In the early ‘90s Lawrence "Larry" Watson made his Steppin’ Out debut as the opening act for the late legendary tenor player Stanley Turrentine. His musical set was a synthesis of jazz, gospel, soul, hip hop and spoken word. Watson returns to Steppin’ Out on Saturday evening, November 8, 2008 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel [425 Summer Street] in a musical journey of soul, gospel, spoken word, and a set of “Highly Emotional Music.” This year’s star-studded fundraiser will feature R&B songstress Lalah Hathaway as the headlining artist at this year’s event; Steppin’ Out annually draws over 3,000 attendees.
Especially for Steppin’ Out, Watson has assembled a musical team consisting of some of the most promising young artists on the musical scene today. Under the leadership of musical director and drummer Les Cleveland, who has toured with Patti Labelle, Roberta Flack, and Prince, Watson’s ensemble will feature an all-star band consisting of Masayuki Hirano on piano, gospel organist Alonzo Harris, D.J. Ginyard on bass, Russian guitarist Iakov Kremensky and world renowned percussionist Ricardo Monzon. Backup vocals will consist of local gospel singer Tolieth Austin, vocalist extraordinaire Tania Jones and lead vocalist of the group "Soul City," Phillip Bailey Jr. There also will be a special guest appearance by Boston Music Awards winner Lisa Lee with spoken word and the SaveOurSelves Choir.
Musical selections will features several cuts from Watson's latest CD American Fruit with African Roots and several popular cuts from his first CD The Journey. Watson will also take his audience back to Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace CD with the cut "Oh Mary Don't You Weep" as well as old favorites by gospel legend Shirley Caesar, and the late gospel great Douglas Miller. It will be an evening of musical jubilation a spreading of the "good news " of Gospel.
Lawrence Larry Watson has performed throughout the New England areas since 1984. Some of the highlights of his musical career in Boston have included being the featured vocalist for two mayoral inaugurations, singing for Governor Weld and Governor Deval Patrick, The Honorable Colin Powell, Senators Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Bryer, The Honorable Desmond Tutu, and President Nelson Mandela. He has been a soloist for Sarah Caldwell, the lead singer in Black Nativity and a featured vocalist at the Los Angeles-based Playboy Jazz Festival.
The balance of the evening’s stellar lineup includes Boston-based smooth jazz saxophonist Andre Ward, R&B/pop star Amel Larrieux, Broadway Dreamgirls star Julia Nixon, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, band leader/tuba player Kendrick Oliver and his 20 piece New Life Orchestra, Jamaican reggae/jazz pianist Monty Alexander, jazz bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding, Columbian harpist Edmar Castaneda, Boston’s own R&B vocalist Wannetta Jackson & Friends, Brazilian batería ensemble Samba Tremeterra, two terrific local gospel groups Reverend Clarence Powell & Divine Praise, the Harmonizing Stars of Boston, Roxbury’s historic pop/soul vocal group, The G Clefs, Latin titan Eguie Castrillo & His Orchestra, The Berklee City Music Allstars, Talent showcase winner Bill Champitto, Swiss jazz vocalist Gabriela Heer and the smooth jazz Rob Harrow Band.
Tickets at $100.00 [seniors], $200.00 [general admission] and $350.00 [sponsor tickets] are on sale now. Sponsor tickets are available through The Dimock Center. General admission tickets are available via TicketWeb at http://www.TicketWeb.com/, by phone at 866-468-7619 and directly from The Dimock Center, located at 55 Dimock Street, Roxbury. For complete event information, go to: www.dimock.org or call: 617-442-8800 x1006.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment