Mayfield’s love sessions continue with trumpeter Roy Hargrove joining in

22nd August 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

The trumpeter battles motgage match net between Irvin Mayfield and Kermit Ruf­fins have been raging since last Fri­day and continue through Thurs­­day, August 25. This action, dubbed “The Thriller,” stands as the first round of the ambitious 11-night fundraising event dubbed — Love Sessions — A Festival of Giving. It pits the bands of the two New Orleans trumpeters and longtime mock rivals at Irvin May­field’s Jazz Playhouse on Bour­bon Street.

Internationally renowned, New York trumpeter and flugel horn player Roy Hargrove takes on Mayfield Friday, August 26, through Monday, August 29, when the showdown moves over to Mayfield’s new I Club that is housed in JW Marriott Hotel. Hargrove, a Grammy-winning artist who’s played with giants from saxophonist Bobby Watson to vocalists Shirley Horn and Erykah Badu, makes for a very formidable opponent. That’s particularly true as he’s bringing in his working quintet with whom he’s been touring all summer in places like Africa, Italy and France. That equals tight.

There’s even a local taste in Hargrove’s band with New Orleanian Sullivan Fortner at the piano. (It seems Hargrove might have a preference for this city’s pianists as our own Jonathan Batiste was heard in the trumpeter’s group RH Factor personal loan options for bad credit as well as in other settings.) Fortner left his hometown soon after graduating from the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) in 2003 to continue his studies at such noted institutions as Oberlin College and the Manhattan School of Music.

Montez Coleman, an exciting drummer originally from St. Louis, has been with Hargrove since 2007, working in the trumpeter’s quintet and big band. He’s heard on Hargrove’s fine 2008 CD, Earfood, that offers listeners a good taste of what to expect to hear at the I Club. Bassist Ameen Saleem and saxophonist Justin Robinson, who also boast impressive creds, are heard on the album and will be in for the “Love Sessions” gig.

Hargrove, a soulful player with chops to burn, has performed and recorded in a breadth of styles including Afro-Cuban with his band Crisol, neo-fusion with the RH Factor, big band, funk and rap. At the I Club, where he and his band will take the stage first, straight-up, hard-bopping jazz is on the menu.

New York and New Orleans flavors will be in the house for the four nights at the I Club. Mayfield’s octet boasts a payday loans bedford predominance of locals or those who’ve long been on the scene. Several differences between the two trumpeters’ groups seem apparent. For one, though most of Mayfield’s musicians — clarinetist Evan Christopher, pianist Davell Crawford, flautist Kent Jordan, trumpeter Leon Brown, bassist Peter Harris and drummers Adonis Rose (Aug. 26 & 27) and Shannon Powell (Aug. 28 and 29), have performed with each other through the years, they haven’t played together as an ensemble. The other variance, which could add a twist, is that Mayfield’s band boasts some vocalists in its ranks – Crawford, Brown, Powell. Considering that the name of the I Club shows is “Love Moments,” the jam session that follows Mayfield’s and Hargrove’s sets might prove to be when the battle takes place between these two Grammy-winning friends.

Proceeds from the ticket sales of each night’s shows will benefit a different, local charitable organization. Tickets are available for the Mayfield/Ruffins shows at www.jazzplayhouse.frontgatetickets.com/choose and for the May­field/Hargrove shows at www.i­club.front­­gate­tic­kets.com/ choose or by calling (888) 512-7469. A limited amount will be available at the door.

Healing Center Grand Opening

As an invitation of sorts, the Sunday, August 28 grand opening of the New Orleans Healing instant cash loans at night Center, kicks off with a second line. Folks are encouraged to follow the 10 a.m. parade, led by the Hot 8 and the Baby Boyz brass bands that begins at the corner of Canal and North Rampart streets and lands at the center at 2372 St. Claude Avenue (corner of St. Claude and St. Roch).

On arrival, the doors to the multi-purpose facility will swing open with all of the day’s and night’s activities taking place in the cool interior of the building. Attendees will be introduced to the community center’s various offerings that include a grocery cooperative, yoga studio, restaurant, performance theater, arts collective and more that are housed under one roof.

The musical shows will take place in the center’s performance area, dubbed Cafe Istanbul. Poet Chuck Perkins & the Voices of the Big Easy will start things off at 1:30 p.m. The schedule includes vocalist Felice Guimont (2:30 p.m.), vocalist Michaela Har­rison (4:30 p.m.), the Treme Brass Band (5:30 p.m.), vocalist John Boutte (7:00 p.m.) and pianist/vocalist Henry Butler (8:30 p.m.) making a too rare New Orleans appearance.

Various activities and performances will be presented throughout the day to illustrate the Healing Center’s holistic philosophy. Vo­calist and harmonica player Sean Johnson leads his trio, the Wild Lotus Band in a style of music called kirtan. It will perform in the Wild Lotus Yoga Studio at 6:30 p.m. There will be dance performances, art shows, panel discussions and a children’s zone. Food demonstrations by a select group of New Orleans chefs will take place in the Fatoush Restaurant and the resulting dishes will be available for purchase.
Free shuttle service will be provided from many locations. For more information go to www.new­orleanshealingcenter.org.

TJIF in the French Market

Friday evenings mean it’s time to whip off that tie, throw off those heels, put down that hammer and start enjoying the weekend. The place to do just that is at the French Market that continues it’s free monthly musical series on Friday, August 26, 2011.

Headlining the show is New Orleans trumpet great Leroy Jones who blows from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the outdoor stage. Harmonica player Patrick Williams & the Blues Express kick off the evening at 4 p.m.

This article was originally published in the August 22, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper