Jazz at Centrum

Benny Green & Oscar Peterson: A Special Bond

Our Saturday, July 25 afternoon mainstage show at Jazz Port Townsend will feature a special tribute to the great Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, presented by his protégé (and festival favorite), Benny Green.

Peterson (who passed away shortly before Christmas in 2007) was one jazz's most influential pianists.

His studio and live partners comprised a roll call of legends, including Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole and Stan Getz.

But his musical journey with Benny Green is special.

Benny describes how he first met Oscar in a touching tribute to Oscar at Jazztimes.com:

"I was blessed to be befriended by Oscar in the fall of 1992, when he came to hear the trio led by the late, great master of the bass, Ray Brown, in Toronto. At the time, I was playing piano in Ray’s trio and Jeff Hamilton was the drummer. Oscar was quite supportive of me after hearing us play, and he encouraged a friendship, inviting me to telephone or write him."

In 1993, Peterson won the prestigious Glenn Gould prize - an international award given every three years to an individual in recognition of their contributions to music and communication. At that time took the unusual step of publicly announcing his choice for protégé. He chose Benny Green.

The two pianists first performed together in 1996 at a gala Town Hall concert in honor of Peterson. The New York Times said of that first musical meeting, “The bejeweled blues sensibility of the 71-year old pianist was evident in the younger as they traded sections of melody lines and choruses...”

The two went on to record Oscar and Benny in 1998. For these sessions, Peterson and Green selected a number of standards, exploring a wide variety of moods and styles. In addition, in the final number, “Barbara’s Blues, the rhythm section sits out while Peterson and Green present a dazzling two-piano tapestry. Oscar and Benny features the two pianists celebrating their mutual admiration and musical bond with eloquence and infectious joy.

We hope you can join us on Saturday afternoon, for what we are sure will be an amazing tribute to Oscar Peterson.

John Clayton Talks Wycliffe

Artistic Director John Clayton was kind enough to take a few moments and share his thoughts about a few of our Festival performers and teachers. Many of you have been viewing these on the faculty bio pages. However, as we get closer to the Festival performances, we'll be posting these here on the main page, as well.

First up - Wycliffe Gordon...

Announcing Advanced Improvisation

Want to become more accomplished at improvising? We have the perfect opportunity for you. October 29-November 1 we are inviting one of jazz's great improvisers, Geoffrey Keezer, to spend a long weekend with you taking your existing improvisation skills to the next level. We're calling it "Advanced Improvisation."

Here's video of Geoffrey in action...

This intensive is designed for experienced improvisers (instrumental and vocal) looking for specific suggestions as well as more abstract concepts to further their skills.  In addition to playing with other participants and receiving coaching in a master class setting, significant time will be given to discussions about improvising and being a musician.

Pianist Geoffrey Keezer draws on 20 years experience touring and recording with the greatest artists in jazz, offering students a chance to interact on a one-to-one basis with a contemporary jazz master. Geoffrey's free-flowing, inclusive, positive teaching style encourages and empowers young players to access their highest musical and creative potential, while giving down-to-earth advice on all aspects of the jazz business.

To learn more, and to register for this premium jazz experience, visit our Advanced Improvisation page.

Jeff Clayton featured on American Idol

For those of you who enjoy American Idol, be sure to watch on Wednesday, 5/13 to see Jeff Clayton featured in a solo with contestant Danny Gokey.  Jeff has been a faculty member many times at Jazz Port Townsend, and will join us again this year on our mainstage with Ernie Andrews and the Clayton Brothers Quintet. Come and join us July 24 and 25 to see him live!

Announcing 2009 JPT Performances

We just posted the public performance schedule for 2009 Jazz Port Townsend over on our performance page. The shows will take place on July 23-July 25. Ticket sales begin on May 1.

Artistic Director John Clayton has selected some of the most vibrant artists in jazz for the Festival, and we think you'll be blown away by what you hear.

We'll be telling you more in the weeks to come--and in some cases, John himself will tell you what has him so excited about these artists. Stay tuned.

We just posted the public performance schedule for 2009 Jazz Port Townsend over on our performance page. The shows will take place on July 23-July 25. Ticket sales begin on May 1.

John Clayton on Bud Shank

A message from Artistic Director John Clayton

"Bud Shank not only impacted the Centrum jazz program in a gargantuan way, he touched me deeply as well.  It is largely unknown that my first professional job was with Bud Shank.  It was an afternoon concert in Los Angeles for a group called Musicians Wives.  I subbed for Ray Brown.  Although only a teenager, I was aware of Bud, in awe of Bud, and touched that he would treat me with such kindness back then.  The welcome that he, Herb Ellis and Jake Hanna gave me left a permanent mark on my soul.  I am thankful to Bud for all that he did for me and all of the good that he represents to musicians and music lovers everywhere."

Bud Shank Remembered

We've just learned that Bud Shank died yesterday at his home in Tucson.  Bud was Artistic Director of Centrum's Jazz Port Townsend for 21 years, and it's hard to overstate the impact he had on the program.  Bud believed strongly that the most important credential for our faculty was that they be outstanding performers, and that they could also communicate the magic of what they do through their teaching.  The program grew tremendously under this model, and we continue to follow it today.  Bud's legacy here is deep.

When I arrived at Centrum as Jazz Program Manger in the fall of 1999 Bud immediately started working with me to plan the next summer's program.  It was clear from the outset that he was passionate about setting a high standard.  As with playing jazz, he felt the workshop could be a lot of fun, but in order to be fun it had to be good.  I learned a great deal from him, for which I'll always be grateful.

While he was always known as a top-level sax player, early in his career Bud became highly sought after for his extraordinary flute playing.  Once, in the early 1990's, I asked him once why he no longer played the flute.  Looking at his alto he was holding, he said, "I came to a point in my life where I realized that if I wanted to be truly excellent at something I'd have to choose one thing to focus on, and I chose this."  The intensity with which he said that has always stuck with me.  Bud was recording in San Diego just two days before he died, and his playing was great.  He went out swinging, for sure.

Thank you, Bud, for the excellence you created at Centrum through the hundreds of outstanding faculty and performers you brought, the workshop you nurtured and grew and, most importantly, your own musicianship and presence.  All our best.

Warmly,

Gregg Miller, Jazz Program Manager

Announcing The Jazz Big Band Intensive

When we talked to Artistic Director John Clayton about adding two intensive workshops to our jazz education programs, he immediately named Big Band and Advanced Improvisation as the two topics he wanted to address first. Along with our larger summer program, Jazz Port Townsend, these two new workshops round out our 2009 offerings, all of which center on a common theme—improvisation.  Improvisation, after all, is what makes jazz so special, challenging and rewarding for the player.

We'll be announcing the Advanced Improvisation session very soon, but let's talk Big Band!

John has rounded up two of the best - Jay Thomas, and the legendary Bill Ramsay to join him in leading a Jazz Big Band Intensive, September 17-20. It will run concurrently with "Jazz and the Word" a new literary gathering led by Quincy Troupe.

In describing his vision for this program John said, "

Using the model that has been established by the classic, historic big bands, the Workshop Big Band will be comprised of soloists whose voices are honed to collectively produce a unique sound.  Duke Ellington, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis et al, were all bands comprised of musicians who could improvise.  This successful formula will be explored in our workshop."

Visit our Jazz Big Band Intensive page for more information.

Preview of great things to come

I recently attended the excellent Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, where our own John Clayton is also Artistic Director.  John did a great job of assembling outstanding educators and performers, just as he does for us.  I was particularly eager to hear some people who will be new to Centrum this summer, including vocalist Gretchen Parlato, guitarist Graham Dechter, and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.  All three were fabulous, which was no less than I expected!

It was also great to see our good friend Benny Green, who talked effusively about how much he's looking forward to being at Centrum again this summer.  His playing on the mainstage was predictably fantastic.

John likes to talk of the jazz world as a family, and it was nice to see several other members of that family there who have been on Centrum's faculty or mainstage.  These included Byron Stripling, Claudio Roditi, Kenny Barron, Anne Drummond, Romero Lubambo, Jeff Hamilton, Paul Keller and Joe Locke.  All told, it was a great four days of music and education in the midst of winter.  I hope you're able to hear some inspiring performances where you are as well.

Creating and submitting your audition

Hi everyone.  I want to encourage you to start preparing for your audition for Jazz Port Townsend, if you haven't already.  The deadline for auditions this year is April 13.  Now is too early to panic, but definitely not too early to focus!

We're really pleased at how our new system of submitting auditions is working so far.  Quite a few of you have uploaded your audition files already, which is great.  In case you're a little unsure of how to create and submit your audition digitally, we've prepared the following primer which should help.  As always, feel free to contact me at gregg@centrum.org, or 360.385.3102 x109 if I can be of help.  Thanks!

Gregg Miller, Jazz Program Manager

====

 2009 Audition Information

Submitting Your Audition.  You must first register.  After doing so, you will receive an instructional email that includes a log in and password for a virtual folder at box.net.  Follow instructions carefully and remember to upload your audition mp3 file and required .txt audition form to your box.net folder no later than April 13.  To save your audition form as a .txt file go to your “File” menu, then “Save As,” then in the “Save As Type” box choose “Plain Text.”

You can find the specific audition requirements for your instrument or voice at our website, www.centrum.org/admin/auditions.html

Tips for creating MP3 files for submitting your audition.

If you’re not quite sure what this means, don’t worry.  It’s not as complicated as it sounds!

First you’ll need to create a digital recording of your audition.  There are lots of good programs you can download for free that will make this easy for you to do this on your computer.  One of our favorites is Audacity, available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net, which will record your recording digitally, and allow you (via a one-time-only install) to export in MP3 format.  Additionally, there are a number of other devices for making digital recordings, such as minidisc recorders, etc.

Using a good microphone IS important.  Without one you can’t make a good recording.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but if you don’t have one it would be a good investment (or you can borrow one).  If the mic doesn’t come with a plug that matches your computer mini jack or USB port you can get an adapter at Radio Shack, Best Buy or another electronics store.

Start by placing the mic c. 6 - 8 feet away from you, or possibly more if you’re playing with other people.  Experiment with different placements to see what sounds the best.  Remember, you need to be clearly heard—it’s YOUR audition!

If you are using Audacity, then you are done. Save your MP3 file and upload it to our box.net site per the instructions you’ll receive when you register.

If your recording device and/or software hasn’t already saved your audition as an MP3 file (ending in .mp3) you’ll need to save it in that format.  If you already have iTunes or Windows Media Player on your computer they can automatically create MP3’s for you.

Alternatively, if you have your digital recording in a non-MP3 format, you can convert it to MP3 for free at www.zamzar.com.

To use iTunes, simply load your audition recording into iTunes.  Then go to the folder that contains your iTunes Library.  (This is NOT the list of your music you see when you’re in iTunes.  All those titles are links to the actual files, which are what you want).  Label your file as follows, using capital letters as follows; Lastname-Firstname-Instrument-1(2, 3, 4 etc).mp3 (Armstrong-Louis-Trumpet-1.mp3).  The process is similar for Windows Media Player.

Once you’ve registered and received an email from us asking you to upload your audition to box.net you’ll be ready to go.  Congratulations!

Be a Part of Jazz at Centrum

If you are reading this post, you are connected in some way to the jazz community here at Centrum. Perhaps you are a workshop participant. Or a music teacher, or an aspiring jazz musician. Maybe you are a concert attendee, a jazz club devotee, a jazz program volunteer--or maybe you just like reading/watching/listening online to what is going on here.

We would like to make it easier for you to connect with each other--and us--online.

I would like to personally invite you to join a new social community network that we have set up at for you. It is a community focused on Jazz at Centrum, and it is located at http://centrumjazz.ning.com.

Centrum is starting to roll out some social networks for each of its major program areas (blues, jazz, residencies, literature, fiddle tunes, and young artists). We're doing this as part of a broader effort to rethink the work we do. We are recognizing and acknowledging that a lot of what we do is centered around creating, and sustaining community. That means that we want and need to provide tools to allow the community to grow and connect.

It's a shift for us, and I'm sure we'll stumble occasionally. But in the end, we hope to serve you all better by doing a better job of listening and learning.

Our intention is to provide a place where folks can network and learn about the people who are coming to or interested in Centrum jazz programs. Beyond that, we really have no specific agenda...we want the network, and the community, to grow and evolve organically.

This main site--www.centrum.org/jazz--will continue to be the "official" site for Centrum jazz activities, but we'll be participating right along side you on the community site as well.

So please dig in and participate. Upload your photos, videos, songs, recordings, and the like.Talk to each other. Jam online with each other. And please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns. My email is keven (at) centrum (dot) org.

Holiday Gifts from Centrum

Looking for terrific holiday gift ideas?

The Centrum community is ready to help--just visit our online Gatherings store.

Individuals and businesses throughout the Centrum universe have donated unique, fixed-price experiences for us to offer YOU this holiday season.

They include such offerings as: a week at Villa Del Mar, Puerto Vallarta; a cruise aboard the wooden sloop “Annie Too,” Brisa Charters; a luxurious vacation villa in Marbella, Spain; a Christmas in Kauai; and many more.

Get shopping...and feel good about the fact that not only are you purchasing something of great value, you are also giving a gift of great value as well--every dollar you spend goes to help aspiring artists spend time at Centrum living and working with master artists.