Performers from left to right: John Trentacosta, Robert Fox, Wendy Beach, John Belzaguy
Members of Straight Up
A Santa Fe Jazz Group
Performers
from left to right:
John
Trentacosta, Robert Fox, Wendy Beach, John Belzaguy
Robert Fox, Piano
After a two and a half year tenure with Saxophone "Great" Stanley Turrentine, Bob decided to settle to Santa Fe in 1993. Since then he has become one of the most in demand Jazz piano players in the area serving as a rhythm section player for Eddie Harris and Dave Stryker in recent "New Mexico Jazz Workshop Concerts". He has led his own quartet for the Outpost’s "Monday Night Jazz Space Series" and the "Jazz Under The Stars" series for the "New Mexico Jazz Workshop". Bob founded "Straight Up" an has remained a regular member as well as the groups musical director. Bob is responsible for all the arrangements, original compositions, and transcriptions.
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John Belzaguy, Bass
A recent ex-patriot from New York City, John has been very active since his arrival in Santa Fe, with the Latin jazz group, "Yoboso". He is a very proficient upright bass player whose major New York playing experience includes work with Fred Hersch and Howard McGee. His style is largely influenced by Paul Chambers and Percy Heath, which makes him the ideal bass player for the group. John’s experience contributes a lot to our diversity, thus allowing the rhythm section to be equally comfortable as a trio or sextet.
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John Trentacosta, Drums
A native New Yorker, John brought his collective experience working with both big bands and small groups alike to New Mexico in 1992. After two decades as the rhythm force behind such jazz notables as Chuck Wayne, Jimmy Knepper and the "All Porcino Big Band"; John has brought new energy to the Albuquerque/Santa Fe Jazz scene. He has been the drummer for the "Santa Fe Great Big Jazz Band" and "The Jazz Chamber Ensemble". In 1993 along with Bob Fox, formed the group "Straight Up". He has put much energy into the groups evolution and ever expanding approach to Jazz. Besides being a music educator in the Santa Fe Public Schools, John is also currently teaching "Roots of Jazz" for the "New Mexico Jazz Workshop".
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Wendy Beach, Vocals
Wendy Beach has been a popular name on the Albuquerque music scene for more than a decade with tenure in the group Jump Street and currently leading her own band "Bleeker Street". Her background is steeped in rhythm and blues where she is noted for her bass playing as well as her vocal ability. Her deep blues roots combined with her excellent musicianship give Wendy some of the same qualities associated with most of the great female jazz singers.
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Paul Gonzales, Trumpet
Paul is a native New Mexican who grew up in Albuquerque. He has been a dominant figure on the local jazz scene for several years now. Most of his performance work has been as a member of the Latin/Salsa band "Son Como Son" and the jazz group "Tetragon". Paul’s sound comes right out of Lee Morgan and Blue Mitchell, thus making him the right combination of concept and style for the re-creation of that 60’ post bop quintet sound.
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Arlen Asher, Woodwinds
A multi-reed instrumentalist "tour de force", Arlen has been known in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area for many years as co-leader of a quartet with Bob Brown, as well as the "Duke City Jazz Band". In the last few years, Arlen has once again become very active on the local jazz scene as a member of "The Jazz Chamber Ensemble", and most recently "The Outpost Jazz Repertory Orchestra". Arlen has been a regular member of "Straight Up" since its expansion to a two-horn quintet.
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For More Information...
Straight Up
A Santa Fe Jazz Group
501 Rio Grande Ave. #F-8,
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA
(505) 989-4784
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Document URL: http://www.taoswolf.com/straightup/members.htm
Date Of Origin: February 26 1997
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