2012 JazzTrax Festival Program

A Quarter Century of Smooth Jazz in the Avalon Ballroom...looking out to Sea ...... continued from page 8Najee had a record deal with CapitalRecords/EMI. 14 solo albums deep nowwith the release this past January of 'TheSmooth Side of Soul.BASSIST JULIAN VA U G H NBallroom Appearance:Sunday Evening October 14Still residing in Kansas City with it'sHistorical Jazz Heritage which he Mixedwith his Musical Beginnings in his Church.First pastored by his Grandfather and laterby his own Dad. As he got deeper anddeeper into The Bass in High Schoolyears, his influence came from across thefar state line and the late (basketball and)Bass Playing Wayman Tisdale. He enjoyswearing that comparison. He also is nowperhaps the TALLEST of all Smooth JazzStars, just as Wayman had been. He isGospel, and he is Jazz and he is R&B. His2nd solo album, released in August,'Breakthough,' now has him label matesamongst others with Paul Hardcastle andthe Jazzmasters and a host of others onTrippin 'N Rhythm Records.SAXOPHONIST N A J E EBallroom Performance:Saturday Evening, October 13B o rn Jerome Najee Rasheed in theGreenwich Village of New York City andraised in Jamaica, Queens. After highschool he traveled the world with a groupbacking Miss Black America, and thenwith Ben E. King, famed for his song,“Stand by Me.” He then attended NewEngland Conservatory of Music in Boston.He toured with Chaka Khan 1983-83. Hecame to solo prominence in 1987 with“Najee's Theme.” Next found himself ontour with singer Freddie Jackson. Over hisquarter century solo career achieving 2Platinum and 4 Gold Albums. He stillbelieves one record session date made hiscareer as a solo artist ignite. At CapitolRecords in Hollywood playing sax onMelisa Morgan's 1st album, a song called“Do You Still Love Me?” Her managerknew Najee as an auxiliary keyboardistfor a group called Change. When heheard him on sax in that recording sessionhe asked for some demos. 2 weeks laterGUITARIST ROB TA R D I C KBallroom Appearance:Saturday Evening, October 13The Newest International Newcomer tothe Scene he watched his first U.S. Hit,“Shakin' the House” go Top 20 on theSmooth Jazz Charts this Spring. He isCanadian and resides near To ro n t o ,Canada. Voted 2010 Canadian SmoothJazz Guitarist of the Year. First spottedlast Fall doing the JazzTrax Late NightAfterParty at 'The M' on Main Street. Hesold out both shows Opening Night ofJune's Big Bear Lake JazzTrax SummerMusic Festival, performing Unplugged onMiss Liberty. A classic Stern wheeler as itcruised around Big Bear Lake.continued on page 10JazzTrax After Partyat Descanso BeachEach Weekend Immediately afterSaturday Evening's Final Performancewith dj Jonathan Phillips. Full Bar & FoodService & dancing on the beach 'till 1am25 Years, a Qu a rter Ce n t u ry of Ja z z Trax on Catalina Island 1987-2012 www. Ja z z Tra x . c o m 9