June 2, 2004

Jazz At The Bistro Continues Downtown, Broadcast on Idaho's Jazz Station

Billy Mitchell Cherie Buckner-Webb   Jazz at the Bistro continues for the second year, starting June 3. As part of First Thursday events downtown throughout the summer, Idaho’s Jazz Station (KBSU-AM) and the Brick Oven Bistro present concerts featuring the Chuck Smith Jazz Band, Cherie Buckner-Webb and the Billy Mitchell Jazz Band. Hosting the events will be Idaho’s First Lady of Jazz and host of “Jazz Straight Ahead” on Idaho’s Jazz Station, Janie Harris. Jazz at the Bistro is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. June 3, July 1, August 5 and September 2. The first hour will be broadcast live on Idaho’s Jazz Station. The June and August events will feature Mitchell and Buckner-Webb. The July and September events will feature the Chuck Smith Band. Mitchell was raised in a musical family in Montana. After graduating from the University of Montana, he moved to Boise and started to raise his family. His love of jazz always kept him performing within jazz circles. With the addition of Gene Harris to Boise’s late ’70s jazz mix, Mitchell started his long association with Harris. A banker by day, his first love has always been jazz performance and education. He has performed every year at the Gene Harris Jazz Festival and is a regular at the Swing ‘n’ Dixie Jazz Jamboree in Sun Valley and performs with the Capital City Jazz Band. He has performed with such notable jazz artists as Red Holloway, Paul Tillotson, Ernie Watts, Arturo Sandoval and Chuck Mangione. Mitchell has been sideman on many recordings; his latest is “In Motion,” with Kevin Kirk and Sally Tibbs. Buckner-Webb was raised in a musical family and began singing in church as a child. She was raised in the gospel singing tradition, which has an undercurrent of blues. She began her professional singing career in 1975 and has performed throughout the Northwest singing blues, pop, jazz, gospel and spirituals. Buckner-Webb recorded and performed with Gene Harris on many occasions and has performed at the last eight Gene Harris Jazz Festivals. A soul-filled dynamic singer, she has a gospel CD that will be released soon. Boise resident, Chuck Smith is active throughout the Northwest as both a jazz pianist and a music educator. He currently works as a music educator in the Boise schools and is an adjunct piano faculty member at Boise State University. Smith worked as musical director for Paul Anka for eight years, performing throughout the world. He conducted for Anka at many notable functions, including appearances at the Reagan White House and with the Atlanta Symphony. As a pianist, Smith has played with the Jazz Under the Stars series, the Riverside Jazz Orchestra and a host of other jazz artists. His recordings include, “New Territory,” an ongoing project he co-leads with Sandon Mayhew and “Baker Sings Out,” a project he arranged and recorded for Jeff Baker. Idaho’s Jazz Station is a service of Boise State Radio and airs in partnership with the College of Southern Idaho on KEZJ-AM 1450, Twin Falls. Idaho’s Jazz Station is also heard on and KBSK-FM 89.9 McCall. -30- Contact Jim East Associate General Manager, Network Programming Voice: 208 947-5659 Fax: 208 344-6631 jeast@boisestate.edu Media Contact Kathleen Craven communications and marketing 208 426-3275