First Annual Calabasas Music Festival Gets Off To A Great Start By Paula Edelstein Close to 3000 people chose to extend their summer music festival season by attending the first annual Calabasas Music Festival in Juan Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas, California. Delighted fans from as far away as Detroit, Nashville, and Tokyo shared their affinity for the heated Latin jazz chops of LA Mambo Combo, Gail Jhonson’s mellow keyboard sounds, the fresh electric violin dynamics of Noel Webb and the awe inspiring soulful energy of the great Jeffrey Osborne. International food, creative arts and cocktail vendors also offered a pleasant ambience to the festival setting. About the festival Presented by the City of Calabasas, Barbeque Club Entertainment Company and Labrador Entertainment, the festival supports music education programs and some of the proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs respectively. Set in the scenic Malibu Hills, this unique upscale festival showcased musical talent that immediately raised the attention level of the fans and had them dancing in their seats, in front of the stage and along the sidelines as the afternoon sun set over the glorious mountaintops and a full moon rose to illuminate the deep blue sky. LA Mambo Combo opened the show and played an exuberant assortment of songs made famous by such great artists as Tito Puente (“Que Sera,” “Ran Can Can”), Mongo Santamaria (“Besa Me Mama”), and Poncho Sanchez (“Oom Bombe”) as well as “Lullaby Of Broadway” and “Cal’s Pals” – a well- known jazz standard that references the late great Cal Tjader. Their Latin Soul and great mambos really got the festival off to a great start and provided just the right atmosphere for Gail Jhonson’s band which featured two excellent vocalists – Jovani and Gail’s daughter Tamika. Smooth jazz keyboardist/vocalist Gail Jhonson gave major props to conguero Sheila E. and guitarist Norman Brown during her introduction (she is the Music Director/Vocalist/Keyboardist for Brown’s Summer Storm bands) and later segued into a great re-imagined version of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You.” With her latest release Herstory now experiencing commercial success, her fans were treated to several of the songs from the album. Later in the show, Jhonson brought out her daughter Tamika to sing a fresh track that had her fans singing along while Jovani belted out a great blues version of “Dr. Feelgood” that brought the crowd to its feet. Labrador Recording artist/actor/composer/ innovative rock violinist Noel Webb gave an excellent performance filled with intensity, soul and sexiness as his ensemble played an exciting array of songs culled from Webb’s discography and several other songs made famous by such performers as Kool & The Gang (“Summer Madness”) and Led Zeppelin. Webb's exemplary violin playing was a sight and sound to behold and there is no wonder why he is in such demand as a performing artist with exceptional musicality.
Ultimately, the night belonged to the inimitable Jeffrey Osborne. Osborne energized, caressed and interacted with the audience as throngs of fans made their way to the front of the stage with their cameras. Osborne’s exciting showmanship and trademark vocals were in top form as he sang such hits as “Stay With Me Tonight,” “I’m Only Human,” “On The Wings of Love,” “Holdin’ On,” “Concentrate On You,” “Love Ballad” and “Can You Woo, Woo, Woo.” Osborne really worked the stage - left, right, middle – all the while capturing the hearts and souls of his fans as they danced, sang and held loved ones close. At one point, he came into the audience to allow fans to sing their version of the ‘woo, woo, woo’ song. Overall, his show was absolutely great and with the curfew for the park rapidly approaching, the great Jeffrey Osborne thanked everyone for coming and said goodnight to a standing ovation. |
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