Jazz Vocal Magic Under The Stars in The Dominican Republic

Jazz Singer Anthony Jefferson and Friends Treat Fans to Presidential CD Release Concert Under The Stars in Sosua (Dominican Republic)

Event Reflections by A. Scott Galloway
Concert Photographs by Will Alfredo

With an album titled after the luscious vocal standard  “But Beautiful” and his home base/fan base being the breathtaking ocean side town of Sosua, Dominican Republic, dashing vocal gentleman Anthony Jefferson made clear his musical mission as sharing romance and style in abundance with the people that have grown to adore him over the last seven years. The night was a miraculously rain-free Saturday in typically drenched October, the audience Sosua’s wealthy and well-heeled, and the event the locally long-anticipated CD release for Jefferson’s new project, But Beautiful – a first class soiree of music wine, canapés and cigars coordinated by Linda Love, and additionally showcasing singer Tracy Hamlin, trumpeter Mark Rapp and singer/guitarist Peter Novelli.

A student of both the Berklee College of Music and the University of New Orleans music program under Ellis Marsalis, Anthony Jefferson performed in cities across America, including Los Angeles at The Atlas jazz club and The Rose Tattoo cabaret, in his early climb to success. The New Orleans native also grew to be a creative businessman, taking over the legendary Lenny’s Piccadilly Lounge & The Half Shell Restaurant jazz hangs (once a favorite haunt of Frank Sinatra). That came to a tragic end when Hurricane Katrina wiped not only the restaurant away but most of the 7th ward in which he grew up. Insurance money offered him a brand new start. On a sailing getaway to the Dominican Republic – a place where he knew no one – an appreciation society slowly began to grow which resulted in Jefferson bringing impassioned vocal jazz to the island. His first performance was at the Sabao Theater Lounge in Santiago. He soon after played the La Azotea Jazz Club in Santa Domingo on the 8th floor of the Dominican Fiesta Hotel where he earned a year’s contract. And his first of many engagements in the North Coast area he now calls home was at the Piergiorgio Palace Hotel overlooking the calm green in blue waters that ebulliently sway to the rhythms of his balladry and swing.

From the swankiest night spots to the hippest late night dives, Anthony Jefferson provided a jazz vocal soundtrack to a swiftly developing cosmopolitan crowd. The sweetest part is he’s sharing the wealth with several deserving musical friends. Which brings us to Anthony Jefferson’s “But Beautiful Evening Under the Stars” in the lovely al fresco venue, Sosua Ocean Village.

Though Jefferson fits snugly in that sweet spot between cabaret and jazz, he is a lover and advocate of all music. This bears out in the five guest artists that were scheduled to join him, of which three actually made it to the stage. Logistics sadly kept veteran Soul Man Kipper Jones from bringing his high energy Funk to the affair while 11th hour throat fragility detained Opera singer Angela Cruz from performing (though the lady, also a sculptress, was present to take in the show).

That left the opening slot to New Orleans blues singer/guitarist Peter Novelli who also resides in Sosua. Originally scheduled to sing only two numbers, Novelli stretched his set to four culled from his self-titled debut and its current follow-up, Louisiana Roots & Blues. Novelli specializes in a hybrid of Texas and Louisiana-based blues that he honed from a decade of playing in Zydeco bands and studying at the feet of local all around masters living and deceased. His encyclopedic understanding coupled with his profound kinship for the players makes for some Swamp Funk you can really sink your gator teeth into. Though poor opening act sound made it near impossible to hear his voice over the music, Novelli was most memorable when he slowed things down to share his original composition, “Since the Hurricane,” some post-Katrina blues we all could use:

“I went to sleep last night longin’ for you / C’mon back, baby, send me some good news / `Cuz thangs ain’t been the same without you, baby…since the hurricane”

With the audience warmed up on Novelli’s raw blues, trumpeter Mark Rapp snapped the proceedings 180 degrees in the opposite direction by completely ignoring his loosely scheduled repertoire to spellbind the audience with a goose down soft-n-gorgeous rendering of “Stella by Starlight” on muted trumpet. His phrasing was crystal clear and his choice of notes impeccable. Rapp is a South Carolina-based cat that in his various bands and recorded work brings new meaning to the word “eclectic,” typically approaching familiar material in thrillingly unexpected ways. His album Good Eats is devoted to flippin’ Lou Donaldson joints on their ears while another CD paired with sax man Don Braden finds him lovingly approaching gems from Billy Strayhorn’s treasure chest. “Stella” here was a respectful and adoring homage to tradition followed by a brisk whirl through Be Bop godfather Charlie Parker’s “Au Privave” on open bell trumpet to flaunt his dexterity – most impressive.

Gliding to the stage in a stunning yellow dress, the lovely self-defined “songstress” Tracy Hamlin shifted gears with a slickly and singularly re-harmonized version of Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning Heartache” (hilariously mis-titled in the concert program booklet as “Good Morning Heart Attack” – lost in translation). Currently touring the globe with Disco diva Gloria Gaynor (thus rubbing shoulders on all-star bills with the crème of the living female dance music stars) and originally mentored by the late S. Renee Diggs (lead singer of Starpoint), Baltimore-born powerhouse Hamlin is herself a 20 years + veteran of jazz-laced R&B with three CDs to her credit: Seasons (2005), Better Days (2009) and the brand new This is My Life (2013). Hamlin flexed her get down side with a groovin’ rendition of Bill Withers’ 1972 soul staple “Use Me,” bringing Peter Novelli back to the stage to sit in on guitar. She closed her all-too-brief set with the majestically inspiring “Still I Rise.” It’s a shame that Hamlin did not have time to prepare a duet with Jefferson.

Following such a smorgasbord of talent would be daunting for some but not man of the hour Anthony Jefferson who arrived thoroughly prepared to give his fans an hour of sumptuous jazz vocal power showcasing music from his debut solo CD, But Beautiful, accompanied by rhythm quartet and a quintet of string players from the Santo Domingo Orchestra – all under the direction of keyboardist Corey Allen (Chuck Mangione, The Manhattan Transfer). With his signature old fashion Vector microphone placed center stage, Jefferson was introduced by Master of Ceremony Fernando Rodriguez de Mondesert then seduced his audience with the God-gifted tone and years-honed phrasing they’ve come to love on moody balladry such as “But Beautiful” and a heart-crushing “You Don’t Know What Love Is” – a song he has sung so many times he melts its core like butter. It was only on the punishingly demanding poetry of “Lush Life” that Jefferson was in need of exploring its complex web of emotions with more acute empathy and depth. Otherwise, he dazzled with “Our Love is Here to Stay,” the seasonal waltz “My Favorite Things,” and even got lowdown funky on the night’s second homage to `72 vintage Bill Withers: “Who is He and What is He to You.”

Mr. Jefferson brought the evening to a humble and heartfelt close with a special original composition. “Thank You” was originally written and recorded as an instrumental by trumpeter Mark Rapp in a version that received significant radio airplay. Enamored, Jefferson added lyrics to the number, recorded it with Rapp on But Beautiful, and the two of them performed it together for the first time as a warm finale – a splendid end to his spectacular evening under the stars…and a sentiment that should play on repeat as the mantra for his life’s “si bon” fortune.

A. Scott Galloway
Music Editor
The Urban Music Scene
October 26, 2013

(special thank to The Jefferson Faculty and Staff for all accesses extended)