Menlo Park program spotlights innovative jazz of past, present Menlo Park program spotlights innovative jazz of past, present (February 04, 2004)

Fredrick J. Berry and John Worley Jr., two of the Bay Area's star trumpet players, will join forces for a presentation and performance on Saturday, February 4, at the Menlo Park Library.

The free event will begin at 11 a.m. in the downstairs meeting room.

The program is billed as a tribute to the Art Ensemble of Chicago, a group acclaimed for its innovative jazz. Mr. Berry was involved in founding the group in the 1960s.

Mr. Worley said they will discuss the Art Ensemble's history and impact on the music world, play some of the group's recordings, and demonstrate techniques typical of the group's most famous trumpet player, Lester Bowie.

The two will also perform a work written by Mr. Worley for the program. Half of that performance will be improvised, he said.

Mr. Berry has performed with many of the great stars of the jazz world, including McCoy Tyner, Lena Horne, Benny Carter, Count Basie, Bobby Hutcherson and Natalie Cole. He is a frequent performer in Bay Area jazz ensembles.

Mr. Worley is a mainstay on the local jazz scene, and has been part of some of the area's most innovative ensembles. These include Jon Jang's Pan-Asian Arkestra and Wayne Wallace's Rhythm and Rhyme. With reed-player Jim Norton -- a star of the Menlo-Atherton Jazz Band in the late 1970s -- he founded Brilliant Corners, a tentet made up of young local musicians who performed original music.

His recently released CD, Worlview, features a number of his original compositions, as well as works by Wayne Wallace, who plays trombone and keyboards on the recording.

Free van service to the program is available for Menlo Park seniors and people with disabilities. For more information, or to schedule transportation, call 330-2512.

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