BASSIST KRISTIN KORB ALSO SINGS WHEN SHE SWINGS

BASSIST KRISTIN KORB ALSO SINGS WHEN SHE SWINGS

Singing bass players may not be as rare as they used to be, but Los Angeles jazz musician and educator Kristin Korb still gives the combination a fresh twist. That’s mostly because the bass came first in her life and the singing came later. The upbeat blond still plays a lot of recording dates as a time-keeping bassist who isn’t asked to sing a note.

“I started out playing electric bass,” said Korb cheerfully, on the phone from her L.A. studio. “But the acoustic bass is just where I hear my voice.

“Sure the electric bass has more punch, but if I’m going to be swinging, it has to be on an acoustic bass.”

And swinging is what Korb loves most. She plays a lot of jazz festivals and concert dates on both coasts, filling in with club gigs as desired. Tucson’s own hard core straight-ahead jazzers have heard Korb brighten a couple of house concerts here, presented by local drummer and entrepreneur Pete Swan.

Sunday evening Korb and her favorite pianist, Llew Matthews, are the headline attraction in the Tucson Jazz Society’s latest Jazz Under The Stars concert at St. Philip’s Plaza, North Campbell Avenue at East River Road. Swan will be on the bandstand behind the drum kit, as well.

“I met Pete years ago, in 2002 maybe, when we worked together in Port Townsend, Washington. It was a jazz camp for students and adults, Bud Shank used to run it. We were the rhythm section who played for the vocalists.”

At St. Philip’s the trio will be doing a mixed bag of standards, blues and straight ahead favorites, adding “some Brazilian stuff” which Korb is currently exploring musically.

“And I’ll be singing some songs from my newest album, “In the Meantime.” That one was released just a few months ago.

After visiting South America twice last year, the rich rhythms of that continent began to percolate in her playing. “I started composing more this summer, too,” Korb added casually.

Making  music under the stars always brings out her fun side, the personable player says. “That just goes together with being outdoors. It will be a playful, fun time for families.”

Adding to this light-hearted jazz feeling is the opening act of jazz harpist Christine Vivona and trombonist/pianist Rob Boone. The duo has been perking up ears around town (see our accompanying story) proving the harp’s potential as a jazz instrument.

When you get right down to it, how many concerts showcase a singing bass player and a jazz harpist? This concert, for sure, promises to give that swinging jazz sound some tweeks that won’t be heard anywhere else.

 

The first downbeat drops at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in St. Philip’s Plaza, North Campbell Avenue at East River Road. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 TJS members, $10 students and military. Buy tickets online at 800-595-4849 or visit www.tucsonjazz.org  Tickets are also available at the door.