By Julia Ingalls
Daily Bruin Contributor
Framed by a row of eucalyptus trees on one side and a plethora
of food and clothing vendors on the other, the jazz segment of the
14th Annual JazzReggae Festival took place this Sunday on
UCLA’s Intermural Field.
Waves of Latin-infused jazz echoed off the north face of Pauley
Pavilion as a host of musical acts, including Fransisco Aquabella,
the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Joanne Brackeen, Yeska, and local UCLA
favorites-the Antics, entertained the relaxed, mostly bathing-suit
clad crowd.
The festival started at noon with the LACHSA High School Jazz
Ensemble, whose tight musicianship rivaled that of the professional
bands that played after them. Led by Bobby Rodriguez, the Ensemble
showed a particular strength in their rhythm section, with a
ferocious drummer, smooth bassist and finger-snapping conga
player.
After the Ensemble finished their 45 minute set, the Antics took
the stage and quickly showed why UCLA is proud to have them as
musical alumni.
Starting off with a fairly standard, up-tempo piece, they
quickly segued into a song which displayed their impeccable timing,
all the while interjecting sharp horn bursts and slow, gliding
melodic themes. Although it was technically the jazz day of the
two-day fest, after briefly consulting the audience, the Antics
threw in a reggae number for good measure.
Continuing in the vein of the strong Latin-jazz leanings of the
festival were Yeska. Formed roughly six years ago by high school
and college friends, Yeska dazzled the crowd with an elaborate
palate of musical influences, including Afro-Cuban horn stylings
and solid, funky percussion.
Three months ago the previously instrumental-only band added
Estani Frizzell as a vocalist. Both her voice and stage presence
added much to the performance. According to saxophonist David
Urquidi, Frizzell’s addition is part of the process of
musical growth for the band, forcing them to experiment with vocal,
as opposed to strictly instrumental, songwriting.
Although this was Yeska’s first time at the festival,
Urquidi indicated that he would be happy to play again next year.
“If they invite us back, we’ll be here,” he
said.
Few people have ever complained about spending a day in the sun
while being exposed to tight rhythm sections and sharp, ear
pleasing horn arrangements.
Jo Ann Chappell, resident of Lemurt Park, was no
exception.”It’s wonderful,” she said of the
festival.
This was her fifth year attending, although she has been a
lifelong fan of jazz, stemming from her high school affiliation
with numerous jazz musicians including Gerald Wilson, who played at
this year’s festival. It’s been a rare event when she
hasn’t known someone onstage. One of Chappell’s primary
motivations for attending the show, however, had to do with its
location and size. According to Chappell, the UCLA JazzReggae
festival is one of the “only big venues left,”
especially in Los Angeles.
One of the sponsors of the event, radio station KLON, has also
been a part of the festival for five years. A spokesperson for KLON
explained that they were involved because they “want to get
these young kids out here and support jazz.”
Other sponsors of the event were motivated by different
concerns.
Sandwiched between several booths selling hemp-related products
and free henna tattoos was the “Psychic Boutique by
Amy.” Amy’s business has been coming to the show for
three years.
“It’s a lot of people, and a lot of fun,” she
explained, eloquently summing up Sunday at the UCLA JazzReggae
Festival.