Cool Jazz
Cool Beans to perform jazz at Sakura- Japanese Steakhouse
Sophisticated style paired with melody driven jazz describes an elegant evening with Minot’s Cool Beans.
Friday, Feb. 24 from 7-9 p.m., guests at Sakura-Japanese Steakhouse will be treated to the classic blend of ’40s and ’50s jazz pop, inspired by legendary greats Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and several notable artists of the genre.
Throughout their two-hour showcase, audiences can experience the rhythmic vocals of trumpeter and arranger Steve Veikley and flutist Terri Aldrich.
“Our goal is to engage the audience with the lyrics that we sing and the notes that we play,” Aldrich said. “We want to lift somebody’s heart and bring a bit of joy by performing our very best to deliver the highest quality of music we possibly can.”
Considered life-long students of their craft, Cool Beans’ expressed fond recollections about their introduction to jazz.
“Both of my parents were very musical,” Aldrich said. “My daddy was a wonderful singer with a beautiful tenor voice. I remember him singing arias from ‘The Messiah’ and playing the piano.”
Inspired by her parents’ passion for vocal and instrumental art, Aldrich decided to learn the flute and pursue a life of music.
As a protege’ of Julie Wallin, Aldrich studied classical voice, before Veikley introduced her to the vibrant world of jazz.
Described as a sorcerer by Aldrich, Veikley possesses a wellspring of knowledge and a deep appreciation for the American artform.
From live performances to personal rehearsals, Aldrich considers herself an apprentice of the Cool Beans trumpeter, vocalist and arranger.
“When Steve performs the trumpet, he crafts these melodies that create magic,” Aldrich said. “There is a lot of technical artistry and heavy theory that goes into what Steve plays. So, Steve is teaching me jazz in spoonfuls.”
At 10 years of age, Veikley discovered his calling, after hearing the iconic sound of Louis Armstrong performing bugle.
Captivated by Armstrong’s unique range of musicality, Veikley declared that he would devote his life to mastering the trumpet.
By the age of 15, Veikley was immersed with jazz and religiously studied the recordings of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
For Veikley and Aldrich, performing jazz is more than entertainment, it’s a show of patriotism.
“Jazz is America’s own artform,” Aldrich said. “It’s important for American artists to keep Jazz alive and make sure American audiences never forget its beautiful sound.”
Today, Cool Beans is striking harmonious connections with a new generation of listeners.
From the Magic City to London, England, Cool Beans is keeping the legacy of live jazz alive.
“Nat King Cole was a very high level jazz musician,” Veikley said. “When Nat started singing, he transferred his jazz skills toward the pop genre. Nat didn’t leave jazz behind, he continued to play the way he always had. Nat melded jazz with pop music.”
Inspired by greats such as The Glenn Miller Band, Cool Beans aspires to give audiences an authentic jazz experience.
Throughout their performance, Cool Beans utilizes custom made tracks from England that feature high quality drum kits, bona fide bass parts and genuine instrumentation.
“Steve is very particular about the tracks we use,” Aldrich said. “Steve is insistent that everything we do have a consistent sound. So, the tracks that we order have the right sound for our rhythm section. A guy in England has provided most of our custom tracks.”
Although Veikley prefers the presence of a live rhythm section, he and Aldrich are pleased with the sound of their high caliber tracks.
“With high tech equipment, some artists will throw in anything,” Veikley said. “Sometimes, you can take that approach with making your chili but you can’t do that with creating your music. Good music is like a good meal, it calls for specific ingredients to produce the desired flavor. I know what I like and we’re planning to order more custom things from him.”
Possessing a trio of mesmerizing musicians, captivating vocals and a custom rhythm track, Cool Beans strives to give an evening of toe-tapping entertainment.
To learn more about Cool Beans, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoolBeansMinot/.
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