By Donald True Van Deusen
Chris Farr, tenor sax, joined with Duane Eubanks, trumpet, for something of
juicy impromptu jam session March 1 at Chris' Jazz Cafe, (215-568-3131)
1421 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. Rounding out the distinctive group were
Mark Kramer, piano; Dave Brodey, bass and Jim Schade, drums. Sets ran from 9
p.m. to 1 a.. m. for an $8 cover.
FarrÃÂÃÂÃÂùs older brother, Brian, plays drums. One of Eubanks brothers,
Kevin, plays guitar and is seen on TV leading the Tonight Show band and
acting as a foil for Jay Leno. Duane comes from a family of notable
Philadelphia musicians. He and Far have known each other for years, but just
recently started working gigs together.
Born and reared in New Jersey, Farr, 30, has been working as an
increasingly sought after sideman in various Philadelphia jazz clubs in
addition to his work with the Gerald Veasley band. He worked with the
Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Band traveling in Europe and across the
United States and has recorded and performed with Teddy Pendergrass, Terrell
Stafford, Lou Rawls and John Swana.
Farr acknowledges Swana and vibes player Tony Miceli as current
influences who he seems clearly grateful to have worked with. He started
playing at just ten years old and went to the University of the Arts (where
he now teaches) on a scholarship. He notes that while there he had the
opportunity to play with such notables as Stanley Clarke, John Blake and
Eddie Gomez.
The clear cornucopia of class jazz people working in Philadelphia is an
unabashed delight to Chris who notes that people like tenor sax stars Larry
McKenna and Bootsie Barnes are nothing less than living legends who he
always goes to see when he is not working. Chris demonstrated his own
prowess in the first set at Chris' Cafe with a protean performance worthy of
his mentors.
Duane Eubanks has established his own credentials working with such all
stars as Illinois Jacquet, Mulgrew Miller and the Mingus Big Band as a first
class sideman.
