Evening Delight

Jazz aficionados know him by name, but almost anyone exposed to music is familiar wi th his playing. His is the purring sax solo on Henry Mancini's famous 'Pink Panther' movie theme song. Plas is the featured soloist heard on countless albums including those of such artists as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Linda Ronstadt and Sarah Vaughan. Plas was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, about 60 miles nor th of New Orleans. As teens, Plas and brother Ray formed a band, the Johnson Brothers Combo, that played in and around New Orleans for a number of years. Plas left New Orleans in 1951 to go on the road wi th the Charles Brown Blues Band. The road, a stint in the Army and a permanent move to California followed. Plas attended the Westlake School of Music for over a year; then his studies were derailed by an overloaded schedule of record dates. He was brought to the attention of Johnny Otis, who immediately added him to his blues aggregation. Johnny then introduced Plas to Dave Cavanaugh, who held an influential A&R position at Capitol Records, where he soon became a regular session sideman and soloist during Capitol's halcyon years. Plas has been one of the most well known and sought- after musicians around the California studio scene. He joined 'The Merv Griffin Show' band in 1970, where he remained for the next fifteen years, joining an all-star lineup, which also included such prominent instrumentalists as Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Jake Hanna, Benny Powell, Jack Sheldon, Kai Winding and others. Plas' recent recordings include his own albums, 'Christmas in Hollywood', 'Evening Delight', and 'hot, blue & saxy', and a Milestone recording wi th Red Holloway, 'Keep That Groove Going!' You may also find him around town occasionally wi th his own group, at jazz festivals all over the world, and in the recording studios. Plas Johnson combines some of the best elements of jazz and blues and is admired and emulated by sax players worldwide. ___ ABOUT THIS CD 'Evening Delight' is a collection of romantic ballads and timeless, swinging jazz tunes, performed by an outstanding saxophonist. Supporting this fine sax man is a group of prominent musicians-each in his own right a feature artist. Together, they produce a listening experience that's delightful anytime. Richard Simon, bass (Tracks 1 through 11) An imaginative, humorous player, Richard studied wi th the Los Angeles Philharmonic and famed jazz legend Red Callender. He has toured worldwide, and played jazz festivals wi th Lalo Schifrin, Chico Hamilton, Harold Land, the Frank Capp Juggernaut and others. His recordings, on several of which he was the leader, have included Buddy Collette, Gerald Wiggins, Sam Most, Dave Pike, Tootie Hea th and Ken Peplowski. Brian O'Rourke, piano (Tracks 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9) Brian has appeared at many top venues, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. He has performed wi th such jazz artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, and Jack Sheldon, as well as Bette Midler, Frank Sinatra Jr., Steve Allen, James Caan and Nancy Sinatra. His recordings number over 30, including 2 Grammy-nominated albums wi th Gerald Wilson. Ross Tompkins, piano (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 11) While still in his teens, in New York, Ross began playing jazz wi th such greats as Kai Winding, J. J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet and many more. In 1967 he joined the 'Johnny Carson Tonight Show' band, and moved wi th the show to California in 1972. He remained wi th the 'Tonight Show' band until 1992. His recording career encompasses almost every major artist, and Ross has many albums of his own. He is still a part of Doc Severinsen's band, and is equally at home in a solo setting. Johnny Kirkwood, drums (Tracks 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9) Johnny began playing drums professionally while still in high school, wi th Eric Dolphy, and Billy Bettis' big band. After high school, Johnny went on the road wi th Louis Jordan. He