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10 posts from March 2007

Upload your jazz photos to Flickr

As part of this new website relaunch, we wanted to create a way for you--whether you were a workshop participant or an audience member--to share photos of your experience.

Sara Gazarek

Using the website www.flickr.com, we think we've done it. On the lower right of the site, you will see a random selection of photos from last year's festival. By clicking on one of them, you'll be able to see that photo, and all of the other photos that we've loaded onto our flickr Centrum Jazz photo pool.

Now it's your turn. If you took photos last year, please join the pool, and upload them for the rest of us to see. We look forward to seeing your photos!

For those of you who bookmark pages, here's the web address for our Group page on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/centrumjazz/ .

Artistic Director John Clayton

John_clayton Centrum is honored to have John Clayton as our Artistic Director for Jazz. John was Artistic Director of Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl from 1999–2001. He has written, performed, and arranged music for Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole, Milt Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Dr. John, and others. He co-leads the Clayton Brothers Quintet with his brother, saxophonist Jeff Clayton, and the brothers lead the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with drummer Jeff Hamilton. He is Artistic Director of the Vail Jazz Workshop and teaches at USC.

Performance Information

Poncho_sanchez_2006 Tickets go on sale May 1; stay tuned for a detailed performance schedule (mainstage schedule at end of this post).

At its core, Jazz Port Townsend is a weeklong workshop where people from all over the world come to live and learn with some of the finest jazz musicians playing today.

Starting on Thursday, and running through Sunday, we hit the lights and the renowned artist/faculty take to the stage for mainstage performances in Fort Worden State Park's WWI-era McCurdy Pavilion, and for club performances in Port Townsend's historic downtown and uptown districts.

Mainstage schedule

Friday, July 27, 7:30 pm
Reserved seats $21/26; 18 and under $9

Houston Person Quartet

  • Houston Person - tenor sax
  • Atsuko Hashimoto - B-3 organ
  • Bruce Forman - guitar
  • Jeff Hamilton - drums 

Banda Brothers Latin Jazz All Stars

  • Ramon Banda - drums
  • Tony Banda - bass
  • Javier Vergara - tenor Sax
  • Chris Barron - piano
  • Joey DeLeon - percussion
  • Francisco Torres - trombone

Saturday, July 28, 1:30 pm
Reserved seats $24/29; 18 and under $9


Joe Locke

Roberta Gambarini

  • John Clayton - bass
  • Tamir Hendelman - piano
  • Joe LaBarbera - drums

Festival All Star Big Band
    Led by, and featuring the music of NEA Jazz Master Gerald Wilson

Saturday, July 28, 7:30 pm
Reserved seats $21/26; 18 and under $9


Roy Hargrove Quintet

Alma College 30-person Percussion Ensemble
    with Special Guest Joe Locke

FAQ

Who should come?
YOU! Whether you are a playing professional, part of a combo, an aspiring jazz professional, or a committed jazzoid, The Port Townsend Jazz Workshop is the perfect place for you to meet other excellent musicians, soak up a week of jazz in a seaside paradise, and leave knowing you're a better musician.

Class_photo_2 Do I need to audition for the workshop?
Yes. At the Workshop, you'll be placed in combos with other players. We want the combo experience to be as dynamic and well matched as possible. Auditions help us do that. Click HERE for audition guidelines.

What is the cost?
Tuition is $595. Room and board ranges from $200 to $385.

Where do we stay?
Your home for the week is historic Fort Worden State Park, a turn-of-the-20th century fort that overlooks the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with expansive views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. Meals are served in the park conference center dining facility.

Is financial aid available?
Yes. Check the box on our registration form to receive information on how to apply.

Are drums and guitar/bass amps provided?
We don't provide drums, amps or any other instruments. All participants need to bring everything they need to make music (including a music stand).

How do I know if I'm good enough to come to the workshop?
Participants with a wide range of abilities and experience attend the workshop each year. We have ensembles and classes to fit seasoned professionals, beginning improvisers, and everyone in between. Please note that even the beginning classes are designed for people who already have a reasonable degree of skill on their instrument or voice. The typical high school student (or older) who has been playing since 5th or 6th grade does just fine.

College Credit

Each year, Centrum’s Jazz Workshop makes University of Washington college credit available to all eligible Workshop participants.  This is a 496 level seminar class carrying 3 credits for summer quarter.  If you have participated in the past, you should be aware that there is a 10 credit maximum for 496 courses.  Clock hour credits are also available for teachers needing these.

You will register for credit and pay your fees to The University of Washington at orientation July 22 the evening of the workshop registration.  Fees include a $30 non-refundable registration fee for UW summer quarter, plus a $145 course fee.

David Marriott faculty member at Centrum’s 2007 Jazz Workshop, is the instructor of record for the course.  If you have additional questions about course credit please contact him when you arrive at the Workshop.

We hope that this program will be helpful to you in your continuing education.

• • • • • • • • •

Course Description
MUSED 496:  Special Topics in Music Education
Centrum’s 2007 Jazz Workshop

This Workshop offers participants the opportunity to rehearse, perform and study with leading jazz artists. Emphasis is placed on developing and refining rehearsal and performance skills, as well as developing as a soloist, primarily within ensembles.  Study in jazz theory, history, and diverse  ensembles is also made available to interested students.

Participants will be evaluated based on their participation in ensembles and classes, as well as a paper which discusses the skills, techniques and concepts emphasized in the courses they follow. Topics could include: a comparison of teaching methodologies and approaches observed during the Workshop; a summary of the philosophies of the artist faculty in their approach to jazz performance and instruction; or the application of the content of the Workshop to the participant’s own skill level.

Click here to print a PDF of this information.

Audition Information

Auditions are required of all applicants.

Why auditions? At the workshop, you'll be placed in combos with other players. We want the combo experience to be as dynamic and well matched as possible. Auditions help us do that. Auditions are nothing to be intimidated about—we expect a wide range of abilities in the workshop, and our audition guidelines will tell you exactly what you need to do.

All applicants, including past participants, must submit an audition tape or CD and audition form.  This tape/CD is required regardless of age or musical experience, and must be a reflection of your current work. Acceptance to The Port Townsend Jazz Workshop is based on these audition materials. The sooner you send in your audition materials, the sooner we can confirm your acceptance. Need help with your audition recording? We have an informative Powerpoint presentation available to help you make your demo recording.

Audition materials are due in our office no later than May 11, 2007, and sooner is better.

To register for the workshop:

  • Review and download audition materials (see below)
  • Register online
  • Send audition materials to Centrum

Audition information: Click below to download audition instructions and music samples. (Requires the free Adobe Reader)

If you play an instrument not listed above, please call Centrum at 360.385.3102 or email for audition guidelines.

Financial aid is available. Information and applications will be sent upon request. We offer a 30% tuition discount for combos consisting of college students, which include a bass player and/or a drummer, and who send in their registrations together.

Workshop Schedule

First Sunday

  • 3:30-5:30 check in
  • 5:00 live auditions
  • 8:00 welcome session

Monday-Friday

  • 9:00am combos and vocal classes
  • 10:45 theory/arranging/advanced topics
  • 1:15pm master classes
  • 3:00 combos and vocal classes
  • 4:15 faculty presents concerts
  • 7:00 evening jams and extras
  • 8:30 big band rehearsals

Meals

  • breakfast    7:15am
  • lunch        noon
  • dinner        6:15

Thursday-Saturday evenings
Jazz in the clubs

Friday-Saturday
Public mainstage shows

Last Sunday-
Checkout by 11am

2007 Artist/Faculty

Jazz_faculty_2 What makes The Port Townsend Jazz Workshop one of the country's best weeks of jazz? The faculty. We invite some of the best teachers and players in jazz today to Centrum with one goal in mind: to make you a better player. The one-on-one interaction and combo instruction will dramatically improve your skills, taking your playing to a new level. These are players who make their careers in jazz. They are masters of the genre and they're here to share their hard-earned knowledge with you.

Artistic Director John Clayton was Artistic Director of Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl from 1999–2001. He has written, performed, and arranged music for Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole, Milt Jackson, Nancy Wilson, Quincy Jones, George Benson, Dr. John, and others. He co-leads the Clayton Brothers Quintet with his brother, saxophonist Jeff Clayton, and the brothers lead the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with drummer Jeff Hamilton. He is Artistic Director of the Vail Jazz Workshop and teaches at USC.

Alto sax:

Tenor sax:

  • Houston Person  more

Bari sax:

Trombone:

  • Jiggs Whigham  more
  • Greg Schroeder

Trumpet:

  • Ingrid Jensen  more
  • Terell Stafford  more
  • Jay Thomas  more

Piano: (This section is full)

  • Lynne Arriale more
  • Dawn Clement  more
  • Benny Green  more
  • Randy Halberstadt  more
  • Tamir Hendelman  more
  • Randy Porter  more
  • Steve Christofferson more

Bass:

  • Dave Bjur
  • Chuck Deardorf  more
  • Christoph Luty  more
  • Doug Miller  more
  • Paul Keller   more

Guitar:

Drums:

  • Clarence Acox  more
  • Steve Davis  more
  • Gary Gibson  more
  • Jeff Hamilton  more
  • Gary Hobbs  more
  • Pete Swan 
  • Jon Wikan  more

Vocal:

Arranging:

  • Gerald Wilson  more

Workshop Description

Whether you’re a playing professional, aspiring professional, or committed avocational player, the weeklong workshop at Jazz Port Townsend, July 22 - 29, 2007, is the perfect opportunity to meet other excellent musicians, soak up a week of jazz in a seaside paradise, and leave as a better musician.
Jazz_workshop
You’ll receive focused instruction as you rehearse daily in combos or vocal classes. Jazz Theory sessions provide valuable information for increasing your skills as an improvisor. Master classes are conducted each day by faculty members who cover topics specific to their chosen instruments. “Faculty Presents” concerts each afternoon give you a chance to hear performances in an intimate setting. The workshop culminates in a series of “Students Present” concerts in which all participants have an opportunity to perform.

Applicants must have good technical command of their instrument or voice, as well as elementary improvisation experience or a basic knowledge of music theory. Differing levels of experience are expected, and every effort is made to match players of similar abilities. An audition is required.

Applicants apply at one of three levels: Beginner/Intermediate, Advanced, or Semi-Pro. Semi-pro players have the option of applying for specially themed combos, focusing on specific styles. All participants receive daily instruction from our outstanding artist faculty.

Tuition is $595, and includes admission to all festival events. Room and board options range from $200 to $385.

Jazz Port Townsend

All_star_big_band Founded more than twenty-five years ago, Jazz Port Townsend has become one of America’s finest jazz experiences. Led by Artistic Director John Clayton, the Festival consists of a weeklong residential workshop where musicians live, jam and learn with some of the finest jazz artists working today.

At the end of the workshop, the artist/faculty take to the stage for public performances Thursday through Sunday in Fort Worden's WWI-era balloon hangar, and in Port Townsend's historic waterfront clubs.

The dates: July 22-29, 2007

NEXT JAZZ WORKSHOPS

NEXT JAZZ PERFORMANCES

  • 07/19/09-07/26/09: Jazz Port Townsend

JAZZ CONTACT INFO

  • Bill Kiely
    360-385-3102 x106
    bill@centrum.org

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JAZZ PHOTOS

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ELSEWHERE AT CENTRUM