Richard Howell's Sudden Changes
Saxophonist Richard Howell brings his ensemble Sudden Changes to Mr. Tipple's for what promises to be an evening of genre-blending "Bridge Music" — his term for compositions that celebrate diversity and unite listeners across musical boundaries. Howell's approach draws from the spiritual depth of Coltrane's "A Love Supreme," the rhythmic complexity of James Brown, and the soulful essence of the Isley Brothers, creating what he calls "a jazz pathway over obstacles that joins differences."
A veteran of the jazz, soul, and R&B worlds, Howell has performed and recorded with icons including Etta James, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and Maurice White, as well as contemporary voices like Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. His thick-toned tenor saxophone and occasional vocals have graced stages from the Newport Jazz Festival to London's Royal Albert Hall. Recent performances at Mr. Tipple's have showcased his "spiritual way of connecting to audiences," with one reviewer noting his "incantatory spiritual force" and ability to hush the usually bustling supper club.
Joining Howell are Bay Area stalwarts pianist Caleb Phair, known for his funky, creative electric jazz with quartet I Am The Octopus, and trumpeter Max Elhardt, a University of the Pacific Jazz Studies graduate who's appeared at Yoshi's and the Paramount Theatre. Bassist Anthony Mills and drummer Deszon Claiborne — who has worked with Don Cherry, Les McCann, and Taj Mahal — round out the quintet.
Expect a program that spans Howell's contemporary jazz compositions alongside spiritually-charged interpretations of classics. His recent album "Moon Over Tiburon" demonstrates the ensemble's "rhythmically sharp and vibrant" approach, featuring strong group interplay and what one critic described as "muscular rhythm" and "cerebral" arrangements. As an educator with JazzTree Education and Oaktown Jazz Workshops, Howell brings both technical mastery and deep musical wisdom to every performance, making this an opportunity to experience an artist who, as trumpet star Christian Scott puts it, "has this ability to focus them in a way that's really cool."
