Jazz Matinee: Gentlemen Of Jazz Tribute to Erroll Garner

About This Event

Margo McKeon-vocals, Santo Maglio-piano, Alan Lewine-bass, Bob McKeon-drums

Join us as we go back in time to celebrate the music of Erroll Garner’s number one jazz album of the year, Concert by the Sea. We’ll also look at some of the history regarding the album cover photo along with the taped recording of the concert itself.

The album was released in 1955. At that time, album covers, as well as the artist, were what grabbed the attention of buyers. As was the case, when Clifford Brown and Max Roach released “Study in Brown.” Sarah Vaughan and Clifford Brown released an album, “Sarah Vaughan.” Miles Davis started recording “Round About Midnight,” October 1955.

The record, Concert by the Sea, launched Erroll Garner as a household name. And Garner’s name was now mentioned in articles other than Louis Armstrong. In 1991, the Erroll Garner Trio’s greatest hit, “Misty,” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. And, Garner’s album “Concert by the Sea,” was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

Santo Maglio, (Piano/Keyboards) While living in Wisconsin he kept busy as a full time musician. An opportunity came his way and he moved to Las Vegas finding steady work playing and backing up such luminaries as: Al Jarreau, Carl Fontana, Carson Smith, Mills Brothers, Andrew Sisters, Brenda Lee, Peter Allen, Matt Munro, Gianni Russo along with working at all of the top Las Vegas resorts for over 31 years. • Santo had the privilege of playing at the “Jazz at the Kitano,” in NYC. Santo joined the Gentlemen of Jazz 5 years ago and also gigs with other leading groups in the Valley. In real life Santo is a librarian with the Maricopa County Library.

Alan Lewine is a bassist, a composer and the founder of Owlsong Productions (www.owlsong.com). In Phoenix since 2020, Lewine has performed and recorded all over the U.S., Europe from Spain to Israel, Cuba and Mexico. His influences include many forms of music – the history of jazz, flamenco, North African, salsa and gamelan music. He has performed with afropop stars as well as many jazz and some classical notables. Milt Hinton was an early mentor, and later Charlie Haden, Leroy Vinnegar, Ray Brown, John Clayton, Lynn Seaton and Bruce Gertz. Alan also studied traditional Ghanaian (Ewe) percussion with Obo Addy, Balinese gamelan with I Nyoman Suadin, flamenco with Julián Vaquero and Victór Monge, and traditional country blues with Johnny Never. Alan has performed with Eddie Daniels, Kenny Davern, Richie Cole, Joe Henderson, Clifford Jordan, Henry Threadgill, Vinnie Golia, Anita O’Day, Sheila Jordan, Mose Allison, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Roy Hargrove, Herb Ellis, Gus Johnson, Sweets Edison, Mickey Roker, Stephane Grapelli and many others.

Bob McKeon (Drums) Bob is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was on the road during the late 50’s, with various groups, spending time in New York, Pennsylvania and Indiana. While in Grand Rapids, Bob worked holding down the drum chair on a local TV weekly variety show, and formed a quartet with Doug Cook along with his wife, Margo as vocalist. Bob and Margo, moved to the Valley in 2000 and has stayed busy playing with local jazz musicians. Among his accomplishments, Bob has held down the drum chair for musicals, including Minsky Burlesque Show, Annie, Sweet Charity and Charlie Brown. He also gigged with the Treme Brass Band from New Orleans and is drummer for the Sun Lakes Big Band and various smaller groups. He played drums with the Foster Oden Trio for 14 years. Bob played for the Prescott Jazz Society as drummer with world renown jazz greats: Richie Cole, Billy Mitchell & Harold Land, Jr. And, late in December (2013) Bob was part of the Prescott Jazz Society’s 20th Year Celebration working with songstress Clairdee and the Ken French Trio (world renown, San Francisco jazz greats), Milt Cannon, Robert Vann, Dmitri Matheny, Charles McPherson, and Sherry Roberson. More recently he’s played with the Crawford Bros. and The Gentlemen of Jazz + One, with Margo as vocalist. Bob is also currently active with the Eddie Ambrose Trio here in the Valley. In real life Bob is a free-lance national award winning graphic designer.

Margo McKeon, (Vocals) spent many years performing in musical theater including the Stagetrunk Dinner Theater with a Cole Porter Revue call “Cole.” After some time off to raise their children, she returned to singing with her husband’s group the Doug Cook/Bob McKeon Quartet while living in Michigan. After moving to Arizona in 2000, she began singing occasionally with the Foster Oden Trio. She had the good fortune to sing at Croce’s in San Diego with favorite Daniel Jackson and at Lone Butte Casino with local musician, Ken Wain. She also fronted her own group the E G B Trio and more recently has been featured vocalist with the Gentlemen Of Jazz.

TICKETS:
Tier 1: $30 (Tier 1 seats are at 2-top tables)
Tier 2: $27
Tier 3: $22
Students $8.80 (Use code “student” at checkout)
(Plus processing costs)