The San Quentin Gumbo Classic Jazz Fest on Oct. 17 served up spicy tunes and a mixture of musical flavors.
The group We Just Came to Play headlined the show. It consists of lead guitarist Greg Dixon, drummer Dwight Krizman, bass Darryl Farris, Howard Milton on congas and volunteer Denali Gillaspie on keyboard.
They performed eight original jazz pieces composed by Dixon with three spoken-word poems featuring Chris Marshall.
The crowd swayed when they played a saucy Latin tempo song called “Geniene.”
“That’s my wife’s name,” said Dixon. “No matter what, she’s still got my heart.”
The band hypnotized the crowd with songs like “Outer Drive” and “Plaza Lafayette,” which are based on two places in Detroit that are special to Dixon.
“I want to thank everyone who participated in the 2015 yard shows for all the hard work and dedication the bands showed in all their rehearsals during the year,” said sponsor Raphaele Casale. “I also want to give a shout-out of thanks to San Quentin News for highlighting the music shows in the newspaper. Music is a positive, uplifting event on the yard and we look forward to 2016 with more fresh ideas from solo artists and bands alike!”
Gillaspie added, “These are some of the most talented people I ever played with. Music helps you heal your soul and work out your differences. I come here and get healed off of everybody’s positivity.”
The day kicked off with three Hip-Hop acts. Arthur “A.R.-Da-Superstarr” Snowden played guitar on Emil “Tears” Acolatse’s “Product of the Universe” and “My Grind,” moving the crowd with his lyrical prowess.
“Just four months ago I was reading how to play guitar. Now I’m performing in front of a large crowd. The cheers made me want to perfect my craft,” said Snowden.
George “Mesro” Coles-El and Harun “Jeddi” Taylor kept the party rocking with “I’m the One to Call,” an inspirational freestyle.
“As a West Coast veteran Hip-Hop artist, I feel good passing the baton to a person like ‘Tears’ (Acolatse). I’m retiring with a smile. That was my last public Rap performance,” said Taylor.
J. “Killa Clown” gave some food for thought with his anti-drug song about his struggles with Meth, titled “Can’t Escape the Bubble.” His rap reflected, “I thought I used it, but it used me.”
The New Syndicate of Funk lead singer Rico Roger, soulful voice-over Matthew Jaspar (last) guitar riffs and Charles King drums bought the crowd to its feet, singing along to the ‘70s and ‘80s covers.
They added a personal touch with an original called “I Can’t Stand It.” They blended the old with the new, when Parrish Foster Rapped over an Isley Brothers classic “Foot Steps in the Dark” titled “Top Notch.”
“It’s amazing how you can form an opinion about somebody, then see them on stage and they have all that talent. It truly shows you can’t judge a book by its cover,” said Eric Deric.
Allen “Squirrel” Ware showed why he is a professional on the keyboard when he performed “Little Sunflower” by Freddie Hubbard and “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock.
The gospel group Unique Echoes members Foster and Terry “Madea” Farr gave an uplifting rendition called “We Win the War Against Evil.”
The icing on the cake came from Rapper “Maverick” Harrison, letting the crowd into his life with “Don’t Cry for Me,” a song about choices that led him to prison, and “Hope You’re Proud of Me” about his transformation.
Jose Ortega represented the Spanish speaking community with “Vida Dura” (Live Heart) about how Jesus Christ changed his life in the midst of his hardships.
