2001

LDMI Communications Presents
Abbey Lincoln with special guest Swingset featuring James Dapogny and Susan Chastain
Abbey is an emotionally intense, spiritual vocalist with a humanist perspective who takes very seriously the lyrics she sings. Whether singing the powerful, politically aware vocals of the "Freedom Now Suite," which she collaborated on with then husband Max Roach, the joyful life-affirming lyrics of "People in Me," sung with a children's chorus, or the fresh and reverential interpretations of her Billie Holiday tribute works, Abbey has always taken the lyrical content of her songs to new heights. Those who have seen her recently have found her stage presence as sassy and beguiling as that of someone half her age. She has a wide range of fans that delight in her presence.

Houston Person and Etta Jones
Houston Person, the internationally acclaimed tenor saxophonist, has recorded over 75 albums on his own and has appeared as a guest on albums by Etta Jones, Lena Horne, Lou Rawls and many others. Grammy-nominated song-stylist Etta Jones has collaborated with such greats as J.C. Heard, Oliver Nelson and Earl "Fatha" Hines, among many others. Together, they've had their own day named after them in Maryland and Washington, D.C. And after seeing their electrifying performance at the Bird of Paradise, we're pretty sure you'll want to name the whole weekend after them.

Maceo Parker
With a pedigree that includes leading the bands of James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic/P-Funk, Maceo Parker needs no further introduction. His sound (the most sampled horn in history) has been with us for 25 years and it continues to get better. Combining a steamy mix of jazz, R&B and a hard-driving funk, his shows are legendary with the younger audience. Perhaps the Austin Chronicle put it best: "WOW! If anyone wasn't dancing at this show, they were either dead or outside having sex!"

Shemekia Copeland
So much for a sophomore slump. 21-year-old Shemekia Copeland took the blues world by storm in 1998 with her debut, "Turn the Heat Up", and she's only gotten stronger. Her follow-up, "Wicked", is even more passionate and self-confident. With her wide-ranging vocal style ranging from gospel to rock, there's no denying her ability to get the crowd involved. Don't be fooled by her age. She possesses a presence many only dream of.

R.J. Mischo
R.J. Mischo began his career in Minneapolis in the late '70s. Like many others he learned his craft at the side of blues elders before setting out on his own. Playing with guitarist Teddy Morgan and singer Percy Strother he recorded an early album, Ready to Go, which won raves. Since then he has continued to record and tour, including Europe, and in 1998 he relocated to San Francisco, quickly taking his place on the West Coast scene. Kicking off the Festival in a special Thursday evening show at the Firefly, we welcome R.J. Mischo.

Vincent York Jazzistry Ensemble
Jazzistry leader Vincent York, an alto and tenor saxophonist and flute player, studied with Alvin Batiste in New Orleans and has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Other members of the band include Detroiters Alma Smith on piano and Ron English on guitar. When given the chance to stretch out, Vincent's playing swings with a vengeance and their Festival set should do just that. This band regularly performs the "Jazzistry" program at schools throughout Michigan and will do so at the "Blues and Jazz for Kids" area at the festival Saturday afternoon.

Mr. B
Mr. B, aka Mark Braun, is a world class blues and boogie-woogie pianist who has been a mainstay on the Ann Arbor music scene since he first appeared in the '70s performing with Steve Nardella and George Bedard. Sideman gigs quickly gave way to headline status as a solo artist and recording act. Recent time has found "B" stretching out into Jazz as well. A regular at the Ann Arbor Art Fair for over twenty years, this is Mr. B's long-awaited first solo appearance at the Festival.

Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers are a second generation Zydeco powerhouse who play high-energy Zydeco at something approaching the speed of light. Brother of Rockin' Dopsie, Jr., Dwayne upholds the family tradition started by Rockin' Dopsie, who many regarded as one of the princes in the court of the "King of Zydeco," Clifton Chenier. Fresh from an astounding performance at the 2001 New Orleans JazzFest, Dwayne and his band are headed to Ann Arbor, and they hope you are ready to dance!

Bobby Sanabria Nonet
Time Out magazine says of Grammy-nominated Bobby Sanabria, "Ascension, his bristling octet, is quite simply the most fiery Afro-Cuban ensemble you're likely to find anywhere, with a repertoire that can move from jazz to dance without the slightest misstep." A prolific drummer/percussion-ist, composer, arranger, educator and conductor who has played with a veritable Who's Who of the world of jazz and Latin music, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente and Mario Bauza, Bobby combines many sounds to give us his own unique interpretation.

Sue Foley
Vocalist/guitarist Foley released her Antoine's Records debut "Young Girl Blues," in 1992. Known for her sizzling guitar playing and her almost laconic vocal delivery, she made her mark early in the growing ranks of female blues guitarist/bandleaders. A consistent recording artist, she has released several solid discs, most recently, the eccentric Love Comin' Down. Sue played the Festival in 1996 to a small, damp, but enthusiastic crowd. We welcome her back.

Johnny Bassett and The Motor City Sheiks
Veteran guitarist Johnny Bassett has released several smokin' albums since he resurrected his career after retiring from a day gig in the auto industry. Known for his smooth, soulful vocals and guitar work, this one time Fortune Records artist has re-asserted Detroit's place in the blues in tours throughout the world. Tonight he teams with the Motor City Sheiks, who feature veteran guitarist Emmanuel Garza and harmonicist Mark Robinson in a jump flavored, Chicago styled format, to wind down the 2001 festival.

Louis Smith Quartet
Louis Smith is a talented, but under-recognized, straight-ahead bop trumpeter who led two dates on the legendary Blue Note label in the '50s. Many know him as a beloved music educator for the Ann Arbor Public Schools system. Though he made a brief comeback in the late '70s, it wasn't until the mid-'90s that he began a recording career in earnest, turning out a series of albums for the Steeplechase label. He will appear in the MEET THE ARTIST area after his stage appearance and discuss his career in music and education.

Madcat and Kane
Peter "Madcat" Ruth and Shari Kane have been blues ambassadors for over a decade. Madcat's sly harmonica work, Shari Kane's stinging guitar and their bluesy tandem vocals add up to old time acoustic blues with a contemporary feel. They will also perform in the "Blues and Jazz for Kids" area on Sunday afternoon.

Note: do to a death in the family, Shari Kane was unable to attend. Madcat played solo.

Los Hombres Calientes
Los Hombres Calientes made their widely heralded debut in early 1998 at New Orleans' famous jazz club, Snug Harbor. Their debut Basin Street Records release soon followed. Led by trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and percussionist Bill Summers whose roots are in Detroit and who has worked with Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder, the band plays an exotic gumbo of straight-ahead jazz, spicy Latin rhythms and New Orleans Second Line funk, keeping the N'awlins - Ann Arbor connection strong. The 2001 release of New Congo Square has drawn raves and further marked "Los Hombres" as a band to watch.

John Scofield
Constantly altering his sound, John goes from the gritty, groove-oriented blend of jazz, funk and rock on 1999's Bump to straight-ahead jazz on his current release, Works for Me. Says Scofield, "It's all me—every recording that I make is representative of music that I'm feeling at that time. I've found the most satisfaction and honesty by letting musical category and genre blur around the edges."

Ike Turner and The Kings of Rhythm
Sure there's the "King of Rock," the "Queen of Soul," and the "King of Pop," but there's only one "Father of Rock and Roll" who is owed a nod from every hell-raiser, hip-shaker and hit-maker thereafter. It would be hard to pin down Ike Turner as playing one style of music. From his rockin' piano sound to his signature whammy bar effect to even singing lead vocals, Ike's been all over the map. Ike is not back. Ike has never left.