Grady Nichols returns to Oklahoma City’s Charlie Christian International Music Festival
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Grady Nichols returns to Oklahoma City’s Charlie Christian International Music Festival
The Tulsa saxophonist will bring a new show Saturday inspired by his recently released sixth album “Destinations.”
Saxophonist Grady Nichols is going places and exploring a variety of sounds on his new album, appropriately titled “Destinations.”
“I believe the saxophone is the most relevant instrument we have. You can put it in every genre of music and it works. And not every instrument can do that,” Nichols said in a phone interview last week from Tulsa, where he has lived since 1994.
“The thing is I just love music. I love all kinds of music, and I have big ears. I love to listen to all of it and as a result, I like putting the sax in all of it.”
Nichols, 39, will be among the performers this week at the 27th Annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival in Oklahoma City. Along with jazz, blues, soul and hip-hop artists playing outdoor concerts Friday and Saturday, the festival features two historical exhibits, two jam sessions and a gospel show Sunday to close the event.
“It’s a great festival because Charlie Christian is a huge figure in traditional jazz music. He’s a legend,” Nichols said of the late, great guitarist, who grew up in Oklahoma City and helped establish the guitar as a lead instrument. “He’s one of those guys that when you look at the state of Oklahoma … he’s one of ours.”
Since this year’s lineup features several newcomers and emphasizes emerging local talent, Nichols is one of the few returning favorites on the bill, along with the Jeremy Thomas Quartet and the reunited After Five Jazz Band.
“He is just always such a hot item in the festival. We just can’t go wrong with him,” said Anita G. Arnold, executive director of festival organizers Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. “He has a little history with the festival and is certainly a well-known artist and has a real following here.”
The Arkansas native has played the festival every year since at least 2004.
“I’ve got great memories of playing at Charlie Christian. I remember playing with Tom Braxton and then Wayman Tisdale came and sat in. That was a really cool moment. We’ve opened for George Benson, played with Kirk Whalum,” Nichols said.
Follow
