A Music Company Inc.: Press

"George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins"

Interview with "Blues Diva" Candye Kane

"George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins"

Part-time musician, part-time Santa, and full-time good guy, George Whitesell celebrated his 60th birthday in style with help from wife Amy, the owners of Classics, a bunch of talented musicians and a room full of friends and family. The party, held Monday June 5, was also the debut of a new band: George Whitesell & His All Stars. I've known George through Metro Blues, the band he has worked with for several years in the Colorado Springs area. Although Metro Blues is still happening, the All Stars represent the fulfillment of a dream: a big band of top-notch performers doing classics and originals and featuring a knock-out female vocalist—who turns out to be Jill Watkins.

George told me that he has wanted to start this project for many years but he didn't get serious about it until about 5 years ago. I asked him for a brief history of the project.

"A couple of summers ago I talked to Brad Eastin because I needed somebody to arrange the horns. He loved the idea and agreed to do it. So we just needed to find the players. Chris Wojtecki, I had known for a number of years and I asked him if he would be the baritone player. As it progressed on, I just started hand picking some of the people I thought would be most suited for this type of endeavor."

Once the musicians had committed and rehearsals began, George realized that the best way to introduce the band would be with a big show on a Monday night (so that others in the music business would be able to attend). While considering when to hold the concert he realized that, (with his 60th birthday falling on a Monday) and instantly knew that had to be date. He and Amy began planning a party that had well over 100 guests. There was a buffet supper and the entertainment was fabulous.

This is a blues/R&B/jump/swing show band—its members are not only excellent players but also enthusiastic performers—and they did, indeed, put on a show. At one point the audience was treated to synchonized marching/dancing/table hopping, which got a huge cheer.

George had mentioned the idea to Jill a couple of years ago and she liked it but didn't know if it would happen. Then last fall, George sent an email stating: "Alright, I'm doing it. That's it, and I have watched you, Jill, developing your character and your persona, and that's exactly who I want on stage. You are exactly tailor made for this." Jill says she likes the idea of an allstar band, "that everyone has their own band, is such a cool concept to me. So he threw it out there and said, 'are you in?' and I didn't bat an eye—oh, absolutely. I'm just flattered as hell that he even thought about me, let alone that I was asked to do it."

It wasn't until the second set that Jill was brought up to sing. We sat together during dinner and she was very excited about being involved with the All Stars. I asked her how it felt to be handed the keys to the candy store and was rewarded with a brilliant smile and a laugh. She later told me of her experience on stage that night: "Like getting your hands on a Ferrari. I was also in awe of all the different players around me. Each one had their own solo, and from one solo to the next it was just one monster performer after another. When they wanted me to come back in [for the vocal], I was like, well, OK, if you like that sort of thing. It was an incredible feeling."

This new association does not mean the end of the Jill Watkins Band, nor does it mean the end of Metro Blues—both bands will continue to work. This is another project for all involved, one that allows some stretching out in a different direction while taking on new and welcome challenges.
I recommend that you see George Whitesell & His All Stars when you get the chance. I guarantee that you will have a good time.

"George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins"

There was a time in this country following WWII when people sought out danceable live entertainment at small clubs, commonly referred to as 'rib' or 'juke' joints, either located in urban areas or outside of town in "roadhouses". Physical traces of these can occasionally be found, but, save for recorded music; the jumping sounds that could be heard within are now almost extinct in a live format. The music which came to be known as jump blues or more generically rhythm and blues was an amalgamation of post-war blues played in a swinging tempo, boogie woogie and swing. More often than not, except for hip whites the musicians were black, enjoying a new-found amount of creationary freedom; a product of the war itself and some integrated entertainment venues from the prior decade. Mirroring the end of the war, the sounds evoked good times, sometimes with humor, but always pulling the dancers to the floor. As all popular music eventually does, the sounds evolved, principally to rock and roll (which dumped the blues but kept the rhythm). And eventually, the pureness and the originality got lost.

Enter George Whitesell and his dream band, the "All Stars". Monday nights are traditionally one of the slower nights for a live venue anywhere, but this was not the case at Classics. The full house ranged from barely legal to those old enough to remember the era mentioned above. And, to paraphrase an oft used line in jump music, "this joint was jumpin'." Peruse the crowd and one noted many confirmed jazzers as well as blues people (funny how that works out with this type of music!) and all were having a good time. The band features George on vocals, guitar and alto sax. The sax section also includes Kenny Johnston and Brad Eastin on tenors – Brad also handling the arrangements, and Chris Wojtecki on bari. Yeah – that's four! The rhythm section is ably filled out with John Stilwagen on keyboards, Santi Guarnera on bass and drummer Dave Deason driving this bus. Tough to pick a favorite here.

Whitesell has an immense well from which to pull music of that period of the late 1940's thru the early 1950's – some of which enjoyed brief re-creations in the ensuing years – and for his first session he chose wisely. The sax sections honking sounds reminiscent of Big Jay McNeely, Joe Houston, or Little Richard's band, The Upsetters. Brad Eastin's trademark incredible solos, Chris Wojtecki getting sounds from a bari that should only be legal on a tenor, Kenny Johnston blowing the house down. Ooh! My Soul! John Stilwagen's precise imaging of Pete Johnson's backing on the Big Joe Turner numbers, with the rest of the rhythm section nicely driving but never overpowering the song's intent. And, George providing his excellent vocal and guitar work and keeping the selections in sync with just enough historical banter of the song's origin in between. To add some dessert to this already excellent mix, blues-based vocalist Jill Watkins from up Boulder way, graced the stage for two numbers. In a word, wow! Her promo describes her powerful voice, playfulness and personality. It should add pulchritude. If you weren't there, you were not only square, but possibly trapezoidal. George Whitesell & His All Stars provide a righteous and riotous ride through the rarely tapped world of jump and rhythm & blues, long overdue on the entertainment scene. I wish them many happy returns.

"Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue", April 29, 2007. Bigg City Event Center.

Amy,
I just wanted to let you how much fun my family and I had at the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Show at Mr Biggs on Sunday night. It was a great show and a good way to introduce us to their music as Kristin, Sean and I will be going on the Blues Cruise in Jan for the 1st time. Because of your work, the music scene in Co Spgs is definitely improving. I know there was a lot of hard work and risk involved in putting on this show . Your contributions are appreciated. It was also wonderful listening to our friends, John and Brent, jammin with the band.

Keep up the great work. I'm looking forward to the next show.

Keith Woestehoff
May 3, 2007