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Jazz-By-the-Bay 2007 JAZZ-BY-THE-BAY STRIKES POSITIVE CHORD WITH PARK AUDIENCE The festival gods were kind to the Jazz-By-the-Bay weekend of Oct. 19th and 20th. Three days of rain ceased Friday afternoon and the festival began as planned at 6:30 p.m. on a splendid fall evening in Oaks-By-the-Bay Park in historic St. Andrews. For the next hour and one-half jazz icon Bob Dorough (along with guitarist Steve Berger, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Fred Domulot) held the large Park audience spellbound with his unique versions of Charlie Parker's, Yardbird Suite, Johnny Frigo's , Detour Ahead, and his own Conjunction Junction, from his famous Schoolhouse Rock TV series and many others. The festival resumed on Sat. noon with glorious weather and a sparking performance of jazz standards by the Northside Elementary School Jazz Chorus led by teacher and jazz pianist Amanda Matthews. The rest of the afternoon featured a return appearance of Bob Dorough, who got the audience going with more of his original classics, Devil May Care, Nothin' Like You, and Hoagy Carmichael's Baltimore Oriole. It is said that showman Bob Dorough must be seen and heard live to be appreciated. Well, this audience saw and heard and appreciated. Pianist and vocalist Cynthia Neeves, a fill-in for Kenny Drew Jr. (who was unable to make it out of Tampa for the festival) demonstrated marvelous technique and agility on the piano, and her vocal work revealed a pleasing warmth, and respect for lyrics. Neeves, a Panhandle area resident and frequent performer in Grayton Beach and Destin clubs, deserves to be heard here more often. Atlanta trumpeter and vocalist Joe Gransden excited the crowd with a combination of straight ahead bebop renderings of jazz standards and slower-paced vocal versions of tunes such as Green Dolphin Street , and Funny Valentine. Gransden, who looks and sounds like a young Chet Baker, sings both jazz, and pop numbers. And, his versatility became apparent when the quintet ventured into smooth jazz arrangements. Gransden's horn playing is both melodic like the early 1950s Miles Davis and reminiscent of (Chet) Baker's trademark relaxed tones. Local artists Sharon Carroll and Amanda Matthews captivated the audience with Amanda's facile keyboard work and Sharon's silky smooth and articulate vocals. Their quintet played numbers from their recently released CD, Tell Me This Day Won't End. The group was accompanied admirably by saxophonists Joe Occhipinti and Victor Payano. Backing up the group was acclaimed bassist Steve Gllmore and drummer Fred Domulot.

Bob Dorough

Bob Dorough is a jazz icon, admired internationally for his bebop jazz piano, musical
composition and vocalese singing.  Dorough has worked with Miles Davis and Allen Ginsberg, and his adventurous style was an influence on Mose Allison, among other singers. He is perhaps best known as a voice and primary composer of many of the songs used in Schoolhouse Rock!, a series of educational animated shorts appearing on Saturday morning television in the 1970s and 1980s on ABC affiliates in the USA.

Joe Gransden


In his mid thirties, Atlanta trumpeter Joe Gransden has already performed worldwide and
released four CD’s under his own name. Renowned first for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra.
“Joe Gransden is following in the line of great classic singers,” said actor/director and jazz buff Clint Eastwood. “He sings jazz, pop, and beyond and does it with a flair and a talent beyond his years...he is sure to be a hit with young and old alike.” After hearing Gransden’s latest CD , Eastwood invited Gransden and his quartet to play at his exclusive Tehama Golf Club in Carmel, CA. last April.
 

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