The Jazzcat

Additional Photos

Is there any other place more beautiful on the West Coast

than Carmel California? I am not quite sure but, I know

that every time that I am there, I feel different about life. Being surrounded

by sunshine, fresh air, a gorgeous coast line and music will make you think

about all the possibilities you can create.

 

KRML 1410 AM, Carmel’s

jazz station, located inside the Jazz and Blues Company has a brand new

address. The Jazz and Blues Company is a store that is entirely dedicated to

Jazz Music. It has everything from records, CD’s, books, postcards, pins,

clothing and just any type of jazz paraphernalia that you can think of. The

station and store used to be located in the Crossroads shopping center but, is

now situated right smack in the middle of Carmel’s art district next to the

Hogsbreath in a building owned by Carmel’s most popular movie star, Clint

Eastwood. It is the absolute most perfect location for publicity and exposure

for jazz music.

The Jazz and Blues Company is most notably known for its

intimate performance space. The store is converted to hold about 50 or so seats

and some of the most prominent artist in the world of jazz have been known to

share their talents here. However, this is a new stage, a new location and Black

Hawk Records, run by David Kimball and Gary Hamada, is behind a major push to

schedule and record artist for a new “Black Hawk Live” series.

<>First in this new series was the world renowned Mark Murphy.

Known for his vocals and scat interpretations, the eclectic singer who had his

first gig in 1957 with Horace Silver, preceded to sing an impressive set of

tunes. The set included everything from Horace Silver’s “Senior Blues”, Miles

Davis’s “Milestones”, Herbie Hancocks “Maiden Voyage” to tributes to the great

Joe Williams and a number of standards which included “Autumn Leaves”,

“Summertime”, “Bye Bye Blackbird”, “All Blues”, “and “On Green Dolphin Street”.

 <>

Murphy with his short phrasing, blend of poetry and

Murphalese vocal style took the music in impromptu directions going way outside

the idiom but, some how always made it back to the one! At one point in the

performance, Murphy stated, “I will go a long way for a groove”. The humorous

singer, sometimes reminiscent of Sammy Davis Jr., combined abstract thought

with short stories, beat poetry and funny jokes, to entertain his audience. Murphy

was backed up by Dave Mathews on piano, Seward McCain on bass and David Rokeach

on drums.

 

 

LeRoy Downs