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Get your tickets and a weekend on the town in Salem: SPECIAL OFFER FROM THE SALEM INN! This Fabulous Salem Inn Package includes:
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The Salem Inn has a limited amount of tickets, so book soon! More information |
Our 4th Annual Spring Gala kicks
off the 2010 festival season on
April 17 at PEM! Place a
message in the evening’s
program guide – you’ll help
support our cause while
promoting your organization or
business - More information.
off the 2010 festival season on
April 17 at PEM! Place a
message in the evening’s
program guide – you’ll help
support our cause while
promoting your organization or
business - More information.
TICKETS @:
PEM's website
The PEM box office, East India
Square, Salem, MA
Via phone 978.745.9500
PEM's website
The PEM box office, East India
Square, Salem, MA
Via phone 978.745.9500
ABOUT THE EVENING'S PERFORMERS
DAVID MAXWELL
Website
Grammy Award winner David Maxwell has amassed an enormous resume throughout the years, playing piano with some of the
greatest and best-known musicians in the blues. David plays many styles of blues, jazz and improvised music, but he is best known
for his soulful virtuosity and unmatched ability to reach the heart of post-war Chicago Blues. Through his work, he has gained the
respect of artists, critics and fans and established a reputation as one of the finest blues pianists alive.
In the last decade, David received over a half dozen WC Handy and Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award for recorded work, as
well as Handy nominations for instrumental performance. He’s toured with many of the greats including Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt,
James Cotton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rodgers, Charley Musselwhite, Johnny Adams and Ronnie Earl; and
gigs with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Levon Helm, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lowell Fulsom, Junior
Wells and many others. He has been involved in well over 50 recording sessions and can be found playing keys on many blues
albums that have been released over the last 25 years. Of note, David backed up Keith Richards and Eric Clapton for Hubert Sumlin's
CD, "About Them Shoes" released in 2005.
David's music was used in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" and in the TV series "Touched By An Angel". He has performed on
"Late Night with Conan O' Brien" and is on several videos playing with Freddie King in the early 70's.
David has performed in major festivals, theaters and clubs in North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco, Israel, and Japan, and
keeps busy today playing, recording, and teaching (and nurturing his interests in jazz, ethnic and improvised music.).
"I don't think anybody could be tighter playing the blues on the piano than David Maxwell. He plays the blues like it should be played.
He plays the low-down, dirty, funky blues. He's got it all together." - John Lee Hooker
BENJAMIN ZECKER
Ben Zecker has gained a reputation as one of the more exciting and in demand young musicians in New England. Maybe you've
heard him with funk masters such as, John Blackwell and the Matrix, various side projects of the Soulive crew, The Boston Horns, or
playing in one of his own straight-ahead jazz or funk projects featuring some of the finest musicians in the Boston scene. Over the
years Ben has had the opportunity to play or share stages with Little Feat, Mike Clark, Melvin Sparks, Jordan Knight, Alan Evans,
Tower of Power, Reubin Wilson, The Bruce Bartlett Trio, Papa Grows Funk, Robert Walter, Euggie Castrillo, John Blackwell, Wallys
Step Children, and Sam Kininger to name just a few.
JEN KEARNEY
Website
Jen Kearney plays, writes and sings with a unique style, blending jazz riffs, latin and afro-cuban rhythms, Motown grooves and rock n’
roll sensibility. Her soulful vocal stylings are often compared to those of Stevie Wonder, but are truly her own.
Kearney’s eclectic approach was nurtured in her youth. A self-taught musician, her formal training included a few piano lessons as a
child followed by a stint at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s music program. But her best training came through relentlessly
playing live on the club circuit, both as a solo performer and with various bands. It was during this period that Jen also began honing
her writing style, which can be heard on her three studio-produced CDs with her band, The Lost Onion.
Through Jen’s non-stop schedule of live performances, she has built an extensive resume in the past few years, having the honors of
opening up for Los Lobos, Little Feat and Susan Tedeschi to name a few, as well as featured artist spots at The Lowell Folk Festival,
The Maine Garden Festival and the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival. In the Fall of 2009, she took over the much coveted Monday night
residency at the legendary Cambridge club, Toad, a spot held for more than 10 years by Tim Gearan. On any given Monday, a litany of
Boston-based musicians can be spotted in the crowd listening to Jen’s performances, always a reflection of a musician’s true talent.
FATS HAMMOND, FEATURING KEN CLARK AND MARTY ROWEN
Website (Ken Clark)
Website (Marty Rowen)
Fats Hammond is a North Shore legend featuring two of new England’s greatest Hammond B-3 organ players – Ken Clark and Marty
Rowen. Backed by the ever steady Benny Benson on drums and Mike Mele on guitar, for the past 12 years, Ken and Marty have never
ceased to amaze audiences with the unique sound of their B-3 organs, sometimes alternating back and forth with jaw-dropping
solos, sometimes melding together to create a wall of sound found nowhere else. Fats Hammond has two live CDs under their belt,
but in true jazz fashion, every time they play, magic happens as their extensive catalog of original material and obscure covers
changes through improvisation.
Ken Clark, a graduate of Berklee School of Music, has been wowing audiences locally and internationally for the past 20 years with
his fiery Hammond B-3 playing and soulful vocals. An accomplished keyboardist of all styles, Ken is best known for his organ-based
jazz with The Ken Clark Trio and Fats Hammond, but he loves to play piano as well, digging deep into the blues, rock and boogie
woogie and gospel with equal intensity. Ken’s roots began with him playing organ in his church as a boy and he is currently the
Musical Director for Unity On The River Church in Amesbury, MA, where he plays and leads the UOTR Choir in their Sunday
performances and special appearances throughout New England. Ken is a much sought after keyboardist, and has played and
toured internationally with the likes of Fathead Newman, Melvin Sparks, Michelle Willson, and Toni Lynn Washington to name a few,
and is featured on numerous CDs for his own bands and as a guest for others.
Marty Rowen is an accomplished songwriter, vocalist pianist, harmonica and guitar player with an extensive history of performing
professionally with his own bands and in support of others. Currently, Marty performs weekly playing B-3 organ with Fats Hammond
and on keyboards with his own band, Marty Rowan’s Last Call for Blues. This last is somewhat of a misnomer as Last Call goes well
beyond simple blues melding jazz and soul as well, as Marty also sings, plays harmonica and on occasion guitar with the band.
SJSF ALL STARS
Supporting the All Keyed Up artists will be The Salem Jazz and Soul All-Stars comprised of highly accomplished musicians based in
the Boston area. John Aruda (tenor & baritone sax), Benny Benson (drums), Michael Miksis (bass), Mike Mele (guitar) and Garret
Savluk (trumpet).
JOHN ARUDA has been playing saxophone professionally for more than 20 years. While found playing on any given night in the
Boston area on his own or alongside his trumpet playing brother, Scott Aruda, John has also played throughout the US and Europe
as well as China in support of other artists. As a freelance saxophone player, John plays frequently in support of top-bill performers
such as Alice Cooper, David Maxwell, Will Lee, Chuck Leavell and Simon Kirke. John is a regular member of bands with Jesse Dee,
Dwight & Nicole, Sea Monsters, Tim Gearan, The Soul Band, Superhoney and Toni Lynn Washington.
Originally from Ireland, BENNY BENSON has been supporting bands throughout the Boston and North Shore region for the past 20
years. No genre escapes him as he plays jazz, blues, rock and latin music with equal skill. Benny’s style is unique, and passionate.
Every beat he plays is based on tone as much as timing. SJSF is thrilled to have Benny on this bill as it seems he is in demand
seven days a week. Currently, he can be found behind the drums with Headshaft, Fats Hammond, Last Call for Blues, Los Sugar
Kings, Benson/Pike/Miksis, Sea Monsters, Christian McNeill and The Redeemers, and other showcase bands.
MIKE MIKSIS grew up in the Boston area, teaching himself bass at an early age and ultimately honing his skills and graduating from
Berklee College of Music. As with the rest of the SJSF All-Stars, Michael is in high demand and plays nearly every night of the week,
as well as teaching bass to kids and adults during the day. He has toured the US with bluegrass star, Warren Hood and the New
Orleans based funk band, Brotherhood of Groove. Locally, Michael currently plays with Jen Kearney, Last Call for Blues, Sea
Monsters, Headshaft, Benson/Pike/Miksis and Christian McNeill and The Redeemers, to name a few.
MIKE MELE, another graduate Berklee College of Music, is a regular member of The Ken Clark Trio, Rusty Scott Trio and Fats
Hammond. He has also played with many other Boston area jazz and blues greats, including Michelle Willson, Myanna, Marty Rowan
among others. Mike has toured and recorded internationally as well as having appeared on many live radio and television
broadcasts.
GARRET SAVLUK is one the premier trumpet players on the East Coast. Currently the leader of The Boston Horns and a featured
player with The Gringo Kings and The Boston Horns Big Band, Garret also owns a reputation as one of the leading sidemen in the
region. In High School, Garret won numerous awards and scholarships which led him to Berklee where he continued earning
accolades until graduation. Soon after, garret hooked up with Henley Douglas Jr. and the two formed the legendary Heavy Metal
Horns, initially a highly demanded horn section and eventually a full band of the same name. As the Heavy Metal Horns, Garret toured
the world with the band and as part of the band Extreme. In addition to playing, Garret is an accomplished writer and arranger,
authoring much of the material performed by The Boston Horns and Heavy metal Horns, and arranging the horn sections for various
performers including Grammy award winner, Sean Mullins. Garret’s resume also includes work with Tower of Power, Rita Moreno,
the Del Fuegos, Los Sugar Kings, and Bonerama.
MC, HENLEY DOUGLAS JR. Henley, an accomplished musician (Heavy Metal Horns, Boston Horns, Soul Force V), and co-founder of
the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, once again steps up to the stage to MC the Spring Gala!
DAVID MAXWELL
Website
Grammy Award winner David Maxwell has amassed an enormous resume throughout the years, playing piano with some of the
greatest and best-known musicians in the blues. David plays many styles of blues, jazz and improvised music, but he is best known
for his soulful virtuosity and unmatched ability to reach the heart of post-war Chicago Blues. Through his work, he has gained the
respect of artists, critics and fans and established a reputation as one of the finest blues pianists alive.
In the last decade, David received over a half dozen WC Handy and Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award for recorded work, as
well as Handy nominations for instrumental performance. He’s toured with many of the greats including Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt,
James Cotton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rodgers, Charley Musselwhite, Johnny Adams and Ronnie Earl; and
gigs with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Levon Helm, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lowell Fulsom, Junior
Wells and many others. He has been involved in well over 50 recording sessions and can be found playing keys on many blues
albums that have been released over the last 25 years. Of note, David backed up Keith Richards and Eric Clapton for Hubert Sumlin's
CD, "About Them Shoes" released in 2005.
David's music was used in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" and in the TV series "Touched By An Angel". He has performed on
"Late Night with Conan O' Brien" and is on several videos playing with Freddie King in the early 70's.
David has performed in major festivals, theaters and clubs in North America, Europe, Scandinavia, Morocco, Israel, and Japan, and
keeps busy today playing, recording, and teaching (and nurturing his interests in jazz, ethnic and improvised music.).
"I don't think anybody could be tighter playing the blues on the piano than David Maxwell. He plays the blues like it should be played.
He plays the low-down, dirty, funky blues. He's got it all together." - John Lee Hooker
BENJAMIN ZECKER
Ben Zecker has gained a reputation as one of the more exciting and in demand young musicians in New England. Maybe you've
heard him with funk masters such as, John Blackwell and the Matrix, various side projects of the Soulive crew, The Boston Horns, or
playing in one of his own straight-ahead jazz or funk projects featuring some of the finest musicians in the Boston scene. Over the
years Ben has had the opportunity to play or share stages with Little Feat, Mike Clark, Melvin Sparks, Jordan Knight, Alan Evans,
Tower of Power, Reubin Wilson, The Bruce Bartlett Trio, Papa Grows Funk, Robert Walter, Euggie Castrillo, John Blackwell, Wallys
Step Children, and Sam Kininger to name just a few.
JEN KEARNEY
Website
Jen Kearney plays, writes and sings with a unique style, blending jazz riffs, latin and afro-cuban rhythms, Motown grooves and rock n’
roll sensibility. Her soulful vocal stylings are often compared to those of Stevie Wonder, but are truly her own.
Kearney’s eclectic approach was nurtured in her youth. A self-taught musician, her formal training included a few piano lessons as a
child followed by a stint at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s music program. But her best training came through relentlessly
playing live on the club circuit, both as a solo performer and with various bands. It was during this period that Jen also began honing
her writing style, which can be heard on her three studio-produced CDs with her band, The Lost Onion.
Through Jen’s non-stop schedule of live performances, she has built an extensive resume in the past few years, having the honors of
opening up for Los Lobos, Little Feat and Susan Tedeschi to name a few, as well as featured artist spots at The Lowell Folk Festival,
The Maine Garden Festival and the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival. In the Fall of 2009, she took over the much coveted Monday night
residency at the legendary Cambridge club, Toad, a spot held for more than 10 years by Tim Gearan. On any given Monday, a litany of
Boston-based musicians can be spotted in the crowd listening to Jen’s performances, always a reflection of a musician’s true talent.
FATS HAMMOND, FEATURING KEN CLARK AND MARTY ROWEN
Website (Ken Clark)
Website (Marty Rowen)
Fats Hammond is a North Shore legend featuring two of new England’s greatest Hammond B-3 organ players – Ken Clark and Marty
Rowen. Backed by the ever steady Benny Benson on drums and Mike Mele on guitar, for the past 12 years, Ken and Marty have never
ceased to amaze audiences with the unique sound of their B-3 organs, sometimes alternating back and forth with jaw-dropping
solos, sometimes melding together to create a wall of sound found nowhere else. Fats Hammond has two live CDs under their belt,
but in true jazz fashion, every time they play, magic happens as their extensive catalog of original material and obscure covers
changes through improvisation.
Ken Clark, a graduate of Berklee School of Music, has been wowing audiences locally and internationally for the past 20 years with
his fiery Hammond B-3 playing and soulful vocals. An accomplished keyboardist of all styles, Ken is best known for his organ-based
jazz with The Ken Clark Trio and Fats Hammond, but he loves to play piano as well, digging deep into the blues, rock and boogie
woogie and gospel with equal intensity. Ken’s roots began with him playing organ in his church as a boy and he is currently the
Musical Director for Unity On The River Church in Amesbury, MA, where he plays and leads the UOTR Choir in their Sunday
performances and special appearances throughout New England. Ken is a much sought after keyboardist, and has played and
toured internationally with the likes of Fathead Newman, Melvin Sparks, Michelle Willson, and Toni Lynn Washington to name a few,
and is featured on numerous CDs for his own bands and as a guest for others.
Marty Rowen is an accomplished songwriter, vocalist pianist, harmonica and guitar player with an extensive history of performing
professionally with his own bands and in support of others. Currently, Marty performs weekly playing B-3 organ with Fats Hammond
and on keyboards with his own band, Marty Rowan’s Last Call for Blues. This last is somewhat of a misnomer as Last Call goes well
beyond simple blues melding jazz and soul as well, as Marty also sings, plays harmonica and on occasion guitar with the band.
SJSF ALL STARS
Supporting the All Keyed Up artists will be The Salem Jazz and Soul All-Stars comprised of highly accomplished musicians based in
the Boston area. John Aruda (tenor & baritone sax), Benny Benson (drums), Michael Miksis (bass), Mike Mele (guitar) and Garret
Savluk (trumpet).
JOHN ARUDA has been playing saxophone professionally for more than 20 years. While found playing on any given night in the
Boston area on his own or alongside his trumpet playing brother, Scott Aruda, John has also played throughout the US and Europe
as well as China in support of other artists. As a freelance saxophone player, John plays frequently in support of top-bill performers
such as Alice Cooper, David Maxwell, Will Lee, Chuck Leavell and Simon Kirke. John is a regular member of bands with Jesse Dee,
Dwight & Nicole, Sea Monsters, Tim Gearan, The Soul Band, Superhoney and Toni Lynn Washington.
Originally from Ireland, BENNY BENSON has been supporting bands throughout the Boston and North Shore region for the past 20
years. No genre escapes him as he plays jazz, blues, rock and latin music with equal skill. Benny’s style is unique, and passionate.
Every beat he plays is based on tone as much as timing. SJSF is thrilled to have Benny on this bill as it seems he is in demand
seven days a week. Currently, he can be found behind the drums with Headshaft, Fats Hammond, Last Call for Blues, Los Sugar
Kings, Benson/Pike/Miksis, Sea Monsters, Christian McNeill and The Redeemers, and other showcase bands.
MIKE MIKSIS grew up in the Boston area, teaching himself bass at an early age and ultimately honing his skills and graduating from
Berklee College of Music. As with the rest of the SJSF All-Stars, Michael is in high demand and plays nearly every night of the week,
as well as teaching bass to kids and adults during the day. He has toured the US with bluegrass star, Warren Hood and the New
Orleans based funk band, Brotherhood of Groove. Locally, Michael currently plays with Jen Kearney, Last Call for Blues, Sea
Monsters, Headshaft, Benson/Pike/Miksis and Christian McNeill and The Redeemers, to name a few.
MIKE MELE, another graduate Berklee College of Music, is a regular member of The Ken Clark Trio, Rusty Scott Trio and Fats
Hammond. He has also played with many other Boston area jazz and blues greats, including Michelle Willson, Myanna, Marty Rowan
among others. Mike has toured and recorded internationally as well as having appeared on many live radio and television
broadcasts.
GARRET SAVLUK is one the premier trumpet players on the East Coast. Currently the leader of The Boston Horns and a featured
player with The Gringo Kings and The Boston Horns Big Band, Garret also owns a reputation as one of the leading sidemen in the
region. In High School, Garret won numerous awards and scholarships which led him to Berklee where he continued earning
accolades until graduation. Soon after, garret hooked up with Henley Douglas Jr. and the two formed the legendary Heavy Metal
Horns, initially a highly demanded horn section and eventually a full band of the same name. As the Heavy Metal Horns, Garret toured
the world with the band and as part of the band Extreme. In addition to playing, Garret is an accomplished writer and arranger,
authoring much of the material performed by The Boston Horns and Heavy metal Horns, and arranging the horn sections for various
performers including Grammy award winner, Sean Mullins. Garret’s resume also includes work with Tower of Power, Rita Moreno,
the Del Fuegos, Los Sugar Kings, and Bonerama.
MC, HENLEY DOUGLAS JR. Henley, an accomplished musician (Heavy Metal Horns, Boston Horns, Soul Force V), and co-founder of
the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, once again steps up to the stage to MC the Spring Gala!
