Jazzing up Newport

Luis Pena

Contemporary jazz saxophonist Richard Elliot will be performing music

from his latest album “Ricochet” at the Hyatt Newporter tonight.

Elliot grew up in Los Angeles, but was born in Scotland. His

30-year professional career began back in high school, where he

received his first big break playing with the USO at 16 during his

summer break.

As part of the USO tour group, he was able to play backup for such

performers and groups as Natalie Cole and the Pointer Sisters.

After high school, he continued on his musical path, lending his

saxophone skills to several recordings and performances as a session

player.

“I started doing studio work around Los Angeles and worked for a

lot of different people -- Melissa Manchester, the Beach Boys,”

Elliot said.

He also did a considerable amount of work for Motown Records,

where he backed up such music legends as Smokey Robinson and the

Temptations.

From there, he joined the horn section of the group Tower of Power

in 1982.

“Our horn section backed up a lot of people like Rod Stewart, Huey

Lewis and the News, Dan Fogelberg and a lot of other people,” Elliot

said.

He toured with Tower of Power extensively until 1987, when he

decided to go his own way as a solo artist. His career has flourished

since then.

“I started recording my own CDs, and I have got about 14 of them

out now,” Elliot said.

Many consider Elliot a contemporary or smooth jazz artist, but he

sees himself in a different light.

“They like to call it contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, but my roots

are more in rhythm and blues,” Elliot said. “Probably what I do is

more instrumental R&B; than jazz influenced.”

He plans to perform music from his new CD, “Ricochet,” along with

some of his early recordings for his newer fans who may not have

heard them.

“Ricochet” has a different sound than his last album.

“Its been more of a of funky type of a record,” he said. “My last

CD that I did, called ‘Crush,’ was actually a little smoother, a

little more jazz. This one is a little bit more R&B.; It gets back to

my R&B; roots, which makes it a lot more fun to play live.”

Elliot is accompanied by a number of talented R&B; performers on

“Ricochet.” Guitarist Tony Maiden backed up Chaka Khan in the 1970s,

percussionist Lenny Castro, guitarist Robbie Nevil, who had the 1986

hit “C’est La Vie,” and keyboardist Jeff Lorber.

He used to produce his albums himself, but he has found it a lot

freedom in bringing others into the process.

“Along the way, I decided that I wanted people to help me with the

production so that I could put all of my energy into playing the

saxophone and writing -- and I found that to be a very liberating

experience,” he said in a press release.

Newport Beach has always been a favorite place to play.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in Newport Beach, and I’ve played there

a lot over the years,” Elliot said. “I’ve actually played at the

Hyatt Newporter quite a few times, and it’s a really nice setting for

concerts.

“I will tell you, the audiences that they get for the jazz series

are pretty live,” he said. “People definitely cut loose, which is

pretty nice.”