A jazz fusion band whose considerable chops have helped them build a growing following will bring their smooth sounds to the George Link Jr. Gilmer Arts Playhouse in celebration of the venue’s sixth anniversary.
The Kool Breeze Band, featuring Jim Richter, will perform at the playhouse Saturday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m.
Led by Cherry Log guitarist and keyboardist Richter, the big eight-piece band plays a blend of instrumental jazz and other genres similar in style to Steely Dan, but without any singing.
“It’s not your traditional classic jazz, and there are smooth jazz elements. I like to think of it as the place where jazz and rock kind of meet,” said Richter.
“It’s billed as smooth jazz, but it’s a jazz-rock fusion thing with R&B influences. It’s a nice variety,” said bass player John Rathbone.
The occasion is a special one both for Gilmer Arts and the group, who played to a sold out playhouse crowd last year.
Rathbone is particularly proud of the playhouse reaching the six-year mark. A longtime Gilmer Arts supporter and former chairperson, he led the concept development and construction of the playhouse, which was built starting in 2015.
“It opened Labor Day of 2017 with (Atlanta group) Banks and Shane. I’m really proud of them,” said Rathbone. “I’m glad that it worked out and they survived the COVID shutdown. They’ve been pumping out lots of good shows ever since, and we’re honored to be asked to play for the sixth anniversary.”
Expanding into an eight-piece group, the Kool Breeze Band recently welcomed Gilmer percussionist Nathan Talbot and sax player Will Stafford to the fold, which also includes Bill Craig (drums), Michael Cornett (guitar, keyboards), Nolan Walker (trumpet) and Markham White (guitar).
“Nathan is a local percussion and drum prodigy, who started out as a kid playing piano, but switched to drums and ended up getting a music degree in percussion at Berry,” Rathbone said. “He’s done some roadwork with a name country artist, and he does freelance work all around the area. Having him in the group along with Bill on the drums has been a nice addition that tightens up all those little rhythms.”
New sax man Stafford is the band director at Union High School in Blairsville, noted Rathbone.
“He was raised in Union County and never thought he’d get an opportunity to come back home (and teach), but he did,” Rathbone added. “We played at the Blue Ridge Theater in April for the first time as an eight-piece band. It’s a pretty big room, and we had a near sell-out (crowd). We had a great time up there.”
The group has also been able to reach the ears of international listeners thanks to streaming radio and music streaming services like Spotify. The title track of the 2020 album “Mr. Kool” has been streamed more than 2.4 million times on Spotify, said Rathbone.
“The music is still going really strong. ‘Mr. Cool’ is up over 2 million streams right now, and a lot of the other tracks are doing well, too, in the 10s and 100 thousands of streams,” he added. “Some of these songs are being played on radio stations around the country and in Europe. We’re getting a lot of airplay in Spain, for some reason, on jazz stations over there. That’s the nature of streaming. It’s worldwide.”
Along with leading the Kool Breeze Band, Richter continues to develop his own music while producing that of others. He started releasing work on his own recording imprint last year and recently produced the album “Evermore” for Ringgold singer Jamie Leigh Hardeman. Earlier this year, Richter released his fifth solo album, “Welcome to Jimland.”
“Writing original music, that’s always been the thing that gets me going,” he said.
Along with the concert, the playhouse’s sixth anniversary will include birthday cake at intermission and an announcement of next year’s event season.