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Take a look and see what others are saying about Jump Alley...
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I cannot begin to express to you how much everyone enjoyed Jump Alley at our annual ‘July 4th’ Party. The sound was tremendous, the vocals superb, your attire appropriate – everything was great…the performance and your presence were fantastic! As always, I look forward to seeing and hearing you, and of course dancing to your music, at upcoming events as well. I am sure you will be getting more calls from this side of the mountain in the future.
Keith Woodard, Charlottesville, VA |
I enjoyed listening/dancing to your music last night! Thanks!!!!! Birgit Roerig, Ph.D. |
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I caught the second show at the Rockingham County Fair. Great Stuff! Had a fine time. Dennis Ragan |
Jump Alley helps a community unite in the name of jazz!
Robert Igoe
*The Winchester Star*
(See article below...)
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*Winchester* The Old Towne Event Center was jumping like the Cotton Club
Saturday afternoon as singer Susan Summers served up her interpretation on
the Marvin Gaye classic "What's Going On?"
Steve and Ellen Nichols (center) and Jim and Karen Harvey, all of
Winchester, danced to the music of Jump Alley during the third annual John
Kirby Memorial Jazz Festival on Saturday at the Old Towne Event Center.
What was going on was a day of great jazz to honor a local music legend and
bring a community together.
The third annual John Kirby Memorial Jazz Festival beckoned jazz fans of all
ages, incomes, and races to honor one of the greatest jazz bassists in
history.
"This is a chance to recognize a famous Winchester native," said Mark Lore,
a member of the city's Coalition for Racial Unity, which sponsored the
event. "There are so many famous people from Winchester, but this is a way
to bring the black and white communities together to both work on this
festival and to enjoy great jazz played by local musicians."
Besides Summers, musicians who performed on Saturday to honor Kirby included
The Cornerstone Ensemble, Jump Alley, and the Martinsburg Jazz Orchestra.
The bands' efforts helped raise money for a number of causes, including the
Boys and Girls Club of Winchester, Coalition for Racial Unity projects, and
the renovation of the Daniel J. Farrar Elks Lodge on North Kent Street.
"We're raising money and consciousness for a number of causes," Lore said.
"We need more occasions to bring people together, and today a love of jazz
is bringing people together."
Tyson Gilpin is the man credited with creating the festival three years ago
as a means to pay tribute to the jazz music he loves.
"When I learned that John Kirby was from Winchester, I became fascinated
with our town's musical heritage and his role in it," he said. "I wanted to
bring his music out to the public and let them enjoy it."
Like other forms of music, jazz does not fit into one specific definition.
From the early Dixieland styles, jazz evolved into styles such as bebop and
electronic-influenced styles like fusion and acid jazz. Other regions of the
world, such as the Caribbean, Latin America, and Eastern Asia, have added
their own interpretation to the music.
But Lore said some characteristics of jazz cross all flavors of the music.
"Jazz is not easy to define," Lore said. "Cornerstone Ensemble uses a lot of
Latin rhythms, blues, and influences of Cole Porter. Jazz is about
improvisation, rhythm, and African American influence. It's a broad,
inclusive term for music with rhythm, soul, and blues feeling."
Jazz is not only varied in its styles and definitions, but what it means to
those who perform and enjoy it.
"Jazz is important to the African American community because it helps define
our culture and our struggles," said Alan Williams of Winchester, the
grandson of Kirby. "It says who we are as a people, and it's able to voice
our feelings and frustrations and help us understand who we are."
Steve Jennings, a member of Jump Alley, said that jazz has a personal
meaning for him.
"It's freedom of expression," he said. "It's American history and invention.
It's a style derived from black and Creole American music.
"I also enjoy the comradery of jazz around the world. Anywhere you go, other
jazz musicians treat you like a brother and an equal. It's a chance for me
to talk through my music and express myself."
We want to thank the entire band for your wonderful performance at our anniversary party. The music you choose was excellent as were the vocals. We can't tell you how many comments we received...."The band is wonderful!"....."How were you able to book such a wonderful band?....."Are they from the city? |
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"Thank you!"
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