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The Featured Artists of 2010 |
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| Mill's Brothers - An astonishing vocal group that grew into one of the longest-lasting oldies acts in American popular music, the Mills Brothers quickly moved from novelty wonders to pop successes and continued amazing audiences for decades. Originally billed as "Four Boys and a Guitar," the group's early records came complete with a note assuring listeners that the only musical instrument they were hearing was a guitar. The caution was understandable, since the Mills Brothers were so proficient at recreating trumpets, trombones, and saxophones with only their voices that early singles like "Tiger Rag" and "St. Louis Blues" sounded closer to a hot Dixieland combo than a vocal group. And even after the novelty wore off, the group's intricate harmonies continued charming audiences for decades. The group became a sensation and hit it big during 1931 and early 1932 with the singles "Tiger Rag" and "Dinah" (the latter a duet with Bing Crosby). Dumb-founded listeners hardly believed the notice accompanying the records: "No musical instruments or mechanical devices used on this recording other than one guitar." Though the rather primitive audio of the time gave them a bit of latitude, the Mills Brothers indeed sounded exactly like they'd been backed by a small studio band. (It was, in essence, the flip side of early Duke Ellington material, on which the plunger mutes of Bubber Miley and Tricky Sam Nanton resulted in horns sounding just like voices.) The exposure continued during 1932, with appearances in the film The Big Broadcast and more hits including "St. Louis Blues" and "Bugle Call Rag." John, Jr.'s sudden death in 1936 was a huge blow to the group, but father John, Sr. took over as bass singer and Bernard Addison became the group's guitarist. In 1943 "Paper Doll," a sweet, intimate ballad became one of the biggest hits of the decade -- twelve weeks on the top of the charts, and six million records sold (plus sheet music). The group made appearances in several movies during the early '40s, and hit number one again in 1944 with "You'll Always Hurt the One You Love." The influence of middle-of-the-road pop had slowly crept into their material from the 1940s; by the end of the decade the Mills Brothers began recording with traditional orchestras (usually conducted by Sy Oliver, Hal McIntyre or Sonny Burke). In 1952, "The Glow Worm" one of the most beloved and greatest hits. Sweet and Hot is proud to showcase the wonderful talents of this legendary group! |
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Jack Sheldon's California Cool Jazz - Jack Sheldon's California Cool Jazz returns to the Sweet and Hot Music Festival in a command performance. This collection of outstanding talent and awesome interpretative jazz creates an atmosphere redolent of smoky basement dives where the really cool cats hang out - a little bit of cutting and a lot of magnificent instrumental Hi Jinx will delight jazz fans in a double set. Sheldon, an original West Coast Lion, infuses the group with his gutsy approach to the genre. This group must be heard and appreciated. Jack is an American bebop and West Coast jazz trumpeter, singer and actor. He is perhaps best known as a trumpet player and comedian on The Merv Griffin Show, as well as the voice of a singing Congressional bill on an episode of Schoolhouse Rock. Sheldon apopeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Let's Get Lost about the life of fellow jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. A trumpet solo of his is featured throughout the Francis Ford Coppola film, One From The Heart (1986.) Tom Waits' album Foreign Affairs includes Sheldon playing trumpet on several cuts, including the solo at the end, Burma Shave. Jack is the subject of an award-winning feature documentary, "Trying To Get Good; The Jazz Odyssey Of Jack Sheldon" (2008) produced by Doug McIntyre and Penny Peyser. The film features interviews with Clint Eastwood, Billy Crystal, Merv Griffin among many. |
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Ernestine Anderson - born in Houston, Texas, daughter of a construction worker. At age 3, she could sing along with the raw tunes of the legendary Bessie Smith; she soon moved on to the more refined environs of her local church, singing solos in its gospel choir. Anderson tells of her life in the book, The Jazz Scene (1998): "My parents used to play blues records all the time, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, all the blues greats. I don't even remember what my first musical experience was. I sort of grew into it." At eighteen Anderson toured for a year with Johnny Otis, and then with Lionle Hampton's Orchestra. In 1958, Ernestine's first album, Hot Cargo (Mercury Records) was released to high acclaim. In 1959, she won the Down Beat "New Star" Award and recorded more albums for Mercury Records, dividing her time in the mid-60's between America and Europe. "I don't think jazz ever died. It suffered a setback during the sixties. I had to move to London to work because a jazz person couldn't work in the United States when rock n' roll became the music." Her re-emergence in the mid-1970s came as a result of asensational appearance in the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival, a string of albums for Concord Records followed. Anderson has continued her career revival into the 1990s working with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, amongst others. |
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Tim Laughlin and the New Orleans All Stars with Special Guest: Connie Jones - New Orleans native (pronounced lock-lin) has proven to be a true son of the city known to be constantly changing and re-inventing itself. Like the city, his refreshing and imaginative expression of our timeless American Jazz embodies both the historic classic jazz old and the cutting edge of more contemporary forms. It is music for all seasons, fresh, exuberant, innovative and exciting. Joining Laughlin's New Orleans All Stars is the legendary trumpet/cornet of Connie Jones. Now in his 70's, Jones began his career at age ten and his professional start at the age of eighteen on Bourbon Street. He still plays a few gigs each week and is a member of the French Quarter's Festival Committee. The Sweet and Hot Music Festival is more than proud to have this illustrious pair in their first appearance with us. |
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Banu Gibson & New Orleans Jazz - Banu is a three-way threat. She is a combination of scholarly research, an abundance of talent and an exuberant sense of humor brought together in a dazzling explosion of song. A trained dancer and performer, Banu brings to every performance a fresh delight and a joyful interpretation that makes every tune a new experience just as if it had just been discovered. Banu is a favorite of the Sweet and Hot Music Festival fans. She bejazzles us with new interpretations and her bouncy, refreshing approach, so that each of us feel as if she were bringing us into her circle and sharing an intimate and fun secret with us. Each year she surprises us and we all have the pleasure of her musical knowledge and her boundless energy.
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Herb Jeffries - One concert shared with this nonagenarian and the listener is won over completely. Herb's powerful baritone has all the strength and depth of a young man - maybe even more so than in 1941 when he recorded "Flamingo" with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Herb has done more than most in the entertainment industry and in his more than six decades of show business he has helped bring people of color into the film industry with his portrayal of the "Bronze Buckaroo." He has owned and operated a night club in Paris, appeared in television shows and has his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, as well as the Sweet and Hot Walk of Fame. To put the frosting on this entertainment icon, he happens to be a very nice man. We are gladly celebrating his 14th appearance at the Sweet and Hot Music Festival.
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More Featured Artists are being added to this list as their schedules are confirmed! Check back! |
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Paul O'Neil, AEROMARK, webmaster@sweethot.org |