W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars

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The W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars (also known as the W. C. Handy Festival All-Stars) is a group of jazz musicians who collectively form the roster of musicians who play every year at the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama. Every year, usually during the last week of July, these musicians, from all over the United States, gather in Florence and perform in various combinations. A number of Birmingham musicians regularly participate in this festival.


The Roster of Musicians

Through the years, the W. C. Handy Music Festival has featured a large roster of top quality jazz musicians, many of which are listed below. (Birmingham musicians are in bold face.)

Guitarists:

  • Mundell Lowe – Film composer and guitarist with the Andre Previn Trio, residing in San Diego, California.
  • Tom Wolfe – Guitarist, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Alabama, residing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
  • Mel Deal - Guitarist, residing in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Lloyd Wells - Guitarist, residing in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Eric Essix - Guitarist, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Jack Pearson - Guitarist, former member of the Allman Brothers Band, residing in Nashville, Tennessee.

Drummers and Percussionists:

  • Chuck Redd - Vibraphonist & percussionist, residing in Takoma Park, Maryland.
  • Bill Goodwin – Percussionist with Phil Woods, residing in New Jersey.
  • Sonny Harris – Percussionist, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Mike Shepherd – Percussionist, one of the founders of the Handy Festival, residing in Minnesota.

Pianists:

Bassists:

  • Tim Goodwin – Bassist, Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Memphis.
  • Ike Harris – Bassist, residing in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Cleveland Eaton - Bassist, residing in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Neal Starkey – Bassist, residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wind Instrumentalists:

  • Gary Lamb – Trumpeter & vocalist.
  • Holly Hofmann – Flutist, residing in Los Angeles, California.
  • Howard Lamb – Trombonist & Director of the Memphis Jazz Orchestra.
  • Ken Watters – Trumpeter, residing in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Rick Bell – Saxophonist, residing in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Kelley O'Neal - Saxophonist, residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

External Links

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