Talcott Mountain Music Festival Opens

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, the Hartford Symphony will team up with David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All Stars for a night of classic and current R & B charts. Adding a little “soul” to this groovy concert will be legendary funk saxophonist Maceo Parker.

Hartford Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Kristen Phillips says, “What better way to open our 14th Talcott Mountain Music Festival than with a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock? This show will cover everyone’s favorite classic R&B charts, but unlike a typical summer rock concert will feature the unique sound and feel of classical instruments combined with the sounds of classic rock, rhythm and soul. The Hartford Symphony is going to act as the ultimate “Big Band” with David Foster’s legendary R&B musicians, the Mohegan Sun All-Stars. Guest artist Maceo Parker, best known as lead saxophonist for James Brown’s band, will be sure to get toes tapping with some of his funky sax riffs.”

David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All-Stars (formerly the Shaboo All-Stars) have performed innumerable times up and down the East Coast over the past twenty-five years. In April of 2001, the Mohegan Sun Casino contracted the Shaboo All-Stars to be their house band, thus the name change. The All-Stars play classic rhythm and blues as well as the Memphis R&B genre; timeless, danceable music that appeals to every generation. As its third decade continues, the All-Stars enjoy an extraordinary reputation and are known all through the East as a musician’s band.

Mr. Foster is known for the many illustrious musicians within his assemblage that he combines in various groupings to create rich, memorable performances. The rhythm section of the All-Stars for the past sixteen years has included two Joe Cocker veterans- such notables as Mitch Chakour on keyboards and vocals and Cliff Goodwin on lead guitar. Wolf Ginandes, a Boston-based veteran performer & session player tastefully assumes bass guitar duties. Drummer, Marty Richards, toured with jazz great Gary Burton for 10 years and recorded with Norah Jones & the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

The horn section can include any or all of the following: Jimmy Biggins, tenor sax standout, formerly with James Taylor; saxophonist Baron Raymonde who previously toured with Rod Stewart; Don Harris a former Tower of Power trumpeter; Curt Ramm, most recently played trumpet with Bruce Springsteen and “The Seeger Sessions” Tour; Bill Holloman on sax, trumpet, keyboards and vocals whose credits include touring with Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Bros. and Chic.

For the past sixteen years, Maceo Parker has been building a new funk empire, fresh and stylistically diverse. He navigates deftly between James Brown's 1960's soul and George Clinton's 1970's freaky funk while exploring mellower jazz and the grooves of hip-hop. His collaborations over the years performing or recording or both have included James Brown, Ray Charles, Ani Difranco, James Taylor, De La Soul, Prince, Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. -- www.hartfordsymphony.org