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...
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.
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."
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, "
Visit our Jazz Big Band Intensive page for more information.
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.
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.
Jim Wilke, in addition to serving as an emcee at Jazz Port Townsend, hosts Jazz Northwest, a staple of jazz radio programming hosted by our public radio partner, KPLU-FM 88.5.
Jim's October 19 show at 1pm, is Jazz Northwest's "Fall Fundraiser edition" and includes music from George Cables Trio with John Clayton and Jon Wikan playing in a small club at Jazz Port Townsend, the Jon Hamar Quartet playing an Art of Jazz Concert at the Seattle Art Museum, and the five-trombone band Trombonasaurus Wrecks and The Emerald City Jazz Orchestra playing at The Pony Boy Jazz Picnic .
These four unique performances were recorded specifically for Jazz Northwest and cannot be heard anywhere else.
Jazz Northwest airs exclusively on Sundays at 1 p.m. PDT on 88-5 KPLU, and streams simultaneously to the internet on kplu.org. The program is also available as a podcast after the airdate.
Please drop by and support Jim and KPLU.
Hugo Kugiya of the Seattle Times attended 2008 Jazz Port Townsend, and has posted his review. It's a great piece, detailing the linkages between the workshop and performance components of the week.
"The defining moment of Jazz Port Townsend was perhaps the one that was not planned.
On the last day of the jazz festival, a few hours before clouds and a sudden chill set in, a young woman in a floral print dress and white sandals, her toenails painted bright green, stepped onto the big stage with her acoustic bass.
Behind her was the festival big band, before her an audience of more than 1,200 who had never before heard of Kate Davis.
Plucked from one of the week's many student workshops, Davis, 17, a senior-to-be at West Linn High School in Oregon, sang "Sometimes I'm Happy." The arrangement was spare but perfectly balanced and suited to her talents. The song ended and the audience roared.
The professionals on the sideline mostly agreed: She could be a star someday. Davis was added extemporaneously by artistic director John Clayton after he heard her play the song in a class."
We asked Artistic Director John Clayton for his thoughts on the artists you'll be seeing at 2008 Jazz Port Townsend. We'll divide those comments into one post for each mainstage show. Today, we feature the artists on the Saturday evening show: Paquito d'Rivera, Alex Brown, Sachal Vasandani, and Matt Wilson. You can purchase tickets for the Saturday evening show online.
Paquito d’Rivera, Alex Brown
"Paquito is a jazz master. His close association with Dizzy Gillespie opened many doors for him and ears to him. Pauqito has played in so many settings, wowing audiences with his alto sax and clarinet. He gives us sounds reminiscent of his Cuban homeland and beyond. He’s such an amazingly diverse player! The duo setting with pianist, Alex Brown, will bring a memorable intimacy to our experience."Sachal Vasandani
"There are too few top drawer male jazz vocalists on the scene. Sachal Vasandani is a breath of fresh air. I’ve enjoyed watching him grow, witnessing his fan base expand as more and more of the world experiences his voice, his presentation, his maturity. Sachal is a wonderful composer and lyricist. I am on the edge of my seat with excitement and anticipation—I can’t wait to hear his latest work."Matt Wilson
"Matt Wilson is one of the most creative drummers you’ll ever hear. He’s the kind of guy that can find a way of turning a stick of celery into something that creates music. His drumming ranges from being traditionally exciting to mind bendingly musical, witty, sensitive and always fun. This is one of my favorite groups. Their compositions and arrangements represent the level of musicianship I always look for while being accessible to all listeners. Plus, Matt is just plain silly. I find that such an endearing quality."
We asked Artistic Director John Clayton for his thoughts on the artists you'll be seeing at 2008 Jazz Port Townsend. We'll divide those comments into one post for each mainstage show. Today, we feature the artists on the Saturday afternoon bill: Eric Alexander and Kim Nazarian, and an All-Star tribute to Bob Florence. You can purchase tickets for the Saturday afternoon show online.
Eric Alexander
"Eric Alexander’s command of the tenor saxophone strikes awe in the listener. He’s one of the most flexible players in the business. One can hear his Dexter Gordon, Mobley, Trane influences, yet Eric’s sound is clearly Eric. He’s a regular in clubs in NY like SMOKE, much like the days when listeners could hear George Coleman every week. One of his favorite sounds is that of his horn combined with trumpet. He’ll have that with the fiery Gilbert Castellanos, PLUS one of the smoking-est baritone sax players on the planet, Gary Smulyan. This group can burn a hole through anything."Kim Nazarian
"How lucky we are to hear the solo voice of Kim Nazarian. Her work with The New York Voices is widely known, but seldom do we get to hear her do her own thing. I not only love her singing, I also love her ability to communicate to audiences, whether the audiences are listeners or musicians. Kim will touch your soul."All-Star Big Band to Tribute Bob Florence
"Bob Florence was a legendary composer and arranger, and a generous spirit at Jazz Port Townsend. Bob was a wonderful and warm person, and his piano playing was always fresh and innovative, prompting younger musicians to seek him out. Bob was slated to lead this summer’s All-Star Big Band in a concert of his music, before he passed away in May. Instead, Kim Richmond, faculty member and lead alto player in Bob’s band, will direct the All Stars in a tribute to Bob."
Stay tuned for the Saturday evening performance guide...
