Official site of the Jazz Port Townsend jazz festival, as well as other jazz education and performance programs at Centrum, the nonprofit center for the arts at Fort Worden State Park, in Port Townsend, Washington.
In new and historic venues throughout Port Townsend, national and regional jazz artists come together in performance combos that you cannot find anywhere else - these musicians are selected and grouped by Artistic Director John Clayton.
We've just posted the complete club schedule online, including venue locations and food and beverage information. Check them out and we'll see you in the Clubs!
Joy and sprited musical communication are what characterize the artistry of Alvester Garnett's drumming. Singers such as the living legend Abbey Lincoln, and instrumentalists Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Regina Carter, and Cyrus Chestnut have all called on Alvester for the energy and fire that he brings to the bandstand.
When Alvester was with us back in 2009, he grabbed a video camera and talked about Jazz Port Townsend and John Clayton with workshop participants. His energy and passion shine right through; we're excited to have him back.
On February 6, 2011, our friend Jim Wilke is broadcasting the amazing set of Larry Goldings, Jeff Hamilton and Graham Dechter from Jazz Port Townsend 2010. This trio - who Artistic Director John Clayton dubbed "The LA Organ Trio" was a highlight of the festival.
The all-star trio from Los Angeles will be featured on the next Jazz Northwest from 88.5, KPLU on Sunday, February 6 at 1 PM (Pacific). Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Willke, exclusively for 88.5, KPLU. The program is broadcast on Sundays at 1 PM (Pacific) and streamed at kplu.org. The program is also available as a podcast after the airdate.
All three musicians have recorded frequently but have not made an album together which makes this concert a unique experience.
Organist Larry Goldings has more than a dozen CDs as a leader and many more as sideman with Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny and others. Guitarist Graham Dechter is still in his 20s but has played on dozens of sessions and concerts from Lincoln Center to the Hollywood Bowl. His first CD as a leader was issued in 2009. Jeff Hamilton has played with the Basie and Woody Herman bands and is co-leader of the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra. He has also played in small groups with the LA Four, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson and Diana Krall among many others including his own Jeff Hamilton Trio.
We’re very excited to offer a track for arrangers and composers for the first time as part of Centrum’s Jazz Port Townsend, and we can think of no one better qualified to lead it than eminent composer/arranger Bill Holman. Bill’s music has been performed by for decades by bands led by jazz luminaries such as Count Basie, Woody Herman, Louie Bellson, Doc Severinson, Buddy Rich and many others.
In 2010 Bill was named an NEA Jazz Master, this country’s highest honor in the field of Jazz. Now you will have the opportunity to learn from this legendary composer and arranger.
You’ll work directly with Bill in studying his music and learning first hand how it’s put together. You’ll also have the chance to learn from other faculty in special topics and master classes, as well as the opportunity to play with other musicians. Here's how your schedule will look Monday - Thursday:
9 - 10:30am. small group (8 – 10) session with Bill and other arrangers. The focus will be an in-depth study of Bill’s charts, with comments on your scores as time permits.
10:45 - 11:45am. Theory and special topics classes by various faculty, open to all in the workshop. In addition to theory classes, faculty talk about their approach to improvising, the psychology of playing, practicing, their careers, and more.
1:15 - 2:45pm. Instrumental/vocal master classes by various faculty on all instruments. This is the time to dig into specific questions about playing your instrument. You're welcome to attend any you choose.
3 – 4pm. Arranger's combo rehearsal. This is your chance for all of you in the Arranging track to play together. You can try out new charts, and experiment with different voicings, etc. Instrumentation will depend on who signs up.
4:15 – 6pm. Faculty Presents concerts. Faculty play for workshop participants in an intimate, informal atmosphere. Some amazing music is made here. These are not to be missed!
Evenings. On 2 or 3 evenings Bill will lead sessions talking about and explaining his music, open to all workshop participants.
Also in the evening, selected arrangers will have the opportunity to have their music read by one of two big bands at the workshop. Afterwards you can join in any of the numerous jam sessions that spring up around the campus.
Starting Friday we shift into performance mode for all the combos, plus faculty performances on the mainstage and in downtown clubs. A major event you won’t want to miss will take place Friday afternoon, which will be the first rehearsal of a piece for big band and clarinet we've commissioned from Bill, featuring fellow NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera as soloist. The piece will receive its second rehearsal and performance on Saturday. As a bonus, you can witness the unveiling of another new piece for big band, this one by Artistic Director John Clayton. You can have a front-row seat as a top-level professional band plays these pieces for the first time and then forges them into shape for performance.
Is the Arranging track right for you?
This track is designed for musicians who have some arranging experience already, or at least the knowledge of the instrument’s ranges and transpositions. You should be comfortable reading and writing music in bass and treble clefs, and be familiar with jazz harmonies. If this sounds like you, you’re ready.
Whether you are a jazz instrumentalist, a jazz vocalist, or a jazz composer, Artistic Director John Clayton has worked with Centrum to put together a truly special jazz experience that will challenge, excite and inspire you.
We'll be spending the next few months going into greater detail about the faculty you'll work with, but let's get some business out of the way!
Now, what's in store for you. You might call it the "Year of the Composer":
Bill Holman.An NEA Jazz Master, Bill is THE elder statesman of big band composition/arranging. Centrum has received a special NEA grant to commission Bill to write a piece dedicated to Paquito D'Rivera, which will be premiered in Port Townsend during the week.
John Clayton is writing a new big band piece in honor of Centrum's founding director Joseph Wheeler, which will be premiered in Port Townsend during the week.
That's a pretty great start, but it's only the beginning.
Stefon Harris, will be spending the week with us teaching vibes and marimba. Walter Smith is an exciting tenor sax player you'll get to know. Trombone legend Jiggs Whigham is returning - and he'll be bringing an entire student big band he conducts (age 18 - 24) from Germany!
Jeff Hamilton will spend the week with you, as will the other members of his trio--Tamir Hendelman and Christoph Luty. And drummer Matt Wilson. And bari sax star Gary Smulyan. And many, many more.
So get started now. Register online - reserve your dorm space - and get working on those audition materials. We look forward to seeing you in Port Townsend in July - and stay tuned for more information on our 2011 faculty!
Our 2009 Jazz Big Band Intensive was an amazing experience. We had 17 motivated musicians who came to Fort Worden to spend a few, intense days with Artistic Director John Clayton, Jay Thomas, and Bill Ramsay, digging deep into the Jazz Big Band world.
Reviews from the experience were superlative and you asked for more...and we heard you! This year, John has asked the noted Big Band condutor Fred Sturm to lead the intensive along with Bill.
Fred Sturm is the Director of Jazz and Improvisational Music at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. He is a frequent guest conductor/ arranger for several European professional jazz ensembles including the HR (Frankfurt Radio) Big Band and the NDR (North German Radio) Big Band in Germany. Under Fred’s direction, the HR Big Band recorded his Libertango: Hommage an Astor Piazzolla and Do It Again: Three Decades of Steely Dan.
Fred also is the Artistic Director, composer, and arranger for The Baseball Music Project, a concert program collaboration with the Baseball Hall of Fame that has been performed by the Boston Pops and symphony orchestras of Chicago, Seattle, Houston, Miami, Detroit, Indianapolis, Phoenix, and San Diego.
"The Cool Jazz
Set," hosted Paul Pearce, will air a
two-hour special honoring bassist, composer and bandleader John
Clayton on Sunday, August 15th. The show will include music spanning
four decades of John's recordings, from the Count Basie era to The Clayton
Brothers and everything in between.
The All Star Festival Big Band is always one of the highlights of Jazz Port Townsend. This year's concert lived up to the
tradition of mixing top Northwest resident musicians with visiting jazz
stars and a sprinkling of guest artists and was conducted by John
Clayton. Most of the artists are also members of the faculty for the
week-long jazz workshop that precedes the Festival.
The concert was
recorded for broadcast and will air exclusively on 88-5 KPLU on Sunday,
August 8 at 1 PM Pacific Daylight Time. John Clayton led the orchestra
and featured in solo turns were trumpet player and vocalist Byron
Stripling, composer/arranger Ellen Rowe, singer Saschal Vasandani and
drummer Butch Miles and other soloists from the band.
This is the first in a series of concerts from Jazz Port Townsend which
will air on Jazz Northwest, Sundays at 1 on 88-5, KPLU. The concerts
will be heard at monthly intervals.
Jazz Northwest is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for
KPLU and kplu.org. A podcast of each program is available on the Monday
following the airdate at kplu.org.
Jazz in the Clubs is perhaps the signature component of the Jazz Port Townsend festival. Dozens of national and regional jazz artists perform throughout the historic downtown and uptown districts of Port Townsend, Washington's Victorian seaport and arts community.
One cover each night gives you access to all club venues. Tickets for Jazz in the Clubs, as well as all other Jazz Port
Townsend
performances, are available online,
or by calling 800-746-1982. You can also purchase tickets at each club venue while the music is playing.
We strongly encourage you to support each club venue with your purchases of food and beverages.
One thing is for sure. Saturday night will be legendary in 2010. One look at the performers for these two sets, and you know you are in for something truly special.
The Saturday night show is the final Pavilion show of Jazz Port Townsend, and with energy and verve, it launches audience members into the Jazz in the Clubs in downtown and uptown Port Townsend.
Tickets for the Saturday afternoon show, as well as all other Jazz
Port Townsend
performances, are available online,
or by calling 800-746-1982.
Saturday, July 31 McCurdy
Pavilion | 7:30 pm | $18/$28/$35
Room
for the Blues with special guest, Phil Wiggins
Jeff Clayton, alto sax
Bill Ramsay, baritone sax
Byron Stripling, trumpet
Wycliffe Gordon, trombone
Benny Green, piano
John Clayton, bass
Butch Miles, drums
Phil Wiggins, harmonica
The Heath Brothers
Jimmy Heath, tenor sax
Jeb Patton, piano
David Wong, bass
Tootie Heath, drums
Room For The Blues Where to begin with this set? The Clayton Brothers are here, the legendary Butch Miles, Byron, Wycliffe, Benny, Bill - this is a "super-septet" if there ever was one. Each of these performers is known for their energy and virtuosity. Together, in one band, this is a special occasion for sure. However, Artistic Director John Clayton has kicked-it up even one notch higher, inviting blues harmonica legend Phil Wiggins to sit in as well.
We tried to find a recording or video that would give you a sense of what to expect. That is impossible, however, since this amazing group of players only does this here! But if Claytons are involved, we know that there will be hard-charging, swinging tunes, and so we've decided to share with you a snippet of a recent performance of the Claytons and the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra from the Detroit Jazz Festival.
The Heath Brothers We close the show with jazz royalty.For over 60 years, the legendary Heath Brothers have been synonymous with great jazz.
Tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger Jimmy Heath and drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath have more than a century in the jazz limelight to their credit. They have played and recorded with a near-endless list of jazz immortals and icons including Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, and many more.
We're honored to have them with us this year, and we can't think of a better way to close the mainstage portion of the Festival.
