On Friday, Aug. 22, Gordon Goodwin and his Little Phat Band will take the stage at Tavern Bay Beach Club, bringing the joy of jazz and funk wrapped in a big band swing.
The band members are seasoned pros, ready to win over every audience they entertain. The band features Mike Rocha on trumpet; Brian Scanlon, saxophone; Francisco Torres, trombone; Gordon Goodwin, piano; Kevin Act, bass; Ray Brinker, drums; Will Brahm, guitar; Joey De Leon Jr., percussion; and Vangie Gunn, vocals.
Goodwin – the leader of the band – has scored 17 films, six television series and has recorded and performed with Mel Torme, Ray Charles and Christina Aguilera. He received a Grammy for best instrumental arrangement for the film The Incredibles, among his many individual awards.
In addition, Goodwin has been a guest conductor for numerous symphony orchestras and has worked with top artists like Johnny Mathis, Patti Austin, Toni Braxton, John Williams, Natalie Cole, David Foster, Sarah Vaugh, Quincy Jones and many others.
The mountain’s own Ara Tokatlian and his quintet will be the opening act on Aug. 22.
The Little Phat Band has been described as a contemporary group of great soloists who put out an exhilarating sound that is fiery. Their music is said to be an extension of the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich and Earth, Wind and Fire that sounds astonishing in live performance.
Opening for the Little Phat Band will be the mountain’s own Ara Tokatlian and his quintet. Tokatlian – an alto and soprano saxophonist, pianist and vocalist – has toured with his father’s band, Arco Iris, a rock and jazz fusion band from Argentina. He is currently studying jazz saxophone at Riverside City College and has a goal of majoring in music performance. He has performed at the previous three Blue Jay Jazz Festivals as a scholarship winner, opening for and performing with artists like Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, George Whitty, Billy Mitchell, Yuko Mabuchi and Andre Berry.
The quintet also includes Javier Alverez, Joseph Orellana, Jade Pareja and Carson Ramos.
Alverez is a bassist, recording engineer and recording artist from Moreno Valley. He is studying voice and bass as Riverside City College and is interested in majoring in music performance.
Drummer Joseph Orellana is also a producer and recording artist who is currently studying at Riverside City College with an eye toward majoring in music performance.
Jade Pareja is a pianist, flautist and music educator from Hemet. She is currently majoring in music at Riverside City College, specializing in piano performance. She gives piano and flute classes at Wildebietz Music Conservatory.
Carson Ramos is a guitarist and music educator from Hemet. He is studying guitar at Riverside City College with an interest in majoring in music performance. He gives guitar classes at Wildebietz Music Conservatory.
For tickets to this year’s Blue Jay Jazz Festival – Shuffle, Swing & Sizzle – visit bluejayjazz.org/tickets or call (909) 366-6955. No food or beverages will be sold at the Friday night concert so guests should bring their own picnic baskets. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Tavern Bay Beach Club is located at 28399 East North Shore Road in Lake Arrowhead.
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