BackCountry Jazz – Greenwich Library, Cole Auditorium – October 13, 2012
BackCountry Jazz is a nonprofit music performance and education organization put together in Greenwich, led on stage by Bennie Wallace. He’s had a legit career in jazz, and seems to know a whole lot of players, whom he gets to work with him on various projects. In conjunction with the Library’s celebration of Louis Armstrong month, he pulled together a top-notch 11-piece combo, added Russell as a vocalist, and they romped their way through the Armstrong songbook in configurations partial and full. Riley is the smiling-est drummer (or perhaps musician in general) that I’ve seen in a long time, clearly enjoying himself!
Bennie Wallace
Catherine Russell
Matt Munisteri
Jerry Dodgion
Bruce Barth
Herlin Riley