Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian

An audience of more than 50 roared when the Benjamin Boone Quartet climbed on stage Saturday night and began wailing their first number, “Sugar.â€Â

This was the second of four performances the Benjamin Boone Quartet is doing at Fresno̢۪s Rogue Festival in the Tower District. The recently formed group is composed of drummer Steve Mitchell, saxophonist and Fresno State music professor Benjamin Boone, bassist Nye Morton and pianist David Aus.

The audience response was immediate as a small child in the front row began to play along on his harmonica to the smooth jazzy sound of Boone̢۪s saxophone and Grammy award-winner Mitchell̢۪s sets of drums

Their performance at the Severance Theater̢۪s stage was only the second time the foursome had played together.

Boone and Mitchell agree that their ability to improvise with ease is the connection they share with the music.

“We speak a common language,â€Â Boone said.

Mitchell, who has performed with greats like Ester Philips and Van Morrison, said it̢۪s all about feeling the music.

“There are some musicians that play together for years, but never really play together,â€Â Mitchell said. “They play the part, but they’re cold and don’t have a generosity of spirit.â€Â

This band demonstrated spirit throughout the night with spectacular renditions of “Afro Blue,â€Â “Happy Houseâ€Â and a spontaneous performance with singer Karen Marguth of “East of the Sun.â€Â

Boone said that as a soloist, it was nice to step back during the tune performed with Marguth and just listen.

“I truly enjoy stepping back and just listening to Nye, Steve and David,â€Â Boone said. “For any soloist you can’t do an effective solo unless you have a solid foundation behind you and group communication going on. I don’t enjoy just playing with the accompaniment, I enjoy interaction.â€Â

In 50 years of experience Mitchell also pauses to listen to soloists, notably some of the great vocalists he̢۪s accompanied.

“Ester Philips and Van Morrison are the best vocalists I’ve worked with. Ester took Diana Washington’s groove and did something wonderful with it in her style. And Van is magic, a real Irish mystical singer and performing with him was more like a ritual instead of a gig.â€Â

Mitchell̢۪s gentle brushing of the drums and his years of experience gave the jazz band the perfect amount of zest.

Mitchell’s talents have been showcased in “Charlie Brownâ€Â and “Garfieldâ€Â episodes and why he won his 1976 Grammy for Best Studio Musician.

“It was a special Grammy at the time because so many drummers from bands in San Francisco and Los Angeles were getting famous and, as you know, musicians nominate other musicians for the Grammy’s,â€Â Mitchell said.“It’s an honor and I’m proud of it to this day.â€Â

Boone said that having such a professional playing in his quartet is also an honor.

“It’s amazing that a Grammy award-winning drummer is here playing at the Rogue Festival,â€Â Boone said. “The only reason we are able to do this is that his daughter and granddaughter live here. So we’re fortunate to tap into that and coordinate for him to be here during the Rogue Festival.â€Â

More Rogue Festival
For more on the Rogue Festival, go to www.roguefestival.com for dates and times of various performances throughout March 8.
̢ۢ Performances for the Benjamin Boone Quartet are Friday, March 7 at 8:45 p.m. and Saturday, March 8 at 10 p.m. Admission is $10.

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