BOB MOVER, Stellar Jazz Saxophonist (direct from NYC) Performs with Legendary Drummer, ROY McCURDY, Mon. Nov 30, Oyster House

This is your sole chance to hear expert jazz saxophonist, Bob Mover, arriving directly from NYC, accompanied by gifted musicians, Roy McCurdy, drums; Chris Conner, bass; Doug MacDonald, guitar; and Laura Pursell, vocals.

At NO COVER CHARGE, it’s a steal at twice the price. Plus you get the rare chance to hear these first rate talents in an up close and personal, cozy, friendly, intimate, musician’s hang.

The Oyster House is a hidden gem that you’re now privy to. Feel free to spread the word and share the gold. Kitchen closes at 10pm so arrive early for fabulous fare at reasonable prices.

With jazz superstars such as Bob Mover, in town for this unique occasion, and Roy McCurdy, expect special guests to show up and jam the night away in their finest form and at the top of their game!

According to aficionados and authorities, accolades abound:

“Bob Mover’s playing and singing has that soulful and melodic shine that I love about the great jazz soloists.” - Chick Corea

“Bob is one of the greatest and most underexposed musicians in the history of jazz” - Hank Jones

“Bob Mover has been a well-kept secret among the jazz inner circle for way too long. He’s an accomplished saxophonist, who has released nine records, and performed with such heavy hitters as Chet Baker, Charles Mingus, Jaki Byard, and Lee Konitz...He can turn on a dime from a warm mainstream timbre to stretching out into brief “open playing.” - Jeff Krow: Audiophile Audition

“A very sensitive artist and a true jazz icon.” – Bob Comden: LA Jazz Press

“Like Charlie Parker, Bob Mover knows how to make musical escapes and come out all sexy and beautiful.” – Mitch Borden: Smalls

“Neither an avant-gardist nor exactly a mainstreamer, Mover is one of the most accomplished and thoroughly engaging saxophonists around.” – Eric Levin: People Magazine

“Since arriving in the 70’s, Mover is still going strong: he is a fleet and soulful improvizer with a Bird-through-Konitz pedigree…” - Gary Giddings: Village Voice Choices

“Taking Charlie Parker, Lee Konitz, and Sonny Rollins as exemplars early on, Mover is the sum of his parts with a mind and a heart of his own.” – Leonard Feather/Ira Gitler: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz

“His music rings with a profundity that speaks to both heart and mind…Mover’s voice is his own, worth listening to…carefully.” – Chuck Berg: DownBeat

“Saxophonist Bob Mover is one of that rare breed, a man unafraid of taking musical chances.” – Len Dobbin: The Montreal Gazette

Roy McCurdy will probably always be best-known for his important contributions to Cannonball Adderley’s Quintet (1965-1975), but he has been a tasteful and stimulating participant in many other sessions through the years.

Early on, he worked with Chuck and Gap Mangione in the Jazz Brothers (1960-1961). McCurdy gained recognition for his playing with the Jazztet (1961-1962), Bobby Timmons, Betty Carter (who was fairly obscure during his stint with her in 1962-1963) and Sonny Rollins (1963-1964) before joining Adderley.

The supportive drummer was flexible enough to evolve with Cannonball’’s popular group during the decade of change. After Adderley’’s death, McCurdy relocated to the Los Angeles area, where he has played and recorded with the top local musicians ever since.

McCurdy remembers playing around with his own home-built drum sets at age six and he started formal drum lessons at eight. He attended the Eastman School of Music from ages 16 to 18, and was playing professionally in local clubs at 16.

Famous trumpeter Roy Eldridge heard McCurdy at this point. He played with Eldridge at 16 and with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson at 17. In 1960 he joined the Art Farmer Benny Golson Jazztet and remained for two years.

McCurdy counts among his influences Louie Bellson, Shelly Manne, Sam Woodyard, Buddy Rich, “Papa” Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones and the bands of Duke Ellington, Jimmy Lunceford and Lionel Hampton. He has performed on between 150 and 200 recordings.

The list of greats that McCurdy has played with includes Count Basie, Wes Montgomery, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McRae, Joe Williams, Herbie Hancock, Milt Jackson, Oscar Peterson and Bud Powell. Roy has also played with Art Pepper, John Heard, Ron McCurdy, Jackie Ryan, Joe Zawinal, Blood, Sweat and Tears, etc.

Bassist, arranger, and composer Chris Conner has been a full-time professional since the age of 16. The Ontario native began his career in Toronto appearing with jazz artists Rob McConnell, Rick Wilkens, Moe Koffman, Pat LaBarbera, Jim Galloway, and Ed Bickert.

Relocating to San Diego, Chris quickly became a sought after sideman. Along with appearances at international jazz festivals as a member of LA’s Swing Savant and other national acts, he performed regularly at Southern California top jazz venues. He also enjoyed a long tenure with the Hollis Gentry III Acoustic Quartet & Bruce Cameron’s Latin Jazz Ensemble.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Chris has appeared with the Bill Holman Big Band, Bob Florence & the Limited Edition, and Kim Richmond’s Concert Jazz Orchestra, along with a full schedule of club dates. As an arranger and composer, Chris has contributed to projects for artists as stylistically varied as Bobby Caldwell and Gary Puckett. He orchestrates for feature films, TV, and commercials.

Chris maintains a busy touring and recording schedule. Johnny Hartman, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Sal Nistico, Bob Crosby, Phil Woods, Don Menza and Buddy DeFranco, are a few of jazz legends he has performed with.

He recently returned from an east coast tour with the vocalist Bill Henderson that included appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C and the new NYC Lincoln Jazz Center.

“Special notice must be given to bassist Conner, whose technical wizardry during his frequent solos is worthy of a virtuoso saxophonist.” - David Franklin, “Saxophonic” CD Reviews, Jazztimes

“Conner’s soloing flowed with an ease comparable to [Alan] Broadbent’s piano lines...” - Don Heckman, LA Times

Doug MacDonald has appeared at Carnegie Hall, clubs in New York, Chicago and his native Philadelphia, as well as in Barcelona, Spain and Honolulu, Hawaii.

He also merited recurring spots on three of L.A.’s own most well known jazz festivals, most recently (October 2013) to perform Barney Kessel’s “Some Like It Hot” concert portion of the L.A. Jazz Institute’s four-day “Jazz Themes from Hollywood.”

Live performances have included the renowned: Stan Getz, George Shearing, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich, Dave McKenna, Scott Hamilton, Richard Groove Holmes, Jack McDuff, Bobby Vinton, Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney, plus fellow guitarists Joe Pass and Herb Ellis.

Doug has recorded with Ross Tompkins, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna, Hank Jones, Jack Sheldon, Bob Cooper, Art Hillary, Johnny Kirkwood, Plas Johnson, Snooky Young, Bill Holman, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Lorez Alexandria and Ray Anthony.

The press has described Doug’s proficiency as follows:

“...a fine bop-based guitarist in the tradition of Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, and Joe Pass.” - Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene, JazzTimes Magazine

“veteran guitarist who know his influences cold, and consistantly plays to his strong suit.” - Michael Nastos, All Music Guide

“...beautiful bell-clear sounds and a sure-footed sense of swing.” - Zan Stewart, Los Angeles Times

“MacDonald’s charismatic manner...relentless pulse...elegant communicating...he soared rhythmically... with sleeky crafted phrases.”
- Howard Reich, The Chicago Tribune

“MacDonald’s trio swings strong but light, the better to frame his pleasant and unhurried melodies; he fits neatly into the relaxed, country-tinged post-bop mode of guitarists Herb Ellis and Charlie Byrd.” - Neil Tesser, Chicago Jazz Examiner

“One of the most inventive, imaginative jazz leaders around...” - Phil McCarthy, The Jazz Connection

Called “The Musician’s Singer” by many local jazzers, Laura Pursell sings every Wednesday night at Mixology in the Grove with a stellar jazz trio: 7-string guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Nick Schaadt, and drummer Kendall Kay.

Laura’s latest CD, “The Very Last Dance Hall Left in L.A.” (Laura co-wrote the title track) is a compilation of jazz, blues and country, recorded in Nashville with a cast of legendary players, including her father Bill Pursell. It’s available on CD Baby, iTunes, and Amazon.

Laura has celebrated several birthdays at the Oyster House and is happy to be returning for another!