The Jewish Community Center
Proudly Presents_
He started playing the xylophone at
age 10, won a Major Bowes amateur
talent contest at 12, quit high school
after an altercation with a teacher, and
became an amateur boxer in the
Army.
He later played on "jazz row" in
New York, including a stint with the
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
Gibbs' latest CD for Mack Avenue
Records is From Me to You: A Tribute
to Lionel Hampton, which celebrates
the life of his mentor.
"I play with fire; I like excitement; I
like it hot," Gibbs enthused, "just as
Hamp did." Appearing in Detroit
with Gibbs will be his son, Gerry, 39,
on drums.
Samuels, 53, of Connecticut, is a
veteran of the Detroit festival, bring-
ing the Caribbean Jazz Project to the
Absopure/Metro Times Waterfront
Stage at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
The group recently won a Grammy
for its CD titled The Gathering, after
five previous nominations.
"It was a real affirmation of our
evolving music, and it was great to get
the recognition," said Samuels.
With Samuels on the vibes and
marimba, the Latin jazz group's other
stalwarts are Dave Valentin on flute
and Dario Eskenazi, an Argentinean
Jew now of New York, as pianist.
Samuels is a Chicago native who
began playing drums and piano at age
6, then joined the Gerry Mulligan
Sextet, establishing himself as one of
the top mallet players of his genera-
tion.
The most exhilarating experience of
his life was when he spent a year in
Israel after graduating from high
school, he says.
"I worked on a farm and developed
a real fervor for the Jewish people —
a real sense of belonging," he reflect-
ed. "I loved it, and I learned to speak
fluent Hebrew."
Although he says he's not very reli-
gious, Samuels said the "beauty of
Judaism is a personal relationship
with God."
Samuels is married, and has a young
daughter who plays the piano. 0
The 24th annual Ford Detroit
International Jazz Festival is free
to the public at Hart Plaza in
downtown Detroit from noon
to midnight Saturday-Monday,
Aug. 30-Sept. 1. For a complete
schedule, call (313) 963-7622
or go to the Web site at
vvvvw.detroitjazzfest.corn.
.„:70.'577°707,0'17,41.M.W1PM,25.7. f :
Tax •
More Labor Day
Weekend Pests
D
ebbie Hershey has been
bringing her colorful blown
glass to Arts, Beats & Eats
since the Labor Day weekend festi-
val began six years ago.
working as a team with her hus-
band, David, the Missouri artist
plans vessel-oriented works that may
or may not be functional and is one
of a number of Jewish artists at the
event drawing more than 1 million
people into downtown Pontiac.
The Hersheys work October to
April M a studio adjoining their
home and spend the rest of the year
traveling the fair circuit. They will
be in Pontiac for the duration of
the event, which runs 4-11 p.m,
Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
"Our technique is known by an
Italian term, incabno,” Hershey
explains. "It involves both of us
making parts simultaneously and
putting them together. We get a
,,
clean pattern in our large designs.
All kinds of artists will show their
works at the festival, and all kinds
of entertainers will fill five stags.
Rock, jazz, blues, folk, world beat
and other styles
,
are planned to sat-
isfy a variety of tastes with acts that
include Stewart Fra.ncke, Big Bad
Voodoo Daddy and Amy Heard.
A variety of gourmet tastes will
be offered as fairgoers move from
one area of the festival to another.
Restaurants from inside and outside
Pontiac will have booths for sam-
pling their fare.
Meijer Kids Stuff and Health
Expo round out the activities for
the young and those interested in
staying fit.
Complete festival schedules can
be found at
www.artsbeatseats.corn, where
there also will be links to artists'
Web sites for getting a preview of
the works that will be featured. The
Web also lists some of the charities
that benefit from net proceeds.
During the same clays as Arts,
Beats and Eats, the Hamtramck
Polish Festival will have street enter-
tainers and food offerings in a
scaled-down celebration. For those
who enjoy Polish cooking, the
restaurants will offer many ethnic
dishes. (313) 365-7205.
— Suzanne Chessler
at the gallery studio
of sculptor Jerry Soble
Sale proceeds
to benefit the JCC's
Kids All Together Program
Providing recreational,
educational & camp
opportunities for children
with special needs.
1 14
•Tax-Deductible
• Refreshments
Free Valet parking
Free Admission
Special Prices
for This Show!
Questions? Call
248.661.100
*a,
The studio gallery is located at:
3819 LaPlaya • Orchard Lake, MI
The studio is located on Upper Straits Lakes
Orchard Lake Road to Pontiac Trail
West 1/2 mile to light at Old Orchard Trail
Turn right 2 miles to LaPlaya
www.jeromesoble.com
pp, .-
THE CENTER
Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit
8/29
2003
63