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The fall edition of the Arizona Jazz Festival

Arizona Jazz Festival 2014
Arizona Grand Resort and Spa
Phoenix, AZ
October 24-26, 2014
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Fantasia
Fantasia
Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

The desert skies were alive with the Fall Arizona Jazz festival in Phoenix, AZ. Fall festival season is here and the Arizona Jazz Festival is BTW's star-studded offering. There was nothing sedate about the Friday night performances.

The afternoon started with the smooth soprano saxophone of Dee Lucas. Mr. Lucas gave the crowd his fresh, honest approach to contemporary jazz. His first album release was ten years ago and now he has released his fifth album, "The Smooth Factor." His forty-minute set allowed the crowd to get their groove on before Boney James brought in his soulful sax.

Boney James burst on the stage ready to entertain the crowd with his rowdy saxophone styling that left no one in their seat. Mr. James cruised through the crowd while playing his instrument to make sure everyone was up and dancing. This was not just a front row jaunt. He covered the whole depth of the venue. This crowd pleaser is a four-time Grammy nominee and BET award winner. He is a true soul artist and the saxophone is his voice. He worked the stage from all angles kept the momentum throughout his 75-minute set.

Jaheim was a flawless, perfectionistic performer who seemed to sing effortlessly. His smooth RnB vocals had the women in the audience in swoon mode from the start. Jaheim started as a rap artist fifteen years ago and he transition over to R&B. His vocals have the timbre and style of Luther Vandross and last night one could close his/her eyes and imagine Luther at times. During the set he invited one of the women in the audience on stage for an intimate moment. She left the stage with long-stemmed red roses and heart palpitations at the end of the song.

Philly's finest, Boyz II Men finished the night's festivities with their classic RnB ballads and a cappella-harmonies in grand style. Earlier in their career they were a four-member group, but over the last ten years they have been three: Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockton. For an unknown reason, during this set the sound became uncomfortably loud. Prior to this, the sound had been perfect. Regardless, They covered their extensive songbook of Grammy winning hit songs to an adoring crowd.

There were more great musical treats on the second night. Fantasia came out fighting like she was back on American Idol and she was relentless throughout her set! My first shout out goes to Chrisette Michele. Chrisette has been on the music scene for a number of years and she has four albums to her credit. The fourth album is entitled "Better," which seems very appropriate. She is labeled as an RnB artist, but it was apparent in the short amount of time that this young lady can sing anything. She takes on jazz with aplomb. If she was interested in opera, I believe she could master that as well! Her voice is that phenomenal. It was a great set to get the crowd off their chairs.

The 'studley' Brian McKnight stepped out on the stage to an excited standing female crowd. (Well maybe some men too.) This handsome, velvet voiced crooner kept the energy going throughout his 90-minute set. He tried to make his set as interactive as possible considering that this was a large outdoor venue. At one point during the show he picked out one audience member to serenade on the stage. She was ecstatic when he kissed her cheek at the end of the song. Mr. McKnight gave the crowd a good selection of his hits throughout his twenty-year career. Other than the choice of purple lighting though a large portion of the set, it was an exceptional performance.

Fantasia brought her rock-soul music on the stage like a lightning bolt and kept striking during her 90-minute set! From the reaction of the crowd, it was apparent that she was whom they came to see. It was a party and Fantasia was the hostess. Her voice was superb. She sang hits like "Collard Greens & Cornbread." The song that brought the house down was "Side Effects of You" from the album of the same name. She introduced the song as a song that she was hesitant to record. It was too personal and she didn't think she could do it. She called her mother for advice on what she should do. Mom gave her the advice she needed and the result is one of the most heart wrenching, vulnerable songs of her career. Fantasia gave us the extended version of the song. She generously gave each background singer an opportunity to sing solo during the song. It was a brilliant performance enjoyed by all.

"Uncle" Charlie Wilson finished the evening festivities in grand style as only he can do. The train conductor called for everyone to climb aboard! He exploded on stage with his dancers with perfect chorography dancing across the stage. At age 61, he moves like a man half his age! It was the Charlie Wilson party and everyone was out of their seats for the event. Wilson, who enjoyed chart-topping success more than 30 years ago with The Gap Band, brought the old school hits to Phoenix. He seamlessly weaved in the new. There is no running out of steam for Charlie Wilson any time soon.

The third day of the festival brought more entertainment from KEM, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Mint Condition, Brian Culberson and more. The good times continued without me I'm sure. There's always next year.

Related articles:

Arizona Jazz Fest 2013 - Festival review Tucson, AZ October 2013


Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Fantasia
Fantasia
Dee Lucas
Dee Lucas
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson
Jaheim
Jaheim
Jaheim
Jaheim
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boney James
Boney James
Boney James
Boney James
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Fantasia
Fantasia
Jaheim
Jaheim

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