Vibrato Grill Hosts Jazz Foundation of America’s ‘Q & You’ Benefit

By Scott Yanow I Jul. 5, 2023

The strongest music of the night was performed by Joshua Redman, shown here with drummer Steve Jordan.
(Photo: Getty Images)

There are few better causes than the one undertaken by the Jazz Foundation of America, the fabled organization that raises and distributes money through its Jazz Musicians Emergency Fund to jazz and blues musicians who are facing financial hardship. The foundation held its annual “Q & You” benefit event on June 25 at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Grill in Southern California. The evening raised quite a bit of money while giving lifetime achievement awards to music executive Clarence Avant, tenor saxophonist Charles Lloyd and pianist-composer Dave Grusin.

Due to some health problems, Quincy Jones was unable to host the prestigious event. In addition, a delayed plane flight prevented Patti Austin from attending. However, there were many speakers throughout the evening, an auction, brief films about each of the honorees, and music.

Also unable to make it was Clarence Avant, who is now 92 and was honored first. In his long career, Avant managed such artists as Sarah Vaughan, Luiz Bonfa, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Smith, Lalo Schifrin and Creed Taylor plus many others beyond the jazz world. He also founded Sussex Records, worked with Venture Records, was involved in the film Save The Children, and worked on many other projects behind the scenes. During his tribute, pianist Davell Crawford led a quartet through “I’ll Be Seeing You” and Kori Withers (Bill Withers’ daughter) did a fine job of singing a medley of her father’s “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Grandma’s Hands.” The supporting cast included keyboardist Patrice Rushen, Ray Parker Jr. and Dean Parks on guitars, bassist Alex Al and drummer Steve Jordan, who, during much of the night, doubled as a genial emcee.

Although he did not play, Lloyd was prominent in the audience. John Densmore, the drummer with the Doors, talked about Lloyd in humorous fashion and recalled seeing his group at Shelly’s Manne-Hole in Hollywood. The strongest music of the night was performed by tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, who, after a fiery duet with drummer Jordan, segued into an adventurous but melodic treatment of Lloyd’s biggest hit, “Forest Flower.” Redman also performed the 85-year-old saxophonist’s “Defiant” with Parks, Al, Jordan and steel guitarist Greg Leisz. A Malibu neighbor of Lloyd’s, singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, was an offbeat choice to present his reward to him, but the warmth between the two was obvious. Lloyd’s colorful speech included him saying, “I still have a beginner’s mind. I never got good enough to quit. … I still believe that music can change the world. It hasn’t happened yet but we’re still doing it.”

Grusin was honored more for his film scores than for his jazz playing. A group of four keyboardists (Patrice Rushen, Michael Bearden, David Paich and Jeff Babko, who doubled on accordion) plus Steve Jordan played a medley of pieces from Grusin’s scores including music from The Firm and Tootsie (“It Might Be You”). Guitarist Lee Ritenour, tenor saxophonist Tom Scott, pianist John Beasley, bassist Melvin Lee Davis and drummer Wesley Ritenour performed the theme from Three Days Of The Condor.

Grusin then took the stage, playing a medley of two of his movie themes as a solo pianist plus a reinvented version of “Happy Birthday” that he dedicated to David Paich (arranger Marty’s son) without mentioning that it was also his own 89th birthday. His piano playing was excellent and made one wish that he had performed much more. The 97-year old lyricist Alan Bergman spoke/sang a song that he had written that day for Grusin who, when accepting his Jazz Foundation award, seemed to apologize for the lack of jazz that was heard that evening during his portion. The night ended with a routine shuffle blues featuring some of the participants led by Ritenour but unfortunately not Redman or Scott.

The evening had its heartwarming moments, the three honorees certainly earned their awards and the cause is unbeatable. But hopefully next time, the Jazz Foundation of America will also be including much more jazz in its program. DB