Doug Lawrence-Bobby Shew Quintet

Tonight marks the very first time that two of Albuquerque’s true jazz luminaries will appear together on stage. Both world- renowned jazz artists from Albuquerque, they each recently moved back after some 30 years away. As Doug Lawrence put it, “Bobby did his thing on the west coast when he split ABQ way back in the early 60s, and I did mine on the east coast when I split here in the late 70’s… now it’s come full circle… a sort of ‘Homecoming’. We’ve known about each other for quite some time and we’ve had a lot of mutual friends over the years. Needless to say, we are looking forward to this gig.” Trumpeter Bobby Shew is one of the most in-demand clinicians and concert soloists. Well known for his fiery bebop trumpet, he has performed and recorded with the elite of the jazz world for over three decades. A member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, he also played with the Woody Herman band and the big bands of Della Reese and Buddy Rich. He became a prominent performer in Las Vegas for many years and later moved to Los Angeles where he played with Art Pepper, Bud Shank and Horace Silver. He did a great deal of studio work for TV shows and many soundtracks. Shew has recorded many of his own albums, including Heavy Company which won a Grammy in 1983. In addition to a busy performing and private teaching schedule, he is actively involved in conducting clinics and master classes at high schools and colleges around the world. Tenor saxophonist Doug Lawrence spent over 20 years as one of the most in-demand jazz musicians in New York City. As the lead tenor saxophonist with the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra, Lawrence continues to tour extensively filling the chair which has been inhabited by a virtual “who’s who” of saxophonists including Lester Young, Hershel Evans, Don Byas, Eli “Lucky” Thompson, Bud Johnson, Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, Wardell Gray, Frank Wess, Frank Foster, and so on. He has performed and recorded with Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Benny Goodman, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Jimmy Cobb’s Mob, Sarah Vaughan, Buck Clayton, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Eldridge, Wild Bill Davis, Benny Carter, Bobby Short, Patti Austin, Grover Mitchell, The Smithsonian Masterworks Orchestra, George Benson and others. Lawrence has performed on six continents at virtually every major concert hall jazz club and jazz festival in the world and has performed for four American Presidents. He has appeared on over 100 recordings including four critically acclaimed recordings of his own. Rounding out the Doug Lawrence-Bobby Shew Quintet will be three of New Mexico’s finest jazz artists: Bob Fox, piano; Michael Olivola, bass; and John Trentacosta, drums. Opening the evening will be the talented Outpost Advanced Youth Jazz Ensembles which meets weekly, 30 weeks a year, under the direction of Outpost Jazz Education Coordinator and bassist/composer David Parlato.

$25/$20 Members & Students. Available in advance, by phone or in person, at the Outpost Performance Space (268-0044)