Calvin Owens

..Unlike jazz, where names such as Louis Armstrong, Freddie Hubbard, and Miles Davis easily come to mind, trumpeters -- apart from the legendary W.C. Handy -- have not played a central part in creating the mythos of the Blues. Long time B.B. King band member and arranger Calvin Owens takes a step toward rectifying that situation with this CD. The Houston, Texas native Owens, recently relocated to his home town, has formed his own blues orchestra and on 'True Blue' uses twenty-four (count 'em) musicians all told, with special guest appearances from luminaries such as Johnny Clyde Copeland and B.B. King himself, singer B.J. Scott and sax player David 'Fathead' Newman.Now, Calvin Owens deserves more than ever his title as "The Maestro". Owens' recording credits: artist and producer for Memphis Tenn's Kiondict Recording Company. A & R director and studio musician for Peacock Recording Company of Houston, Texas. Arranger for A & M recording studios in L.A. California.He acquired razor sharp experience gracing the greatest concert halls and music festivals throughout the world including a thrilling tour of Russia while serving as music director and trumpet soloist for famous B.B. KING. Also arranger, conductor and trumpet soloist on B.B. King's albums: Live in Ole Miss, B.B. King's Live in London, with Owens conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London. And B.B. King's '84 Grammy Award winning album Jazz In' Blues. Meanwhile, Owens' arranging and con- ducting services were taped for several television programs, including the MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, JACK JONES SHOW, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, JOHNNY CARSON'S TONIGHT SHOW. And recently recorded 6 original compositions for the BELGIAN RADIO &TELEVISION with the B. R.T. Jazz Orchestra . Toured Europe and the States with ARNETT COBB as arranger and trumpet soloist. Owens has stepped out on his own doing the finest Jazz 'n' Blues music known to the world today.Owens' provocative performance makes it clear that his reputation is indisputable. His flamboyant creations are portrayed in each and every musical note throughout his albums. The moment he strikes up his band, his music generates surprising range and power as well as an unidentifiable aesthetic quality. Mr. Owens' trumpet work is precise and lyrical, sometimes gentle, sometimes rugged, and consistently mesmerizing.I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)