The dreary fall weather did not deter jazz fans from the historic Kelly Strayhorn Theater, as the kick-off of the Kente Arts Alliance, Alto Madness, began on Penn Avenue in East Liberty.
Two local greats of jazz, Tony Campbell with “ Jazz Surgery,” and special guest Yoko Susuki and Roby “Supersax” Edwards Band, cooked up some real hot, stacks of sax. Accompanying the alto sax greats with, Tony Campbell’s “Jazz Surgery,” was Dwayne Dolphin, bass; Victor Gonzago, piano; and Jevon Ruston, drums, with special guest, Yoko Susuki, also on alto sax.
In the Roby “Supersax” Edwards Band: Gary Davis, bass, Arianna Powell, guitar; Donna Davis, Keyboards and Jevon Ruston, drums. Acting as MC for the night, former public school educator, Dr. Harry Clark, advisor to the Kente Arts Alliance, entertained the audience with funny anecdotes of his days in Pittsburgh public school with Tony Campbell, who is a product of the Pittsburgh public school system.
Both bands were electrifying with their performances, with special notices to Powell on guitar during her solo riffs. Donna Davis on the keyboards with the Roby Edwards Band, was mind blowing on the keys. Jevon Ruston, barbecued the skins on the drums and both Campbell and Edwards showed why they are soon to be legends with masterful performances on the horns.
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