Henley Douglas Jr. Photos by Tom Uellner
Henley Douglas Jr. has been one of the driving forces of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival since the weekend music series began, but this year he’s taking it easy. Well, okay, that’s not exactly accurate. The Salem saxophonist will be blowing with the Boston Horns Big Band and Soul Force V, as well as handling MC duties on Day 2 of the festival, which runs Aug. 15 to 16 at the Salem Willows.
But he did get a break from booking the performers. And the organizational details. And, yuk, the necessary unpleasantness of money-grubbing in a down economy: Hey, the festival may be free, but it still takes a boatload of bucks to get it up and running.
Crowd from 2007 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival.
Douglas, who also mans the front line of the Boston Horns funk band, now celebrating its tenth anniversary, would have picked up the baton, if that’s what it took, but had gotten so jammed up with work and life he was afraid he would “shortchange” the event if he tried to play superjazzman and do it all. So he stepped back and let the volunteer staff share in some of the fun.
“And they pulled it off,” he says, sounding a just little surprised that they were able to pull the musical rabbit out of their hats. “Hey, it’s rough out there,” he says. “It’s a struggle, I know. The success we’ve had is a tribute to every single person in the organization, especially the volunteers. This is going to be great. I’m just blown away by the diversity of the acts … I guess they didn’t need me at all.”
Did he say diverse? Yup, in form, style and substance. You’ve got everything from Salem High School Jazz Ensemble to the Brotherhood of Groove, a raging New Orleans-based funk band led by homegrown Hamilton guitarist Brandon Tarracone; from the out-there Boston Typewriter Orchestra (yes, they’re what you’d expect, from the name) to the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble - a band founder Ken Field describes as “a funk and street beat brass band” whose members dress in feathered masks and multi-colored, sequined costumes, just this side of P-Funk.
Douglas, who, back in the day, played with Field in bands in the Big Dig Saxophone Quartet and Skin, a Boston-based funk-rock outfit that would open for acts like the Neville Brothers and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, also has a difficult time pinpointing the experience.
“You never know what you’re going to get with these guys,” he says, “but you will be blown away by them. They’re just amazing musicians.”
You’ll also get a taste of family, an important part of the festival, which, says Douglas, is supposed to throw the spotlight on New England. Douglas’ side project, Soul Force V - that’s “five” for the Latin impaired - has been tearing it up in a regular Tuesday-night residency at the Rhumbline in Gloucester. The band, which includes Horns guitarist Jeff Buckridge and bassist Dave Walker, puts its own spin on standards in all styles - and puts the spotlight on vocalist Kimberly Mantz (”just an incredible talent, such an incredible voice,” says Douglas), who has also performed with songwriter Jesse Ciaramataro, who will bring his band Qwill and the Further From Zen Orchestra. And you will also see Sea Monsters, a new act from Ciaramataro’s former roots-rocking band, the Resonance.
Barrence Whitfield from the 2008 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival.
Douglas and the Boston Horns Big Band, a monster 18-piece band, will close out the proceedings in a must-see performance - especially for those who missed the April fundraiser show with way-special guest vocalists Barrence Whitfield, Toni Lynn Washington and James Montgomery, or the July gig at the Marblehead Festival for the Arts, when Thaddeus Hogarth, axman with Boston Horns precursor Heavy Metal Horns, ripped through the sweet Jimi Hendrix Suite written by Gil Evans.
Douglas is promising unnamed special guests and surprises, but it doesn’t really matter what the exact program is, because this is a band that seriously peels the paint.
And just in case you wanted to become part of the Salem Jazz and Soul family: Yes, they are still looking for volunteers. Wander over to the festival website - salemjazzsoul.com - for more information. Consider it an investment in Henley Douglas’ mental health. Here’s the schedule:
JUST THE FACTS, MAN: The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival runs Aug. 15 to 16 at the Salem Willows. The festival is free. Here is the line-up:
Saturday, August 15: Salem High School Jazz Ensemble, Manami Morita & Randy Runyon Quintet, Gregorio Uribe Big Band, the Brotherhood of Groove, Sea Monsters, and the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble. There will also be a special appearance by the Boston Typewriter Orchestra. The music goes from 11:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Holly Harris from Ultimate Blues will be master of ceremonies.
Sunday, August 16: Qwill & the Further from Zen Orchestra, Soul Force V, Jordan Valentine & the Sunday Saints and the Boston Horns Big Band. The music runs from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m Henley Douglas Jr. will be master of ceremonies. For more information, log onto www.salemjazzsoul.com.
