Saturday, August 8, 2009, Long Beach, CA
ESP Joins In Celebration of Memory of Wayman Tisdale

ESP's Everett Glenn joins Hiroshima composer/producer/ keyboards /woodwinds/saxophonist Dan Kuramota and critically acclaimed bassist Brian Bromberg backstage at the Festival.

ESP President/CEO joined thousands at the 22nd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival, a 3-day immersion into rhythm and melody, jazz cool and hot, and fusion, funk and soul.

The premiere Southern California jazz event, the 2009 festival was dedicated to the memory of bassist Wayman Tisdale, the "gentle giant" of smooth jazz. A 12-year NBA performer, Tisdale launched his music career with Power Forward in 1995 on the Motown label. Tisdale recorded 8 albums, with the 2001 release Face to Face reaching No. 1 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart. The Festival also celebrated the lives of Hank Crawford and Freddie Hubbard, both jazz giants, and the incomparable, one and only Michael Jackson.

ESP's Everett Glenn and Clarence McDonald lead vocalist C.J. Emmons talk Ethnomusicology with Birgitta Johnson, Ph.D. in the Green Room.

Friday evening featured guitarist/composer Norman Brown, saxophonist sensation Eric Darius, vocalist Patti Austin, and highly acclaimed sax man David Sanborn who has been featured on albums by Gil Evans, Stevie Wonder, Jaco Pastorius, the Butterfield Blues Band, Bruce Springsteen, Al Jarreau, The Eagles, James Brown, Hubert Laws and dozens more.

Saturday, the grassy knoll of the Rainbow Lagoon Park with gentle marine breezes, the aromas of kettle corn and BBQ…and anticipation…featured the exceptionally talented keyboardist Clarence McDonald, the phenomenal bass player Brian Bromberg, the Los Angeles-based ensemble Hiroshima, referred to by Jazz Times as "one of the most challenging and engaging bands around" with a fan base on a global scale, the legendary jazz/soul pianist, Les McCann who has headlined 40+ albums and toured internationally for more than 45 years, the powerful and sultry, Grammy-nominated Ledisi and the explosive collaboration of award-winning, chart-topping, improvising and musically provocative performers known as the Jazz Attack featuring trumpeter and flugelhorn artist Rick Braun, South-African born Grammy-nominated guitarist/composer/singer Jonathan Butler, and chart-topping tenor saxophonist Richard Elliott.

Aundrae Russell, host of Radio Free 102.3 KJLH broadcasts live from the 22nd Annual Long Beach Jazz Festival.

Five-time gold record composer/pianist Ramsey Lewis, award-winning contemporary jazz guitarists Marc Antoine and Paul Brown, singer/songwriter Angie Stone and The Al Williams Jazz Society featuring music director Dr. George Shaw, drummer Al Williams, keyboardist Dave Bradshaw, bassist Nedra Wheeler, saxophonist Doug Webb, and percussionist Anthony (Tony) Poingsett closed out the ultimate cool groove to the delight of thousands of jazz enthusiasts who made their way to Long Beach from all over the country.

ESP’s Everett Glenn and Brian Bromberg keyboardist Tom Zink take a break from the festivities in the Green Room.

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