(EXPERIENCE MAGAZINE) — LONG BEACH, CA — (AUG 21ST, 2021) At this year’s #UptownJazzFestival, Vice Mayor Rex Richardson was frontband center joining Wells Fargo and the New Experience with Robby Krieger. A giant check for $50,000 check was presented to the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion.
This was an event to highlight the importance of business ownership and bring the local community together. Everybody had a really good time and the Vice Mayor got a chance to talk to everybody about getting vaccinated. He said, “I know about Tuskegee, but I think this is different and we all really need to get vaccinated.” It was a great day with the sun shining and everyone enjoying the music. I estimate there were about 5,000 people in attendance with lots of kids and families. There was a dance floor in front of the stage that could be accessed with vaccine proof or a negative covid test. It could be completed in 15 minutes.
The New Experience is a Los Angeles based blues, 1960s rock and jazz four piece. On guitar is Robby Krieger of the Doors. Robby is a founding member of the Doors and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His guitar licks are iconic and his blues playing comes from the heart. Kevin “Brandino” Brandon on bass is known for being Aretha Franklin’s bass player for more than a decade.
Brandino is a nine-time Grammy winner and recorded Grammy winning music with Justin Timberlake, Outkast, and James Brown just to name a few. Franklin Vanderbilt III plays drums for the New Experience. Frankie is Lenny Kravitz’s drummer. Ed Roth plays keyboards and organ. Ed has a heavy jazz influence on the New Experience. Annie Lennox and Ronnie Montrose are just a couple of the legends Ed plays with. When the New Experience performs, there is a festive feeling like the 1960s have returned.
The guys were on stage with Vice Mayor Rex Richardson and the folks from Wells Fargo.
The New Experience played great and they focused on their jazz tunes that showed off their range. Brandino’s bass solo was full of funk and attitude. Ed Roth was clearly leading the band through the changes. Franklin played drums and made a wall of rhythm with Brandino. Robby played with a lot of feel. Amazing tone from his Gibson SG. It was a lot of fun to hear the New Experience get their jazz on.
