The Pensacola JazzFest had musicians from New Orleans, Nashville, Columbus, Ohio, Memphis, Panama City and Tallahassee performing a variety of music from early New Orleans Jazz, Hammond B3 organ and Latin Jazz.

One of the pleasant features of this twentieth jazzfest was the return of a vocal trio, Nash DeVille, who had performed at the very first jazzfest in 1982. This group had a series on tightly arranged vocal tunes similar to that of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. When they were in Pensacola in the early 80s, Rick and Laurie Wheeler were here because of Rick’s career as a Navy flier. Kurt Bol teamed with them making the vocal trio. Subsequently they went to Nashville where Laurie has worked as a vocalist. Rick is a teacher and Kurt is in wine sales. Rick and Kurt work part-time in the music business. Since Rick is also the group’s guitarist, the only other musicians needed to round out the group were Nashville players Randy Smith on bass and Ron Karsinski on drums.

New Orleans native multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Don Vappie brought his Creole Jazz Serenaders with him. He played authentic early New Orleans jazz. One outstanding performer in that group was Duke Heitger on cornet. Heitger, son of a Midwest clarinetist and bandleader, has a degree in geology from Tulane but is a fulltime professional musician in New Orleans. His trio is a regular feature on the New Orleans steamboat Natchez. The audience responded favorably to the music and to Vappie’s vocals, sometimes in Cajun French.
 

Hammond B3 organist, Tony Monaco and his trio were also appreciated by the audience. Jazz organ, like jazz fiddle, is somewhat rare. It has been about 10 years since B3 organist Joey DeFrancesco played at Pensacola JazzFest. Monaco travels with a drummer and a guitarist. He doesn’t need a bass player, because he has bass pedals. He brings his own equipment in a trailer which he pulled from his home in Columbus, Ohio. For those unfamiliar with the B3 organ, it is 1950s technology. The distinctive B3 sound comes from twin Leslie speakers which are housed in a 3x3x4foot wooden cabinet. At the top of the cabinet is a rotating fan which gives the characteristic vibrato which aficionados call the “Leslie Sound.” Monaco is a “Hammond Artist” in that he demonstrates those products for the company at music conventions such as the International Association of Jazz Educators which was held in January in Toronto. Monaco’s guitarist Robert Kraut is a hip player who complements the Leslie Sound. Kraut’s “day gig” is professor of philosophy at Ohio State University.

Rounding out the rest of the JazzFest schedule were the Shumate-Parsons Quartet featuring guitarist-educator Ted Shumate and trumpeter-educator Longineu Parsons. They both played together with the late trumpeter Nat Adderley. Since Shumate is from Panama City and Parsons is at Florida A & M in Tallahassee, they find opportunity to perform together. Veteran trombonist Bob Havens performed with Don Gumpert’s Dixieland Saints. Gumpert was unable to perform because of some recent medical illness, but the group made an excellent showing. Havens, having retired from over twenty years with the Lawrence Welk TV show, travels the country doing clinics and festivals. In fact, he is a featured performer this coming weekend at the New Orleans French Quarter Festival. Latin bandleader-vocalist Fredy Omar brought his band from New Orleans. The crowd enjoyed their spicy Latin jazz. It was good to see Pensacola chanteuse Holly Shelton back in town with her Memphis group, the Backroom Boys. Holly, a Memphis native, is back in Memphis for a time helping care for her elderly mother. Vocalist-pianist Crystal Joy, also Performance Chair of the Pensacola JazzFest and Board Member of the Jazz Society, performed on Saturday. Always welcome are the jazz groups from PJC and UWF. They demonstrated that Jazz is alive and in good hands for the future.

The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the food from the various vendors who return to assist each year. A new addition this year was face-painter Shelly Lampshire. Her artistry gave a new aspect to some of the young and the young-at-heart.

Patricia Ashton, Volunteer Executive Secretary of the Jazz Society, indicated that with help from many Jazz Society members and jazz fans, great weather and wonderful music, it was a successful jazzfest. Mark your calendars for the first weekend in April 2004. Planning is already underway for next year’s event.