Gulfstream performs at the 1987 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
1987 was a tough year to be a jazz fusion band in New Orleans - a city with such a diverse take on music that no one style could actually lay claim to being king in the market. After collapsing previous incarnations of the band, Greg Alevizos and James Cabiran set out to add a harder rock element, to create a sound which would have a more universal appeal beyond that of the traditional jazz enthusiast. After moving their infamous "Peaches Studio" to smaller but more productive digs, and after a perchance meeting Brian Morgan, a specific goal was put in place - have the most appealing jazz fusion band in New Orleans and beyond. The band soon linked up with Zak Cardarelli on bass, who was holding down a regular gig with Charmaine Neville but was eager to be a part of this process. And of course, by rekindling a long standing friendship with Tim Green the band added the sax it so desperately needed to fill out the arrangements.
With a handful of high profile gigs in the Big Easy, at clubs such as Snug Harbor, Jimmy's, Carrolton Station, Tipitina's, Gulfstream set out to strengthen its reputation as a consistent provider of fun, feel good jazz - music not too intellectual and not too dimwitted. And although this grouping of Gulfstream disbanded shortly after the season - that Jazz Fest show, opening for Brandford Marsalis ,was the high point of the year 1987 for Gulfstream.
November 1986 - Gulfstream performs "Brazilica" at Snug Harbor, NOLA
Gulfstream - 2006
Rear (L-R) - Blendell Montgomery, Mark Kaufman, Claude Bryant
Front (L-R) - James Cabiran, Greg Alevizos, Jon Faget
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