|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Paul Winter "Count Me In"  The Paul Winter Sextet emerged in Chicago during Paul's years at Northwestern University. After winning the 1961 Intercollegiate Jazz Festival, the band was signed to Columbia Records by legendary producer John Hammond. In 1962, on recommendation from Festival judges Dizzy Gillespie and Hammond, the Sextet was sent by the State Department on a six-month tour of 23 countries of Latin America. The success of the tour led to an invitation from First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to play at the White House. The Sextet's performance in the East Room on November 19, 1962, happened to be the first-ever jazz concert at the White House.With some personnel changes, the Sextet continued to tour and record throughout 1963, and was making its final album that November at the time of President Kennedy's assassination. Numbed by that tragedy and discouraged by what felt like the end of an optimistic era, the Sextet soon disbanded and members went their separate ways. The reunited Sextet will be featured in the upcoming Winter Solstice Celebration at New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine, December 13, 14, and 15. Original Sextet members Warren Bernhardt (piano), Cecil McBee (bass), and Paul Winter (alto and soprano saxes) will be joined by Marvin Stamm (trumpet), Howard Johnson (baritone sax), and Jamey Haddad (drums). The Sextet will play music from the new Count Me In anthology, and will also collaborate with African griot singer Abdoulaye Diabate and gospel singer Theresa Thomason. And a climactic convergence in the event with bring the Sextet together with the Paul Winter Consort in a new piece created for this Solstice Celebration. write your comments about the article :: © 2012 Jazz News :: home page |