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Local Musician Gets 'Rough Around Edges'

Photo from Valerie Gillepsie

Valerie Gillepsie picked up her first saxophone at age 8 and has played professionally since she was 14.

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 29, 2008

Dade City jazz musician Valerie Gillespie and the Valerie Gillespie Quartet have released their fifth CD, "A Little Rough Around the Edges," and according to the veteran vocalist and music maker, her newest recording is what her fans made it.

"I was really inspired by some of our live performances, and the requests that we've been getting lately," said Gillespie, who also has performed with legendary artists Ray Charles and Rosemary Clooney. "This CD has some of the tunes we've been getting the most requests for, and was really fun to record because of that."

Gillespie, according to www. valeriegillespie.com, picked up her first saxophone at age 8 and has played professionally since she was 14. She also plays flute, piccolo, clarinet and other instruments, and is an accomplished vocalist with influences that include Diana Krall, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn and others. This 13-song CD is a highly personal effort for her.

"Each tune was inspired by a particular person or group of people, and that makes this CD very special," she said. "In my opinion, there really is no point in performing music if you are not trying to relate to the people for whom you are performing. The people who support our music are so wonderful that I thoroughly enjoy every performance."

Previously, the Valerie Gillespie Quartet - which also consists of Rick Steuart, Joe Renda, and Lee Ahlin - released the CDs "Branded," "Once Again," "It Takes a Village" and "It Can't Be Christmas Without You."

"A Little Rough Around the Edges" contains a mixture of what Gillespie describes as bluesy, laid-back songs such as "Black Coffee" and "Why Don't You Do Right?" and traditional ballads such as "It's Not Easy Being Green" and "Over The Rainbow." Aside from her fans, she credits her Dade City surroundings as a source of musical inspiration.

"I live in Dade City, and plan to stay," she said. "I just love our home and surroundings, and have every intention of living here into my retirement, years from now. It's not just our home, but the actual town and people of Dade City that I love. I try to do all of my shopping and business in town because the people are so great and welcoming."

"I'm a big proponent of supporting local businesses, because I think that is what this country is made of," she said. "Some of my favorite performances have been right here in town, like Church Street Christmas, the Garden Cafe, and on the square."

Having traveled extensively with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra in the United States and Japan, and performing frequently with the Florida Orchestra, Gillespie also performs a lot locally. Her quartet will perform from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Katie Belle's in The Villages in Leesburg. She invites community members to come enjoy the group's shows.

"I still plan to do lots of local performances, so people can find out about our schedule by going to our Web site at valeriegillespie.com and clicking on 'Tour Dates,'" she said. "We look forward to seeing you all at our shows."

VALERIE GILLESPIE

SOME BACKGROUND: Dade City resident Valerie Gillespie has released her fifth CD with the Valerie Gillespie Quartet, "A Little Rough Around the Edges." The jazz musician has released a mix of classic and bluesy tunes she said was inspired by fan requests.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: The Valerie Gillespie Quartet has performed at numerous local entertainment venues, churches and parks.

A LITTLE HISTORY: According to www.valeriegillespie.com, this native of Pennsylvania earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a major in classical saxophone; she went on to earn her master's degree in jazz saxophone from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

She has performed with Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Rosemary Clooney, George Burns, Ben Vereen, Joan Rivers, Ray Charles, Jon Faddis, Steve Allen and Anthony Newly. Locally, she has played with Dan McMillion, Theo Valentin, JoAnn Samson, Belinda Womack and other musicians from the Tampa Bay area.

WHAT'S NEXT?: Gillespie is contemplating the theme and content of her sixth CD, and plans to perform in upcoming jazz festivals.

GET INVOLVED: People can find out how to order Valerie Gillespie's "A Little Rough Around the Edges" CD by e-mailing Valerie@valeriegillespie.com, or the CD can be purchased at any Valerie Gillespie Quartet performance.

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