Plas Who??? Mic Gillette … as in the razor company???? Bill Walrous??? Bobby Socks???? OK, ok … I'll introduce you to the artists who will be performing the Legends of Jazz Concert at the Eleventh Street Jazz Fest.

It's not Plas Who, it is Plas Johnson. He is probably the most famous tenor saxophonist that nobody knows. You say you don't know him? Ah, but you do … if you have ever heard "The Odd Couple" theme. Or saw him on the Merv Griffin Show between 1970 and 1985. No? OK, how about this … "The Pink Panther" theme. Yep … Plas Johnson. His TV and film soundtrack performances could fill this column six times over. Here is a sampling: Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me; The Beverly Hillbillies; A Bronx Tale; The Buddy Holly Story; Cheers; Dirty Harry; The Exorcist; The Fugitive … OK I'll stop. But you can pretty much bet that ANY time you hear a tenor sax on ANY soundtrack, it is Plas Johnson.

Not Bill Walrous, but Bill Watrous. Bill is one of the finest bop oriented trombonists of the last 30 years. His father, also a trombone player, introduced him to music. Bill played in traditional jazz bands as a teenager and studied with Herbie Nichols while in the military. He also played on the Merv Griffin show. But his stint, from 1965-1968, was before Plas Johnson's. Bill worked with artists such as Quincy Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Johnny Richards and Woody Herman. Bill has performed in Modesto several times with Ernie Bucio's Little Big Band as well as with the student jazz bands from the Studios at Gottschalk Music Center. Brett Stamps, trombonist with Cornet Chop Suey, lists Bill Watrous as one of the influences of his trombone style.

It's Bobby Shew, not Bobby Socks. [Yeah, I know … stupid play on words. What can I say … I'm related to my father!! Bobby started playing at a very young age. His first instrument, at age 8, was the guitar. At age 10 he switched to trumpet. By the time he was 13, he was playing at local dances with several groups and by age 15 had his own band.

Bobby played with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Sam Donahue, Woody Herman, Della Reese and Buddy Rich. He also performed with Art Pepper, Bud Shank, Louie Bellson, Ed Shaughnessy, Terry Gibbs, Benny |Goodman, Maynard Ferguson … OK I'll stop! But wait! I haven't even mentioned his soundtrack work on Hawaii 5-O, Streets of San Francisco, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley. There's even more movie credits. But I think you get the idea. Bobby is also involved with jazz education, passing on his knowledge of music through clinics to high school and college students all over the world. Local trumpet player, Bob Sakoi, has been known to fly to Southern California to take lessons from Bobby Shew.

Now we come to Mic Gillette. No, no affiliation with the razor company. Mic is best known as the original trumpet player for the power house band "Tower of Power". He has performed on several hundred recordings by artists such as: Santana, The Rolling Stones, Quincy Jones, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Huey Lewis and the News and Blood Sweat & Tears. Mic works with young musicians of both middle and high school ages, passing on his knowledge of music. Yes, I know, he's not REALLY a jazz legend. To be honest, he heard about the Legends of Jazz Concert and REALLY wanted to be involved.

All of these artists will be backed up by Ernie Bucio's Little Big Band.

What else can I say? Like Mic, I really want to be involved in the concert too! Yes, several of our Jazz Society members will be fortunate enough to be in the back up band for these artists.

I am getting excited about the festival. I hope you are too.

Please support this festival. We are hoping to make it an annual event. But without you, we cannot do it. We need your support so we can be back bigger and better next year.

Tickets for the festival are already on sale at the Gallo Center box office. You can purchase online, www.galloarts.org, by phone, (209) 338-2100 or 1-877-488-3380, or in person at the box office. Don’t wait to buy! Saturday tickets are limited.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Modesto Traditional Jazz Society. So buy a ticket. Dance your feet off. Eat, drink & be merry. AND support your local jazz society.

— Margaret Squires, Music Director