The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 118

12 Arts! Entertainment SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2004 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM Ballad 'Summerland' looks to earn its place on the WB Pack your picnic, come to the Prairie, and enjoy music under the The Passion of Spain Friday, July 16 fit Saturday, July 17 Thomas Wilkins, Conductor Philippe Quint, Violin Wes Montgomery Age: Born March 6, 1923. Died: June 15, 1968, at age 45. Hometown: Indianapolis. -Family: Husband of Serene Montgomery Woods; father of seven children. Education: A self-taught musician.

Occupation: Jazz guitarist He performed in clubs throughout Indianapolis and with several jazz notables, including Lionel Hampton and John Coltrane. Montgomery also recorded several albums, including "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery," "A Day in the Life," "Mont-gomeryland" and "Tequila." He also won a Grammy in 1966 for best instrumental jazz performance on "Going Out of My Head." Anthony Montgomery Age: 33. Hometown: Indianapolis. He currently lives in Los Angeles. Family: Grandson of legendary jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.

Education: B.A. from Ball State University, Muncie. Occupation: Actor. He plays Ensign Travis Mayweather, a helmsman on UPN's "Star Trek: Enterprise." Other TV credits include "Awesome Adventures," "Popular," "Fra-sier" and "Charmed." 1 A' CHABRIER Espana LALO Symphonie espagnole MONCAYO Huapanso COPLAND El Salon Mexico FALLA Final Dance (Jota) from The Three-Cornered Hat RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio espasnol Jul 1 'ic'S SCHWAB All concerts begin at 7:30 pm. fttmiere spumor By Bill Keveney USA Today "Summerland" is a soft, ocean breeze giving a lift to the sails of the becalmed WB.

Other summer shows may get bigger hype, but the sundrenched drama about three orphans who move into their aunt's California beach house (9 p.m. Tuesdays, WTTV O) has scored surprisingly well with viewers, especially teens and young adults. The 3.8 million viewer average for "Summerland" in its first month, although small compared with a fall or larger-network launch, marks a solid start and means a likely midsea-son return on WB. Lori Loughlin, who pitched the idea for "Summerland" and stars as the single Aunt Ava, says success may come from having family appeal "My thought was, wouldn't it be nice to have a show where teenagers can watch, but they can also watch with their parents. And maybe at the end of the show it would open up a discussion," the "Full House" alum says.

Loughlin liked the Idea Married and raising three preteens in real life, Loughlin, 39, liked the idea of the cool thirtysomething professional suddenly finding herself responsible for 16-year-old Bradin (Jesse McCartney), 13-year-old Nikki (Kay Panabaker) and 9-year-old Derrick (Nick Benson), who move in after their parents are killed in a car accident. Legendary producer Aaron Spelling, paired with Loughlin by WB, changed Ava from lawyer to fashion designer to add glamour and free-spiritedness. "She lives at the beach and she has two buddies living with her. That doesn't sound like a lawyer," he says. Ava has her hands full, even with the help of adult friends.

"I wanted to play an instant Mom, someone who all of a sudden has three kids of different ages," Loughlin says. "I thought that would make for different hurdles. She's not equipped," at least initially. The show's softer, family-friendly style which has re-' ceived up and down critical reviews has led to comparisons with Spelling's July 9 Schola Anliqua of Chicago July 11 La Monica July 23 Ensemble July 25 The Harp Consort Indiana History Center 450 W.Ohio Street ARTsSSlNDIANA INDIANA ARTS COMMISSION RKGIONAL PAKrNEKS If II mm Crossover hits enabled him to support his large family. From 11 Cannonball Adderley, recording a series of critically acclaimed albums that cemented his status as a guitar innovator with one of the most distinctive styles in jazz.

Wes Montgomery broke through to the masses in the mid-'60s with crossover hits like "Tequila" and "California Dreaming," which caused some jazz purists to accuse him of selling out But those hits enabled him in the last few years of his life to provide his wife and their seven children with a degree of financial security. Anthony Montgomery says although he saw his grandfather's gold records on the walls of his aunts and uncles' homes while growing up, he had no idea his grandfather was anyone out of the ordinary until a grade-school teacher "almost shook my arm right out of its socket" when he found out who his grandfather was. "I had to ask my grandmother why he did that," he says. "I was that naive. He was a husband and a father a man trying to provide for his family like anyone else.

He wasn't 'Wes' like he was to everyone else." "He wanted to know who his grandfather was," says Woods. "And when he found out about him, that's when Anthony decided what he wanted to do. He says, 'Grandma, I'm going to California to be an I told him it's a hard life, and that I wished his granddad was there to tell him how hard it is." Jerald Harkness, fellow Indianapolis native and director of the documentary project, says he isn't surprised how low-key the Montgomery family is about their famous patriarch. "The Montgomerys as a whole are almost unpretentious to a fault," says Harkness, whose previous documentaries include the critically praised "Steppin' and "Facing the Facade." "They're such regular, normal people, and they don't brag or boast about Wes as a legendary musician." Despite his grandfather's success in his last few years, capped by the Grammy-winning "Going Out of My Head" in 1966, Anthony Montgomery says his family was far from wealthy and his childhood less than idyllic, marked by an absentee father and, later, a stepfather he describes as abusive. "My mom did her absolute best, and she is one of my heroes," he says.

"But it wasn't easy. There were times when the power just wasn't on and we had to eat ramen noodles by candlelight-Earned a theater degree Anthony Montgomery graduated from Ball State University in 1994 with a degree in theater, the first member of his family to earn a four-year degree. He began his professional career doing stand-up at the Comedy Store in Indianapolis. After working on the crew of the 1998 film "Hard Rain," which was filmed in Jasper, he decided to try his luck in Hollywood. Six weeks after making the trek westward in his Honda Accord which was paid for by his grandmother he got his first gig, a break he credits indirectly to his grandfather.

The ad agency for Tommy Hilfiger was casting for sons and daughters of celebrities to appear in a series of print ads. Even though Anthony Montgomery's agent at the time had never heard of Wes Montgomery, the people handling the Hilfiger account had. Anthony Montgomery joined the likes of Goldie Hawn's then-unknown daughter Kate Hudson, two of Quincy Jones' daughters and Rolling Stone Ron Maripat Donovan Sat at 8pm Sun at 3pm (ALL 635.5252 Photo provided by the WB Stan Lori Loughlin plays a single woman caring for three children on "Summerland." long-running "7th Heaven." He acknowledges both are safe havens for families: "You're not going to see any total vulgarity on this show." However, as in "7th Heaven," "Summerland" deals with challenging topics such as marijuana and teen sex. Loughlin was initially hesitant, but says she's pleased the show has handled them responsibly. (So far, most problems are wrapped up by episode's end, punctuated by hugs.) In one episode, Bradin turns down a girlfriend's offer of drugs.

In another, Nikki resists going too far with her boyfriend. "Most teens go through this stage," says McCartney, 17. "They've done a good job capturing it" Hunks and bikinis Of course, the wholesome "Summerland" relies on more than just family values. The handsome McCartney, a budding musician, could be the latest heartthrob for the WB's young female base. And the beach is an appropriate setting to show a little skin.

"The beach is the beach, and bathing suits are bathing suits," says Spelling, who knows how to play to an audience. However, unlike other shows with bikini-clad women, on "Summerland," he says, "You don't see their breasts bulging out. (But) it's nice when they walk away, to tell you the truth" 1 By Vicki Quade How playing at Wood's son in the ads. "I went in there for a day and made more money in a few hours than I ever thought possible, and all I did was stand there while they took pictures," he says. Success took a bit longer, though.

After a succession of guest roles on TV shows, a gig hosting "Awesome Adventures" and a recurring role in the WB's "Popular," Anthony Montgomery was chosen in 2001 for the cast of "Enterprise." His grandfather's legacy He was in his early 20s when he finally understood his grandfather's true significance in the music world. "I was with a group of friends," he says. "Several of them were musicians and one of them, a guitarist, started talking about Wes Montgomery. I says, 'It's crazy you're talking about -him, because he's my grandfa- then' The whole room went silent They didn't believe me at first. It turned out every single person in the room had been influenced by him in some way.

"His impact didn't hit me until then. The kids in the circles I ran in as a kid in Indianapolis didn't listen to my grandfather's music Now I own virtually every single album he's ever been a part of." "Anthony is concerned a lot of brothers of our generation know nothing about Wes," says Harkness. "A lot of black people under 35 don't seem to care about their history. So we hope to introduce Wes' music to a new generation." "If you walked out your front door right now and asked someone passing by if they'd ever heard of Wes Montgomery, they could not tell you," says Anthony Montgomery. "And I think everybody should know him.

Maybe I'm biased, but anytime I hear his music I'm affected in an incredible way. It just makes me want to hear more and to be a part of his world." The documentary is still in the early stages. Anthony Montgomery and Harkness are filming interviews with Wes' family, friends and musical contemporaries and lining up financing. Dan Kening is a Chicago-based freelance writer. presents The Brand New Lucky Diamond Horseshoe Club A World Premiere Calypso Musical; book by Tony Hall, music and lyrics by David Rudder Opening July 16th July 17, July 18, July 18, July 21, July 24, Sponsored by Margaret I.

Reed Tickets $12.00 Call 812-237-3333. Located in the New Theater at 540 N. 7th Street in Terre Haute on ISU's Campus ARTSKI ND1ANA SummtrMjgif rovidfd vnlh JpT support Irom Arls Indium, i regional aijerrcy the Indiana Art, ommission, WTMHA AfncuMMUON SUP aReniy. and Ihe National ri i ii Endowment ror the An, a lederal agenn 2flt verizgnwireiess Tl'H Barenaked Ladies 'H nmuuir 4 KMHfltt i 111 11 111 1 1 "wi i Li: mhm mum Indianapolis Art Center 820 East 67th Street In Broad Ripple all concerts begin at 7:30 pm For information and tickets call: The Festival Music Society of Indiana 017)251-5190 www.emindy.org iTinnrr "2 Warren ljaynes 0 A HQ IRT -AO the IRT's Uppentage DON'T MISS HANK LJJAMS JR MCNTGCMESY GOJTRr 1131 eiFM mSMmiWmtmm and morel OARYlrttlii JOHN OATES MICHLMcOONALD 4G 'c 111 7 11 1 4' Uuy your I 'r omiBr I Virkirti-I wMn you L-Ljy tickuts. )nly ot Thurj Fri at Tickets at the Indiana Rep box office i www.indianarep.com.