Featuring:
Lee Bartley - Keyboards: Denver
Bob Hemenger - Tenor Sax: Detroit
John Graves - Keyboard Bass & Keyboards: Los Angeles
DC Duncan - Drums: Dallas
For band information and audio samples, visit Rio Jazz.

Four dissimilar guys from different parts of the country, by chance, converged in tiny Pagosa Springs, Colorado; their ages ranging from mid-thirties and mid-fifties to mid-seventies! The one thing they all had in common was their love for Jazz.

Each interprets the music in his own iconoclastic way: Bob grew up playing soulful R&B influenced by Grover Washington et al; Lee came from a Classical, New Age, and Smooth Jazz experience; John was a disciple of Swing; while DC was infatuated with Bebop a la Elvin Jones and friends. All four agree that the Dave Brubeck Quartet was an inspiration and joy.

Each musician had another "working" band which more or less paid the bills, but Rio Jazz was their "Sunday band" where they could play out on the patio at JJ's Upstream, on the banks on the beautiful San Juan River. Many glorious afternoons were spent going through the Real Book and other charts serenading an ever expanding crowd. Most of the following was a decidedly mature group of people who had come to Pagosa from all parts of the country. They were all starved for Jazz and Rio Jazz satisfied their hunger.

Soon Rio was playing gigs at other venues and doing concerts around the area. It was at one of these concerts, at the Timbers, which was recorded for posterity. Live at the Timbers contains thirteen selections from that concert. Rio Jazz broke tradition and actually rehearsed a few tunes the day before at sound check! And due to the sly promotional efforts of Ratwoos Productions; the lush recording by Eagle Sound of Durango; the involvement of KWUF Radio; the wacky pre-show activities by comedians and MC (in tuxes), the concert was a complete success. The recording was easily financed by proceeds from advance ticket sales and the door. (A musician's dream!)

The music has a great deal of energy and spirit and some wonderfully musical moments. There are lots of symbiosis and telepathy between musicians and the over-all effect is pleasing to the ears. The crowd was energized and the players picked up on that energy and used it to their advantage.

There is an array of styles woven throughout the album: Four (bebop), Masquerade (smooth jazz), Take Five (modern jazz), Desafinado (Latin), 'Round Midnight (cool jazz), Struttin' With Some Barbeque (dixieland). A stand out is the haunting rendition of But Beautiful, which ends the recording and leaves the listener in a strange, ethereal world.

Unfortunately DC's father died during the production of this CD. Struttin' With Some Barbeque is dedicated to his memory.

Yes, four diverse players, their individual (and sometimes quirky) personalities creating a unique musical experience. Rio Jazz: Live at the Timbers is a must for your jazz collection.