring Cape Henlopen HS Jazz Band from Delaware; Delmarva Big Band from Delmarva Peninsula; Columbia Maryland Jazz Orchestra from Columbia, Maryland; and St. Marks and Spartan Alumni Big Band from Wilmington, Delaware.
Roy Hargrove Big Band will perform Saturday, October 19 at Nassau Valley Vineyards for one show 8-10 p.m. Roy is widely acclaimed as one of the premier trumpet players of his generation. Over his 30 year career, Hargrove composed and recorded several original compositions, one of which, “Strasbourg-St. Denis.” Eddie Sherman & Peggy Raley with Terell Stafford & Jerry Weldon will perform on Sunday, October 20 at Boardwalk Plaza for brunch from 12:30 until 3:30 p.m.
The Bruce Williams Quintet will perform on Friday, October 18 with Danton Boller, Allyn Johnson, Quincy Phillips, and Freddie Hendrix. Buster Williams with his quartet will perform on Saturday, October 19 at the Boardwalk Plaza for two shows. The legendary bassist leads his quartet with musicians Steve Wilson on saxophone, George Colligan on the piano, and drummer Lenny White. Bruce worked with Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt when he was 17; backing singer legends such as Betty Carter, Sarah Vaughn and Nancy Wilson in the 60s; anchoring Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi Sextet into the 70s. He is known for his compositions and bands. The heavy-duty jazz lovers will know what I am talking about. Go to www.truebluejazz.org for ticket information.
All right, my dear friends, I have to go now. Hopefully, we will be talking again in a couple of weeks, depending on how I feel and how my surgery goes. Please send your correspondence to me by email: rosapryor@aol.com. or you can call me at 410-8339474 or send letters to me at: 214 Conewood Avenue. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.