Valerie Joyce Pony Boy's Day Out Festival Preview ... - Earshot Jazz

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Earshot Jazz Festival 2006 Update “Seattle’s most important annual jazz event,” as Down Beat magazine calls it, is gearing up for its 18th run. This year’s Earshot Jazz Festival runs from October 20 to November 5, at venues around the Seattle region. We’ll present more than 70 events in concert halls, clubs, and community centers. As always, the schedule will mix international and national stars with the finest of Seattle’s resident jazz players. There will also be a series of rare jazz films, photo exhibit, panel discussions, and education programs. May we toot our own horn, for a moment? Just to say that the Earshot Jazz Festival really is – no brag, just fact – “one of the best festivals in America.” Who said that? We say it, and plenty of you have said it, too. And this year, we present more than 200 musicians who collectively will, with us, honor the deep heritage of jazz and celebrate the leading edges of the art form. Many musicians will take part in workshops, panel discussions, and master classes in the area. Plus: many soloists and groups from the Pacific Northwest. For example, in one special project, Seattle trumpeter Wynton Marsalis Quintet Paramount Theatre Saturday, October 21, 8pm Earshot is pleased to collaborate with STG in presenting the Wynton Marsalis Quartet at the Paramount Theatre. Wynton Marsalis has become, for many, the face of the legacy of jazz in modern times. The phenomenal trumpeter, bandleader and composer has certainly become the most-recognized jazz artist in the world. He has produced 33 jazz and 11 classical records and sold more than seven million discs, including three certified gold records. Wynton Marsalis returns to Seattle for an evening of down-home and sophisticated swing. 4 • Earshot Jazz • September 2006 Jay Thomas combines forces with top jazz artists from Japan in several concerts around Washington State. And, in a festival tradition, Seattle’s top high-school jazz bands will be featured in a main-stage concert with a nationally recognized guest artist who will also conduct workshops in Seattle schools. If you’re one of those many jazz devotees who like to delve further into the art form, you’ll be well-served by a special project that we’re mounting, this year. It’s called Jazz: The Second Century, and consists of a series of residencies, performances, panels, lectures, and focus groups that explore possibilities for jazz as it enters its second century as a cultural phenomenon. A list of many of those scheduled to appear is on the right. We think you’ll agree it’s a killer lineup, so we hope to see you out at as many concerts and events as you can make. Block out your calendar, now! Tickets for the Earshot Jazz Festival will be on sale in early September through Earshot Jazz, and at various Seattle jazz spots. Complete concert information will be available at www.earshotjazz.org and at 206-547-9787 in early September. SPECIAL PROMOTION As a special promotion, Earshot readers can purchase their seats to the show early, starting on July 25. Just go to the Paramount Theatre sales site, www. theparamount.com, 206-292-ARTS, or the Paramount Theatre Box Office, and enter or mention the code “Earshot.” That will enable you to book tickets in advance of general public sales, which begin on September 8. What’s on tap? Some of the artists scheduled, so far: Wynton Marsalis Quintet A leading jazz light with a brand new group, at the Paramount Theater (See sidebar) Cyrus Chestnut Trio Elegant, bluesy mainstream jazz, with guitar stunner Russell Malone Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio w/ Fred Wesley B-3 Organ trio with former James Brown horn man. Wayne Horvitz’s Gravitas, featuring Bill Frisell Seattle keyboardist with a new chamber ensemble Allen Toussaint New Orleans pianist has written some of the top songs of our times Drew Gress Group “7 Black Butterflies” ensemble with Tim Berne and Craig Taborn Bobby Hutcherson Quartet Legendary jazz vibist with Geoffrey Keezer on piano John Hollenbeck’s Claudia Quintet Brilliant composer’s compelling quintet Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence Performing new Chamber Music Americacommissioned works Jimmy Heath w/ Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra NEA Jazz Master in residence with all-star Seattle band Annette Peacock Individually imagined solo piano works Nguyen-Le Tiger’s Tail Quartet Spectacular guitarist with stellar group Toshiko Akiyoshi Solo piano concert by big-band jazz legend Matthew Shipp Still New York’s most fascinating pianist Matmos Modernist electro-acoustics Ana Moura Gorgeous Portuguese fado singer Rashied Ali Quintet Hard-driving jazz veteran with trumpeter Jamaane Smith Andrew Hill Quartet The legendary pianist, a foundation of modern jazz Lionel Loueke Trio New African jazz from former Terence Blanchard sideman Tribute to Stuart Dempster Seattle musical alchemist honored in special day Kamikaze Ground Crew Notorious creative project reunited Larry Coryell Jazz/Rock guitar pioneer Manuel Valera Exciting pianist with new trio Django Reinhardt Festival Legendary gypsy jazz from France with Dorado Schmitt Mavis Staples Tribute to Mahalia Jackson and many, many more
Scholarship Recipients Step Up For the past eighteen years Earshot has provided scholarships for select students to attend the prestigious Centrum Jazz Workshop held every summer in Port Townsend, Washington. This year Earshot awarded Wardenburg Scholarship funds to three talented young Seattle musicians: 17year-olds Alex Rudee and Zach Para, both of whom will be seniors at Garfi eld high school, and 19 yearold college student Ashley Webster. Since the workshop was founded more than 25 years ago, the week has off ered an opportunity of intensive practice, performance and study as the participants gather invaluable skills and benefi t from the attentive instruction of jazz greats such as Benny Green and the workshop’s artistic director, John Clayton. “Th ey give you so much information that you can use,” says drummer Zach Para, who returned this summer for his second year, “I could work on it for a whole year.” Alex ups the ante, “I have about ten years worth of stuff to practice!” For Alex, an alto saxophonist, this summer is the third year he participated in the Centrum Jazz Workshop. When asked to describe the week’s activities, Ashley, a jazz pianist who returned to Port Townsend for her second year of the workshop this summer, comments, “Th e week is exhausting, last week I napped between every session.” Th is summer, however, Ashley made a conscious eff ort to overcome the exhaustion and attend the jam sessions and optional workshops in between the rigorous scheduled activities, a pursuit rewarded by her noticeable strides throughout the course of the fi ve days. “Th is week what I really love is the approachableness of all of the faculty members. I have gotten to talk one on one with Benny Green. Th is is a camp where we can really learn.” Each student was up to the challenge as they refl ected on the myriad benefi ts of jamming and practicing not only with the professional musicians who taught at the camp, but also with other students who 2006 Wardenburg Scholarship Recipients: Alex Rudee, saxophone; Ashley Webster, piano; Zach Para, drums. were sometimes two or three times their age. “It’s not a bad thing to be the worst person in the ensemble,” Zach wisely states, “It is great to play with people that are so much better than me because I’m forced to get better. It sucks you in and pushes you.” Alex adds “I feel blessed and almost guilty when I talk to kids from small towns with no jazz programs and I get to go here where there are world class musicians with all of these excellent people and so many role models to learn from.” Zach comments on the accessibility of Benny Green and the jazz veteran’s candidness in speaking of his own mentors, “He talked about how other musicians reached out to them and gave them a chance, asked them to continue to pass down this tradition.” Th e Port Townsend workshop facilitates this indispensable jazz tradition of cross-generational interaction that is the foundation and generative force behind the music. Th ese three students are also aware of the role that they too must play in the continuation of this tradition. Zach busies himself with multiple jazz-related activities during the year including his new position as band leader for Conundrum, a drumming combo which he likened to “Stomp” or “Blue Man Group.” Zach has also recently started up a small jazz combo consisting mostly of high school freshmen, whom he pushes to play and practice. Alex has concentrated his mentoring eff orts on his younger sister, a tenor saxophone player who will be entering the prestigious Garfi eld High School jazz program in the fall. Ashley, a member of the award-winning vocal jazz group, Soundsations, travels to other high schools and middle schools to play in classrooms and talk to students who come to her with questions and in search of advice. At the conclusion of the week every student performs with their assigned ensemble with which they have practiced throughout the week. Musicians of all ages mill about the campus, instruments in hand or slung around their neck as they mingle and laugh or blow a few practice notes into the breeze. To the workshop outsider, the line between student and teacher is indistinguishable. Port Townsend provides a microcosm of the quintessential jazz experience as it brings together this diverse community that transcends divides of age, experience, race, and class to collectively honor and perpetuate the tradition. As a jazz afi cionado, adamant supporter of Seattle jazz, and Centrum Jazz Workshop participant, Fred Wardenburg understood this eff ect. Th roughout his life Fred found scholarships for over 50 Centrum Jazz Workshop participants--fundraising and working with teachers to identify young, innercity jazz musicians who would benefi t from assistance. It is with great pleasure that Earshot designates this contribution to the workshop as a tribute to his legacy and life-long eff orts to democratize jazz education opportunities. Go to www. earshot.org for more information on the Wardenburg Scholarship and Earshot’s other jazz education programs. – Josie Holtzman September 2006 • Earshot Jazz • 5
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Page 9 and 10: Festival Preview Annette Peacock, N
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Valerie Joyce Pony Boy's Day Out Festival Preview ... - Earshot Jazz

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