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Bandleader to join Jay Leno in HB
by Robb Fulcher
For about a decade Jay Leno has been appearing at the Comedy & Magic Club on Sundays to try out jokes that are seen throughout the week on his "Tonight Show." Now the show's bandleader, Kevin Eubanks, is going to spend his Sundays performing at the club as well.
Just call it "Tonight Show South."
"We're trying to bring things to the South Bay that you don't normally see here," said club owner Mike Lacey.
Eubanks, a deft guitarist and composer with recordings on the GRP and Blue Note labels, will bring small outfits -- trios or quartets -- to the comedy club's adjoining music room, Lounge at the Beach, for two shows each Sunday evening, beginning this week.
"We're going to start playing on Sundays and see how it works. Hopefully, it will be a lot of Sundays," Eubanks said in a telephone interview. "I'm excited to get to know a new part of town."
Eubanks, known by TV audiences as Leno's affable, laidback comedy sidekick, describes his role on "The Tonight Show" as "supportive."
"I just go up and support him in whatever way I can, get in the flow of his rhythm, just help out as much as I can," Eubanks said.
Eubanks said the key to his role as leader of the program's prestigious big band is "making sure the energy is always at an optimal level. I want to keep everybody excited about playing.
"The music really helps the flow of the show. I look at the music as the glue that holds the show together."
Eubanks said viewers would be surprised to know how much work goes into the program.
"They're not really privy to that, and I guess they're not supposed to be. I think people see it as an hour-long show that looks like fun, and it is fun, and it moves quickly. But a lot of people have to work together to make that happen," he said.
Eubanks began absorbing musical influences early in his youth. His mother Vera taught music and played piano and organ in gospel and classical forms, while his uncle, respected jazz pianist Ray Bryant, brought many noteworthy players to the Eubanks' Philadelphia home.
Kevin began playing the violin and performed in small groups around his hometown, then took up the trumpet before settling with his ax of choice, the guitar.
He moved to New York, then to Boston, where he graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
He performed with jazz stalwarts Ron Carter, Art Blakey and McCoy Tyner, and formed the Kevin Eubanks Quartet, which he took to Jordan, Pakistan and India. He took teaching positions at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Canada, at Rutgers University, and at the Charlie Parker School in Perugia, Italy.
His first album, "Guitarist," led to a seven-album contract with GRP. In 1992 he released "Turning Point," an album of all original songs that expanded his exploration of mood and rhythm. The exploration continued on two subsequent CDs, "Spirit Talk" and "Spiritalk 2"; then he released "Live at Bradley's," which was recorded at the now-closed New York jazz club.
"Live at Bradley's" marked Eubanks' last Blue Note release. He moved to California to play guitar on the Tonight Show Band, and became its leader in 1995.
He has recorded several albums featuring a variety of leading jazz artists and plans to release them on his own label, Arch Records, which is still being formed.
Kevin Eubanks performs two hour-long shows Sundays, 7:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. at the Comedy & Magic Club's Lounge At The Beach, 1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. Tickets are $10; dinner menu and full bar available. For reservations call 372-1193. ER