Local Spins’ early April news update shines a spotlight on two well-known Michigan music icons: trumpet player Max Colley III and sound expert Bill Chrysler, owner of Redwall North.
Jazz Musician of the Year: Max Colley III (Photo/Dominick Gladstone)
JAZZ TRUMPET PLAYER ‘HUMBLED AND HONORED’ BY AWARD
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Acclaimed and much-in-demand jazz trumpet player Max Colley III has performed with 14 of the 15 musicians honored since 2000 by the West Michigan Jazz Society as its musician of the year.
So being named the 2014 recipient of this prestigious award has left the Grandville resident especially “humbled and honored.”
“This city has such amazing talent, and in some ways, I feel guilty about receiving this,” Colley told Local Spins. “Anytime national acts come through Grand Rapids and use local musicians, they always comment on what a pleasure it is to work with the musicians here.”
Colley, who plays trumpet and drums, has joined many of those stars on stage over the years (including Louis Bellson, Randy Brecker and Wessell Anderson), studied with the likes of Marcus Belgrave and Daniel Kovac, performed with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, The Mid-Town Horns, Truth in Jazz Orchestra, Evidence and his own quartet, released three albums and taught in public schools for 10 years.
Max Colley III
A past recipient of the jazz society’s scholarship award, the Central Michigan University grad has earned numerous honors as “outstanding soloist” over the years.
The jazz society presents its musician of the year award “to a person who has made great contributions to the jazz community.” In announcing this year’s award, board president Peter Proli said Colley “has inspired and encouraged students and musicians of all ages. His passion for music, specifically the genre of jazz, is unmatched.”
Colley has chosen an all-star band of musicians to accompany him on stage for a performance when he receives the award during a dinner-and-dancing event at Thousand Oaks Golf Club at 6:30 p.m. May 8. Pianist Terry Lower, bassist Ethan Eriksen, tenor saxophonist Diego Rivera, drummer Tim Froncek and singer Eve Renee are part of the lineup.
“I’m always honored to play with such amazing musicians and this night will be no different,” says Colley, 44, the son of legendary Northview High School band director Max Colley Jr. He also credits mentors such as Froncek, Renee and her husband, Count Fisher, Dave Spring, Dan Bryska, Bruce Early and others for aiding his development.
“I owe so much to so many in this city. It’s really a special community,” he says. “I’m always here to serve the music, however when an organization recognized you for your contributions, it’s just very rewarding that someone notices.”
The society last year honored drummer Randy Marsh as its musician of the year.
Tickets for the May 8 banquet and concert are $35 for jazz society members and $40 for guests. A limited number of reservations are being taken for the concert only (after 8 p.m.), with tickets $10 for adults and $8 for students. Visit the society website for reservations.
Bill Chrysler, left, mugging with Vincent Hayes on Sunday at Redwall North. (Photo/Local Spins)
REDWALL NORTH MOVES, SETS UP TEMPORARY HOME AS ‘CHRYSLER AUDIO’
In just a couple of years, Bill Chrysler’s Redwall North recording studios became a fixture within a warehouse and industrial area in Grand Haven, bringing in an eclectic blend of West Michigan bands and solo artists for album projects, including bluesman Vincent Hayes, pop singer Garrett Borns, Muskegon funk band Four Finger Five, opera singer Carlos Seise and acoustic guitar whiz Neil Jacobs.
But due to leasing, cost and space issues, Chrysler and his partner in the studio, Joe Sturgill, have now moved out of this unique space and are now temporarily setting up shop with recording equipment at Resurrection Life Church off U.S. 31 in Grand Haven and eyeing a permanent move to Spring Lake.
“I just came from the church and we will be setting up there to finish the Death by Dancing CD and also do some work on (drummer) Scotty Pellegrom’s new CD as well,” says Chrysler, a renowned stage sound expert who has toured the globe with the likes of John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 and many more.
Over the weekend, Chrysler and Sturgill got help from a group of musicians and friends in painting and clearing out the old studio. On the studio’s website, Chrysler says Redwall outgrew the building and will eventually move “into a more fitting space for creating and enhancing all forms of musical art.”
That could eventually mean space near downtown Spring Lake, where Chrysler is working with a property owner to set up a potential new recording studio.
Chrysler by the “red wall” before Redwall’s move.
The transition also means Redwall will change its name back to Chrysler Audio LLC, which Chrysler first established years ago. “Joe Sturgill and Tim Richards will continue to be our staff engineers and producers,” Chrysler notes, “but Joe will also get back (to being a) singer, songwriter, multi-instrumental musician” and record his first solo album.
In the meantime, Chrysler is headed back out on the road as a stage sound guru and will return to Grand Haven after Mayer completes his “Paradise Valley” tour in June.
“I’m off for one more trip around the world,” he told Local Spins. “I head for Australia on Sunday and return from Europe for the end of the John Mayer tour in June.”
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
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