Hello everyone! Honey Child, it is cold outside. I know I don’t need to remind you to dress warmly, with layers, heavy clothes and shoes. Stay indoors if you are able to. The sun will eventually come out and melt all the snow and bring the temperature up a little bit. Those of you who have to go out to go to work, I will say a prayer for you. Then again, if you are like my daughter, who is enjoying every minute that you are out in the snow and cold with a smile on your face, God bless you.
Now, my dear friends, I am going to talk about some of my musician children, who will be coming back home to perform for us next week, right here in Baltimore. Yes, my friends, some of Baltimore’s greatest musicians, and I am going to give you a little background of each starting with one of my favorite musician sons, Dennis Chambers, who is an all-American drummer who has recorded and performed all over the world with hundreds of musicians including with John Scofield; George Duke; Brecker Brothers; Santana; Parliament/Funkadelic; John McLaughlin; Niacin; Mike Stern; CAB; and Greg Howe, just to name a few. Despite a lack of formal training, Dennis has become well-known among drummers for his technique and speed. He is particularly regarded for his ability to play “in the pocket” but can also stretch very far out of the pocket, which is also a hallmark of his technique.
Then there is another one of Baltimore’s greatest, Gary Grainger who is a self-taught jazz fusion bassist from Baltimore. Gary joined the group Pockets in the 1970s, a protégé-group with a distribution deal at American Recording Company (ARC), a boutique label of Earth, Wind, & Fire. He recorded and toured with the John Scofield Band, which included his Baltimore buddy, session drummer, Dennis Chambers. Another unique thing about Gary is that he comes from a family of musicians; all of his brothers are well-established musicians.
Another member of this unique band is Leni Stern, who was named one of the “50 Most Sensational Female Guitarists of All Time” in the Guitar Player Magazine’s 50th Anniversary issue in 2017, with the publication aptly dubbing her “a genre-defying adventure.” Leni’s example shines beyond just prowess on her instrument, with the pursuit of her career spanning more than four decades according to Keystone Korner owner, Todd Barkan. I’ve only seen her a couple of times. I like her a lot. Added to this unique band is Bob Franceschini, known for his work with guitarist Mike Stern. They are still touring the globe together. He has recorded on Stern’s last five Grammy-nominated CDs and two critically acclaimed DVDs.
Now, the leader of this unique group is Mike Stern, one of the great jazz guitarists of his generation, Mike Stern has the unique ability to play with the finesse and lyricism of Jim Hall, the driving swing of Wes Montgomery and the turbulent, over-driven (and my ex-husband) Jimi Hendrix. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, Stern revered all three of those guitar immortals, along with such potent blues guitarists as Albert and B.B. King. Aspects of those seminal influences can be heard in his playing on the 18 recordings he has released as a leader or in his acclaimed sideman work for Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, the Becker Brothers, Jaco Pastorius, Steps Ahead, David Sanborn, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Joe Henderson and the All-Star Four Generations of Miles Band. So, as you see, this is not a “BS” group. I think I am going to cover this one, and I am planning to be there.
Now my dear friends, all of these show-stopper musicians can be seen at the Keystone Korner Baltimore Restaurant and Bar, located at 1350 Lancaster Street on Friday, January 31, at 7 p.m. For more information, call 410-946-6726.
Well, my dear friends, I am out of space, I have to go, but if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol.com. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.