The First Take by Chris Klich

In addition to their regular performances, both public and private, their two excellent CDs, The First Take (2000) and Reflections on Yuletide (2001) are frequently played on San Diego jazz radio station KSDS-FM 88.3. The quintet returned to the recording studio in the fall of 2005 to record their newest album, Blue Skies: A Tribute to the Music of the '40s. The group's Web site includes performances of the quintet, photos, and MP3 audio clips from all three albums, as well as MP3 samples of tunes most frequently requested at their performances.

Here is some information about the performers:

Chris Klich is a native of San Diego, and has performed professionally for the last 25 years, in our county as well as nationally and internationally. Chris earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of California, San Diego in 1983 where he was mentored by the great Jimmy Cheatham, and a Master of Music, Jazz Studies degree at San Diego State University in 2005, where he studied with the great jazz composer Rick Helzer. He has worked with bands and artists Tobacco Road, Candye Kane and the Swingin' Armadillos, Harvey and 52nd St. Jive, The Heroes, Wise Monkey Orchestra, and The Fabulous Mar Dels. In addition to his performances with the Chris Klich Jazz Quintet, he frequently performs with Big Time Operator, The Rhythmmakers, The Fabulous Ultratones, and The Rhythm Method, and does many freelance gigs, playing everything from jazz to blues to swing to top-40 and Electronica. He is the featured soloist with the Laura Preble Band, performing alternative-pop originals. He specializes in sax, clarinet, and flute, and is an accomplished studio musician, having recorded on dozens of performers' albums. In addition to his skill on woodwinds, he also produced the C.Ds. Voices in My Head (1999), by his wife Laura Preble, and the quintet's first CD, The First Take (2000), as well as their wonderful Holiday album, Reflections on Yuletide (2001) and their newest release Blue Skies (2005). January 2006 sees a new career chapter as Chris begins his new post as Professor of Music at Southwestern College, Chula Vista, Ca.

Dan Aakhus is a veteran of the San Diego music scene. Dan graduated with honors in 1985 from The Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. After attending Berklee, Dan moved to Las Vegas and performed in numerous shows including the highly acclaimed "Island Magic Polynesian Revue" for which he was the musical director. Dan moved back to San Diego to pursue his first love--playing jazz. In 2004, Dan moved back to Las Vegas to continue his work as a physical therapist, but continues to perform, both in Las Vegas, and ocassionally in San Diego.

Pete Woods is an in-demand drummer for many of San Diego's most popular groups. He studied jazz drumming with Alex Acuña and Hal Crook, and has performed with Ed Shaunessey, Keiko Matsui, and Brandon Fields. He currently performs with Harvey and 52nd St. Jive, The Laura Preble Band, Barbara Jamerson, and Will Sumner's Tropic Zone. He also does many private parties with other groups, as well, playing various styles, including jazz, funk, pop and rock.

Alan Worthington has been playing jazz guitar for over 35 years, in San Diego, primarily, since he moved here in the mid-70's. He has performed with Hollis Gentry and Lynn Willard, and is a lead soloist with the Mesa College Jazz Ensemble. In the early eighties, he toured extensively with the show and jazz group "Wizard," which also included Dan and Pete, performing in Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Las Vegas. He owned Gary Music Co. in Pacific Beach from 1984 to 1990, which specialized in serving the jazz musician community with its line of instructional materials and equipment. Through his guitar instruction at the store, he was formative in the careers of many of the up-and-coming young musicians in the San Diego area.

Average Customer Review: