Day: June 21, 2010

Summer Music Series at The Studio on Rocky Neck Kicks Off with New Orleans’ Finest, Henri Smith & Jazz Legend, Charles Neville, of the Neville Brothers.

Gloucester, MA: Victory Agents and The Studio on Rocky Neck are pleased to present the 2010 Deck Party & Concert Series! Four of the five concerts will be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Gloucester Band Boosters and the kick-off show, featuring Henri Smith and Charles Neville, will be decorated with jazz inspired art by local artist Jon Sarkin with all proceeds from art sales to be donated to Tipitina’s Foundation, (which benefits music programs in New Orleans).

The Studio on Rocky Neck boasts one of the largest outdoor decks in the Cape Ann area (right on the water); inside there is a large dance floor and a full bar, with water views. The Studio Restaurant is a Rocky Neck landmark, once the home of the Hugh Breckenridge Art School that was so important to American painting. Dockage is provided for visiting boaters. All summer series concerts will feature live music from some of the best bands in the area and all shows will have doors open at 5:30pm, show at 7pm. Free parking.

Kick-Off

The summer series kicks off with a New Orleans style Mardi Gras Party with New Orlean’s finest, Henri Smith and jazz legend, Charles Neville. The kick-off will be on Saturday, June 26 live at The Studio on Rocky Neck. There will be New Orleans inspired food, dance floor, full bar and free parking. Decorating the walls, local art phenom, Jon Sarkin will display his collection of jazz inspired art. Sarkin is donating a series of 12×12 (record size) pieces to be sold for the kick-off jazz event with all proceeds to benefit Tipitina’s Foundation.

Now considered a highlight of the Cape Ann Music scene, Smith got started in music in high school in Louisiana. His homeroom teacher was a graduate of Julliard School of Music and she developed the choir in their class. Smith says, “To this day I reflect back on her teaching when I’m on stage.”

Neville boasts a similar start “I got started in music as a kid. There was a drum and bugle corps in the grade school I attended. I started playing snare drum in 5th grade. I played the bugle for a while also. When I graduated from 8th grade I got a saxophone. I had been exposed to music at home and everywhere else in New Orleans. Music was a big part of the life of the city. Most of my family members played an instrument or sang and everyone danced. Music was the most desirable career option that was open to me and I loved it from the start.”

When asked about their early musical influences, both Smith and Neville named a Louis as a musician who made them want to focus on music, however while Smith cites trumpeter Louis Armstrong, Neville was drawn to sax-man, Louis Jordan.

Says Neville, “One of my earliest influences was sax man Louis Jordan. I saw him in film clips, called movie shorts, at the theatre near my home. He seemed to be having such a good time playing and the sound of the horn always seemed to carry some sort of message. Hearing it made me feel good. After I started playing, I heard James Moody and Charlie Parker as well the sax players on the Rhythm and Blues recordings that were popular at the time. Charlie Parker sounded like nothing I had heard before and his sound was really emotional. He was my biggest influence.

Smith recalls Louis Armstrong and others who played a part in his early musical fascination: “My major influence is still “Pops” Louis Armstrong. His phrasing while singing is the best, not to mention his stage presence. Also, Joe Williams, Lou Rawls, New Orleans legend (and friend) Antoine “Fats” Domino, and, of course, Aaron Neville.” Smith remembers seeing Aaron and the Neville Brothers growing up in New Orleans even before their stardom; He says, “Aaron can sing anything in his own way.”

When asked about what he’s got on his cd player these days, Neville says he is still listening to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane “as well as the great artists who recorded in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Classical, Latin, African, Reggae and…just about all music.”

And what’s on Smith’s stereo? “Marvin Gaye’s eleventh album What’s Going On, Louis Armstrong’s Live in Berlin, and anything by Nat ” King” Cole. All three can tell a story and get inside my heart and move me to be a part of the music.”

Although he now happily calls Gloucester home, (displaced from NOLA after Hurricane Katrina), Smith still honors his roots in New Orleans with his band New Orleans Friends and Flavours. He travels back often as does his musical match Neville. Both of these jazz superstars rely heavily on their musical origins and both support New Orleans’ Tipitina’s Foundation.

Named after a classic New Orleans piano tune written by Professor Longhair, Tipitina’s Foundation was created as an effort to preserve Louisiana music and culture. The foundation donates facilities to schools in the city and surrounding areas. They also run workshops teaching music and instruments, and “help the children of New Orleans understand and perpetuate the music and style of New Orleans.”

According to Smith, “I was a part of Tipitina’s Foundation before Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The foundation has launched a lot of young musical careers. One product of their service is a young New Orleans drummer who is attending The New England Conservatory, and who now plays with me on a regular basis.”

For Charles, Tipitina’s is an important program, but it also has other meaning— “The club, Tipitinas, is one of the first places we performed when we started the Neville Brothers Band. It’s still a Mecca for New Orleans music. They have featured some of the best New Orleans artists for many years and it’s the place that we, The Neville Brothers, performed at the most often in New Orleans.”

You can catch Henri Smith and Charles Neville’s New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebration on Saturday, June 26 at The Studio on Rocky Neck. Tickets are $20 at the door. 51 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester, 978.283.4123

Jon Sarkin

Local artist, Jon Sarkin, is well known in the Gloucester area and beyond. Often called the “accidental artist,” Sarkin became an artist later in life after a stroke, which metamorphosed him in many ways, including a compulsive need to create. Sarkin has been featured from Rocky Neck West Hollywood to the DeCordova, and his art has been purchased and shipped around the globe. He is happy to donate his jazz inspired art to the Mardi Gras show, and will donate all proceeds to Tipitina’s Foundation.

Gloucester Band Boosters Donation

The Gloucester Band Boosters are group that supports instrumental and string music in Gloucester Public Schools. An organization of parents, businesses and community members that provides funding for much of the expenses associated with the Gloucester elementary school band, string ensemble, as well as the O’Maley Middle School Concert, Marching and Jazz bands.

The Boosters frequently provide music for civic celebrations and events such as Pride Stride. They are still providing this and many other important community services with our young musicians. Victory Agents, The Studio, and the artists participating in the summer series, are pleased to donate a portion of the proceeds from our shows, to music programs and education in the Gloucester schools.