“Festival of Lights” Holiday Show with Rosemary & Frankie Chavez

Rosemary and Frankie Chavez are once again delighted to be featured entertainers at this year’s “Festival of Lights” at Tlaquepaque North on Saturday, December 10th.  They will be playing at this lovely outdoor setting on Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. where you’ll be treated to their jazzy renditions of your favorite holiday music with their popular group Jazz a’la mode.  Their latest CD “A Sedona Christmas” will be available.  The CD features Rosemary’s original composition “Angels All Around Us” which is currently being arranged for publication.

Jazz a’la mode features Rosemary Chavez on vocals, Frankie Chavez on drums and percussion, and Lee Stewart on piano and vocals.

Rosemary Chavez has been called a singer’s singer having developed her unique style through years of musical performances.   She toured with world renowned choral conductor Weston Noble throughout the U.S. and also in Europe where she was a soloist.  In Los Angeles, Rosemary worked with small combos to 16 piece orchestras covering the gamut of music.  Some artists Rosemary performed with were drummer Burleigh Drummond of the famed rock group Ambrosia; Musician/Actor Nick DeMauro from Betty White’s TV show, Off Their Rockers; and renowned Jazz musician, Billy Mitchell.  As a session singer, Rosemary was chosen to sing three songs on the movie soundtrack ROAR.  The National Philharmonic (London) played the soundtrack and it starred actresses Tippi Hedren and Melanie Griffith.  The ROAR soundtrack album was a #6 record in Australia on Festival Records.  Rosemary’s other recordings as a featured vocalist include the CDs:  “A Sedona Christmas”, “Sweet Jazz a’la mode”, and “American Voices” composed by RIAA certified gold record recipient, Terrence P. Minogue.

No stranger to the world of entertainment, drummer and percussionist Frankie Chavez began his musical career in Los Angeles as a child soloist with Lionel Hampton.  He went on to perform and record with numerous artists including Larry Carlton, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Pat Boone, Bobby Gentry, Gerald Wilson, Willie Bobo, and numerous others.  His last tour took him to Mexico, Australia, and Thailand where he was part of the Thailand Jazz Festival.  As a child, Frankie’s mentor and friend was world renowned drummer, Buddy Rich.  Frankie then passed on his musical knowledge as the first drum teacher to Karen Carpenter of The Carpenters. As her friend and drum teacher, Frankie was interviewed and included in the best selling book “Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter” written by Randy L. Schmidt.  He has since been included in two documentaries on The Carpenters with the latest being filmed by Emmy award-winning AMS Pictures.  Frankie also shares his incredible talents on the CDs: “A Sedona Christmas”, “Sweet Jazz a’la mode”, and “American Voices”.

Pianist and vocalist Lee Stewart knew at the age of 6 that he wanted to play the piano.  In addition to his 14 years of classical instruction, he was fascinated with other styles of music which led him to develop his own Jazz style of playing.  Having traveled worldwide, a stint in Jamaica introduced him to reggae and while in Texas, country music.  Lee has played professionally from the world-famous Pebble Beach Lodge in Carmel, CA to performances on the Kohala Coast on the Big Island as well as Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  Fans once again found him when he took his talents to Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. as well as the best wineries and venues in Medford, OR.  Lee has performed with Johnny Mathis, Steven Bishop, and Barbara McNair, to name but a few.  Lee’s gift is music and it is apparent when one has the pleasure of hearing him live.

Come share the joy that so many of you have come to know from these gifted performers on Saturday, December 10th, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Tlaquepaque North.