Inner City All Stars

Stateside artists showcase Foster Fest
By: Bill Charles
Date Posted: 2008-10-16
An American hip hop recording artist and a band will headline the annual Foster Fest taking place this weekend at Camp Foster.

Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa says Marvin and The Experience, one of America’s top Rhythm & blues / hip hop performers, will appear, as will the Inner City All Stars. Both are appearing courtesy of Armed Force Entertainment. They’ll be joined, MCCS officials say, by variety band Subfive Jazz Band, taiko drummers, eisa and more.

The festival takes place Saturday 3 ~ 10 p.m. and Sunday 1 ~ 10 p.m. at the Camp Foster Parade Deck. Admission is free and open to everyone island-wide, but officials say no pets, outside coolers or alcohol will be permitted. In addition to the top notch entertainment, the Foster Fest will feature amusement rides, Kiddie Land for children, and enough cultural foods to appease the heartiest appetite.

One thing MCCS festival-goers have come to expect over the years are great prizes and giveaways, and MCCS says that this year will be no exception.

Generous sponsors, MCCS says, will be offering round-trip tickets for two to one of six United Airlines USA destinations courtesy of United Airlines and Omega World Travel. On Saturday, MCCS and BC Used Cars will give away the 2008 Truckload of Fun at 4 p.m. Festival participants are encouraged to be present by 3 p.m., to become a possible finalist in the chance to win a Isuzu Bighorn SUV loaded with fabulous prizes. MCCS says Truckload of Fun participants must be 18 or older, possess a valid SOFA driver’s license, sign a waiver, and have an appetite to tackle some funky foods. - Japan Update Weekly

If you've ever been to Jazzfest in New Orleans, you know how loud and edgy brass bands can get. Dallas got a taste of that sound Thursday night at Jazz Under the Stars from the Inner City All Stars, a Denton-based group that put some serious Crescent City funk into Stevie Wonder's "Boogie On Reggae Woman." If you missed it, the All Stars play at 5 p.m. today at Denton's Juneteenth Celebration and June 23 at Club Dada.

Thor Christensen

- The Dallas News

This is the time for finding some extraordinary talent as summer festivals and events unfold and emerging artist take the stage to entertain. It is amazing how the energy of the crowd, the unbridled atmosphere of open air, and the boundless limits of sound create the best showcases imaginable.







Inner City All Stars is just such a discovery. At a recent event in the Kansas City Crossroads art district, on a near perfect Friday evening, the Inner City All Stars brought an eclectic blend of rhythm, blues, disco, soul, Caribbean, and southern jazz to the stage after marching through the street like true New Orleans high steppers. It was an instant turn on for the crowd and the relationship between band and audience grew better with every passing moment thereafter.

Leader of the group is Calvin Sexton who has a super high energy personality and matching vocals and trombone. His positive vibes resonate and are carried out by the trumpets, saxaphones, guitars, keyboards and the never-to-be-forgotten tuba that is played by David Seip!

Other band members include Brandon Blouin on drums, Quinton Moore, Marvin Hollie on Guitar and Keyboards, Daniel Hardaway, Ira Basset on Trumpet, Deanthony McGee on Saxaphone, and just about everyone on vocals!

Even the stiff, who are quick to tell you that they just came to listen and not to participate, are up and dancing, heads bobbing, arms waving in quick order. But it’s no wonder. This emerging group is making some serious rounds and drawing a lot of attention everywhere they go.

The Inner City All Stars have shared some impressive stages with a lot of named acts, received a standing ovation at Live at the Apollo, and are becoming a “festival must book” on a lot of impressive arts and humanities organization lists.

You’ll want their DVD “Live at the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival 2007”. Their CD sales were extremely brisk during the Kansas City event. The audience wanted to keep the music playing it appeared long after the Inner City All Stars concluded their act with a parting musical march down the same Kansas City street .

You can visit the Inner City All Stars website at http://innercityallstars.com for information on booking, and intriguing information on the groups leader and band members. This is one group you’ll definitely want to know a whole lot more about!

- Bella Online Peggy Eldridge-Love

You. Will. Not. Stop. Dancing. The best part about living in the '00s is the different genres of music that smash like atoms, creating a brilliant flash of energy. Such is the genesis of the Inner City All Stars, who slam together old-school funk, New Orleans jazz, rap from back in the day and blaxploitation wah-wah rock into one big booty-shakin' jam. If your ass ain't movin' by the end of their set, you better see a preacher, cuz you got no soul. - DALLAS OBSERVER

The Gypsy Tea Room in historic Deep Elum was the place to be for some hot, funky jazz on a warm Texas night. Outside the club is a plaque remembering the great musician “Blind Lemon” Jefferson. Jefferson played his style of blues in Dallas many years ago, but there are still some fantastic sounds to be heard in the clubs of Deep Elum. On this night, the Tea Room was jammed with fans that wanted to move and be moved by some of the best brass this side of New Orleans. When The Inner City All-Stars Brass Band took the tiny Tea Room stage, the people were ready for a party. As the music grooved, even more people pushed their way toward the stage. Soon, it was hard to get any closer to the band. Everyone had to claim their spot and get ready to be dazzled. With two trumpets, two saxes, trombone, tuba, drums and percussion, the All-Stars had to take care with their on-stage gyrations. But even with the reduced space to strut, the band managed to show their chemistry, soul and big brass sound. Each of the musicians would find themselves in the solo limelight before the night was over, and each would do themselves proud as the band pounded out their high-energy tunes. Some of the featured material was the band’s own original compositions while other songs were classics from the 70s and 80s redone with an All-Star flare. On that warm night, the band lit up the room with songs like, “Flashlight,” (P-Funk at its best from the 70s). This extended version really got the crowd to dance and move to the beat. Caribbean vibes were also featured, which soothed and delighted the masses. One of the highlights of the evening was the medley including the classic hits, “Just the Two of Us” (Grover Washington, Jr.), “What You Won’t Do For Love” (Bobby Caldwell), and even a bit of the Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive.” The medley ended with a slower, soulful version of “Just the Two of Us” much to the delight of the faithful. The lively groove of the tuba and bass drum laid the foundation for the talented brass musicians. The show became a non-stop party, accompanied by the band’s movement and dancing on the stage. The All-Stars also grooved on “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder), and ended the gig with a rousing cover of Outkast’s “The Whole World” to thunderous applause. The Inner City All-Stars play highly energetic music that’s fun to listen to and requires crowd participation. The All-Stars’ show is not a spectator sport; you become part of the action. The sound was a mixture of hip-hop, soul and a whole lot of big brass jazz and funk. For a good time, call the Inner City All-Stars Brass Band.

The award-winning Inner City All-Stars Brass Band is composed of a diverse pool of talent based in the Denton area and the University of North Texas. According to trombonist and leader Calvin Sexton, the band has been playing as a unit for two years and will release a new CD in the near future. In addition, The All-Stars have been featured at the Ft. Worth Main Street Arts and Music Festival, the Taste of New Orleans Festival in San Antonio, the Denton Jazz and Arts Festival, and White Rock Rhythms in Dallas. The All-Stars have played numerous venues and have opened for such greats as the New Orleans’ based Rebirth Brass Band, and Grammy Award nominees Brave Combo and Bowling for Soup. If all this isn’t enough, the band has been featured on Showtime at the Apollo and also performed for the CEO of Essence Magazine, Susan L. Taylor. - Kirk deCordova dallasmusic.com

I’ll be the first to admit that I have no basis of comparison regarding brass bands. At the same time, I know what sounds good. So I knew I was into something good when I heard the Inner City All-Stars tear ass through their five song EP. The Inner City All-Stars show considerable versatility, working within a wide variety of styles.
The EP kicks off with an impressive arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Tell Me Something Good,” and moving right into the Latin-tinged “Samba de Kazuki.” The EP then tackles an eastern flavor on “Can’t Get Over It,” with all the ferocious spirit of veteran funksters like the J.B.’s and the Isley Brothers. All of these disparate influences are filtered through the New Orleans brass band sound, with a little call and response thrown in for good measure. All in all, it makes for an incredibly enjoyable listening experience. Hearing this band recorded makes the mind reel at what the live experience might be like. There’s a party in your stereo, so shake it. - Jane Glibi of Venues Magazine

Having never heard of the Inner City All-Stars Brass Band, I really had no idea what to expect, aside from a fair assumption that it was not going to be a techno death metal band complete with mongoloids playing the triangle (gawd that would be so cool). This is a really great CD, but I was hacked off for two reasons. First off, it’s only 24 minutes. 24 minutes of brilliant booty shaking brass, and by the sound of it ONLY brass instruments. No guitars, bass, keys or synth. Tight percussion, though. Second, I was hacked off at the fact that I’d never heard of them before and worse, never seen them live. This band screams live music. They should be marching up and down the streets, not just on Fat Tuesday, but every day! This is some N’awlins (New Orleans for those that just don’t get it)! I want this band to play at my funeral. What else can I say? GO SEE THIS BAND. - James P. Spanlger of Venues Magazine

I was not surprised by the Inner City All-Star Brass Band’s EP, having seen their live show earlier this year. Regrettably, the CD held only five songs, but the five they chose to record are a great sampling of the group’s capabilities. With marching bass and tuba and other horns in the lineup, one might think these players would be limited to New Orleans-style street jazz and similar stuff. I can happily report that this is not the case, and besides a good dose of funk, the EP also showcases some Latin and Moorish sounds, as well as blues and even a touch of hip hop cadence. To top it all off, the lead singer is a real diva whose physical beauty and personal charm are by themselves intoxicating. She has a voice both powerful and expressive, nimble and dynamic. I only hope their next release is longer - Sheena V. Meyers of Venues Magazine

It was worth seeing the band, Let by eager to please trombonist Calvin Sexton, apply its sound to hip - hop hits - Crayton Harrison/ Dallas Morning News

The Inner City All-Stars call themselves a "funk/jam brass band," and that they certainly are - though, as you might expect from a Denton-based musical group whose members mostly hail from UNT music programs, categorization can be a pretty tall order.

While contemplating the creation of Inner City, front man Calvin Sexton kept in mind the spirited, high-energy marching music of historically black colleges and universities he was exposed to during his Birmingham, AL youth. When he came to study at the University of North Texas in 1996 and fell under the spell of a wide variety of musical styles (including funk, jazz, and world music), the concept for Inner City began to take shape. For several financially-strapped years, Calvin left his studies behind and moved to California, playing backup and freelance with a variety of bands. In 2003 he returned to North Texas to complete his degree (in Music Performance) and formed the band soon after.

Calvin plays trombone; he also composes and arranges. He's joined by sax man/composer/arranger Scot Sheldon, tuba dude David Seip (as an alumn of Wichita State U., he's the only non-UNT-ite), guitarist Teriver Chueng, Brad Mezei on trumpet, and Hiroki Uehira on drums. The Inner City gang lend a strikingly improvisational flair to everything they undertake musically, and this spontaneity comes through loud and clear on their debut CD, Gotta Move On. This is not meant to imply that the musicianship isn't tight, because it very much is: These guys lay down slick licks.

Their forte is rooted in a big, bold New 'Awlins brass sound - the kind you can only achieve by playing a lot of horns and playing them loudly. But they also explore a range of diverse sonic realms while remaining firmly entrenched in their selected instrumental lineup, in much the same way that Brave Combo (another eclectic Denton band) crosses over into areas where polka ordinarily fears to tread.

Here's a cut-by-cut impression of Gotta Move On:

"Gotta Move On" - setting the tone for the Inner City All-Stars, this intro piece is heavy on brass-fueled jazz energy - but a bit lackluster on the vocals

"Boogie on Reggae Woman" - hot stuff! A fresh take on the Stevie Wonder standard

"Samba de Kazuki" - if there's such a thing as Latin jazz, this be it

"Can't Get Over It" - near-Eastern overtones, with eerie echoing trumpet choruses

"You Know Nothing" - starts out with an ominous baritone horn dirge that makes you think Godzilla might be attacking the city, then slithers into a hip hop back beat; King CJB 3:16 does guest rap duties

"Inner City" - repeated horn proclamation; guest rap by Tim "Smooth" Brown

"Rompadon" - the party chatter background is left in the mix, lending an intimate, live feel to the proceedings

"I.G.T. - Party Mix" - funky, funky sax and trumpet riffs with teasing counterpoint vocals in an extended jam format

"Drakeford Incorporated" - saxophone jazz instrumental, with Jison Choi guesting on Fender Rhodes

"2 Bump" - a slow, contemplative intro quickly shifts to something pumped full of energy and hilariously booty-licious; shifts briefly into instrumental fifth before ending with a rapped reprise

BONUS: for those patient enough to wait out several minutes of dead air, there's a "Get Ready" surprise ending jam session

Production values are good, so cranking up the volume yields nothing but more music - and you'll want to crank this one, so you can share the virtuosity with the neighbors.

A couple of minor provisos: While vocals aren't often in the Inner City aural spotlight, where they do make an appearance they seem underplayed and downright atonal. Also, I'd like to hear what these guys could do with a full-length slow-jazz soundscape like the ones that make brief appearances in "2 Bump." Maybe they're saving those up for the next CD.

NOTE: there are at least two references to The Wizard of Oz on the musical program - see if you can spot them. - Pegasus News