Up & Coming Weekly

A Preview of the Wine and Jazz Festival Talent STAFF REPORT Keyboardist Brian Simpson A longtime studio musician, musical director, and tour- ANGRY V’S 3138 Raeford Rd. • 568-3790 April 17 Chris Cox CHARLIE MIKE’S PUB 195 Star Point Road • 826-6453 April 23 Brad Benson THE DOGHOUSE 3049 Owen Dr. • 910-826-9761 www.thedoghousegroup.com April 14 Mike O’Donell April 18 Johnson Kinlaw HUSKE HARDWARE- HOUSE 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com Thurs. 80’s Ladies Night Fri. & Sat. Live DJ and Dancing Sun. $1 Drafts IT’Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave. • 910-826-4635 www.itzentertainmentcity.com April 14 David The Piano Man Parker April 16 Who’s Bad Michael Jackson Tribute Band JESTER’S PUB 6577 Fisher Road • 910-423-6100 www.jesterspub.com Mon APA pool open 4pm Fri. Rock/ Metal bands Sat. Country April 16 Evading the Grave, seventh Denial, Lion for Lambs,Sky may Fall, Consume the Stars April 17 live Country with Ridin Rumors April 18 National recording Artist Tantric April 22 Battle for Fear Factory April 23 National recording Artist NoN point and BoB LUIGI’S 528 N McPherson Church Rd. • 864-1810 April 16 Corky Jones and Mighty Blue April 23 Vyntage April 30 The Willie Bradley Jazz Trio PADDY’S 2 606B Raeford Rd. • 910-677-0055 www.paddygibneypub.com Wed. Steel Tip Dart Competition Thurs. Autumn Nicholas, Paddy & Bill Fri. Paddy & Bill THE ROCK SHOP 106 S. Eastern Blvd. • 910-321-ROCK www.therockshoplive.com April 15 EVANS BLUE/Landsdowne/ Rains April 16 Taradactyl/Betray Your Own/ Gandhi’s Never Wrong Twice April 17 New Machine/Dying to Live April 18 The Rocketz/The Go-Devils/ SOUTHERN STYLE SALOON 4939 Bragg Blvd. • 860-1787 April 16 Kevin Lee THE STRIKE ZONE 3319 Raeford Rd. May 1 Stronghold • Grand Opening Party CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here’s your opportunity. We will feature all local bands in our Concert Connection, but it’s going to take a little effort on your part. 1. E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com for our Q&A. 2. Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. 3. Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. 4. Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM ing keyboardist to stars as diverse as Janet Jackson and Dave Koz, Brian Simpson’s breakthrough as a solo artist with his Rendezvous Entertainment debut It’s All Good was the genre’s major story of 2006. Focusing once again on com- pelling acoustic piano melodies, bright jazz improvisations and spirited funk grooves, Simpson keeps the extraordinary momentum hopping — and, true to the moniker he chose for the new album, soaring — with Above The Clouds. The ses- sions for Above The Clouds brought out some of the best from his hefty Rolodex: guitarists Tony Maiden, Darrell Crooks and Ray Fuller; bassists Alex Al, Smitty Smith, Larry Kimpel and Melvin Davis; drummer Michael White and percussionist Lenny Castro. A jazzman from an early age, he grew up in Gurnee, Illinois, a small town north of Chicago, picking up piano at the age of 10. The Carolina Wine and Jazz Festival J.P. Riddle Stadium May 1, 3-11 p.m. www.carolinawinejazzfest.com “My father was a jazz aficionado so I grew up listening to lots of great music. My first and greatest influence on piano was Oscar Peterson, though initially I was much more drawn to the sound of jazz guitar, so Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, and Kenny Burrell were equally influential,” he explains. Brian went on to study at Northern Illinois University where he majored in piano and starred in the school’s big band, an ensemble that won numerous Downbeat awards and of- fered Brian the chance to perform all over the world. Upon graduating with a BA in music he moved to Los Angeles, quickly immers- ing himself in the local jazz scene. He soon found himself jamming after-hours with the likes of future stars Everette Harp, Boney James and Norman Brown. Brian’s story takes an interesting twist shortly thereafter. He found himself taking a tempo- rary leave of absence from the jazz scene, touring the world with pop divas Teena Marie, Sheena Easton and Janet Jackson. His foray into the pop world didn’t end there; in January 1991 he co-wrote the #1 Pop hit “The First Time” by Surface, which conquered both the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. Setting his success in pop aside, Brian Simpson has always been a working jazz musician. He has toured with some of the greats of recent jazz history, including George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Larry Carlton, George Howard, Billy Cobham, and Gerald Albright. Along with Mr. Duke, Brian has had another major influence, both on and off the stage. Brian has been the musical director for jazz saxophonist Dave Koz for the past 10 years, and most recently, musical director for the “Dave Koz and Friends Cuise” as well as the “Smooth Jazz Cruise” hosted by the late bassist Wayman Tisdale. Saxophonist Warren Hill Saxophonist Warren Hill was born in Toronto; one of five children, he began playing guitar at the age of eight, and by his teens was fronting a local rock group. Originally he turned to the sax only to play in his school band, making the instrument his total focus following his introduction to jazz dur- ing a summer program at the Eastman School in Rochester, NY; influenced by David Sanborn, Hill played each weekend in a local combo while study- ing physics at the University of Toronto, eventually dropping out to pursue music full time. A stint at Boston’s Berklee College of Music followed, and on Graduation Day 1988 he was given several featured solos; in the audience was producer Russ Titleman, who immediately hired Hill for a session with Chaka Khan. He soon relocated to Los Angeles, recording a demo tape that eventually landed him a deal with RCA. Kiss Under the Moon, Hill’s debut LP, appeared in 1991, and was followed by a stint backing Natalie Cole on her Unforgettable tour. Scoring an NAC chart-topper with 1993’s “The Passion Theme” (from the film Body of Evidence), he next issued the album Devotion, returning in 1995 with Truth. With 1997’s Shelter, Hill began featuring his vocals as well as his instrumental skills; Life Thru Rose Colored Glasses followed in 1998 and Love Life was issued in August 2000. Hill released a collection of romantic numbers titled Love Songs in 2002. In 2005 Hill released the album PopJazz that had an equally appropriate title. Hill joined the Koch label in 2008 and released his newest La Dolce Vita. APRIL 14-20, 2010 UCW 27

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