The many faces of Faces by Angela D. Jones
Talk about a total package - they sing, they rap, they make beautiful music, and they’re not bad on the eyes either! They are Faces.
Saxophonist Dewayne Washington, Trumpeter Marcus Rockwell and Saxophonist Ahmad Johnson, make up the dynamic jazz trio of Faces. A local group, hailing mostly from Fort Worth, Faces performed this past Saturday at Fort Worth’s Bass Hall in the Van Cliburn Recital Hall. Among the highlights of the evening was a sax note by Dewayne Washington that lasted long enough for Johnson and Rockwell to break out the dominoes (literally) to keep themselves occupied. And in a moving spiritual tribute to his father, who was in the house along with many of the group’s family and friends, Marcus Rockwell played his frugal horn and publicly thanked his father for giving him the instrument 20 years ago. They label themselves as an interactive band and interact they did, as they performed to songs such as Will Smith’s “Nod Your Head,” “Amazing” and gospel favorite, “No Weapon Formed Against Me.” To close the evening, Faces did a little “free styling” with a piece that they spontaneously composed called “Van Clibin.’”
“There is a lot in store for Faces,” says member Dewayne Johnson. “We are currently working on a Faces video and documentary. We have also written 3 plays for the band and are looking into a few overseas opportunities, with emphasis on Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.”
In addition, Faces currently has a Christmas CD, entitled “A Very Jazzy Christmas,” and the group is currently in the studio working on a gospel Jazz CD. With an upcoming performance in which they will share the stage with Jazz greats Gerald Albright and Will Downing (November 16th), you can definitely look for great things from this group!
Talk about a total package - they sing, they rap, they make beautiful music, and they’re not bad on the eyes either! They are Faces.
Saxophonist Dewayne Washington, Trumpeter Marcus Rockwell and Saxophonist Ahmad Johnson, make up the dynamic jazz trio of Faces. A local group, hailing mostly from Fort Worth, Faces performed this past Saturday at Fort Worth’s Bass Hall in the Van Cliburn Recital Hall. Among the highlights of the evening was a sax note by Dewayne Washington that lasted long enough for Johnson and Rockwell to break out the dominoes (literally) to keep themselves occupied. And in a moving spiritual tribute to his father, who was in the house along with many of the group’s family and friends, Marcus Rockwell played his frugal horn and publicly thanked his father for giving him the instrument 20 years ago. They label themselves as an interactive band and interact they did, as they performed to songs such as Will Smith’s “Nod Your Head,” “Amazing” and gospel favorite, “No Weapon Formed Against Me.” To close the evening, Faces did a little “free styling” with a piece that they spontaneously composed called “Van Clibin.’”
“There is a lot in store for Faces,” says member Dewayne Johnson. “We are currently working on a Faces video and documentary. We have also written 3 plays for the band and are looking into a few overseas opportunities, with emphasis on Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.”
In addition, Faces currently has a Christmas CD, entitled “A Very Jazzy Christmas,” and the group is currently in the studio working on a gospel Jazz CD. With an upcoming performance in which they will share the stage with Jazz greats Gerald Albright and Will Downing (November 16th), you can definitely look for great things from this group!