Jazzbirds Lack Record Deal, but Not Talent

Except for the recession and extreme music-label cutbacks on signing new artists, how else would you explain that the Jazzbirds--a tight, all-woman jazz quintet from Los Angeles led by a pair of ace horn players--hasn’t been offered a recording contract?

Aside from the financial side of things, music industry types should easily be able to envision marketing this critically acclaimed 3-year-old band led by trumpet/fluegelhorn player Stacy Rowles and Betty O’Hara, who counts trumpet, cornet, fluegelhorn, valve trombone and double-belled euphonium among her instruments.

O’Hara writes original material for the group. Rowles dusts off forgotten classic jazz tunes, especially ballads, with some help in selection from her dad, veteran jazz pianist Jimmy Rowles. To top it off, Rowles and O’Hara both sing. All in all, an unusual array of talents.

Despite not having piqued the interest of the recording industry, the Jazzbirds keep active in Southern California clubs. The group performs at the Horton Grand Hotel in downtown San Diego Saturday.

Though the novelty of an all-woman jazz band might be another marketing hook, that’s not why Rowles and O’Hara put the Jazzbirds together. All five women in the group had already been playing with each other for several years in the Los Angeles-based all-woman big band, Maiden Voyage, when they found out they could have a lot of fun as a small group. They played a couple of spontaneous dates at Donte’s (the legendary North Hollywood club that is now a used-car lot) and have stuck together since.

After attempting, unsuccessfully, to land a recording contract for their band, Rowles and O’Hara are concentrating on their individual careers, but they would still like to see the Jazzbirds record.

Rowles, who often coaxes warm, muted phrases from her trumpet, recorded in Belgium last September with 24-year-old sax player Ben Sluijs, but the release is not available in the United States. Rowles’ last available recording was made with her father--the 1990 release “Looking Back.” She hopes to make a new vocal album with him, and has been learning a bunch of new songs.

“Dad is an encyclopedia of tunes,” she says. “We’re trying to broaden my vocal library as much as much as we can.”

Among the vocal numbers Rowles has been working on, some of which could turn up this Saturday night, are “Old Folks,” “Do You Know Why Stars Come Out at Night” and “Street of Dreams.”

O’Hara’s only release as a leader is the hard-to-find 1985 “Horns A’Plenty” (O’Hara sold two horns last year to finance production of another 200 copies). She wrote several original tunes, and over-dubbed horn parts to take full advantage of her eclectic arsenal of horns. Among her prized possessions: a double-belled circa-1896 euphonium, and an 1898 cornet.

O’Hara plays several traditional jazz festivals a year, with bands including Dick Cathcart’s and Dick Cary’s. Cary’s 10-piece ensemble also includes Tommy Newsom, Abe Most and Ernie Tack, three “Tonight Show” band alumni. O’Hara also just completed a two-month run in the house band for the musical review “Stardust” at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills.

Meanwhile, Rowles and O’Hara will put the band, rounded out by bassist Mary Ann McSweeney, pianist Liz Kinnon and drummer Jeanette Wrate, through its paces at 8:30 Saturday night at the Horton Grand.

San Diego guitarist Steve Laury is in remission from lymphoma cancer and getting ready to make his third solo recording, titled “Keeping the Faith,” in recognition of his personal struggle.

The album will feature nine songs Laury co-wrote with San Diego pianist-guitarist-vocalist Ron Satterfield. It should be out in January. The recording band also includes drummer Duncan Moore, saxophonist John Rekevics and bassist Kevin Hennessey.

Laury’s last release, “Passion,” peaked at No. 1 on some radio industry charts in March.

Summer time, and outdoor jazz is everywhere.

Guitarist Juan Carlos Quintero plays Magee Park in Carlsbad (Carlsbad Boulevard and Beech St.) Friday from 6 to 8 as the city’s summer “Jazz in the Parks” series continues.

Singer Tami Thomas’ Swingin’ Dixie Jazz Band plays from 2 to 4 Sunday afternoon at Ellen B. Scripps Park in La Jolla, with selections ranging from “Unforgettable” to “Muskrat Ramble” to a Harry James medley.

Guitarist Grant Geissman plays Fashion Valley’s summer jazz series from 1 to 3 Sunday afternoon on a stage outside the Broadway.

Saxophonist Gary Scott performs at the amphitheater at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma at 6:30 next Monday evening.

RIFFS: Straight-ahead jazz players who turn to pop-jazz seldom return to their roots. One exception is Los Angeles guitarist Kevin Eubanks, a member of the new “Tonight Show” band. Eubanks jumped from GRP Records, the giant of pop-jazz, earlier this year for a new deal at Blue Note, the longtime serious straight-ahead label. Eubanks’ new Blue Note release is titled “Turning Point.” He’ll talk about his career and music during a 1 p.m. interview with Gerald Cirrincione this Friday on KSDS-FM (88.3). . . .

Vocalist Tom Lellis, who has Frank Sinatra’s bravado but little of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ vocal or interpretive powers, plays the Horton Grand Hotel at 8:30 p.m. Friday. . . .

Mandarin Cove in La Jolla begins a new jazz policy with this Saturday night’s 7-to-11 performance by the Mark Lessman Band. There’s a $5 cover. . . .

Respected Denver saxman Spike Robinson played Elario’s last weekend, but his appearance does not indicate a renewed emphasis on the club’s old regional and national jazz acts policy, according to club owner Martin Mosier.

CRITIC’S CHOICE: KINGS OF LOCAL LATIN JAZZ

They are the kings of San Diego Latin jazz. Formed in 1962, Los Travelers are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. The six-man group still has three original members, including leader and percussionist Carlos Vazquez. The other two are singer/percussionist Kiko Rodriguez and pianist Rudy Peralta.

Los Travelers was the house band at the Hanalei Hotel in Mission Valley from 1968 to 1978, then spent several years playing Las Vegas. Back in town, Los Travelers helped singer Vicki Carr open the Fiesta Mexicana hotel in Tijuana around 1985. In addition, the group has made four self-produced albums, and plans to record a fifth--of Christmas songs--this summer.

Tonight, Los Travelers will be featured in a “Jazz Live” concert in the San Diego City College theater, to be broadcast at 8 on KSDS-FM (88.3). Their repertoire mixes Latin standards and originals with Latin-ized versions of familiar American jazz tunes. You can also catch the group Friday or Saturday nights in the weeks ahead at Cafe Bravo at 4th Avenue and E Street in the Gaslamp Quarter downtown. Music starts at 9 p.m.