KSBR BASH 2008

Every year the KSBR Bash is held on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday evening. This year the BASH was moved to a new, expanded location for more people to get to check out this once in a lifetime event. Our big name, unannounced artist this year was the legendary Joe Sample. Joe was there this year to help celebrate the birthday of longtime friend Max Bennett who was turning 80 this month! It seems like a year ago we celebrated Max's 75th, but time flys.

I grabbed Mr. Sample to give him a copy of my new CD and we got a picture together.



I have a song on the new CD that is one of my favorite Joe Sample compositions in the world - It Happens Every Day. I had to give him a copy and really hope he ends up not hating it; maybe even liking our version.

So, all the details - The bash was in a new place and had a giant stage and real festival feel. The performers were amazing and the smart people that went this year had a great time (from what I heard when I was cruising around).

The line-up for the 19th annual Birthday Bash event included Joe Sample, Tony Guerrero,  Nick Colionne, Jessy J, Brian Simpson, Derek Bordeaux, Richard Smith, Max Bennett, Michael Paulo, Billy Mitchell, Jackiem Joyner, Sara Gazarek, Greg Adams, Dan Siegel, Steve Oliver, Nils, Michael Manson, Steve Ferrone, Brian Bromberg, Greg Vail, Ron Powell, Rob Whitlock, Blake Aaron, Evan Stone, Shannon Kennedy, Johnny Blas, Keith Smith, Mombo Hernandez, Donnell Spencer, Tim Landers, Nate Scott, Gerard Hagen, Joey Sellers, and Rafael Feliciano.

It was truly a great show this year and the Greg Man got lots of on stage time. I played on the featured songs of Dan Siegel, Richard Smith, Max Bennett with Joe Sample, Tony Guerrero, Michael Manson, Billy Mitchell and just about everybody there was being a sideman for other artists, so I got stage time with most or all of the list above!

My feature was picked of my new Smooth Jazz Classics CD with the same name and featured Blake Aaron Guitar, Rob Whitlock Keys, Tim Landers Bass, Donnell Spencer Drums and Rafael Feliciano percussion. Horns were Jessy J, Michael Paulo, Shannon Kennedy Saxes, Greg Adams, Tony Guerrero and Keith Smith Trumpets and Joey Sellers Trombone. It went really good with the exception of never having played this live before and not really remembering the form real well or what parts I had given to the lead alto book for doubles. Overall - great fun!!

I did eat a 4 bar horn section turn around and kept forgetting the alto double parts where the low parts for Michael Paulo,  so I kept starting in the wrong octave. I was on stage 4 or 5 tunes in a row going into my song and was totally freaking trying to get an alto sax warmed up in that cold outdoor environment  and charts handed out at the last minute. Can't complain about stage time, but just wish I had 1 song off before my feature to get the players set up and charts handed out.

I can't wait to see the video. I missed it last night at the after party because I wasn't paying attention to where the show was at in relationship to when I played my song. Oh ya - The In Crowd was my new CD opener and BASH feature. Horns sounded great and thanks to everyone that did a great job on that one for me!!

Now you have to wait until next year to see the 2009 KSBR BASH if you missed this one. Go check out KSBR.net for the BASH follow up and pics to be posted soon.

Hope you had a great Memorial Day!

Greg Vail SAXBOY

Another BASH Greg Vail pic from Cary Gillaspie at ScenicJAZZ.com



Right pic stolen from KSBR.net - shows the cool new stage - like way big time baby...

 

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