Saturday, October 17 (11am-8pm)
- 11am: The Jazz Guys
- 12:30pm: Backfin Banjo Band
- 2:30pm: Everett Spells
- 4:30pm: Ewabo
- 6:30pm: Power Play
- 12:30pm: Paul Cullen
- 2:30pm: UMES Jazz Band
- 4:30pm: On the Edge
Backfin Banjo Band
The Backfin Banjo Band has quite a reputation for fun music, sing-along pleasures and good times. Banjo, piano, saxophone and vocals all add up to Dixieland, Big Band, Roaring Twenties, and more! You may have heard them at the Red Roost and live on stage at the Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival, now hear them live on stage at the Autumn Wine Festival!
Everett Spells
Everett A. Spells, from Newport News, Virginia, is a Solo Jazz Saxophonist playing the best in jazz standards, popular and original music from his CD. Playing the tenor, alto and soprano saxophone, Everett blends his smooth sound with self produced music, captivating any audience. Studying and graduating from Norfolk State University with a B.A. in music, he has performed with such greats as Frank Foster, Billy Taylor, Burgess Gardner, Consuella Moorhead, Bill Lee, Steve Wilson, Billy Drummond and the Wooten Brothers. Touring with the "Showman," "Staircase Band" and "Power Play" from Virginia Beach, has given Everett a wealth of experience in performing for a wide range of audiences up and down the East coast. Starting his solo project in 1999 has allowed him the opportunity to play jazz exclusively and to showcase his talent in a unique and personal way.
Ewabo
Featuring the steeldrum, known as "pan" in its native Trinidad and Tobago, Ewabo is considered one of the top steel orchestras in the United States. The winner of two consecutive National Steelband Music Festival Championships, the group has appeared at such diverse locales as the Arkansas Inaugural Ball of former President Bill Clinton, the Annapolis Arts Fest, the Potomac Riverfest, the Cherry Blossom Parade and the D.C. Caribbean Carnival Parade.
On The Edge
On The Edge was formed in 1984 and quickly became the Eastern Shore's favorite dance band. Their busy schedule took them up and down the Delmarva Peninsula. The band entertains its audience with a wide variety of pop hits from the sixty's Motown to modern top 40 hits and everything in between, even a little bit of country. In the 90's the band was voted Delmarva Peninsula's Best Dance Band. Shortly after that, On The Edge opened up for Brian McKnight at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury, MD. In recent years, On The Edge has performed in New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Washington, DC. They are a regular at Trump Plaza Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They have done special performances in Atlanta, Georgia and Indianapolis, Indiana. The band's current lineup consists of original lead singer Clarence "Smitty" Smith; Tina White- female vocalist; Edgar Fernandez on keyboards, bass, and vocals; Mike Nelson on lead guitar and vocals; and Brad Kimes on drums. On The Edge sometimes also features a horn section that includes Tommy Crawford on tenor and alto sax; Moe Goldman on tenor, alto, and baritone sax; with Chris Sutton on trumpet.
Paul Cullen
Like fine wine, the sounds of Paul Cullen simply improve in time; a bassist and multi-instrumentalist who has played shows in front of 20 people and in front 55,000 people. His love and dedication to his music and craft has taken him literally all around the world, playing and exploring just about every kind of music. On his new album, Dreamdance, he has created a modern but timeless piece of romantic music that draws from many sources, but is born of one man’s vision. And in an industry struggling with how to bring music to people, Paul's ingeniousness has created new possibilities for his career by combining his love of music with his love of fine food and wine, taking his music to wine related events in several different regions of the country. Paul's skill as a musician and unique vision has set him apart from the musical crowd for years. You can see and hear him bringing the songs of Dreamdance to life at wine related events all across the country – articulating an irresistible vision of life and luxury for those willing to expand and revel in their tastes. Paul concludes, "Just as in wine, with music there are so many varieties out there, you have to separate yourself somehow. I figured how to make it work wonderfully for me."
Power Play
Living in Virginia Beach, VA, opening for acts like Earth, Wind and Fire, Chicago, Chaka Khan, Temptations, Jimmy Buffet, Shania Twain, Average White Band, and Ray Charles, and others giving the band a broad feel in the music that we write and play so in the end, we want to raise you out of your seat and nod your head to the music. If your thing is Dance, Pop, Hip Hop, Neo Soul, Funk, Jazz or just R & B, we believe we've got something for you. Our high-energy dance band has been making waves up and down the East Coast. Power Play is a multi-piece, non-stop dance party, brining sounds from the 50's to 2006 with oldies to hip-hop. Power Play is what you’re looking for when it's time to PARTY!
The Jazz Guys
The Jazz Guys, a local Salisbury, Maryland attraction since 1996, bring their jazz stylings to the compositions of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Thelonius Monk, Neal Hefti and many others. Whether it's a reception, dinner, cocktails or a backyard barbeque, The Jazz Guys can provide sophistication and variety. Rich harmonies and swinging rythmn from The Jazz Guys will add just the right note to any occasion. Ev Cook, vocals and light percussion; Bruce Chappelle, bass and vocals; Jim Mitchell, Guitar.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Jazz Band
The UMES Jazz Ensemble in its present configuration, is under the direction of Dr. John R. Lamkin II and has been in existence since the spring of 1984. The UMES Jazz Ensemble distinguished itself early on in its existence and continues to do so today. During the late 1980s, this award-winning ensemble won several awards in the MusicFest National Jazz Ensemble Competition then co-sponsored by DownBeat Magazine. Then, in the 1990s the ensemble was invited to play on the steps of the Capital Building in Washington DC. It also was invited to perform for the Congressional Black Caucus, served as a regular weekly entertainment feature for the Elderhostel Program in Ocean City, and toured New Orleans and New York City. In 2004, the UMES Jazz Ensemble, along with the UMES Concert Choir and UMES Wind Ensemble recorded its first ever CD titled, "Celebrating Music at UMES." The UMES Jazz Ensemble has had many distinguished legendary jazz musicians play with it over the years. Some of those musicians include: New Orleans trumpeter Nicholas Payton; Saturday Night Live trombonist Steve Turre; jazz trumpet stylist Jimmy Owens; the legendary Bassist Extraordinaire Larry Ridley; the legendary tenor saxophonist Benny Golson; and the late soulful tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, to whom the University awarded an Honorary Doctorate.
