How to go
Who: Joe Sample, Alex Bugnon and Peter White
Where: the Schuster Center, Second and Main streets, Dayton
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Cost: $36, $42 and $48
More info: (937) 228-3630 or www.ticketcenterstage.com
Artist info:
Vital stats: Jazz keyboardist Joe Sample was born in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 1, 1939. He began playing piano at age 5 and was heavily influenced by gospel, Creole and blues.
On stage: Victoria Theatre Association Star Attractions series presents The Summer Breeze Jazz Tour featuring Sample, Alex Bugnon and Peter White at the Schuster Center in Dayton on Friday.
Tickling the ivories: The 74-year-old legend has worked in many configurations in his more than five decades as a jazz musician. He was a longtime member of influential band The Jazz Crusaders, later known as simply The Crusaders. A successful solo artists and band leader in his own right, he has also recorded and performed with legends such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner and Joe Cocker.
Talented classmates: Sample was still in high school in Houston in the 1950s when he first started performing with friends Wilton Felder (saxophone) and Stix Hooper (drums). The trio, with the addition of Wayne Henderson (trombone), went through several name changes before settling on The Jazz Crusaders, the moniker that made them famous.
Western migration: The Jazz Crusaders career began in earnest after leaving Texas for California in 1960. By the following year, the group had signed a deal with Pacific Jazz Records and released its debut album, “Freedom Sound,” which introduced music fans to the group’s hard bop sound that drew influence from southern soul, blues and gospel.
Selected Crusaders discography pt. 1: Before shedding the word Jazz from its name, the combo dropped such definitive albums as “Chile Con Soul” (1965), “Live at the Lighthouse” (1966), “Uh Huh” (1967) and “Old Socks, New Shoes … New Socks, Old Shoes” (1970).
Selected Crusaders discography pt. 2: After the name change, the group pursued a harder funk-edged brand of fusion on albums such as “1” (1972), “Chain Reaction” (1975), “Street Life” (1979) and “Rural Renewal” (2003).
Selected solo discography: Sample has released more than a dozen solo albums since his 1969 album, “Fancy Dance.” Other notable releases include “Rainbow Seeker” (1978), “Carmel” (1979), “The Hunter” (1982), “Did You Feel That?” (1994) and “The Pecan Tree” (2002).
New sounds: His latest album, “Randy Crawford & Joe Sample Live with Steve Gadd and Nicklas Sample,” was released in July 2012. It featured the keyboardist’s son, Nicklas (bass). It was Sample’s third album with Crawford,” who also sang on The Crusaders’ “Street Life.”
Looking ahead: Later this year, Sample will premiere a new Creole-flavored band featuring Zydeco musician CJ Chenier and R&B legend Ray Parker Jr.
About the Author