By Chris J. Walker
Keiko Matsui, a keyboardist and composer who’s a longtime favorite at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts made her triumphant return to the venue after nearly two years away due to COVID-19. The soft-spoken and petite artist could hardly contain her joy and gratitude for being back on the stage, and symbolically began her concert with “Moving On.” It was upbeat and jubilant featuring her and band, Jimmy Branly-drums, JP Mourão-guitar, Rico Belled-bass and Brandon Fields-reeds jamming away.
Special guest and highly regarded trumpeter Randy Becker joined the band for the dynamic, hard-driving and thematic “Moon Over Gotham” from Matsui’s latest project Echo.
In addition to showcasing Becker, the bandleader sparkled with stellar “in the pocket” playing. She continued in that vein with “Marlin Club Blues,” also a new tune that strongly grooved with funky/bluesy organ and piano playing. Additionally, the brass players contributed jumping chorus and solos, while Mourão nearly stole the show with his biting and extensive guitar forays.
Matsui cited that she has put out about 30 recording and that it was getting harder to create concert setlists. With that in mind, she shifted to her initial inspiration, nature and classical romantism with “Light Above The Trees” from her 1987 debut CD A Drop of Water.
Besides the bandleader’s soothing playing, the piece was also graced with tranquil soprano saxophone and alternately scorching guitar, which delighted the audience. “Return to Eternity” in remembrance of departed souls and also living ones was equally gentle and boosted by beautiful piano and elegant trumpet solos.
For something a little different the bandleader dazzled everyone playing accordion-like melodica and sweeping piano with Branly on cojon, Mourão on acoustic guitar and Belled on electric bass for tango styled “Caricias.” Also deviating from traditional Matsui songs was bossa flavored “Spirit Dance.” It was garnished with pre-recorded chanting from vocalist Gretchen Parlato, and the bandleader and guitarist getting into a fiery call and response interlude.
Rounding out the concert was the pianist/composer’s ever popular 1995 hit “Safari” that melded traditional Japanese textures with contemporary jazz grooving. While newer song, “Viva Life” featured melodica, Becker and an
extensive berimbau sounding guitar solo to soar with Parisian flare. It wowed the audience and prompted a standing ovation. For the encore another Matusi classic “Bridge Over the Stars” with her signature and popular sound was served up. Overall, the artist confirmed that she’s still a great talent, capable and willing to grow with sensitivity. For more info go to: http://www.keikomatsui.com/ and www.cerritoscenter.com.
Moonchild feat. Tank and the Bangas “Get By” (Official Lyric Video)
Robert Glasper Black Superhero (Official Music Video)
Tank And The Bangas Stolen Fruit
Tank And The Bangas ft. Alex Isley, Masego Black Folk
Dominique Fils-Aimé Grow Mama Grow (Official Video)
Please meet the Staples Jr. Singers
Linqua Franqa (feat. Jeff Rosenstock) Bellringer (Official Video)
PREVIEW
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents Bridge to Everywhere, considered one of the Southland’s most compelling new chamber music ensembles at the Bram Goldsmith Theater. The program for the company’s Wallis debut, conducted by Artistic Director Derrick Skye, features 11 cross-cultural contemporary works by seven L.A.-based composers that reflect the world’s interconnectedness.
The works, composed by Skye and ensemble members Philip Graulty, Yvette Holzwarth, Anna Kouchnerov, Dimitri Mahlis and James Watterman, explore connections found across diverse musical traditions, including Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, traditional West African music, American folk music, Arabic music, Western classical music and jazz. Bridge to Everywhere strives to build bridges among instruments, musical genres, cultures and people.
At its core, Bridge to Everywhere, founded by Skye in 2015, promotes compassion and empathy through music. The ensemble uses music to bring people together to celebrate their differences and find common ground, embracing musical collaboration to serve as a model for how people from different backgrounds can work together to forge harmonious relationships. San Francisco Classical Voice proclaims, “inclusion is…at the heart of Bridge.” Bridge to Everywhere received the prestigious blog’s 2020 Audience Choice Award for “Best Chamber Performance.”
In addition to Skye, the ensemble includes Rachel Iba, concertmaster; Hannah Arista, voice/percussion; Yvette Holzwarth, voice/violin/viola; Rachel Mellis, flute; Anna Kouchnerov, violin; Philip Graulty, acoustic and electric guitars; Marc Nimoy, acoustic guitars; Dimitris Mahlis, oud; Michelle Elliott Rearick, cello; Mark Gutierrez, electric bass; and James Waterman, percussion/vibraphone.
A Concert Prelude moderated by Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen will be held at 6:30 pm.
The Wallis is closely monitoring the ever-changing local health and safety environment carefully and addressing known health factors at the moment. Should plans change and any performance be required to be postponed or cancelled or if venue capacity limitations are instituted, ticket holders will be notified immediately with options for their purchased tickets per The Wallis’ ticketing policies.
Facial masks, covering both the mouth and nose, are still required at all times while within the venue. The Wallis’ health and safety protocols are
also subject to change at the venue’s sole discretion or in accordance with LA County and City of Beverly Hills regulations. Our current Health & Safety Protocols and updates may also be accessed at TheWallis.org/Safety.
Upcoming performances at The Wallis in March include pianist Shai Wosner (March 5); Rapunzel Alone (March 12-19); The Wallis debut of MUSE/IQUE, led by Artistic Director and Conductor Rachael Worby (March 12 and 13); Sunday Funday (March 13); DIAVOLO (March 18-20); Bedtime Stories (March 24-26); and Hershey Felder Presents Live from Florence The Verdi Fiasco (livestreamed beginning March 27).
BRIDGE TO EVERYWHERE
Bram Goldsmith Theater
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
TheWallis.org/bridge
310-746-4000
Al Di Meola is a pioneer of blending world music and jazz, going back to early Latin-tinged fusion outings like1976’s Land of the Midnight Sun, 1977’s Elegant Gypsy and 1978’s Casino. The guitar great continues to explore the rich influence of flamenco, tango, Middle Eastern, Brazilian and African music with his World Sinfonia, an ambitious pan-global group that he formed in 1991.
Their exhilarating world music fusion has been documented on such releases as 2000’s The Grande Passion (featuring the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), 2007’s Live in London, 2011’s Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody and the stunning 2012 DVD, Morocco Fantasia (recorded at the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco and featuring special guests Said Chraibi on oud, Abdellah Meri on violin and Tari Ben Ali on percussion).
Growing up in Bergenfield, NJ with the music of The Ventures and The Beatles, Di Meola naturally gravitated to guitar as a youngster and by his early teens was already an accomplished player. Attaining such impressive skills at such a young age didn’t come easy for Al, but rather was the result of focused dedication and intensive periods of woodshedding between his junior and senior years in high school. “I used to practice the guitar all night after school and once in college, 6 – 8 hours per day” he told DownBeat. “And I was trying to find myself, or find the kind of music that suited where I was going with the guitar.”
The work paid off, and at the age of 19 in 1973, he was recruited by keyboard legend Chick Corea to be the new guitarist for the iconic fusion group Return to Forever, with drummer Lenny White and bassist Stanley Clarke. The guitarist astonishing rapid-fire playing greatly contributed to groups success, resulting in three top-selling records and international acclaim as an electric and acoustic guitar god.
After RTF disbanded several years later, Di Meola pursued a successful solo career that has produced about 25 albums and included top-flight collaborations. Some of them were with fellow guitar virtuosos John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucia, and the Rite of Strings trio with bassist Clarke and violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. It’s easy to see why the guitarist is a consistent poll-winner, audience favorite and major influence for serious guitar players.
Al Di Meola
March 12
The Canyon Santa Clarita
Westfield Valencia Town Center
24201 Valencia Blvd, #1351
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-santa-clarita/
March 13
The Canyon Agoura Hills
28912 Roadside Dr,
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
http://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-agoura-hills/
March 16
The Coach House
33157 Camino Capistrano San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
https://thecoachhouse.com/
Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding’s Los Angeles premiere of their opera Iphigenia (debuted in Boston November 2021), occurred at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage and attracted a near-sold audience. Among the attendees were Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington and Ambrose Akinmusire. The work, a melding of opera, jazz and classical is somewhat of a modern take on the myth created around 407 BC by Euripides. For this production, Shorter composed the music, while Spaulding created the libretto, sang and acted. Other principals were Frank Gehry-Set Designer, Caroline Shaw-Vocal Arranger, Clark Rundell-Conductor and Lileana Blain-Cruz the Director.
The story line based on classic Greek mythology depicts Princess Iphigenia, daughter of King Agamemnon, being sacrificed as atonement for goddess Artemis’ sacred stag being killed. She vengefully halts the wind (designed by Gehry) to prevent Greek ships from sailing on the verge of the Trojan War.
Onstage, the stag and 6 versions of the princess are brutally killed. In the midst of the bloodshed and drunken Greek soldiers reveling, Iphigenia played by Spaulding weighs the pros and cons of being sacrificed. Ultimately, she decides that it is indeed a noble and honorable act, much to the dismay of father, the king who desperately pleads with her to not do it.
Shorter’s music was grand, uplifting and encompassed his signature touches and quirks that are well executed by his longtime sidemen Brian Blade-drums, Danilo Perez-keyboards and John Patitucci-bass. They were incognito for the first act and then revealed when the barrier curtains went down at the beginning of the second act. Regardless of whether they were seen or not, they sounded great. With the orchestra, cast and principals they received a standing ovation. Shorter, whose lifelong dream was to create an opera came onstage and cryptically stated, “Nothing is what I’m trying to keep and go forward with. Nothing. Thank you.” For more info go to: https://thebroadstage.org and https://www.npr.org/2021/12/10/1062355320/wayne-shorter-and-esperanza-spalding-crack-open-the-old-world-in-new-opera.
Khatia Buniatishvili Rhapsody in Blue
Bela Fleck- Sierra Hull, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings My Bluegrass Heart
Alabaster DePlume Mrs Calamari
Kamasi Washington The Garden Path | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
VIDEOS
Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini Afoxé Pra Oxum (Official Music Video)
Oumou Sangaré Sarama (Official Video)
Los Socios Del Ritmo Amores Como El Nuestro
Mamak Khadem Entangled
Beth Hart, an intense singer, adept piano player and raw songwriter has developed a reputation for being a powerhouse and highly personal performer. At the Saban Theatre with Jon Nichols-guitar, Tom Lilly-bass and Bill Ransom-drums, she left little doubt of her dynamism and came out blazing away with Led Zeppelin-like version of Kansas Joe McCoy’s and Memphis Minnie’s “When the Levee Breaks” and Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days,” both part of Hart’s newly released A Tribute to Les Zeppelin album. “Black Dog” and “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” also on the recording bookended the concert with equal forcefulness from the singer and band to gave the audience a good sampling of the new project.
In between the heavy-weight British classic rockers’ music was Hart’s heart-felt selection of songs skewing between blues, gospel, R&B, pop and classic rock, along with stories and thoughts to connect with her fans. Varying a bit from the opening songs was the very emotional ballad “Tell Me You Belong to Me” that was dedicated to her father and later ramped up with a scorching guitar solo. Alternately Lavern Baker’s raucous resurrection oriented “Saved” featuring Hart’s feverish singing took everyone to church, while also jamming to the crowd’s delight. They always got into the act when requested to do call and response chanting for the intro of classic rocking “Waterfalls.”
From a less intensive musical standpoint was jangly and rhythmic “Love Gangster” influenced by Leonard Cohen featuring Hart’s signature soulful singing and skillful piano playing. Along the same lines with touches of jazz and blues was Melody Gardot’s “Your Love is Black as Night” featuring a torrid guitar solo. Bang Bang Boom Boom, title track for an album Hart recorded ten years ago was reggae flavored and influenced by the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.
Hart remained on piano for the torchy ballad “Rub Me For Luck,” written for all the great guitarists she’s worked with and also admired, such as Jeff Beck, John Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Nichols, who accompanied supplied wailing guitar for the homage. “Love Is a Lie” and “Bad Woman Blues” followed with similar structure and treatment featuring her soaring singing.
Shifting to playing solely she rendered soul searching and confessional ballads “My California” dedicated to her husband of almost 25 years and “I Need a Hero.” For a bonus, Hart’s neighbor door Rich playing a guitar/violin instrument joined her with Lilly on acoustic bass for the highly emotive “Woman Down” and reflective “Without Words In The Way (War In My Mind).” With her regular players and a guest guitarist she rocked acoustically for “Sugar Shack,” jivey/rapid fire lyrical “Fat Man (Fire On The Floor) and Le Hot Jazz flavored “If I Tell You I Love You.”
Overall, Hart had to lots sing and talk about during her two-hour set. She hoped to extend it, but heeded her management and the venue’s guidelines. For the encore, she solely on piano served up the title song from the album Leave The Light On. It overflowed with her signature powerful and stirring singing that left the crowd wanting more.
Opening the show was singer/guitarist/songwriter Quinn Sullivan who as a preteenager and teenager was mentored by the iconic Buddy Guy. Sullivan with Chris Barrios-keyboards did a quick 20-minute set focusing on his songwriting and singing, highlighted by the Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and his own pop/rock originals “You’re The One” and “In a World Without You” from his newly released recording Wide Awake. For more info go to: www.bethhart.com, quinnsullivanmusic.com and wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com.
VIDEOS
Ledbetter Blues Crossfire-Harold’s Place San Pedro 2022.02.18
Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder I Shall Not Be Moved (Official Video)
Rick Holmstrom Bubbles
Jose Ramirez As You Can See ( Live )
The Dave Brubeck (1920-2012) Centennial occurred in 2020. But as everyone knows, COVID-19 derailed festivities for occasions of that nature for the last couple of years. With the general health landscape improving Segerstrom Center for the Arts hosted Dave Brubeck Centennial Celebration with The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and special guest, Dianne Reeves.
A short film about Brubeck and his uniqueness in jazz (a major purveyor West Coast Cool jazz, a cowboy and grounded intellectual), narrated by Herbie Hancock was shown. Due to the pianist/composer/band leader’s popularity he became a State Department Cultural Ambassador in 1958, and subsequently was influenced by the sights and sounds he encountered. “Blue Rondo a la Turk” one of Brubeck’s most popular tunes in 9/8 evolved from the tour. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet comprised of Dan Brubeck-drums, Chris Brubeck-bass/trombone, Mike DeMicco-guitar and Chuck Lamb-piano began playing it with their own hip variations and solos, including trombone, as a transition from the intro film.
It was followed by “Kathy’s Waltz,” written for the only daughter, and the other non-musician with Michael of the Brubeck siblings. It was easy flowing, lightly funky featuring DeMicco with a visual montage of the pianist and wife Iola with their offspring as they were growing up shown. As expected, “Take Five” that was hard-driving and elongated, featuring solos by all the band members drew the best crowd response
For the second half of the Brubeck Brother’s set the CHJ Orchestra joined them for big band versions of their father’s more obscure compositions organized into one-piece. Orchestra leader, bassist John Clayton called it Sweet Suite Dave Brubeck Files before the premiere.
Tunes incorporated were “Since Love Had Its Way” featuring Chris Brubeck scatting, pulsating and sophisticated “Lost Waltz,” invigorating sax, bass and piano driven “Three’s a Crowd.” Solo piano from Lamb “Softly William Softly,” and riveting brass with the drummers trading off extensively for “Cantiga Nova Swing” that excited the crowd.
Bassist Clayton bowed serenely for “Autumn in Our Town,” pre-recorded Louis Armstrong graced “Summer Song” with the orchestra and quartet softly accompanying, while “Maori Blues” got a monster big-band treatment the guitarists from each group alternating for solos. Finishing off the celebration, Reeves joined the groups with energetically scatting, boosted by the audience clapping and singing along.
Prior to the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, CHJO swung hard and coolly, garnished by outstanding solos for numbers such as Horace Silver’s jubilant and funky “The Jody Grind” and hip swinging “The Barn” spotlighting drummer/co-leader Jeff Hamilton’s trio with Jon Hamar-bass and Tamir Hendelman-piano. A CHJO show isn’t complete without Hamilton’s, an Indiana resident, impeccable drumming/brushwork and he shined brightly for Clayton’s arrangement of “Back Home Again in Indiana.” Billy Joel’s “And so it Goes” was arranged for and dedicated to the band’s recently departed co-leader, alto saxophonist Jeff Clayton. It featured Jacob Scesney on alto and John Clayton bowing for beautiful solos that moved the audience.
Equally moving was Reeves’ section of the concert with CHJO for a robust version of “Days of Wine And Roses,” along with sweet ballads “If You Could See Me Now” and “Moon River.” Backed by only Clayton working out on bass, she sang and scatted away for “Paroles de Triste” to blow the audience away and receive a glowing standing ovation. For the encore she and the big band served up a smoldering rendition of “Comes Love” that left everyone attending even more excited. For more info go to: www.scfta.org.
Gregory Porter has always been a gracious and personable performer, who moves audiences with both his charm and talent. However, for his latest performance at The Soraya, part of its Jazz at Nazz Festival, he took things to a much higher level, almost like a spiritual awakening and made it abundantly clear that he needed to perform as much as the audience needed to see him live. Porter quickly got into the very poetic “Painted on Canvas,” supported by his longstanding quartet consisting of pianist Chip Crawford, bassist Jahmal Nichols, drummer Emanuel Harrold, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and guest organist Jimmy Crotch, who all stretched out.
Afterwards the singer talked about hanging out and honing his craft in Harlem at a “jazz dive bar,” which led to him soulfully singing “On My Way to Harlem.” It was strongly garnished by Pennicott reeling away, while Crawford turned in an abstract solo. Liquid Spirit the title track of Porter’s third studio record kept the energy going and had the audience clapping along, while the organist injected extra soulfulness with an extended solo.
Contrarily, ballads “If Love is Overrated” and “Holding On” fully displayed the baritone’s soothing tone and lushness with the band down low. “No Love Dying” conveyed the same feeling, but was up-tempo and sung with more passion to draw strong crowd reactions. Porter entertained everyone with his Ronald Isley falsetto imitation while talking about how he settled on singing normally for the very poignant Take Me to The Alley. He even did a little name-dropping, mentioning talking to Prince Phillip and Kate Middleton back stage in London about how saintly Princess Diana and his own mother were.
In the later moments of the show bassist Nichols did an extended solo intro that eventually became an interpretation of the Temptations’ enduring and ground-breaking hit “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” From there Porter and his group segued to soul-gospel “Musical Genocide” that was drenched with piano snippets from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Keep Your Head to the Sky” and Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up For Your Rights” to end the concert and bring down the house. In response the singer returned and joked around before doing the sumptuous and poetic ballad “When Love Was King” to totally captivate the concert attendees. For more info go to: thesoraya.org
The third leg of The Soraya Jazz at Nazz Festival featured emerging pianist/composer Gerald Clayton with his sextet. It included alto saxophonist Logan Richardson, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner, vibraphonist Joel Ross, bassist Joshua Crumbly, and drummer Justin Brown. Their interactions exhibited the bandleader’s growth and creative explorations, with him more focused on showcasing his compositions than his playing.
New post-bop pieces “Trail” and “Evapree,” along with two-year old “Envisionings” seamlessly flowed together and had plenty of space for all the players to broaden out, yet maintained enough cohesiveness to not be disjointed. Soon to released “Peace Invocation” was a tone-poem/ballad featuring the reed players tastefully harmonizing and soloing as vibes and piano augmented with ethereal layering. From a traditional standpoint Ellington’s “Take The Coltrane” was done as vibes/piano initially, before the other musicians joined in for spirited interactions, with engaging solos by the reeds, piano and vibes.
The second set returned to new material beginning with a rhythmically propulsive new untitled tune reminiscent of vibraphonist Gary Burton and Chick Corea work together. Bowed bass started off thematic and slow-rising MJQ-like “Waters Edge” that mostly featured Ross’ vibes. Clayton’s rumba-tinged “The Light” was as he stated for the sextet, “an opportunity to duke it out.” It spotlighted robust rhythm work and stimulating exchanges with reeds, piano and vibes. Concluding the interesting set, a drum solo intro began Monk’s classic “Evidence” that showcased Ross blazing away, along with the other bandmembers later matching his energy to draw a standing ovation. For more info go to: thesoraya.org and geraldclayton.com.
MINI DOCUMENTARY
Remembering The Life of Iconic Jazz Guitar Player Joe Diorio-Great Stories About His Life
VIDEOS
Ernie Andrews 1927-2022 A Brief Remembrance
Instagram Live Friday
Multi-Grammy Award Winner Marcus Miller and Entertainment Cruise Productions Launch New Original Streaming Concert Series Saturday Night with Marcus Miller & Friends, with the Iconic George Benson as a Special Guest and Guest Bandmembers Patrice Rushen and Joey DeFrancesco www.SaturdayNightWithMarcusMiller.com
Concerts available on demand hris Potter event image
https://jazzmuseuminharlem.org/ https://www.facebook.com/pg/nationaljazzmuseum/events/?ref=page_internal
ON_LINE SALON SERIES FEATURING MUSIC & CONVERSATIONS
ArtsforArt
107 Suffolk Street
#300,
New York, NY, 10002 212-254-5420
https://www.artsforart.org
Van Gelder Studio, the legendary recording studio home to hundreds of jazz icons from John Coltrane to Herbie Hancock, has announced the launch of “Live from Van Gelder Studio,” a new virtual music series that will stream live from VanGelder.live. Live from Van Gelder Studio is expected to continue through 2021 with a 10-show immersive and interactive program. The series will feature talent from original seminal recordings joined by multi-generational artists who will pay tribute to important records that were originally put to tape within the four walls of the studio. Tickets can be purchased directly on the site for $15. 2021 shows will be announced in the near future. Performances will be live streamed using a new technology built from the ground up that is true to the Rudy Van Gelder sound. It will allow audiences to fully experience the unique studio and its sound in their homes. Upcoming experiences will be crafted to make the audience and musicians feel like they are at an actual live performance.
Live from Van Gelder Studio is created and produced by a team of jazz industry veterans including: • Five-time Grammy Award-winner Don Sickler, who produced many Van Gelder-recorded artists including Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and Cindy Blackman Santana.
Phil Coady, producer of The Ultimate Blue Train, which was created while he was the lead producer in the Microsoft MS4Music Group and where he and Van Gelder first connected. Sam Kaufman, who as a talent agent worked with Van Gelder-recorded artists including Ray Charles, Pharoah Sanders and Jason Moran. • Maureen Sickler, distinguished associate and long-time assistant engineer for Van Gelder, who now carries on the traditions forged in their 30+ year collaboration.
Live from Van Gelder Studio
Adam Hawley
Back on FB Live: Adam will be back at the same time, same place this Mondays at 7pm PST/10pm EST. He’ll be back with your requests, do another show-and-tell on his studio and recording process, and we’ll definitely see an encore performance from his wife and vocalist extraordinaire Kat Hawley. Just go to his Facebook page!
Music During the entire quarantine period, Qwest TV also broadcasts a flagship program from its catalog every day at 9pm (CET) / 3pm (EST), available from the platform’s Facebook and YouTube accounts. Among the Qwest TV gems, Internet users will discover next week:For more information on Qwest TV, visit qwest.tv.
Provides five free services:1. A searchable archive of thousands of carefully hand picked and annotated jazz videos2. A free Video-of-the-Day service. Love jazz? We deliver a great jazz video to your mailbox every day. You can subscribe here free.3. The Internet’s only free up-to-date world-wide directory of jazz clubs, jazz festivals, jazz radio stations, and jazz organizations.4. A podcast series, unique in jazz, that features in-depth interviews on the history – and future – of jazz with jazz scholars, educators, and presenters.5. One of the most detailed educational resources available anywhere on the music of Cuba and other Latin countries and their under reported, and often under appreciated, impact on jazz past, present and future.www.jazzonthetube.com
CONCERT
Symphonic Jazz Orchestra
What is Jazz Concert Presentation
New England Conservatory’s Jazz Studies and Contemporary Improvisation Departments feature an array of livestream and virtual concerts https://necmusic.edu/concerts
Jazz Education Network1440 W Taylor St #1135Chicago, IL 60607United States https://jazzednet.org
SPECIAL REQUEST
The Jazz Bakery family would like to wish you a healthy and happy New Year. They’d also love for you to remember them with your end of the year gift so they can continue to present our uniquely American music that has always celebrated freedom and diversity. Your donation is so important as the family works to make the world a better place by sharing and supporting the music we love.
Its operations were shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic, only to resume with online streaming concerts in 2021. Streaming concerts started in 2020 with Sam Hirsh live from his home. In 2021 a streaming concert series was launched early on with Benn Clatworthy and his band System 6 performing from the beautiful new venue the Union Silverlake here in Los Angeles. Next they presented a moving tribute to Chick Corea from the incredible Hubert Laws, live from his studio. Joining him for this very special streaming concert is Rob Mullins on piano and John Leftwich on bass. The streaming series ended with a bang by presenting an absolutely fantastic performance from the brilliant guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist Darek Oles.
In June, The Jazz Bakery has big plans for 2022! They intend on going back to live performances and are working on an exciting partnership with a beloved and respected Los Angeles institution. You will have to watch our newsletters for more updates on this endeavor! The Jazz Bakery is forever grateful to YOU, its loyal and generous supporters and advocates. They thank you for your loyalty and support, and don’t forget, your check saves them service fees! Donate here- https://www.jazzbakery.org/support-us?mc_cid=fb17b42c58&mc_eid=bc1d731273
Guitar legend Kenny Burrell took a fall two years ago. He is still recovering and on sabbatical from UCLA. Essentially, he is still unable to play and/or teach. Help is needed and welcomed. Here’s the link for donations setup by his wife Katherine: https://www.gofundme.com/support-kenny-burrell?utm_medium=email&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_email%2B2300-co-team-welcome
WYNTON MARSALIS, BILL FRISELL, JIMMY OWENS AND ANTOINE DRYE JOIN JIM WATT’S MULTIMEDIA PROJECT, 1000 WATTS – ART, JAZZ & FILMMAKING TO BENEFIT JAZZ MUSICIANS HARD HIT DURING PANDEMIC
1000 Watts aims to raise $100K through sale of 1000 artworks created as musicians improvise, captured on film by legendary photographer/filmmaker Danny Clinch – funds to be distributed to jazz artists in need.
1000W is a multi-dimensional project that centers on 1000 ink washes, painted with Japanese Sumi ink and water on paper. They will be released in five series of 200. The first two hundred are available now. Each series will include a few curated groups. 1-200 features a group of four, two groups of twelve, and a group of thirty. A short digital film capturing the painting of each group will be included with the purchase. The films will be scored by jazz trumpeter Antoine Drye. Drye is a creative partner on the project, as the ink washes are created in conversation with improvisational jazz. The interaction between the painter and an assemblage of featured musicians, curated by and including Drye, will be featured in live performances of 1000W.
Footage of an overhead camera capturing the works as they are created will be projected for the artists and the audience to see. Each artist’s work informs the other. The music and the art are created in real-time, in the same moment. A film, produced and directed by Danny Clinch, will chronicle the entirety of the project. Clinch will draw from the overhead footage, live performances, and studio visits. In addition to the film, an album featuring the music produced in these sessions will be released at the conclusion of 1000W. 1000W seeks to raise $100,000 for the jazz community, which has been especially hard hit during the Covid pandemic with the prolonged closure of most live performance venues. $100 from the purchase of each painting will go directly to musicians in the jazz community.
Bruce Forman, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton record their mentor’s original instruments!
Reunion: Revisiting The Poll Winners!
DENISE PERRIER (The Voice With a Heart) After a 60-plus yeer career that took her around the country and the world, Denise is producing a “legacy” album. It will include songs that have been especially important in her life. Denise hopes to have the CD finished this summer. We will keep you in the loop and please accept our sincerest thanks for helping.
To finance the project, several of her friends and colleages have set up a GoFundMe account with a $10,000 goal. If you would like to contribute, please go to https://gofund.me/3475e6fa. To send a check, please contact Catherine: ccusic@pacbell.net.. For more info: www.deniseperrier.com
Under director of music programs Mitch Glickman, Jazz at LACMA and Beyond Symphonic Jazz are celebrations of L.A.’s finest jazz musicians and has featured such legends as Wayne Shorter, John Clayton, Johnny Mandel, Kenny Burrell, Les McCann, Billy Childs, Arturo Sandoval, and Ernie Watts. Jazz at LACMA concerts are broadcast on KJazz 88.1 FM every Sunday evening from 7-9 pm that includes an interview with the featured performer and Beyond Symphonic Jazz every Monday 9- 11 pm. The archives are available for two weeks following the broadcast.
March Special Guests for Jazz at LACMA
Mar 06 Phil Ranelin & Friends “Forever Bird”
Mar 13 Leslie Bee
Mar 20 Larry Nash & the Jazz Symphonics
Mar 27 12th Annual L.A. Jazz Treasure Award honoring Quincy Jones
For more info go to: kkjz.org
Any information to be considered for this column can be sent to:
chrisjwalker1@earthlink.net