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California’s Jazz Bakery Forced to MoveNews that the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, Calif.,has been told to relocate has hit the Los Angelesjazz community hard. Earlier this year, thebuilding’s owner gave Bakery president RuthPrice until the end of May to clear the building,to make way for a furniture store. But the crisishas forced Price into actions that she says will bebeneficial.“I always wanted to hire a professionalfundraiser, but I never thought we could affordone,” Price said. “Now I know I can’t affordnot to.”She added that one gratifying development ishow the new Grammy Museum has extended anoffer of help.“They couldn’t be nicer,” Price said. “Theysolicited us and offered their concert space forour fundraisers. Even after we relocate, I’d liketo keep the Bakery’s relationship with theGrammy Museum going.”In a posting on the Bakery’s web site(jazzbakery.org) in mid-June, Price stated thatSoul Power Brings’70s Musical Iconsto Movie TheatersWhen Muhammad Ali went to fight GeorgeForeman in Zaire 35 years ago, the musicians onthe bill (notably James Brown and B.B. King)were as stunning as the heavyweight champs.The fight—and some of the sounds—were capturedin the celebrated 1997 documentary WhenWe Were Kings. A new film, Soul Power, concentrateson the music and hits theaters nationwidethis summer.Director Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, editor on WhenWe Were Kings, began thinking about makingSoul Power while he was working on the precedingdocumentary’s dailies and watching the125 hours of footage.“There was so much dynamic material that Iknew there would be a film there,” Levy-Hintesaid. “It was like looking at a block of marbleand seeing there will be a great sculpture.”Scenes from Soul Power include BrownWith this issue, DownBeat welcomesback former editor EdEnright, who takes the place ofoutgoing editor Jason Koransky.An accomplished baritonesaxophonist and multi-instrumentalist,Enright served as editor ofDownBeat from 1996–1999 andprior to that held several differentpositions within parent companyMaher Publications starting in1990. He has spent the last 10 years performingRuthPricethe club has found three potential sites for itsnew location. Price added that all three locationsare on the West Side of Los Angeles.The Bakery has always been a home for lesserknown and developing musicians, a policythat Price insists on maintaining despite the economicuncertainties.“Our last two bookings were set up longbefore we knew we would close,” Price said. “Icould have cancelled them and done a big sendoffparty, but I wanted to remain true to what theBakery has always done.” —Kirk SilsbeeJames Browntearing through the film’s title track, BillWithers’ subtle soul-folk blend, Congolesesinger Tabu Ley Rochereau and a surprisingmoment when the Spinners’ Phillippe Wynnestepped into the ring with Ali. The film alsoshows how much West African audiencesrevered salsa musicians like Celia Cruz and theFania All–Stars at that time.“They had such an immediate, direct connection,”Levy-Hinte said. “Ray Barretto playingconga is not an accident—he’s back home.”—Aaron CohenEnright Returns as DownBeat Editoras a professional musician andworking as a freelance writerfor DownBeat and other publications.“We’re happy to have Edback as a permanent memberof the DownBeat family,” saidDownBeat publisher FrankAlkyer. “In fact, Ed has contributedso much to DownBeatconsistently over the past twodecades, it’s almost as if he never left.”EARL GIBSONSONY PICTURESAugust 2009 DOWNBEAT 17