George Whitesell and His All-Stars
Featuring Jill Watkins
George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins
*A Music Company Inc. is proud to announce "George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins" has been added to the entertainment roster for the internationally acclaimed (5 diamond rated) BROADMOOR HOTEL!
This dynamic eight piece Las Vegas style show band was formed by well known Colorado musician George Whitesell and features some of the finest musicians in Colorado along with renowned vocalist Jill Watkins. Ms Watkins, from Boulder, led her own band for four years and has performed in numerous festivals, clubs and concert engagements
Known for their ability to truly entertain, the band plays a variety of jump, swing, R&B and blues from the classic era of the late 40's through mid 60's when "show" bands featuring a female singer were the rage.
Skat - CD
This first release by George Whitesell & his All Stars featuring Jill Watkins is a collection of 12 showstopping songs from their stage show.
Produced by Ken Saydak (Johnny Winter, Lonnie Brooks, Mighty Joe Young) who also sits in on piano for "I'm Tore Down".
Guest artist is Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin! Bob played with the legendary Muddy Waters for many years. He won the W. C. Handy award for guitar in 2005 and was nominated again in 2006. Bob continues to tour the world as a solo artist and with his own band.
"George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins"
With his trademark long, white hair and beard, George Whitesell looks like a blues Santa. But he sounds like a blues legend — and is in these parts. For decades, Whitesell's been singing and playing guitar and alto sax in the Pikes Peak region, most recently with Metro Blues. Now he's assembled what could be described as the blues board of directors in this area: George Whitesell & His All Stars.
The term "all star" is thrown around loosely, but if it's possible for there to be a blues supergroup in Colorado Springs, this is it. The résumés of the seven band members include experience with local and legendary acts, including Cab Calloway, Frank Zappa and Heart. Considering there's four sax players — alto through baritone — expect a sound bright with horns above Whitesell's solid guitar playing and John Stilwagen's keys, with Santi Guarnera (bass) and Dave Deason (drums) bringing it up on the bottom.
But only the band and those close to the band can truly describe the sound, because the All Stars are making their debut at Classics on Monday. Chances are, they will live up to the name.
Josh Johnson - Colorado Springs Independent (Jun 1, 2006)
"George Whitesell & His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins"
Part-time musician, part-time Santa, and full-time good guy, George Whitesell celebrated his 60th birthday in style with help from wife Amy, the owners of Classics, a bunch of talented musicians and a room full of friends and family. The party, held Monday June 5, was also the debut of a new band: George Whitesell & His All Stars. I've known George through Metro Blues, the band he has worked with for several years in the Colorado Springs area. The All Stars represent the fulfillment of a dream: a big band of top-notch performers doing classics and originals and featuring a knock-out female vocalist—who turns out to be Jill Watkins.
George told me that he has wanted to start this project for many years but he didn't get serious about it until about 5 years ago. I asked him for a brief history of the project.
"A couple of summers ago I talked to Brad Eastin because I needed somebody to arrange the horns. He loved the idea and agreed to do it. So we just needed to find the players. Chris Wojtecki, I had known for a number of years and I asked him if he would be the baritone player. As it progressed on, I just started hand picking some of the people I thought would be most suited for this type of endeavor."
Once the musicians had committed and rehearsals began, George realized that the best way to introduce the band would be with a big show on a Monday night (so that others in the music business would be able to attend). While considering when to hold the concert he realized that, (with his 60th birthday falling on a Monday) and instantly knew that had to be date. He and Amy began planning a party that had well over 100 guests. There was a buffet supper and the entertainment was fabulous.
This is a blues/R&B/jump/swing show band—its members are not only excellent players but also enthusiastic performers—and they did, indeed, put on a show. At one point the audience was treated to synchonized marching/dancing/table hopping, which got a huge cheer.
George had mentioned the idea to Jill a couple of years ago and she liked it but didn't know if it would happen. Then last fall, George sent an email stating: "Alright, I'm doing it. That's it, and I have watched you, Jill, developing your character and your persona, and that's exactly who I want on stage. You are exactly tailor made for this." Jill says she likes the idea of an allstar band, "that everyone has their own band, is such a cool concept to me. So he threw it out there and said, 'are you in?' and I didn't bat an eye—oh, absolutely. I'm just flattered as hell that he even thought about me, let alone that I was asked to do it."
It wasn't until the second set that Jill was brought up to sing. We sat together during dinner and she was very excited about being involved with the All Stars. I asked her how it felt to be handed the keys to the candy store and was rewarded with a brilliant smile and a laugh. She later told me of her experience on stage that night: "Like getting your hands on a Ferrari. I was also in awe of all the different players around me. Each one had their own solo, and from one solo to the next it was just one monster performer after another. When they wanted me to come back in [for the vocal], I was like, well, OK, if you like that sort of thing. It was an incredible feeling."
I recommend that you see George Whitesell & His All Stars when you get the chance.
I guarantee that you will have a good time.
Jim Primock- The Colorado Blues Society.
