Starting the summer back in Arizona, the May meeting of the Arizona Classic Jazz Society in Chandler, Arizona, featured Cheryl Thurston’s annual birthday party celebration with Evan Dain (bs), Dan Reed (tp), Elliot Ventimiglia (reeds), Greg Varlotta (tb), Roy Calhoun (dr), and Richard Bogen (gtr/bj).
Having seen Cheryl at the Maison Bourbon in New Orleans last month, (see the June 2022 issue of The Syncopated Times) it was fun to see her on her own turf entertaining the audience with lots of music and birthday cupcakes! Cheryl also leads the many jammers who attend and provides constant music throughout the afternoon. Jammers included Diana Perez, Sharon Tataren (V), Richard Bogen, now on drums, Marj Scooros (wash), Paul Green (tuba), and Steve Means (cl).
This last meeting of the season was well attended as many locals head out to cooler destinations for the summer. Cheryl, as leader, also adds vocals and pocket trumpet expertise to her sets and always enjoys every minute of her stage persona as does the audience!
The music scene is definitely heating up in Tucson and several locally owned restaurants are addin
