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Fine foods, music at Festival Epicure

Ted Shaw, The Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, July 02, 2008

An interest in Steely Dan turned classical trombonist John Rutherford onto the hip grooves of R&B and soul.

The 32-year-old Detroiter is studying for his master's degree in music and has performed with classical ensembles on both sides of the Detroit River, including the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.

But he started the Motor City Horns in 2000 because of the horn sections in songs by his beloved Steely Dan.

"I've always loved the way that band incorporates jazz and R&B into their songs, especially their use of horns."

Motor City Horns back up Windsor's Alexander Zonjic as headliners Sunday at the conclusion of this weekend's Festival Epicure 2008 at Riverfront Festival Plaza. The festival opens Friday at 4 p.m. with Windsor's Mr. Chill and The Witnesses, and resumes throughout the weekend with fine food and music.

Rutherford credits New York City's Jim Pugh, a trombonist who has toured and recorded with Steely Dan, as his main influence. Pugh has worked closely with Chick Corea and Woody Herman's Thundering Herd.

"I have tried to mould myself after Pugh," Rutherford said.

He formed Motor City Horns following musical education at the University of Michigan and Boston's prestigious New England Conservatory of Music.

Inspired by the famous Memphis Horns and the horn sections of such bands as Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire, Rutherford soon started to turn heads in his native Michigan.

The group's break came when Clarence Clemons, saxophonist in Bruce Springsteen's band, invited the Motor City Horns to join his band, The Temple of Soul, on tour.

They followed it up by recording several television commercials.

But the real push came in 2006 when Bob Seger enlisted Motor City Horns for his North American tour. Initially hired to do four or five Seger songs, the band ended up being featured on about 15 songs by the end of the tour.

"It was a blast," Rutherford said. "Something none of us will forget."

Besides Rutherford on slide trombone, the current Motor City Horns lineup features Mark Byerly and Bob Jensen on trumpets, and Keith Kaminski on sax.

"Our strength is in our diversity," Rutherford said.

Byerly has toured with Justin Timberlake and the Verve Pipe, and boasts experience in the pop and hip-hop fields.

Keith Kaminski has extensive playing time with blues musicians, while Bob Jensen straddles several musical realms, from backing up the Temptations to teaching trumpet at Michigan's Interlochen.

Rutherford's classical experience has landed him often in the trombone section of the Detroit Symphony, including one memorable concert behind legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

He's happy to give up the bandleading reins to Zonjic, however, whenever he backs him up.

"Alexander has so many contacts in the Detroit area and all over the place," he said. "He's great to work with."