Eaton and Lopez jazz it up at the Pell City Library

Published 12:00 pm Friday, February 14, 2014

Pell City Library will be “jazzing it up” on Wednesday, February 19 at noon, as it welcomes jazz great, Cleveland Eaton and noted saxophonist and vocalist Jeff Lopez for a concert of jazz favorites.  

Recognized as one of the best jazz bassists in the country, Mr. Eaton has performed on stage or played in recording sessions with various personalities in nearly all music genres, including jazz with John Klemmer and Bucky Green, pop with Minnie Ripperton, and big band with George Benson, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Ella Fitzgerald. Eaton and Lopez bring their musical expertise and experience to Pell City for the library’s ongoing Wild and Wonderful Wednesday series.

Cleveland “Cleve” Eaton was born on August 31, 1939, in Fairfield, Ala.  His musical talent was evident at an early age.  He began playing his mother’s piano at age five, a saxophone by age eight and the trumpet two years later.  His music teacher, John Springer, introduced him to the tuba and string bass at age 15.  

After earning his degree in music from Tennessee A & I State University, he embarked on a career spanning almost five decades.  While attending college, he performed in a jazz group, and after graduating he moved to Chicago and toured with the Ike Cole Trio, and later with Larry Novak, the Ramsey Lewis Trio and with the legendary Count Basie.  He was known as “The Count’s Bassist” during his 16-year stint with the Basie Band.  During the 1960’s he appeared on thirty of the Ramsey Lewis Trio’s recordings, including such hits as “Hang on Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.”  He has also performed with The Temptations, Lou Rawls, The Platters, Sammy Davis, Jr. and countless others.  Cleve began performing and touring with his own group, Cleve Eaton and Company, in 1974.  In 2004, his group became known as the Alabama All Stars. 

Cleve Eaton is recognized and respected in the world of jazz as a producer, arranger, composer, publisher, and head of his own Birmingham-based record company.  As a recording artist, his version of the “Bama Boogie Woogie” was a best seller in Germany, Switzerland, France, Australia, and the United Kingdom.  His 1975 recording of Plenty Good Eaton is considered a classic in the funk music genre.   Eaton has received many awards, including the (Alabama) Governor’s Art Award in 1995, the Achievement Award at the Count Basie Tribute Concert, and the Don Redman Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.  He has been inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.  He was nominated to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and inducted in February 2008. 

Extraordinary saxophonist and vocalist, Jeff Lopez has been performing professionally for over 25 years.  His talents were discovered at an early age by his grandfather, saxophonist Otis “Nappy” Haslip, who tutored him and nurtured his natural musical abilities.  While working with the Jazz unit, Tuxedo Junction, Jeff opened for the world-famous jazz harmonica player, Hendrich Meurken.  He played with the Dixie Jazz Cats, a featured act specializing in Dixieland music at Disney World Resort for three years, and served for five years as Director of Music at the Tides Inn Resort in Irvington, Virginia.  Jeff collaborated with Roy Koffman in the composition “Sail Away” which won first place in a worldwide competition for original music composition.  He has been a part of numerous independent recording endeavors by various artists and groups, and played with various Birmingham-based bands, including the band of “American Idol” winner, Taylor Hicks, and in the band, Goodfellas, with pianist and vocalist Ken Talley.

Cleve Eaton will perform with Jeff Lopez at the Pell City Library on Wednesday, February 19th at noon, for the library’s ongoing Wild and Wonderful Wednesday series.  The program is free and open to the public, and promises to be one of the season’s best.  Light refreshments will be served afterwards in the library.