Tucson Welcomes Eric Darius, Gregg Karukas and Jay Soto!
October 24 – 7:30 PM
JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Pavillion
www.azentertainmentandevents.com
520-429-9803
AZ Entertainment and Events (AZEE) is proud to present “Night of a Thousand Grooves,” another world class ensemble of contemporary jazz artists featuring sax prodigy, Eric Darius; masterful keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas and award-winning fiery guitarist Jay Soto.
Come out to the luxurious JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Pavillion for a great evening of soulful, smooth grooves featuring contemporary jazz greats: Sax prodigy, Eric Darius; masterful keyboardist -composer Gregg Karukas and award-winning, fiery guitarist Jay Soto. Two dance floors, drink specials, $99 resort stay and great fun!
According to Darius, “Although I’ve been to Arizona before, I have never had the opportunity to perform in Tucson. I am very excited about coming and ready to bring the house down!! One thing I can definitely promise is that this show is going to be hot!!
“Hot” is probably putting it mildly since Darius’ performances have been described as nothing short of a “blazing inferno of pure body rockin’, soul-stirring energy.” His rapid ascendance to the top of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts, not once; but multiple times, is remarkable. Darius’ latest CD, “Goin’ All Out” has debuted on the legendary Blue Note record label. But even more unusual is how well grounded Eric is in handling celebrity and its trappings. We recently sat down with the 26-year old artist who has taken the contemporary jazz world by storm to uncover the secret to his phenomenal and early success.
“I attribute a lot of the success I am experiencing with my music career to my parents. They exposed me to jazz at a very early age, so I had a love and appreciation for it very early on. It wasn't until I was nine, and I saw the saxophonist at our church play every single Sunday. I saw the emotion that he exuded when he played and it really sparked my interest—I just fell in love with the saxophone. I listened to a lot of Grover Washington, Jr. and David Sanborn and Kirk Whalum growing up. My parents bought me a saxophone for my tenth birthday and I started playing.
Despite a demanding touring schedule Eric is earning a business degree at the University of Florida. “I think it is important for all artists to be able to understand the business aspects of our careers—a lot of them don't know what it entails; everything from finances and management to marketing. I think that it will definitely be beneficial to me as an artist, to help create longevity for my career. I plan on applying everything that I learn with my business degree.”
What advice does he have for aspiring musicians?
For any aspiring musician who might be reading this article, my advice to them would be to always follow your dreams! In order to succeed in the music business, it takes A LOT of practice, patience, and perseverance!!
Inspired by John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, David Sanborn, Kenny Garrett and Michael Brecker, Darius began recording his compositions and sold demos at ages 13 and 15. He soon hooked up with members of saxophonist Richard Elliot's band who produced his first full-length CD, Cruisin'. "I wrote most of the music from that CD when I was 14," Darius says, "and we released it in 2000 when I was 17.
One local event found Darius opening for David Benoit and Navarro. Blown away by what he had seen, Navarro agreed to produce his next album even before a record deal was signed. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to catch this rising star in Tucson along with his equally talented and award winning ensemble members, Gregg Karukas, Jay Soto, Mario Mendivil and Ira King.
Good day Mr. Puckett
At present I am two weeks out from joining the Tucson work force. My question is, where can I find the Tucson Black Labor Leaders ? I've searched the net and no luck yet. Thank you
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2009
Contact: Patricia Possert, AZ Entertainment and Events
Tel: (520) 429-9803
Artist Bios, Videos, Music available at:
http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
“Rare Collection of Jazz All-Stars Celebrate a Golden Motown”
Featuring:
Kim Waters, Jeff Lorber, Leon Ware, Mel Brown,
Alexander Zonjic, Thano Sahnas, Dominic Amato, and Ira King
This year heralds Motown’s Golden Anniversary and the celebration is going global. The iconic music label has bridged audiences around the world for 50 years and the big bash is coming to Southern Arizona! Tucson will host the Southwest’s tribute to Motown luminaries on Saturday, September 5 - 7:30 p.m. at the Westin La Paloma Resort Ballroom. The Labor Day weekend event is presented in partnership with the Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber and will include two dance floors, drink specials and pre-show dinner specials at resort restaurants, along with an irresistible $99 stay at one of Tucson’s most beautiful resorts. Doors open 6:30 p.m. with ticket prices ranging from $35 and $ 75. VIP/General Admission ticket purchases are available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
Featuring a sparkling All-Star ensemble that reads like a who’s who of Contemporary Jazz and R&B greats, the line-up includes critically acclaimed saxophonist Kim Waters; legendary singer/songwriter Leon Ware, smooth jazz pioneer Jeff Lorber, Grammy-winning bassist Mel Brown, virtuoso flutist Alexander Zonjic, charismatic sax powerhouse Dominic Amato, jazz guitar wizard Thano Sahnas and extraordinary drummer Ira King. Must-see videos and additional artist and event info is available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
The Motown 50 Bash sponsored by Desert Foothills Carpet Cleaning will showcase a rare collection of polished artistry masterfully blending A/C jazz with R&B grooves in remembrance of the legendary artists that formed the “Sound of Young America” and brought the world to its dancing feet. Artistic Director, Jeff Lorber shares, “This will be the first time we’ve assembled and performed as a group. It was brought about by our shared appreciation of the theme. Motown remains one of the most stunning success stories of the 20th century.”
Event producer, Patricia Possert adds, “Everyone can sing and dance along at the Motown 50 bash. This has been an historic year in many regards and we need to celebrate life’s milestones. Expect a unique presentation of timeless classics along with fresh compositions from a stellar list of CD projects such as : “I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin” (Waters); “Moonride” (Ware); “Doing the D” (Zonjic/Lorber); “Fresh from the Groove” (Amato/Sahnas), “Heard That” (Lorber) and exciting improv performances on bass and drums by Brown and King.”
Renowned music maker, Leon Ware, will reflect on his hallowed history with Motown revisiting songs he composed for the company's icons. Ware’s list of accomplishments spans four decades and includes classic recordings for Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson's smash "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Marvin Gaye's monster, “I Want You” LP and much more. To honor Gaye, who would have been 70 this year, Ware will include selections from his string of masterworks and debut fresh tracks from his latest CD. Ware’s sold-out concerts at London’s Jazz Café and U.S. performances at New York’s Blue Note and Temple Bar in Los Angeles are legendary. Ware will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on September 5 by the Southern AZ Black Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his extensive body of work.
Making their first time appearance in Tucson are Kim Waters and Alexander Zonjic. Waters celebrates his 20th anniversary as a recording artist with amassed sales of over one million albums. He ranks among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz. His current CD project which pays homage to idol Marvin Gaye has been described by Jazz Times as ‘downright infectious’. Zonjic is a legend in Detroit known on the Motor City's entertainment scene as AM jazz radio personality, festival promoter, jazz club restaurateur and international recording artist. His just released CD, “Doin the D” features a star studded cast of players and was produced by Jeff Lorber. Zonjic takes the flute to a place of prominence as a voice in the smooth & pop-jazz idiom. One look at his You Tube videos will wow you!
Bringing their expertly mastered and magical sounds to the bash will be Dominic “Fresh From the Groove” Amato and friends Mel Brown, Thano Sahnas, and Ira King.. Let’s put it this way, if you like Boney James and Eric Darius, then you’ll love their “huge grooves!” Beware: they are coming to rock the house.
Concert attendees can enjoy a discounted overnight “stay-cation” at Tucson’s Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa for $99.00 on Saturday, September 5 by calling 1-800-WESTIN-1 or (520) 742-6000 (mention AZ Entertainment for rate.). Pre-show dinner available at resort restaurants. Concert doors open 6:30 PM; Limited $75 VIP passes include admission to 7 PM “Q&A” Artist Reception and premium table seating in first three rows. Tickets available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/. For additional information call: 520-429-9803.
You have a realtor and Pastor on your website. His name is Martio "Tio" Harris. he even owns a barber college down at the Dunbar center. You really should speak to him. He's great, very honest and his integrity level is high. That's who i recommend to her.
Thanks for my feature, and all your hard work George. The Ning Network Creators have been making history since the network's popularity. Continue to Sound the Drum for our growth.--JH
HI GEORGE, THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER, I HAVE A WHITE RUSSIAN FRIEND WHO GO,S TO YOUR CHURCH, SHE SAID SHE GO,S TO YOUR CHURCH IN THE USA ,YOU ASKED ME WHY A WHITE MAN HAS JOINED YOUR WEB SITE, WELL I WENT TO TO THE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS WHEN I LIVED IN LONDON OVER 30 YEARS AGO, WICH WERE NEARLY ALL BLACK, IT WAS A DEAR BLACK LADY WHO LEAD ME TO THE LORD WHEN I WAS 21 , GOD DOSE NOT SEE BLACK WHITE OR OR ANY OTHER SKIN OR CREED, HE SEE,S ONLY THE HEART, WHY IN THE USA IS THERE SO MANY JUST BLACK CHURCHES AND WHITE, WHY CANT YOU ALL MIX TOGETHER, BECAUSE WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN WE HAVE NO CHOUSE, LOVE BRO CHRIS FROM THE UK
Thank you for the birthday wishes I'm sure it will be a relaxed day. I am familiar with combination as well as token gifts but none of that really matters. I am just thankful to God for life. I'm looking forward to another year and to see where God plans on taking me in it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... May it be one that drives you closer to destiny
My thoughts. This site has the potential to be an asset to the community. I'm just disappointed in the extreme political bias on the blog page. I've taken the liberty to quote others on proven historical facts that the Democratic Party leaves much to be desired. I'm sure no one will read them but, haven't you ever wondered why the vast majority of individuals that drank Rev. Jim Jones' Koolaid were Black?
Thanks for sending me the video clip of us stepping. Now I am signed in a ready to use this site for all that it is worth. It seems easy to navigate so I just wanted to say thank you on your initiative for putting this together.
Say GP, I am having some trouble with the down loads of my daughters Baptism and I Think it takes a lot of time to download and it is even harder to take 1 off, tell me how ???
Say GP yes it is a blessing to be part of such a big undertaking,and I cant think of any thing that I have done that compares to such a super moment in history except when I work on the Texas sesquicentinal and I was the only brother on that committee and it was big but not as big as this. Nothing I can say to you about this that you haven't heard already. This reads like the whose who of the Tucson leadership community of Tucson.
Oh yeah when you talk to Doc, again tell him I'm still thinking about the run for local government
LW.
Where is that glamorous smile you used to catch aunt Tina??
You have some great people particpating in this site. I have visited almost all of them. No, I did not write to them all, but know more about the demographic than I did before.
Got your message thank you for the feedback and the opportunity to be in the spotlight. I'm interested in changing the layout on my page so if you could tell me how to do that, I would appreciate it!!!!
Thank you George for setting up this page for the salon. You did a fantastic job! I hope that this will generate more business and meet new people. Thank you, Marilyn
Big River is a musical adaptation of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn with music written by Roger Miller - "King of the Road". It's not not Hip Hop or Old School, but was pretty cool in its time.
Burney Starks plays a principal role of Jim the runaway…
Today's Social problems represent the greatest opportunity for economic growth.
This event will provide you with an enormous education on social entrepreneurship, social media, and how to reposition and re-brand your business as a socially sustaina…
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October 24 – 7:30 PM
JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Pavillion
www.azentertainmentandevents.com
520-429-9803
AZ Entertainment and Events (AZEE) is proud to present “Night of a Thousand Grooves,” another world class ensemble of contemporary jazz artists featuring sax prodigy, Eric Darius; masterful keyboardist/composer Gregg Karukas and award-winning fiery guitarist Jay Soto.
Come out to the luxurious JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort Pavillion for a great evening of soulful, smooth grooves featuring contemporary jazz greats: Sax prodigy, Eric Darius; masterful keyboardist -composer Gregg Karukas and award-winning, fiery guitarist Jay Soto. Two dance floors, drink specials, $99 resort stay and great fun!
According to Darius, “Although I’ve been to Arizona before, I have never had the opportunity to perform in Tucson. I am very excited about coming and ready to bring the house down!! One thing I can definitely promise is that this show is going to be hot!!
“Hot” is probably putting it mildly since Darius’ performances have been described as nothing short of a “blazing inferno of pure body rockin’, soul-stirring energy.” His rapid ascendance to the top of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts, not once; but multiple times, is remarkable. Darius’ latest CD, “Goin’ All Out” has debuted on the legendary Blue Note record label. But even more unusual is how well grounded Eric is in handling celebrity and its trappings. We recently sat down with the 26-year old artist who has taken the contemporary jazz world by storm to uncover the secret to his phenomenal and early success.
“I attribute a lot of the success I am experiencing with my music career to my parents. They exposed me to jazz at a very early age, so I had a love and appreciation for it very early on. It wasn't until I was nine, and I saw the saxophonist at our church play every single Sunday. I saw the emotion that he exuded when he played and it really sparked my interest—I just fell in love with the saxophone. I listened to a lot of Grover Washington, Jr. and David Sanborn and Kirk Whalum growing up. My parents bought me a saxophone for my tenth birthday and I started playing.
Despite a demanding touring schedule Eric is earning a business degree at the University of Florida. “I think it is important for all artists to be able to understand the business aspects of our careers—a lot of them don't know what it entails; everything from finances and management to marketing. I think that it will definitely be beneficial to me as an artist, to help create longevity for my career. I plan on applying everything that I learn with my business degree.”
What advice does he have for aspiring musicians?
For any aspiring musician who might be reading this article, my advice to them would be to always follow your dreams! In order to succeed in the music business, it takes A LOT of practice, patience, and perseverance!!
Inspired by John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, David Sanborn, Kenny Garrett and Michael Brecker, Darius began recording his compositions and sold demos at ages 13 and 15. He soon hooked up with members of saxophonist Richard Elliot's band who produced his first full-length CD, Cruisin'. "I wrote most of the music from that CD when I was 14," Darius says, "and we released it in 2000 when I was 17.
One local event found Darius opening for David Benoit and Navarro. Blown away by what he had seen, Navarro agreed to produce his next album even before a record deal was signed. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to catch this rising star in Tucson along with his equally talented and award winning ensemble members, Gregg Karukas, Jay Soto, Mario Mendivil and Ira King.
At present I am two weeks out from joining the Tucson work force. My question is, where can I find the Tucson Black Labor Leaders ? I've searched the net and no luck yet. Thank you
Anytime after 3:15 except on Wed. Thanks for the welcome
July 20, 2009
Contact: Patricia Possert, AZ Entertainment and Events
Tel: (520) 429-9803
Artist Bios, Videos, Music available at:
http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
“Rare Collection of Jazz All-Stars Celebrate a Golden Motown”
Featuring:
Kim Waters, Jeff Lorber, Leon Ware, Mel Brown,
Alexander Zonjic, Thano Sahnas, Dominic Amato, and Ira King
This year heralds Motown’s Golden Anniversary and the celebration is going global. The iconic music label has bridged audiences around the world for 50 years and the big bash is coming to Southern Arizona! Tucson will host the Southwest’s tribute to Motown luminaries on Saturday, September 5 - 7:30 p.m. at the Westin La Paloma Resort Ballroom. The Labor Day weekend event is presented in partnership with the Tucson Southern Arizona Black Chamber and will include two dance floors, drink specials and pre-show dinner specials at resort restaurants, along with an irresistible $99 stay at one of Tucson’s most beautiful resorts. Doors open 6:30 p.m. with ticket prices ranging from $35 and $ 75. VIP/General Admission ticket purchases are available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
Featuring a sparkling All-Star ensemble that reads like a who’s who of Contemporary Jazz and R&B greats, the line-up includes critically acclaimed saxophonist Kim Waters; legendary singer/songwriter Leon Ware, smooth jazz pioneer Jeff Lorber, Grammy-winning bassist Mel Brown, virtuoso flutist Alexander Zonjic, charismatic sax powerhouse Dominic Amato, jazz guitar wizard Thano Sahnas and extraordinary drummer Ira King. Must-see videos and additional artist and event info is available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/
The Motown 50 Bash sponsored by Desert Foothills Carpet Cleaning will showcase a rare collection of polished artistry masterfully blending A/C jazz with R&B grooves in remembrance of the legendary artists that formed the “Sound of Young America” and brought the world to its dancing feet. Artistic Director, Jeff Lorber shares, “This will be the first time we’ve assembled and performed as a group. It was brought about by our shared appreciation of the theme. Motown remains one of the most stunning success stories of the 20th century.”
Event producer, Patricia Possert adds, “Everyone can sing and dance along at the Motown 50 bash. This has been an historic year in many regards and we need to celebrate life’s milestones. Expect a unique presentation of timeless classics along with fresh compositions from a stellar list of CD projects such as : “I Want You: Love in the Spirit of Marvin” (Waters); “Moonride” (Ware); “Doing the D” (Zonjic/Lorber); “Fresh from the Groove” (Amato/Sahnas), “Heard That” (Lorber) and exciting improv performances on bass and drums by Brown and King.”
Renowned music maker, Leon Ware, will reflect on his hallowed history with Motown revisiting songs he composed for the company's icons. Ware’s list of accomplishments spans four decades and includes classic recordings for Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson's smash "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Marvin Gaye's monster, “I Want You” LP and much more. To honor Gaye, who would have been 70 this year, Ware will include selections from his string of masterworks and debut fresh tracks from his latest CD. Ware’s sold-out concerts at London’s Jazz Café and U.S. performances at New York’s Blue Note and Temple Bar in Los Angeles are legendary. Ware will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award on September 5 by the Southern AZ Black Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his extensive body of work.
Making their first time appearance in Tucson are Kim Waters and Alexander Zonjic. Waters celebrates his 20th anniversary as a recording artist with amassed sales of over one million albums. He ranks among the top five best-selling instrumentalists in jazz. His current CD project which pays homage to idol Marvin Gaye has been described by Jazz Times as ‘downright infectious’. Zonjic is a legend in Detroit known on the Motor City's entertainment scene as AM jazz radio personality, festival promoter, jazz club restaurateur and international recording artist. His just released CD, “Doin the D” features a star studded cast of players and was produced by Jeff Lorber. Zonjic takes the flute to a place of prominence as a voice in the smooth & pop-jazz idiom. One look at his You Tube videos will wow you!
Bringing their expertly mastered and magical sounds to the bash will be Dominic “Fresh From the Groove” Amato and friends Mel Brown, Thano Sahnas, and Ira King.. Let’s put it this way, if you like Boney James and Eric Darius, then you’ll love their “huge grooves!” Beware: they are coming to rock the house.
Concert attendees can enjoy a discounted overnight “stay-cation” at Tucson’s Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa for $99.00 on Saturday, September 5 by calling 1-800-WESTIN-1 or (520) 742-6000 (mention AZ Entertainment for rate.). Pre-show dinner available at resort restaurants. Concert doors open 6:30 PM; Limited $75 VIP passes include admission to 7 PM “Q&A” Artist Reception and premium table seating in first three rows. Tickets available at http://www.azentertainmentandevents.com/. For additional information call: 520-429-9803.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year... May it be one that drives you closer to destiny
I was at rehearsal late and missed it....
I'm voting today!!!!
Oh yeah when you talk to Doc, again tell him I'm still thinking about the run for local government
LW.
Where is that glamorous smile you used to catch aunt Tina??
You have some great people particpating in this site. I have visited almost all of them. No, I did not write to them all, but know more about the demographic than I did before.
thanks for letting me get in where I fit in.
peace
DAP
thank you again for being a pioneer! Let's grow with the site.
Got your message thank you for the feedback and the opportunity to be in the spotlight. I'm interested in changing the layout on my page so if you could tell me how to do that, I would appreciate it!!!!
Have a purposeful day :)
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