Kaylene Peoples
Kaylene Peoples Performs “Romantic Bossa-Nova” with Larry Dunn, Bunny Brunel and an all-star Lineup!
Kaylene Peoples performs to a sold-out crowd with her much talked about show, “Romantic Bossa-Nova,” as she features 7-time Grammy-winner Larry Dunn, 2-time Grammy-nominated Bunny Brunel with all stars Grammy-nominated Dennis Hamm, and drummer Chad Wackerman. Also in attendance was Designer Kevan Hall, multi-award winning actor/playwright Levy Lee, actress Elizabeth Lambert, and TV episodic writer Kevin Foster! The multi-award-winning artist Kaylene Peoples held the audience captive in the palm of her hands with an emotionally stirring and heartwarming performance at the Catalina Jazz Club! (All Photos by Sheryl Aronson ©Sasaphotos for Schmoozejazz.com)
Reviewed By: Sheryl Aronson
On Saturday, July 17th, 2021, Kaylene Peoples performed “Romantic Bossa-Nova” to a sold-out crowd at the Catalina Jazz Club. After a year and a half of being deprived of live music, the room was packed with jazz lovers excited to hear the two sets of sensual, romantic Bossa-Nova music. The roster of exemplary musicians included Kaylene Peoples (Vocals/Flute), special guest 7-time Grammy winner Larry Dunn (Keys), Bunny Brunel (MD/bass/vocals) Joe Calderon (guitar), Dennis Hamm (piano), Chad Wackerman (drums), and Jon Brooks (percussion).
Setting an upbeat tone for the night, and accompanied by the band’s masterful playing, Larry Dunn opened the first set with an electrifying solo from his original composition “Runnin’.” Kaylene Peoples entered the stage on Dunn’s opening of the song “So Nice” off of her My Man CD.
After Larry Dunn exited off stage, Kaylene Peoples performed luscious renditions of “Once I Loved” and “How Insensitive,” and exhibited her sophisticated interpretations of these classic songs. Breaking out into the rhythmic “Berimbau,” Peoples and the backup singers captured the Bossa-nova pulse with their voices while the band exploded underneath with an upbeat tempo, following with an audience favorite “Agua de Beber.” The first set ended with a delightful duet, featuring Bunny Brunel, the internationally famous bassist and two-time Grammy-nominee, singing in Brazilian Portuguese with Kaylene on her arrangement of “Aguas de Marços” (Waters of March).
After a short intermission, Kaylene Peoples and her band performed another wonderful set of music that included “One Note Samba,” the well-known “Girl From Ipanema,” and then welcomed back to the stage Larry Dunn, who accompanied the band on “Dindi.”
The room hushed into silence when Dunn deftly ran his improvised riffs to introduce this romantic melody and created a magical space for Kaylene’s gorgeous, breathtaking vocals.
This glorious night of “Romantic Bossa-Nova” ended with the band’s dynamic performance of Chick Corea’s hit song, “Spain,” which allowed all the artists to show off their proficient, jazz chops.
Kaylene Peoples Romantic Bossa-Nova CD, released in 2020, My Man (2015) and All Jazzed Up! (2005) – all three CDs were available for purchase after the performance while a few lucky members of the audience won her Romantic Bossa-Nova CD by guessing the answers to questions about Bossa-Nova music.
The evening’s success was evident in showing why Perfect Music Today called “Romantic Bossa-Nova: A piece of Brazilian heaven!”
All photographs were taken by Sheryl Aronson ©Sasaphotos for Schmooze Jazz magazine. “Kaylene Peoples Romantic Bossa-Nova” was a Verdell Adams Production for Spacefather Entertainment (and First Take PR in Association wth Music Magique).
It was a super fun night especially after such a long drought without any shows!