Hot summer nights of cool jazz are coming to a close this week.
The Hot Summer Nights quartet is finishing the last half of its summer concert series today and Friday. The quartet features music professors Bill Grimes, Brian Shaw and Willis Delony on bass, trumpet and piano, respectively, along with Baton Rouge native Troy Davis on drums.
Grimes said the idea for the quartet came about in the ’90s when a faculty recital needed an event to fill the concert schedule, spawning the group Bill Grimes and Friends. As the years went by, more members were added to the group — now, the Hot Summer Nights quartet — and the concerts have become a popular summer series.
This year’s series kicked off with vocalist Phillip Manuel and saxophonist Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson accompanying HSN on the first night.
Manuel returned to the concert series by popular demand and has become a fixture in the New Orleans scene, performing with some of the city’s top musicians.
The following night featured LSU professors Tony Dagradi on saxophone and Steve Masakowski on guitar, both professors of Jazz studies at the University and members of the New Orleans quintet Astral Project.
Grimes said the group usually starts brainstorming early in the spring semester on what music it will play and what guests it will bring in. Artists that join the summer series are considered based on their own schedules. However, Grimes said the group picks artists it wants to collaborate with — artists that have styles and traits similar to the group.
“We opt for those who have an artistic appeal to our audience,” Grimes said.
The second half of the concert series, which kicks off today, is titled, “Just Us.” The quartet will be joined by LSU alumnus Brad Walker on saxophone.
Walker was the first LSU student to receive a master’s in music and jazz studies and continues to perform in New Orleans and across the country.
The finale on Friday will see the return of Anderson in a tribute to Julian “Cannonball” Adderly.
Grimes said he has known Anderson for years and describes him as a warm, engaging and funny man. Anderson’s style is similar to Adderly’s, and Grimes said it only made sense to bring him in to do a tribute.
“He has complete technical command of his instrument, something we all want,” Grimes said. “But in addition to that, he has a lyrical quality in his solos that is more than appealing.”
Anderson also loves to collaborate musically, Grimes said, and get involved with other artists instead of being a “me monster” or a solo hog.
“[Anderson] knows how to listen and respond, just as any great conversationalist,” Grimes said.
The final shows will be held tonight and Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the LSU School of Music Recital Hall, and tickets can be bought for $25 each.