Musicians from near and far paying tribute to Durham

By Linda Kelsey-Jones

Next Saturday, people will come from across town, across the state and even across the country to help celebrate what would have been Eddie Durham’s 100th birthday.

A family man from the start, Durham first played what would become his signature instruments, guitar and trombone, with the Durham Brothers Orchestra. Steeped in the multi-cultural musical traditions of Texas, the group played an eclectic mix of styles and venues, from Gospel and Southwestern minstrel show swing to dramatic circus and rodeo music. After a stint with the Oklahoma Blue Devils, Durham went on to compose, arrange and perform for more than 50 years, with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Bennie Moten, Count Basie and the ‘Godfather of Bop,’ Glenn Miller.

Headlining the musical tribute next weekend will be Michael Powers and his band "Frequency" from New York. Powers was nominated for two 2005 W.C. Handy Awards (Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, and Best New Artist Debut) for his 2004 release, "Onyx Root." In honor of both Eddie Durham and the artistry of Michael Powers, Edwina Handy, great-granddaughter of blues legend W.C. Handy, is coming from New York to introduce Powers at the tribute.

Powers got his first guitar at age seven and has been playing ever since, forming his first band in high school. Growing up between New Jersey and North Carolina, Michael was influenced by the greatest bluesmen in history as well as the “Porch Blues” and Gospel of the rural south. He has performed and recorded with such icons as Chuck Berry, Johnny Winters, Robert Cray and John Lee Hooker.

Opening Saturday's concert are San Marcos Cheatham Street regulars, "Doctor G" and the Mudcats.

Singer/songwriter Gregg Andrews (Dr. G)’s Mudcats combine Mark Twain-like storytelling with country blues and-Texas Swing Americana. Players include Dr. G, (guitar & vocals), Sterling Finlay (bass), Hunter St.Marie (slide guitar), Johnny Arredondo (drums) and Winston Haun (harmonica and dobro).

Second on the Playbill is another icon of Texas musicianship, Spot Barnett. He has played it all — from high school proms to the Riverwalk — blues, rock, big band brass, Latin and jazz. His recordings, dating back to the 1950s, are now collector items, chronicles of San Antonio’s ever-fusing and -evolving, soulful music scene.

Special guest artist Tony Campise will join Austin's most dedicated-to-the-Basie-era jazz, Stanley Smith and the Jazz Pharaohs.

Campise is a world class master of woodwind instruments, including tenor and alto saxophones, piccolo, flute and bass flute. In the mid-70s he played lead alto in the Stan Kenton band and later, returning to Texas, backed such artists as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Lyle Lovett, Arnett Cobb, Sarah Vaughan and more. Campise was a 1992 Grammy nominee for "Best Jazz Album of the Year" and "Best Instrumental Solo.”

Stanley "Cool Pops" Smith has received Best Instrumentalist awards from the Austin Jazz Critics polls each year since 1992 for Best Clarinetist and in 1997 for Best Acoustic Guitarist. Stan has performed in more than 0 recordings including "The Newton Boys" soundtrack. He has opened for acts such as Taj Majal, Cannonball Addery, Mose Alison, Leon Redbone, Richie Havens, Maria Muldaur and many more. His Jazz Pharaohs are Austin favorites and Elephant Room regulars. Joining him, along with other Pharoah regulars, will be Texas State University music professor and trombonist, Freddy Mendoza.

Also coming from New York is Whitney Marchelle, a well recognized and accomplished singer in the jazz world. In her 30-year musical career she has performed with Frank Sinatra, Donny Hathaway, Louis Armstrong, Clark Terry at The Village Vanguard and has been a guest on "The Tonight Show."