Friday January 5, 2007 SGN.org |
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Volume 35 Issue 01 |
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Saturday, Aug 30, 2008
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Seattle to play a large role in jazz conference in New York City |
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| Seattle to play a large role in jazz conference in New York City | ||
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By E. Joyce Glasgow -
SGN Contributing Writer The International Association for Jazz Education, (www.iaje.org), will hold its 34th annual conference in N.Y.C., January 10th-13th, 2007 at the Hilton and Sheraton Hotels in midtown Manhattan. This event is a jazz lover's dream, with performances, workshops, panels, an industry trade show and an opportunity to hear and network with some of the world's greatest jazz performers and educators, from morning till late night. Adding to the excitement, since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts, (www.nea.gov), bestows its annual, esteemed "Jazz Masters" Awards upon the legends of jazz at an exciting ceremony during the conference. Last year's recipients were: Tony Bennett, Chick Correa, Freddie Hubbard, Buddy DeFranco, John Levy, Ray Barretto and Bob Brookmeyer. The 2007 honorees will be: Toshiko Akiyoshi (bandleader), Curtis Fuller (solo instrumentalist, trombone), Ramsey Lewis (pianist), Dan Morganstern (jazz advocacy), Jimmy Scott (vocalist), Frank Wess (solo instrumentalist, flute) and Phil Woods (composer-arranger). Visit their website for a complete list of past winners. Last year's conference had a spotlight on Scandinavian jazz. This year the spotlight will be on French jazz. Seattle usually sends a contingency of impressive jazz artists. Last year, Seattle area participants who made a big hit included the Bellevue Community College Vocal Ensemble and the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band. This year, for the first time, Origin Records, founded by Seattle jazz drummer, John Bishop and run by Bishop and fellow drummer, Matt Jorgensen, will have a display booth in the trade show area. Northwest participants we will hear from at the 2007 conference include: Paul DeBarros, jazz critic for the Seattle Times and contributing writer to Downbeat Magazine, will once again offer his popular workshop on writing jazz criticism, entitled, "Who Asked You Anyway?", and will lead a panel on " Fifty Years of the Monterey Jazz Festival". Composer/pianist, Jovino Santos Neto, will lead a clinic: "Ginga; A Brazilian Approach to Swing". Matt Jorgensen will participate on a panel entitled: " Podcasts: Jazz On The Go", The Mt. Hood Community College Jazz Band from Gresham, Ore. will perform with special guests: Portland vocalist, Nancy King and Thara Memory, and John Clayton, artistic director of the Pt. Townsend Jazz Festival will perform with his quintet. If you hang out and schmooze in the lobby at the Hilton, you'll run into just about everyone, including familiar faces from Seattle: Jim Wilke of KPLU-FM, trumpeter/composer Jim Knapp, vocalist Kelly Johnson and former Seattleites now New Yorkers: saxophonist and Director of Academic Affairs at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Dan Greenblatt, his son, trumpeter, Tatum Greenblatt, drummer, Jon Wikan and vocalist Kendra Shank. Chamber Music America, www.chamber-music.org, will be holding its 29th annual conference, entitled: "Harmonic Convergence-Community in a Diverse World", January 11th-14th, at the Westin Hotel in Times Square, overlapping the IAJE event. CMA incorporates an eclectic range of musical styles into its offerings, including jazz. Last year, CMA honored Dr. Billy Taylor with a lifetime achievement award for his role as a jazz educator. Ramsey Lewis was the master of ceremonies for a moving tribute concert to Dr. Taylor, held at lovely St. Luke's Church. The performers included: Stefon Harris (vibes), Mulgrew Miller (piano), Carla Cook (vocals) and Winard Harper (drums). CMA nurtures the creativity of composers by commissioning new musical works in different genres. A number of jazz musicians have received these commissions, including Michele Rosewoman (piano) and Drew Gress (bass) who both recently performed their CMA commissioned works during the 2006 Seattle Earshot Jazz Festival. This year's conference will feature an address by Minimalist composer, Steve Reich and a closing concert on Sunday afternoon, January 14th, with performances by Music from Copland House, Eighth Blackbird and a premiere selection of new works by trumpeter, Tom Harrell, with Baptiste Trofignon, on piano. This performance will be held at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 308 W. 46th St. During the IAJE conference, jazz clubs around New York will be hoping with great performances and you never know who will be the exciting surprise guests sitting in. Lots of musicians also set up showcase performances at clubs during this time. See the side bar for a listing of some reliably good jazz venues. For inexpensive accommodations, check out www.applecorehotels.com. They feature two nearby, midtown hotels; the Comfort Inn, 129 W. 46th St. (completely smoke free rooms) and the Super 8 Hotel, 59 W 46th St. Last year, I stayed at the Super 8 Hotel. This hotel is economical, safe, and clean and is remarkably quiet at night and it is only a short and very convenient walk to the conference at the Hilton and Sheraton Hotels. There are non-smoking rooms available and your stay includes a continental breakfast and access to amenities including a work-out room and free internet access. If you are a performer of any genre from music to dance to theatre, to comedy, to cabaret, desiring to expand your horizons, visibility and bookings, you might consider staying in N.Y.C. a little longer and checking out the 50th annual conference of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, (APAP), www.artspresentersconference.org, with events from January 17th-22nd at the midtown Hilton and at venues around New York. This is primarily a conference for international and domestic arts presenters looking for new acts to book for their theatres, clubs and festivals. Because of this, many amazing special performances are scheduled around town that one would not ordinarily be able to experience in New York the rest of the year. Some well known musicians who were featured last year were Howard Levy (Harmonica, piano) with Eugene Friesen (cello) and Glen Velez (frame drums) and some great modern dance companies gave performances. This is a great place for professional performers of all types who have their act together and are prepared to take a big step to network with agents who represent performers internationally and to see how others promote themselves. In conjunction with APAP will be the Under the Radar Festival, www.undertheradarfestival.org, January 17th-28th. This is a festival of experimental theatre works from different countries held at The Public Theatre, www.publictheater.org, 425 Lafayette St., and other locations around New York. Last year's offerings were provocative and thoughtful including fascinating pieces by William Yang, (Australia)"Shadows" and "Rehearsal. Hamlet" by 18 year old experimental theatre company, Cia do Atores (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). This year there will be an even greater number of performers involved, including Seattleite, Sean Ryan, directing "Another You" and former Seattle actor, Mike Daisey, performing his piece," Invincible Summer". Festival producer, Mark Russell, also has a local connection, being the guest artistic director at the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art While at the Public Theatre, check out evening and late night musical performances by luminaries at the intimate bar, Joe's Pub, on the first floor. For world music lovers, the third annual globalFEST, www.globalfest-ny.com, another APAP related showcase event, will be held on January 21st at Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St. and will feature twelve eclectic, international musical acts in one evening. On January 29th, the annual Nightlife Awards will be bestowed on artists of jazz, cabaret and comedy with a night of great performances at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., 212-307-4100. Last year's winners included jazz pianist, Bill Charlap and his mother, vocalist, Sandy Stewart and Nightlife Legend Honoree, Eartha Kitt. Last but not least, keep your eyes open for one of a kind, musical benefits for the non-profit, Music for Youth, www.musicforyouth.org, an organization founded in 1995 by members of the music industry who were concerned by the collapse of funding for music programs in America's schools and set out to find and support innovative programs that address the need for music in the lives of young people. Their fundraising efforts have led to grants totaling over 2.2 million dollars, given to 40 programs to date and have affected the lives of thousands of kids. Last year's memorable, star-studded tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell, at Carnegie Hall, alone, raised $130,000 and featured such musical legends as Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Richie Havens, Jimmy Scott and Laurie Anderson, along with numerous other great performers who donated their talents for this wonderful cause. |
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