Carl Lewis

Carl Lewis is a true Texas tenor with a big sound that’s matched only by his big stature and big personality.

Lewis, a Houston native, trained under the late, great Conrad O. Johnson and received musical training at Texas Southern University’s Summer Jazz Workshop and Florida State University. He later received his Master’s Degree from Florida A&M University, where he was a member of the world renowned Marching 100.

At a young age, Lewis showed musical interest by playing piano, drums, and trombone by ear. He began on alto saxophone at Catholic elementary school, took private lessons under his mentor, the aforementioned Johnson, and honed his skills in the orchestra at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. The fabled church on Houston’s Dowling Street provided Lewis with the artistic freedom to develop his command of the horn through gospel music. Lewis’s approach to various genres — from soul and Latin to pop, hip-hop, and jazz — highlights the individual sound of each while carrying the passion and anointment of those gospel roots.

The unmistakably rich tone of his saxophone has been included in the credits of several recordings and has graced the stage with Myron Butler, Jonathan Nelson, and Tye Tribbet. Lewis has been a staple in the Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston jazz scenes and is currently touring from his base in Melbourne, FL. He plays several other instruments as well and is an accomplished vocalist (he’s well known for his uncanny Louis Armstrong impersonation), and he’s performed with smooth jazz icons like Kim Waters, Jonathan Butler, Horace Alexander Young, and the legendary Stanley Turentine.

Catch Carl Lewis Friday, April 20 at Heidi’s Jazz Club (7 N. Orlando Ave. in downtown Cocoa Beach). Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call Heidi’s at 783-4459 to find out more.

Igor & Red Elvises

If Igor and Red Elvises aren’t in the middle of a tour, they are getting ready for the next one — this is a group that is constantly in motion and consistently evolving. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and showman extraordinaire Igor Yuzov is perpetually globetrotting, and in the process he has found scores of wildly talented, entertaining musicians to bring into the fold of this increasingly international party band.

Red Elvises started out in 1995 as a Russian group, playing what they dubbed “Siberian Surf Rock.” Since then, the band has included musicians from many other countries including the United States, Israel, Puerto Rico, and Bulgaria. Everyone who performs with them for any length of time brings something different both energetically and musically. At various times shows have included keyboards, accordions, sax, clarinet, trumpet, flute, banjo, mandolin, tuba and many other instruments. Old and new fans alike can expect to be surprised at shows again and again, however the roots of Red Elvises remain the same: Igor’s unique brand of humor combined with guitar-based rock ‘n’ roll that makes audiences want to sing, dance, scream, and shout.

Red Elvises began in 1995 after Yuzov dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock ‘n’ roll. Not one to say no to the King, he and his Russian friends started playing on Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade. Their street musician days did not last long, however, as they drew such huge crowds that the City of Santa Monica brought them to court and ordered them off the streets. Since then Red Elvises have been constantly touring, with occasional breaks from the road to record an album or take part in film and television projects. This constant work for the last 15 years has led to them gaining a world-wide following, with successful tours all over North America, Europe and Russia.

Igor & Red Elvises have declined several major record deals, prefering to maintain independent status and produce all their own work. This includes 11 studio albums, one live album, a live concert DVD and a Greatest Hits compilation. Added to their long resume is work in film (“Six String Samurai”; “Mail Order Bride”; “Armageddon”) and television (“Melrose Place”; “Penn and Teller’s Sin City Extravaganza”; VH-1′s “Behind the Music” and MTV).

They can be found playing everything from large festivals to private parties, small venues to massive stages such as 2005′s Live 8 Benefit Concert. Whatever the event, wherever Igor & Red Elvises go, they bring the party with them. – Jamie Vercauteren © 2009

Igor & Red Elvises perform on Friday, April 20 at the Cocoa Beach Brewing Co. (150 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach). Call 613-2941 for more details. Visit the band online at www.redelvises.com

 Victor Wainwright & The Wildroots

Victor Wainwright, singer, pianist, and self-described “hepcat” from Memphis, Tennessee (by way of Savannah, Georgia), is a raucous, high-octane performer and crowd pleaser with soul to spare. After earning what he calls a “double major in Boogie, a Ph.D. in Swing, and a Master’s in Rhythm,” the “Piana’ from Savannah” is making a name for himself in a big way.

Wainwright, along with collaborator and bassist/producer Stephen Dees and the WildRoots, aims to deliver a blues and American roots tour de force when he performs at the Beach Shack this April 8.

Dees is a rock ‘n’ roll veteran, who has toured and recorded as a bassist and vocalist for Hall & Oates, Todd Rundgren, Pat Travers, and Foghat, to name but a few. He made the Billboard and MTV charts with his band Novo Combo, and has received great acclaim for his original rock band, Bandees.

The boogie blues piano player and savvy pop-rocker met in 2004 in Ormond Beach, FL, where they were both on the bill of a benefit concert. Impressed after hearing each other perform and finding that they had a common love for blues, R&B, and roots rock of of the ’50s and 60′s, they discussed the possibility of collaborating on a recording project to pay homage to the music that influenced them. Dees agreed to produce and co-write what would become Wainwright’s 2005 release, Piana from Savannah, of which one critic said, “It’s hard to follow the speed limit while it’s playing… Pinetop Perkins would be proud.”

After its release and some outstanding live performances, the pair knew they had found something special and decided to forge a more enduring working relationship, and Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots were born. Also comprised of guitarist Greg Gumpel on guitar, saxophonists Ray Guiser and Patricia Ann Dees, and drummer Billy Dean, the quintet have been hailed as one of the tightest in the contemporary blues scene. Together, they provide a conduit for Wainwright’s passion for B.B. King, Ray Charles, James Brown, Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, Louis Jordan, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard.

On the heels of their critically acclaimed 2009 debut, Beale Street to the Bayou, their new album, Lit Up, is poised to ignite blues fans with a freshness and flair that’s hard to ignore.

Catch Victor Wainwright and the WildRoots at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy. in Cocoa Beach) Saturday, April 8 at 8:30 p.m. Call 783-2250 for more details. Visit Victor and the band online at www.wildrootsrecords.com

AMBROSIA

In 1970, four young musicians from the South Bay of Los Angeles came together to create a new, invigorating style of music.

Exploring the possibilities of progressive classical and world influences, yet rooted with the soul of the blues and R&B, Joseph Puerta, Christopher North, David Pack, and Burleigh Drummond formed Ambrosia in pursuit of that goal.

Originally labeled as America’s answer to the progressive invasion of such English acts as Yes and King Crimson, the group quickly proved it was all that and much more. Its albums painted aural landscapes covering the gamut of musical styles and attracted collaborators that were just as diverse — Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Zubin Mehta, and Alan Parsons among them.

It their brief recording history, Ambrosia garnered five Grammy nominations, five hit singles — like “How Much I Feel,” “Biggest Part of Me,” and “You’re the Only Woman” — heavy FM airplay, and the admiration and respect of the musical community — all this in addition to sold-out concerts around the world.

Today the band is more alive than ever. Three of the four original members still perform as Ambrosia, and are now joined by keyboardist David Lewis, guitarist Doug Jackson, and singer Ken Stacey.

Relive the magic on Saturday, April 28 at the 2012 Cocoa Beach Wine and Food Festival at Lori Wilson Park. To find out more, visit www.cocoabeachwinefoodfestival.com

Southern Fried Genocide
Southern Fried Genocide
Self-released; 2012

Cars, liquor, and being gainfully employed by the cloven-hoofed boss of the underworld are all topics that get equal air time on this self-titled release by the Melbourne-based Southern Fried Genocide.

Formed from the still smoldering ashes of the now-defunct Zombie Jesus, Southern Fried Genocide ups the ante with solid slabs of suvern blacktop boogie served white hot.

With buzzy, volatile guitars that sound as though they might come apart at any moment, most of the songs are performed in overdrive tempos and as such, is perfect skateboarding/irritate-the-neighbors music. The songs bring to mind dark images of horror films, running ‘shine, and street races that end badly for someone.

Original, brash, and decidedly nervy with his coarsely agitated vocal delivery, frontman Stevo delivers a memorable performance throughout the album. But main guitarist Mark, a.k.a. “Rockshow,” steals the show every time he steps up to take a lead, most notably on “Working for the Devil.” Like a possessed Chuck Berry crossed with Rick Neilsen, Mark plays as if he has something to prove, and his fretwork is incendiary, fluid, and melodic. There are more than enough chops to spare on these eight tracks.

The lineup is rounded out by Wes AWESOME (rhythm guitar), Reid (bass), and Ralph (drums), all gifted, agile players who lay down impressive rhythms at breakneck speeds. Proof of these solid, unwavering tempos is the freedom they afford Mark’s over-the-top lead work on standouts like “Four Door Hornet” and “The Dreggs.”

The band have been gigging steadily, with high profile dates opening for national acts like Cracker, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, and Brooklyn’s Hull under their belts. Southern Fried Genocide are a solid five-piece who show nothing but promise of great things to come with this high-octane debut.

– M.A. Rivera

The Cocoa Beach Pier’s 2010 Reggae Beach Splash

This year’s Reggae Beach Splash, which is held annually at the Cocoa Beach Pier, boasts one of the most impressive lineups in its long history.

Reggae lovers should be no strangers to Ali Campbell, whose distinctive vocals helped catapult UB40 to fame during the ’80s. During his time with the band, they sold over 60 million records worldwide, toured across the globe, notched up four number #1 worldwide singles, over 40 Top 40 UK singles, released 24 studio albums, and received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement. An entire generation has grown up listening to Campbell’s stirring vocals on classics like “One in Ten,” “Red Red Wine,” “Don’t Break My Heart,” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” In January 2008, Campbell announced his departure from UB40, after 28 years with the band, due to management and business disputes, which are part of an ongoing investigation. Following his departure, UB40 keyboardist Mickey Virtue also resigned from the band for the same reasons and has now joined Campbell as part of his new venture, the DEP band. Whether as part of UB40 or in his solo career, Campbell has always stayed true to his love of reggae and its ongoing capacity for innovation.

Dubbed “The King of Lover’s Rock” by millions of fans, Maxi Priest knows that music is universal. Over the course of 10 albums and countless live performances all over the globe, he’s unleashed one-world music that heals, rejuvenates and uplifts. The second youngest of nine children, Maxi’s parents moved to London from Jamaica in his youth. While working as a carpenter building speaker boxes for a local reggae sound-system, Maxi began singing over the mic at live dancehall sessions with artists such as Smiley Culture. In 1984, Maxi made a bit of history after he and Paul “Barry Boom” Robinson produced Philip Levi’s “Mi God Mi King,” the first UK reggae tune to reach #1 in Jamaica. His 1988 album “Maxi” was recorded in Jamaica with legendary musicians Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, and Willie Londo, and was released in America by Virgin Records. With “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” a cover of Cat Steven’s classic “Wild World” that gave Maxi his first U.S. smash hit, and roots tracks like his duet with Beres Hammond, “How Can We Ease The Pain,” Maxi’s music was taken to an entirely new level, gaining him worldwide recognition. Since that debut, Maxi has enjoyed tremendous success as a singer with popularity and recognition around the world. In fact, he is the most successful reggae solo artist in the world, second only to legend Bob Marley.

Recording artist Julian “JuJu” Marley of the famous Reggae clan, and whose solo album Awake was recently released to popular and critical claim, also joins The Supervillians, local band Over The Void, and The Naturalistics for the March 27 event.

The 2010 Reggae Beach Splash takes place at the Cocoa Beach Pier on March 27 at 5 p.m. General admission tickets are $29 (includes the area on the beach behind the Gold and Silver as well as the areas on the Pier. No seats included except on Pier); Silver tickets are $49 (the next 25 rows of seats in front of the stage); Gold tickets are $69 (the first 12 rows of seats in front of the stage). VIP tickets are $129, and include a backstage pass, a Gold seat in one of the first two rows, and a souvenir t-shirt. Tickets are on sale now at the Pier (783-7549; www.cocoabeachpier.com) and through Ticketmaster (800-745-3000; www.ticketmaster.com).

Larry Coryell is one of the world’s acknowledged guitar masters. He’s recorded more than 75 albums over the past 40 years as a bandleader, soloist and featured accompanist. Hailed by his legion of fans as one of “the guitar gods” in the late 1970s and as a “truly Renaissance musician who excels at all styles of playing”, he has also been christened as “a true pioneer of rock-jazz fusion” by the New York Times, and dubbed “the Godfather of Fusion” by Dan Ouellette of Down Beat Magazine.

Born in Galveston, Texas, Coryell tried his hand at a number of instruments before settling on the guitar. He credits Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry and Wes Montgomery as his prime influences. He arrived in New York City via Seattle in 1965, and began honing his formidable instrumental skill as the basis for his musical expression. To master every aspect of the guitar, Coryell also studied classical guitar with Leonid Bolotine. After developing the first incarnation of his virtuoso technique, he played his “first big time job” with Killer Joe Piro. National recognition then came during his tenure with the Gary Burton Quartet in 1967.

The late ’60s and early ’70s saw Coryell as one of the most in-demand guitarists in rock, jazz and all musical genres. During that time he was part of rock’s experimental phase, touring with Jack Bruce, and sitting in sessions with Jimmy Webb, the 5th Dimension, Charles Mingus, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. In 1974, Coryell formed The 11th House , the most popular and successful fusion band of its time, which included his friend and colleague Randy Brecker. After The 11th House disbanded, Coryell was signed by Clive Davis for Arista Records, where he made a series of solo albums, followed by a direct-to-disc recording with the Brecker Brothers.

A regular headliner at the Blue Note and Iridium in New York City, Catalina’s in L.A., DC’s Blues Alley and Ronnie Scott’s in London, Coryell is also no stranger to the huge open-air music festivals in the Far East, Europe, Brazil, even sell-out appearances at London’s Barbican.

Catch Larry Coryell Saturday, April 11th from 8:30 to 12:30 at Heidi’s Jazz Club, 7 N. Orlando Avenue in downtown Cocoa Beach. For more information, call 783-4559, or check Heidi’s website: www.heidisjazzclub.com. Visit Coryell’s website — www.larrycoryell.net — for extensive photo galleries and tour information.