FRED'S BLOG JUNE '08
Hello, everyone. Wow, half the year has already flown by and many wonderful events have occurred. First of all, Marcia and I became engaged and celebrated with a big bash and gig at Joe’s of Lafayette. We felt very blessed to celebrate this joyous occasion with our dear family, friends, and fans.
In addition, my quintet started the summer on a swingin’ note with an awesome show at the Sonoma Wine and Song Festival on May 24th. The band truly played their hearts out and everybody had a great time. We plan to continue the summer fun at the Fillmore Jazz Festival on July 5th, Pearl’s on July 20th, the Old First Church on August 3rd, and our semi-regular gigs at Joe’s of Lafayette on June 13th, July 11th, August 1st, and September 5th. I also have some gigs scheduled with my trio and quartet, so be on the lookout for those upcoming shows.
As usual, I continued my work as a sideman with many amazing groups in the Bay Area, such as the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Collective West Jazz Orchestra, Sandy Cressman's Homenagem Brasileira, and Michael Smolens’s Kriya. I also collaborated with the gifted composer Hugo Wainzinger on Shanna Carlson's new CD, both as an arranger and bassist. This summer, I will be playing regularly with Latin Perspective at the Shoreline in Benicia, the Dan Zemelman Quartet, and Julie Homi’s Homiopathy, just to name a few.
Finally, the school year ended on a high note with my students at Stanley Middle School and the Bishop O’Dowd jazz band who both gave outstanding performances at their end of the year concerts.
I could not have done all of this without the talented players with whom I work and, especially, you, the people who come out and support my efforts and enjoy the music. Thank you so much and stay “tuned” for further announcements.
FRED'S 1st BLOG
Hello and welcome to my website! This past year has been an incredibly busy and exciting one for me. I have been leading my own band, The Fred Randolph Quintet (Fred Randolph, basses; Erik Jekabson, trumpet; Rob Roth, saxes; Dan Zemelman, piano; and Alan Hall, drums) and promoting the release of my second solo CD New Day (Creative Spirit Records) which received its premiere at The Jazz School in December 2006. This highly successful concert was recorded for broadcast on KCSM’s (91.1 FM) Sunday Night Series and received significant airplay on that station as well as on KSDS (Jazz 88) in San Diego. I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by the great Chuy Varela last March on his show Jazz in the Afternoon. The mojo continued as my quintet played for receptive audiences at The Jazz School, Hillside Club, Bistro Yoffi, Octavia Lounge, and Joe’s of Lafayette, where my girlfriend and I also celebrated our birthdays with a big bash and gig.
As usual, I have been performing as a bassist with many of the Bay Area’s finest orchestras and musicians, such as the Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and Collective West Jazz Orchestra at Pearl’s, Sandy Cressman’s Homenagem Brasileira, Kenny Washington, Larry Dunlap, Frank Martin, and Marcos Silva. In addition, I had a fun interlude with Julie Homi’s band Homiopathy, which included Russ Gold, Dann Zinn, and Barry Finnerty, where we tore it up at the Shoreline in Benicia. I also ventured heavily into the world music scene via gigs with Michael Smolens’s Earplay and Kriya, Musa Hanhan’s Sababa Band, and the Iranian singer, Rana Farhan.
I am a firm believer that undertaking new challenges stretches my creative boundaries as a musician. Thus, I took a step in a new direction by serving as a producer and arranger for the CD debut of Shelly Kutilek, an up and coming singer who is a former member of the Oakland Jazz Choir. It was a wonderful experience and opportunity.
I continue to teach several private students; serve as the director of The Groove Merchants, the Stanley Middle School jazz combo; and give my class in Musical Notation at The Jazz School. I most recently began teaching at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland where I am developing the school’s jazz program.
Please stay tuned for further news and updates. I expect that 2008 will be an even busier and action-packed year. None of this would have been possible without the support of my friends and fans. I am so appreciative and want to extend a big “Thank You” to all of you! I hope you continue to feed your soul with The Fred Randolph Quintet. |
