Press Release: June 20, 2011

Boston’s Jazz Legend: The Al Vega Story

by Leonard L. Brown

PRESS RELEASE: Boston, MA, USA, June 20, 2011 - The biography of one of Boston’s best loved and most accomplished musicians, Al Vega; written by Boston based writer Leonard Brown.

For more information,

telephone: 508-877-7605 | email: leonard.brown@gmail.com, BOOK ISBN 978-0-615-49856-0

Boston’s Jazz Legend: The Al Vega Story will be released in a first-time limited edition on Friday, June 30 at Al Vega’s 90th Birthday Celebration at Sculler’s Jazz Club, Boston.

Written by Leonard L. Brown, Associate Professor of African American Studies & Music at Northeastern University and with a foreword by Ron Della Chiesa, this limited edition book is a result of in-depth interviews and discussions with Al Vega over an eleven year period enhanced with insightful commentary from family members and accomplished singers who have worked with Al over the last three decades.

The book chronicles Al’s life in his own words. The time span begins in his childhood years in Chelsea during the 1920’s when he studied European classical music to his embracing jazz during the swing era in his early teenage years and sitting in with great masters such as Red Allen and Sidney Bechet. The book then moves to his WWII experiences, marriage, and the bebop years of the late 40’s and 50’s at the legendary Boston jazz clubs, the Hi-Hat and Storyville. Here Al performed with such masters as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Max Roach, along with Boston master musicians including Joe Gordon, Gigi Gryce and Sam Rivers. He also led his own trio with Alex Cirin and the great Alan Dawson.

It then explores Al’s experiences with the music of the 60’s including the impact of rock and roll and avant-garde, a unique musical venture with Boston Celtics’ K.C. Jones, “Satch” Sanders and Sam Jones, his long-term stint at the Maridor in Framingham, and his creation of the famous vocal showcases that were so important to the careers of many singers, including Rebecca Parris, Tierney Sutton and Cassandre McKinley. The final chapters of the book focus on the last two decades of Al’s life, including insight into his incredible 50+ year legacy as a baseball coach and manager in Everett. The closing commentary is from musicians and close friends and family members.

This limited edition book will be available for purchase at Al’s 90th Birthday celebration at Sculler’s Jazz Club/Boston at 8pm on June 30. The price is $15 - cash only.

contact Leonard Brown via telephone: 508-877-7605

or email: leonard.brown@gmail.com

BOOK ISBN 978-0-615-49856-0

Lucky's on Sunday Nights for Sinatra.

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