By Tricia Chambers
You may have missed Peter Cor and The Jazzy Devil’s 90-minute performance at Central Park last Sunday, but chances are if you watch television, you are familiar with their body of work.
The music composer for at least six current MTV programs, The Bernie Mac Show and Quantum Leap, Cor brought his five-member band out of a hiatus from live performances to heat up the Pavilion.
Not just any composer can say that they created the music that sent the Muppets into a wild outer space adventure. But for keyboard player Cor, this is just one of his many claims to fame.
Back at the Pavilion located on planet Earth, The Devils aroused quite a heat wave with their mix of hot and cool tunes that included “Getaway,” a tune written by Cor himself that he finally got around to recording.
“It (Getaway) was first performed as a multi-platinum hit by Earth Wind and Fire and later by jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour,” he said.
The Jazzy Devils played such Latin beats as “Aurora” and followed that with John Coltrane’s “Impression.” Whether you were in the mood for a relaxing melody or a toe-tapping riff, Sunday’s concert offered something for everybody.
Cor stirred it all up with the help of sax player Gary Regina, TuneDe Miller on bass and drummer Chris Miller. Last but not least is percussionist Renato Annicchiarico, known to play the tambourine and conga simultaneously.
Ask Cor to reveal the number of compositions he has to his credit and he will tell you, “that’s impossible, but probably somewhere around several hundred.”
Coming from an artist who’s traveled to three continents and been inspired by classical, funk and hip hop to name just a few musical styles, this is an easy statement to believe.
What is also impossible is trying to guess what the native New Yorker will get involved in next, especially since he can work from his home studio in Santa Cruz.
“I’m working on two projects now,” he said. “One is a CD with singer/songwriter Ralph Peduto and the other is music for a mutlimedia dance/concert to be performed in Santa Cruz in late August.”
The Jazzy Devils keeps a busy profile with previous gigs that include shows at Jazz on the Wharf Festival and Kuumba Jazz Club (both in Santa Cruz), Capitola Arts and Wine Festivals, as well as opening for Wayne Henderson, an original member of the Jazz Crusaders.
Although the performance marked the introduction of San Jose resident Barry Steiner with The Jazzy Devils, just a few tunes were enough to send him over to purchase the “HOTT 2!” CD.
“It’s interesting for me to discover talent that I’m unfamiliar with,” said Steiner. “I take long trips and I like to listen to music in my car.”
You can learn more about Peter Cor and The Jazzy Devils, as well download, listen to or buy their music at http://www.petercor.com .
Sponsored by the city’s Cultural Advisory Commission, Concerts in the Park will feature The Lyratones (Big Band and Swing) next Sunday from 2:30 pm to 4 pm. For information, visit http://santaclaraca.gov or call 408.615.2210.
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