Monday, July 25, 2016

In Italy, Croatia- and UK-bound!


Fred and company are closing out the Venezia Jazz Festival and closing out 19 days in Italy tonight at the fort Rocco di Tempesta in the Venice suburb of Noale. 

They'll head east and enjoy a night off in an Adriatic resort in Zadar, Croatia, before playing the Zadar Jazz and Blues Fest on Wednesday.

From there they'll fly to the UK for hits at Edinburg's Famous Spiegeltent, at the Southern Fried Festival in Perth and finally at the hot Under the Bridge venue in London.

After a hard-earned five-day rest, they'll finish this summer's touring with these three festivals in France:
Aug. 6 -- Crozon, France






Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Moving on with memories of Umbria Jazz!

The Umbria Jazz Festival has wrapped up and Fred and company are moving into the next phase of their four-week summer European tour. Many thanks to the whole team for making it such a wonderful festival, including the band's host Laura Massini. Also thanks for the memories to all the other musicians, including the Allan Harris Band, George Clinton and Parliament, and Melody Gardot trumpeter Shareef Clayton.

Allan Harris joining in on "House Party."
Backstage with George Clinton.
With New JBs drummer Bruce Cox and P-Funkers Lige Curry and Eric McFadden.
With P-Funker Gary "Mudbone" Cooper
With Shareef Clayton sitting in on "Pass the Peas"
A magnificent Umbria view at sunset
With manager Joya and host Laura.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Enjoying Umbria Jazz!

Halfway through the 10 days of the Umbria Jazz Festival, Fred met up backstage with old friends guitarist John Scofield and festival artistic director Carlo Pagnotta, as well as young gun Kamasi Washington.

Fred, Scofield, Washington, Pagnotta.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Set to start a hot summer at Umbria Jazz!

Fred is excited about heading to Italy tomorrow to start his next tour with an exciting 10-day residency at the fabled Umbria Jazz Festival, which this year features artists including Marcus Miller, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, George Clinton, Buddy Guy, Ron Carter, Kumasi Washington, Peditro Martinez and many more. Fred and the New JBs play free outdoor concerts July 8-17.

Thank you to photographer Paul Nathan for this portrait of Fred with his excited face taken backstage last month at the Chicago Blues Festival. Also many thanks to director Jeneene Brown-Mosley, her team, Fernando Jones and all the Chicago fans for helping make it such a funky good time. Scroll down for some family photos and click here, here and here for more photos from the Chicago Sun Times.




A view of the damage in South Carolina
Fred celebrated his 73rd birthday July 4 with love and wishes from friends and fans around the world (thank you!), after a bit of personal drama courtesy of Mother Nature. A small tornado put a tree through the roof of his bedroom! No one was hurt, he and the family have been riding it out at a nearby hotel, and repairs are almost complete.

From Umbria the tour continues through Italy, the UK and France, and includes a stop in Zadar, Croatia. Here are all the dates with links for purchasing tickets.  

July 19 -- Suzzara, Italy (free)
July 20 -- Palermo, Italy
July 21 -- Ancona, Italy
July 22 -- Poretta Soul Fest
July 23 -- Catania, Italy
July 25 -- Noale, Italy
July 27 -- Zadar, Croatia
Aug. 6 -- Crozon, France
New JBs horn section before their Chicago set.

Fred with his Chicago cousin Joshua Edwards

Set to start a hot summer at Umbria Jazz!

Fred is excited about heading to Italy tomorrow to start his next tour with an exciting 10-day residency at the fabled Umbria Jazz Festival, which this year features artists including Marcus Miller, Diana Krall, Chick Corea, George Clinton, Buddy Guy, Ron Carter, Kumasi Washington, Peditro Martinez and many more. Fred and the New JBs play free outdoor concerts July 8-17.

Thank you to photographer Paul Nathan for this portrait of Fred with his excited face taken backstage last month at the Chicago Blues Festival. Also many thanks to director Jeneene Brown-Mosley, her team, Fernando Jones and all the Chicago fans for helping make it such a funky good time. Scroll down for some family photos and click here, here and here for more photos from the Chicago Sun Times.




A view of the damage in South Carolina
Fred celebrated his 73rd birthday July 4 with love and wishes from friends and fans around the world (thank you!), after a bit of personal drama courtesy of Mother Nature. A small tornado put a tree through the roof of his bedroom! No one was hurt, he and the family have been riding it out at a nearby hotel, and repairs are almost complete.

From Umbria the tour continues through Italy, the UK and France, and includes a stop in Zadar, Croatia. Here are all the dates with links for purchasing tickets.  

July 19 -- Suzzara, Italy (free)
July 20 -- Palermo, Italy
July 21 -- Ancona, Italy
July 22 -- Poretta Soul Fest
July 23 -- Catania, Italy
July 27 -- Zadar, Croatia
Aug. 6 -- Crozon, France
New JBs horn section before their Chicago set.
Fred with his Chicago cousin Joshua Edwards