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| Russell Gunn will perform in Miles Davis' home town Trumpet extraordinaire Russell Gunn is coming home as the Marquee Artist for the Lifting the Legacy: Miles, MO' Music & Juneteenth Jazz Concert on May 26, 2006 at the Blackmon Entertainment Plaza in East St. Louis, IL. The Grammy-Award-nominated Gunn is a recording artist with eleven CDs to his credit. Russell's much anticipated new release is due out on October 24th 2006. Tentatively titled The Blue Pill (Highnote Records), the CD is a collection of jazz standards with the Russell Gunn "funky twist". The concert is a collage of art disciplines and people merging for what may appear, at first glance, to be a wonderful tribute to the legendary Miles Davis to celebrate his 80th birthday. Anne Walker of Freedom Trails says, "This could easily be a stand-alone concert for Miles, but that's only the first part of the story of dedicated people with little resources, making an against the grain effort to revive a culture, a tradition (jazz) and a city." Russell Gunn will conduct a concert related workshop at 1 PM on May 23rd at East St. Louis Sr. High School's auditorium. Russell is a Lincoln High School graduate and protege of Professor Ron Carter. East Side is located at 4700 State St. This workshop will be motivational as well as technical. Russell will address work ethics, diversity, confidence, as well as convey his personal musical journey. This will include his musical accomplishments, noting the people he has performed with in demonstration of a multi-dimensional musician and how that applies to all aspects of life. Gunn will be accompanied by locally acclaimed artists Reggie Thomas on piano, Montez Coleman on drums, John King on bass, Amos Brewer on sax--and who knows who else will show up? Myers' group includes Rolla Armstead on sax, Dr. London Branch on bass, Aye Aton on drums and Sayeed Jamal on sax. Rolla, now an accomplished Milwaukee legend, was born in Alton and his mother did housework in the Miles Davis home. Branch was a former professor of Music at Jackson State University and teacher for Gunn. Aton was a former drummer for Sun Ra. Since East St. Louis City Council gave a thumbs up on a resolution to honor Miles with a street sign, it will be erected at 17th & Kansas, where Miles grew up. The late, long presiding State Senator Kenneth Hall, lived in the same block. The honorary sign is to read: An honorary "Hall"Mark: Miles Davis Way, to honor both Davis and Hall. The definition of hallmarking meaning a mark indicating quality or excellence and it is substituting for the word tribute. Neighbors in the 1600 & 1700 blocks of Kansas signed a petition in favor of the street sign. An honorary name change ceremony will be held on Miles' birthday, Friday, May 26 at noon at the corner of 17th & Kansas. A trumpet fanfare is planned. All trumpet players are welcome to come blow. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |