WEST COAST WRAP UP - KSBR BIRTHDAY BASH - MAY 24, 2009
by: Paul Braun

The West Coast jazz scene is proving to be very fertile grounds for Chicago-based Jim Peterik as he follows up on his "Lifeforce" album, released earlier this year. Several months ago JP was out in LA to write with David Pack and hot jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair, and made connections that got him invited to perform at the KSBR (Mission Viejo) annual Birthday Bash this past Sunday, May 24.

KSBR is the pre-eminent smooth jazz station in that part of the country, and their annual birthday party attracts some of the biggest names in the biz -- artists like Boney James and Patti Austin, Craig Chaquico (formerly of Jefferson Starship) and others.

But more about that in a minute.

Jim actually flew out a few days early to write with some new friends. One of them is jazz artist Steve Oliver.

"I met Steve at his home, and we just sat out in his back yard, with the mountains as a backdrop, and wrote this amazing song," said Peterik.

"Then we headed inside to his studio and he played me this incredible drum loop, with all kinds of primitive drums. Blew me away. I've never worked with anything that modern-sounding in my life! So, I came home with this incredible demo, and the finished song should appear on his next album," according to Jim.

The following day Jim met up with Mindi Abair again to work some more on the material they had started during the last session. "Mindi is just phenomenal," said Jim. "She went from third-string player to headliner in about three years -- what a talent."

(I'm actually listening to her "Stars" right now as I write this, and it's simply beautiful. As is Mindi. Back to the story.)

"We were trying to find common ground to start a song, so I asked her if she liked the Average White Band. She said, 'I LOVE the Average White Band!' I asked if she knew 'Pick Up The Pieces', which of course she did, so we kind of built off that groove, that feel, and came up with what I feel is a killer song," according to Peterik.

JP claims that the KSBR bash exceeded his expectations. "They put us up at the Rennaissance Hotel in Mission Viejo, CA, a 5-star hotel," said Jim. (KSBR also invited Lifeforce member Lisa McClowry to perform with Jim.)

That first night Lisa and I were hanging out with Craig Chaquico, former guitarist with Jefferson Starship but who's become one of the world's best jazz musicians. We were chatting with Craig and his manager about maybe putting together a tour of rockers who also play smooth jazz -- maybe Craig and myself, Rik Emmett (of Triumph and World Stage regular), Rick Derringer... it would be a blast!", said Jim.

The next day was the festival. "There was a huge stage set up in this beautiful field, surrounded by tents and booths selling all sorts of merchandise. KSBR was broadcasting along with Cox Cable. This was a very well-done, major affair," according to Peterik.

"Every artist did one number. We chose our KSBR custom version of "Joy" since that was the one they had in regular rotation. I didn't have my regular LIfeforce band with me -- I had sent charts out ahead of time for the local band. I was a little nervous -- this was the first time I wasn't surrounded by my guys (guitarist Mike Aquino, bassist Klem Hayes, drummer Ed Breckenfeld, keyboardist Jeff Lantz and sax player/flautist Steve Eisen), but it all worked out," said Jim.

"The band featured Max Bennett on bass, an 81-year-old legend who's played with everyone from Duke Ellington to Frank Zappa to Joni Mitchell and the L.A. Express, which he founded; Gregg Karukas was my keyboard player; but the real standout to me was a 14-year-old flute player from New York named Rachel Rodgers. I turned over the solo in the middle to her and just let her go -- she was simply amazing," according to Peterik.

"It was a fantastic weekend for Lifeforce, and a great week for me," said JP.

He may still have the Eye of the Tiger, but he's one tiger who can change his stripes at will and fit in no matter where he plays.