Jazz at Centrum

Twitter and Flickr Tags for Jazz Port Townsend

2009-07-13T08:51:28-07:00

Are you coming to Jazz Port Townsend next week? If so, let the world know what's happening.

If you use Twitter, use the following hashtag in your posts: #jazzpt09. You can follow everyone's tweets using this tag by visiting the Twitter search page.

If you use Flickr to host and share your photos, tag your posts "jazzporttownsend09" and we'll build a group slideshow featuring everyone's photos.

See you in Port Townsend.

Jazz Workshop Alum Heads to Montreux

2009-07-10T14:15:46-07:00

Jazz Port Townsend alum Stacey Carter is on her way to Montreux, Switzerland, to participate in the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition.

She was one of nine singers invited to participate in the prestigious program.

Carter will be performing at the Petit Theatre (Montreux Palace Hotel). The winner will receive $5,000 in swiss francs, a Shure ULX Wireless System and one week of recording time at Balik's Farm Studio located in Switzerland's Toggenburg region.

The winner also will perform as an opening act to one of the performers of the Montreux Stage the following year.

Carter received a basketball scholarship to play for Louisiana State University and graduated with degrees in art history and interior design. She came to realize her calling as a jazz vocalist and received a scholarship in the jazz studies program at Michigan State University.

Carter was one of six students selected to be in the Dianne Reeves Vocal Jazz Residency at Michigan State, and she received a scholarship in 2008 to attend Jazz Port Townsend.

Carter was one of 20 singers invited to participate in the Bobby McFerrin Workshop "Instant Opera," which culminated in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall.

Congratulations Stacey, and good luck!

John Clayton in the Motor City

2009-07-09T13:58:44-07:00

Congratulations to our Artistic Director John Clayton, who has been confirmed as artist-in-residence at the 2009 Detroit International Jazz Festival. In honor of the festival’s 30th anniversary, Clayton was commissioned to compose a new work to be performed at this year’s festival Labor Day weekend. The new composition will be performed by Detroit-based Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, along with the Clayton Brothers.

Of course, Jazz Port Townsend audiences can listen to the Clayton Brothers during their closing, mainstage performance on Saturday, July 25. You can purchase tickets 24/7 online, or on the phone at 800-838-3006.

Introducing Ambrose Akinmusire: Moving Jazz Forward

2009-07-08T06:55:09-07:00

Our Friday night mainstage show at Jazz Port Townsend showcases an exciting new voice on trumpet - Ambrose Akinmusire.

Ambrose is the winner of both the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition and 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. He'll be playing with the Gerald Clayton Trio, and we're confident you'll be blown away by what you hear.

To give you a sample, here's a video of Ambrose soloing at a NYC performance.

Benny Green & Oscar Peterson: A Special Bond

2009-06-08T11:21:18-07:00

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

2009-05-27T11:41:02-07:00

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

2009-05-26T08:16:02-07:00

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

2009-05-12T10:01:41-07:00

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

2009-04-18T15:46:08-07:00

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.

John Clayton on Bud Shank

2009-04-06T07:14:42-07:00

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

2009-04-03T13:23:35-07:00

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

2009-03-12T16:22:31-07:00

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.