The Hydeus Kiatta Quintets Big Birthday Jazz Jam Session At Lunaria Jazz Club, August 18

A Big Birthday Jazz Jam session celebration in honor of bandleader and singer/songwriter Hydeus Kiatta with special LA area musical guests joing the band in a late night jam session at Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club (10351 Santa Monica Blvd.) on Wednesday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m.

(PRWEB) July 31, 2004 -- The Hydeus Kiatta Quintets Big Birthday Jazz Jam Session At Lunaria Jazz Club, August 18

[Hydeus Kiatta] can really sing: everything from scat vocals ala Dizzy Gillespie... to warm, melodious Ellington ballads... -- Palisadian Post

The Hydeus Kiatta Quintet is having a Big Birthday Jazz Jam celebration in honor of bandleader and singer/songwriter Hydeus Kiatta at Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club (10351 Santa Monica Blvd.) on Wednesday, August 18 at 8 p.m.

The Hydeus Kiatta Quintet, led by singer/songwriter Kiatta, includes the local talents of pianist John Rangel, bassist Trevor Ware, percussionist/flutist Derf Reklaw and drummer Chris Steele. Some of LAs finest jazz musicians have been invited to join the band on stage and share in the fun. Such invited guests include: vocalists Dwight Trible and Raya Yarbrough, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, bassists Ryan Cross and Nedra Wheeler, pianist Michael Bluestein, woodwind players Charles Owens and Bennie Maupin, guitarist Larry Koonse and many others TBA.

Hosting The Hydeus Kiatta Quintets Big Birthday Jazz Jam Session is the great baritone voice of L.A.s own LeRoy Downs, former latenight host of radio station KKJZ and current host of Jazz at the Westin (LAX). Keep up with all things jazz on Downs online jazz magazine at www.thejazzcat.net.

Musical offerings will range from some of Kiattas own original songs from her self produced debut album On the Ground I Walk" (Noir Records/2001) and new songs from her soon to be released second album to everyones favorite jazz standards. This is a gala not to be missed.

Vocalist/composer Kiatta celebrates her life-long passion for music and the arts combined with her love for humanity and the worlds cultural diversity. She strives to bring healing and power to people through her songs and beautifully expressed vocals. Kiattas self-produced CD, On the Ground I Walk," is described in the San Francisco Examiner as a collection of nine hauntingly beautiful tunes that crossover a tad from jazz into R&B and world with some Middle Eastern influences." Her smooth, powerful vocals and earthy improvisations has led her songwriting, composition and arranging styles in a direction comparable to Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, Ani Di Franco and Joni Mitchell.

Born in 1972 and raised on the Monterey Peninsula, Kiatta began performing at the age of three. In high school, she began to study and explore such legendary jazz and R&B practitioners as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Dianne Reeves and Stevie Wonder. Growing up in a folk music household while exploring the current sounds of jazz, R&B and soul, combined with her part Lebanese and Czech/Bohemian and European ancestry, all worked to firmly established Kiattas roots into a multi-dimensional musical blend.

John Rangel -- Originally from New York City, pianist/composer Rangel now resides in Los Angeles. He studied composition with John Corigliano and Harold Blanchard, and jazz piano with Phil Markowitz, Joanne Brackeen, Stanley Cowell, Richie Bierach and Kenny Werner. In Florida, he and some friends put together a fusion jazz band and recorded a CD called It Could Happen." He is constantly on the LA musical scene recording and performing live. Horace" is a CD Rangel recorded in Los Angeles with Higgins, Charles Owens, Derf Reklaw, Don Littleton, Trevor Ware and Daniel Bajarano. Rangels music blends bebop, modal jazz, swing, Latin and African styles. He teaches piano, performs live, produces and is widely sought after for studio work. Rangel enjoys the variety and challenges that come his way.

Trevor Ware -- Over the last several years, Ware has developed a strong reputation as one of the most spirited and supportive jazz bassists in Los Angeles. He was the bassist of choice for notable drummer Billy Higgins and he is currently first choice for drummer Albert Tootie" Heath. Ware has performed throughout the world and on many recordings with such notable musicians as Horace Silver, Nicholas Payton, Ravi Coltrane and Barbara Morrison. A resident of Los Angeles, he has performed at every jazz club in the city. Ware currently works with drummers Joe Pocaro and Sherman Ferguson teaching students at the Los Angeles Music Academy.

Derf Reklaw -- With credits ranging from musician and choreographer to inventor and lecturer, Reklaw is best know for his multi-instrumental/percussion work with the '70s jazz/world fusion group the Pharaohs. After five year with the Chicago-based Pharaohs, Reklaw moved to Los Angeles where he has performed with such renowned musicians as Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin, Sting and the late great Lionel Hampton. He also occupied the artist in residence" chair positions at UCLA, Santa Monica College, Los Angeles Conservatory and View Park Academy. In 1998, Reklaw released his debut album for Ubiquity Records, From the Nile," which featured guest appearances by drummer Higgins, poet Kamau Daaood and former Pharaoh, Lui Lui Satterfield.

Chris Steele -- Four years on the LA music scene, has generated much success for Steele as a free-lance jazz, rock and R&B drummer/percussionist. Studying classical percussion and jazz at Youngstown State while working the club scene in Pittsburgh and Cleveland provided adequate training for his move to the West Coast. Steele has performed with such jazz greats as Phil Woods, Kenny Burrell, Bobby Shew, Carmen Branford, Louie Bellson and many others. Today, Steele spends much of his time in the recording studio and working on numerous other projects including composing for his own jazz band that can be heard in the top jazz clubs in Los Angeles.

Cover charge: $10.00 at the door. Lunaria Restaurant and Jazz Club is described as Southern French and Northern Italian, paired with cool to piping hot jazz. Lunaria is located at 10351 Santa Monica Blvd. For more information, please call (310) 282-8870 or go online at www.lunariajazzscene.com

Contact: Renee Johnson, Publicist
Phone/Fax: 310-571-9212
Email: rjj530@earthlink.net

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