We’ve got a double-header coming up on SAT Feb 27 (Berkeley) and SUN Feb 28 (SF). We hope you can make it!

Here are the details:
Calling All Dancers!

SATURDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 27 8:00 pm
The NEW Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison Street between Milvia and Shattuck, downtown Berkeley

A CONCERT AND DANCE!
The dance floor will be open for business when the Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier hits the bandstand for their first appearance at the New Freight! Plenty of comfy concert seating will be available, too. The band is in powerhouse mode, propelled by sold-out shows at Yoshi’s.

The Freight’s brand-new location has a great dance floor, ample seating and terrific acoustics, while retaining a hint of the funky allure from its beloved former location. The snacks are top-notch and the staff is friendly. This will be a swingin’ night to top off February and prolong those Valentine’s tendencies.

Tix: $18.50 advance; $19.50 at the door; $1.00 senior discount. All ages welcome. Call: 510-644-2020. www.freightandsalvage.org

Easy parking at the Allston Garage (Allston between Milvia and Shattuck), the Center Street Garage, (Center between Milvia and Shattuck) and other locations, including the street.
______________________________________________________________
Sunday Afternoon Jazz High Tea!
SUNDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 28 3:00 pm
DENISE PERRIER and the JUNIUS COURTNEY BIG BAND at
The RRAZZ ROOM of the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco
222 Mason Street at O’Farrell, SF

Denise Perrier fronts the bill and the band at the up-scale and glamorous RRAZZ ROOM in The City. There will be plenty of swinging surprises at this afternoon of Jazz High Tea. Denise Perrier’s burnished contralto, thirty-year international singing career, and unstoppable charm infuse this hot jazz session with authentic soul.

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out Denise Perrier with the Junius Courtney Big Band: the experience of an exciting full jazz sound in a comfortably intimate setting — Jazz @ the Rrazz. For tickets ($30) and information:: (866) 468-3399; (415) 394-1189; www.therrazzroom.com Info: www.juniuscourtneybigband.com www.deniseperrier.com Validated parking at the adjacent Mason-O’Farrell Garage.

P.S. Please become a FAN of the Junius Courtney Big Band on FACEBOOK.

Photo Credit: James Knox

“A GREAT NIGHT IN THE FILLMORE”

Benefit Concert for The California Jazz Foundation

John Handy, NEA Jazz Master 2010: Bobby Hutcherson, Tuck & Patti, Denny Zeitlin, The Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir

Hosted by Rita Moreno, Academy Award, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner, legendary singer, dancer, and actress

Master of Ceremonies: Chuy Varela (KCSM)

Sunday, February 21, 2010 7-10pm
Yoshi’s
1330 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.655.5600
$45 in advance / $50 at the door

VIP TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! For $75 you can now purchase VIP tickets, receive VIP seating, and invitation to the VIP party and a free one-year membership with California Jazz Foundation. Please click the button below to buy VIP tickets now. If you want to purchase more than 1 ticket, you may adjust the quantity on the shopping cart page.

Sponsors: Sonoma Valley Jazz Society – Mesa Boogie – Napa Valley Jazz Society – Jazz Heritage Center – San Jose Jazz – JazzWest.com – Studio D Recording – The Recording Academy , SF Chapter – Whole Foods – Amoeba Music – Maria Maria – SIR, Studio Instrument Rentals -

For more information, please contact Roberta Donnay – rainforest@robertadonnay.com

For ticket information, http://www.californiajazzfoundation.org/bayarea.htm

“Whitney James ain’t your typically thin-voiced, self-obsessed pseudo-diva. She’s got a spine-tingling presence” – James Kirchmer, The Stranger

“A startlingly impressive and mature debut CD.” – Philip Booth, St. Petersburg Times

Join world-class vocalist Whitney James as she celebrates the release of her debut CD “The Nature of Love” in concert at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 4 at Coda Jazz Supper Club, 1710 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA. Joining James are guitarist Terrence Brewer (winner SF Weekly Music Award, Best Jazz Artist), others TBA. Tickets are $7. Call 415-551-CODA (2632) or log on to: http://codalive.com/february_calendar_2010.htm

James takes her rightful place among today’s great jazz singers with this stunning debut album released January 19 on Stir Stick Music. The CD features her working rhythm section – pianist Joshua Wolff, bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Jon Wikan, along with special guest trumpeter Ingrid Jensen. James blends a singer’s sensitivity to lyrics with an instrumentalist’s command of phrasing, melody, and timbre. The album’s ambitious program of material includes classics from the Great American Songbook such as Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin’s “Long Ago and Far Away” and Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean,” as well as challenging jazz tunes such as Benny Golson’s “Whisper Not” and Jimmy Rowles’s “The Peacocks.”

James doesn’t just sing a tune-she creatively engages it. Every time she approaches a melody and a lyric, she finds a new way to phrase them, shape them, highlight a word or a few notes that shade the meaning and make the music richer. Her sense of time and pacing make her a consummate musician’s singer-she knows how to work with a band, instead of asking it to merely back her. Her supple alto voice wraps itself around a song like a sheer silk scarf. She sings with a bright clarity of tone, yet she colors her sound with earthy inflections, subtle squeezed notes, dark growls, and notes of soaring purity.

Her polished musicianship helps her interpret the best of American popular music as well as challenging originals of jazz composers rarely attempted by singers. The upper edge of her voice gently caresses “Tenderly,” highlighting the song’s romantic glow, then she matches trumpeter Jensen tone for tone with an instrumentalist’s full sound. She subjects “Long Ago and Far Away” to playful transformations, making the song her own without ever obscuring the composers’ original intent. She negotiates the transitions between Latin and swing beats on “How Deep Is the Ocean” with elegance, phrasing behind the beat at times to create an exquisite tension. And she remains unfazed by the tricky melody of “The Peacocks,” making the composition’s daunting contours sound graceful and natural.

Her band mates are sensitive accompanists with strong voices of their own. In a duo version of “Be Anything,” Wolff, who has also worked with singers Jay Clayton and Mark Murphy, weaves lovely countermelodies and rich harmonies around James’ sincere reading of the song. He’s alert to every twist and variation that James makes to “Long Ago and Far Away,” then swings hard in a lyrical, incisive solo of his own. Bassist Clohesy, who has recorded with Seamus Blake, Pete McCann and Geoffrey Keezer, among others, is a versatile accompanist and soloist. His time is impeccable and his note choice adds depth to the ensemble. His solo on Abbey Lincoln’s “My Love Is You” is a beautifully constructed statement, coherent and moving. Wikan has played with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Jensen, and shared rhythm duties with Clohesy in the bands of Torben Waldorff and Keezer. His attention to dynamics and space and his crisp time-keeping make him a perfect drummer for vocalists, but he can power a band as well, as he does on the hard driving “Whisper Not.” Jensen is featured with the Schneider Orchestra and has performed and recorded as a leader and with Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Marc Copland, Gary Bartz, Chris Connor, and many others. Her warm tone blends beautifully with James on “Tenderly” and “Whisper Not.” A lyrical player who is nevertheless full of surprises, she crafts an exciting solo on “Whisper Not” and a poignant ballad performance on “The Very Thought of You.”

It’s rare that a performer emerges fully formed on their first album. But Whitney James has the musicianship and deep emotional power of a mature artist.

Music has been a part of Whitney James’ life since she was a little girl growing up in San Francisco. She began dance lessons at the age of 5, but it was winning the lead role in a musical, at age 10, that set her on the path that eventually led to her debut CD. She continued to study singing and dance as a teenager. At age 22, her interest in jazz singing led her to Cornish College of The Arts in Seattle, where she studied with Jay Clayton and earned a B.A. in Music with a focus on vocal performance. After graduating from Cornish, Whitney remained in on the West coast, working with her trio Vocal Flight, which won a DownBeat Music award, toured France, and played with the incomparable Betty Carter. She has also formed a neo-jazz soul band that toured the Northwest to rave reviews. In 2006, Whitney moved to the East Coast, splitting her time between New York City and Florida. In New York, she reunited with two of her favorite musicians from her years in Seattle -pianist Joshua Wolff and drummer Jon Wikan – to begin work on her debut CD. “I want to make good music, keep singing and developing my craft and musical language,” Whitney says. “Anything can happen but I am hoping folks like the record and connect with my voice and the music.”

www.whitneyjames.com

# # #

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED VIOLINIST REGINA CARTER RELEASING REVERSE THREAD, A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN FOLK MUSIC

EI Entertainment to Release REVERSE THREAD on May 18th

When preeminent violinist Regina Carter made the decision to record an album primarily of African folk tunes, she created a great challenge for herself: how do you take beautiful traditional music and infuse it with a contemporary feel while remaining true to its past – and then, not compromise its beauty? Her newest release, Reverse Thread, due out on E1 Entertainment on May 18th brilliantly responds to the challenge.

To achieve the uplifting and stirring result, Regina added an accordion and kora-the West African harp traditionally played by village storytellers-to her longstanding rhythm section. Kora virtuoso Yacouba Sissoko was brought on board to help recreate the spirit of passing stories from generation to generation. The result-unlike anything previously heard-is a haunting and beautiful compliment to Regina’s sumptuously seductive violin.

Without the support of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation, which “awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals,” Reverse Thread might never have been realized. As a MacArthur Fellow – a recipient of what is commonly known as the “genius grant” – Carter was armed with the funds and the freedom to follow her muse.

Regina turned to the World Music Institute in New York City, in which she found a diverse and inspirational resource for material, including ethnographic field recordings.

Regina looked not just to the music, but also the accompanying sounds and nuances of everyday life from anthropological and sociological perspectives which informed the spirit of the new arrangements.

“There is an immense amount of amazing music coming from all around the world, much of which is barely accessible,” emphasized Regina. “Reverse Thread gave me the opportunity to explore and celebrate a tiny portion of music that moved me.”

Both “Hiwumbe Awumba” and “Mwana Talitambula” are based on field recordings from the Ugandan Jews, a community in eastern Uganda who although are not genetically or historically Jewish, practice the Jewish religion. Setting the inspirational tone for the album, the first track “Hiwumbe Awumba” originates from a field recording of a group singing, “God creates and then He destroys.” Although the title is dark, the uplifting quality and spirit of the voice on the recording inspired Regina, and the final arrangement is a paean to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Using the field recording of a woman singing “Mwana Talitambula” as a departure point,

Regina’s bass player Chris Lightcap split the melody between the violin and bass with a hypnotically emotive result.

Reverse Thread also embraces music of the African Diaspora. As but one example, “Un Aguinaldo” skillfully layers the rhythmic aspects of African music with harmonies originating in India and Puerto Rico.

Through her albums, incessant touring and various guest appearances and collaborations, Regina has developed into a distinctly diverse musical personality. She has repeatedly toured throughout the world, was the first jazz artist and African American to play Niccolo Paganini’s famed Guarneri “Cannon” violin, has been featured with several symphony orchestras and performed with artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Billy Joel, Kenny Barron and Mary J. Blige.

With Reverse Thread, Regina takes a giant step forward by making a meaningful musical contribution on her own terms.

REVERSE THREAD:
Regina Carter / Violin
Yacouba Sissoko / Kora
Adam Rogers / Guitar
Will Holshouser & Gary Versace / Accordion
Chris Lightcap & Mamadou Ba / Bass
Alvester Garnett / Drums & percussion

www.reginacarter.com

For more information, to receive a copy of Reverse Thread or to set up an interview with Regina Carter, please contact:

Pamela Lipshitz | Lip Service Media | pam@lipservicemedia.com | 917-859-6852

An Evening With
NAPA VALLEY JAZZ ALL-STARS
and SPECIAL GUESTS
Chris Amberger – Kent Cohea – Mimi Fox –Wesla Whitfield – Mike Greensill – Mary Jenson – Noel Jewkes – Denise Perrier – Alan U’Ren – Larry Vuckovich – Benny Barth – Wesla Whitfield – Herb Gibson (more to follow)

Sunday, January 31 – 4:00pm
At Silo’s Jazz Club
530 Main St. , Napa

Admission: NVJS Members: FREE
Non-Members: $20/person

For RESERVATIONS and MEMBERSHIP and to pay with Credit Card
call (707) 224-JAZZ
Or send your reservation request and check to:
Napa Valley Jazz Society
P,O, Box 6080
Napa , CA 94581

Membership details available at www.NapaValleyJazzSociety.org

Soulful crooner Teddy Pendergrass was much apart of my musical landscape when I was growing up in Chicago. As explained in the article, his message was erotic without telling you everything, unlike today’s young crooner.

R.I.P. Ed Thigpen – http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2010/01/ed_thigpen_remembering.html

Jazz legend Ed Thigpen best for his recordings with legendary pianist Oscar Peterson. He also recorded, played or toured with Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Cootie Williams, Billy Taylor and many others.

Joe Sample – acoustic piano
Lalah Hathaway – vocals
Nick Sample – acoustic bass
Xavier Breaker – drums

Where were you in October 1999 when Joe Sample and Lalah Hathaway appeared together at Yoshi’s Oakland performing song from their The Song Lives On album?

I was there in the crowded audience sitting really close to the stage. It was an excellent concert. Fast forward 10 years to November 2009 and Joe and Lalah were back again bringing their magic.

Joe opened the set with “The Freedom Sound” which he originally recorded with the Jazz Crusaders in 1961. He followed with the title track from his 1988 Spellbound album. Joe tells such great stories about the music. He told us how “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You” was a classic blues versus a rural blues where you moan your troubles away. The rendition he played was inspired by Nat King Cole’s 1940 rendition of this gem. It was riveting. The rhythm section included Nick Sample on bass and Xavier Breaker on drums. Lalah joined the trio and swung on “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” and she did some wonderful runs on “Fever.” They slowed the world down on “When Your Life Was Low” and “For All We Know” and warmed our souls with “Street Life.” Lalah playfully reminded us that name of the song was “Street Life” not “Street Lights.” They closed out their set with “When The World Turns Blue” with Joe on solo piano and Lalah laying down beautiful vocals. This was a special night that was definitely worth the wait. We just hope we do not have to wait another 10 years to see them together again.

A few days after their concert, I got to interview Lalah. We talked about music, her Grammy nomination, new projects, and even Shirley Horn. Please listen.

Concert photos by James Knox. Additional photos can be seen here.

Best Latin Jazz Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

• Things I Wanted To Do
  Chembo Corniel
  [Chemboro Records]
• Áurea
  Geoffrey Keezer
  [ArtistShare]
• Brazilliance X 4
  Claudio Roditi
  [Resonance Records]
• Juntos Para Siempre
  Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés
  [Sony Music/Calle 54]
• Esta Plena
  Miguel Zenón
  [Marsalis Music]

Category 84

Best Instrumental Composition
(A Composer’s Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Borat In Syracuse
  Paquito D’Rivera, composer (Paquito D’Rivera Quintet)
  Track from: Jazz-Clazz
  [Timba Records]
• Counting To Infinity
  Tim Davies, composer (Tim Davies Big Band)
  Track from: Dialmentia
  [Origin Records]
• Fluffy
  Bob Florence, composer (Bob Florence Limited Edition)
  Track from: Legendary
  [MAMA Records]
• Ice-Nine
  Steve Wiest, composer (University Of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band)
  Track from: Lab 2009
  [North Texas Jazz]
• Married Life (From Up)
  Michael Giacchino, composer (Michael Giacchino)
  Track from: Up Soundtrack
  [Walt Disney Records]

Category 85

Best Instrumental Arrangement
(An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• Emmanuel
  Jeremy Lubbock, arranger (Chris Botti & Lucia Micarelli)
  Track from: In Boston
  [Columbia]
• Hope
  Vince Mendoza, arranger (Jim Beard With Vince Mendoza & The Metropole Orchestra)
  Track from: Revolutions
  [Sunny Side Records]
• Slings And Arrows
  Vince Mendoza, arranger (Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge)
  Track from: The Comet’s Tail: Performing The Compositions Of Michael Brecker
  [MAMA Records]
• Up With End Credits (From Up)
  Michael Giacchino, arranger (Michael Giacchino)
  Track from: Up Soundtrack
  [Walt Disney Records]
• West Side Story Medley
  Bill Cunliffe, arranger (Resonance Big Band)
  Track from: Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson
  [Resonance Records]

Category 86

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
(An Arranger’s Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• A Change Is Gonna Come
  David Foster & Jerry Hey, arrangers (Seal)
  Track from: Soul
  [143/Warner Bros.]
• Dedicated To You
  Laurence Hobgood, arranger (Kurt Elling)
  Track from: Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman
  [Concord Jazz]
• In The Still Of The Night
  Thomas Zink, arranger (Anne Walsh)
  Track from: Pretty World
  [AtoZink Music]
• My One And Only Thrill
  Vince Mendoza, arranger (Melody Gardot)
  Track from: My One And Only Thrill
  [Verve]
• Quiet Nights
  Claus Ogerman, arranger (Diana Krall)
  Track from: Quiet Nights
  [Verve]

Field 23 Album Notes

Category 89

Best Album Notes

• The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (19351946)
  Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)
  [Mosaic Records]
• Dance-O-Mania: Harry Yerkes And The Dawn Of The Jazz Age, 19191923
  Mark Berresford, album notes writer (The Happy Six)
  [Rivermont Records]
• Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson Music From The Film
  Douglas Brinkley & Johnny Depp, album notes writers (Various Artists)
  [Legacy Recordings]
• My Dusty Road
  Ed Cray & Bill Nowlin, album notes writers (Woody Guthrie)
  [Rounder]
• Origins Of The Red Hot Mama, 19101922
  Lloyd Ecker & Susan Ecker, album notes writers (Sophie Tucker)
  [Archeophone Records]

Category 109

Best Long Form Music Video
(For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.)

• In Boston
  Chris Botti
  Jim Gable, video director; Bobby Colomby, video producer
  [Columbia]
• Johnny Cash’s America
  (Johnny Cash)
  Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video directors; Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video producers
  [Columbia/Legacy]
• Anita O’Day The Life Of A Jazz Singer
  (Anita O’Day)
  Robbie Cavolina & Ian McCrudden, video directors; Robbie Cavolina, Melissa Davis & Ian McCrudden, video producers
  [AOD Productions]
• Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy World Tour Live
  Keith Urban
  Chris Hicky, video director; Blake Morrison, video producer
  [Capitol Nashville]
• The Beatles Love All Together Now
  (Various Artists)
  Adrian Wills, video director; Martin Bolduc & Jonathan Clyde, video producers
  [Apple/Capitol]

I had the pleasure of chatting with award winning actress/singer Loretta Devine who will be appearing at The Rrazz Room in the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco November 27-29. Her shows will be at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday. Tickets are available at www.therrazzroom.com.

We talked her upcoming shows this weekend, her current film projects, and her beginnings in acting and theater. It was a very fun and Loretta was gracious and lovely. I definitely look forward to seeing Loretta in concert this weekend. See you there!

Please listen to my interview with Loretta Devine.

LORETTA DEVINE-Biography

Equally at home on stage or on screen, award-winning actress Loretta Devine has created some of the most memorable roles in theatre, film and television. Devine first captured national attention in the role of Lorrell, one of the three original “Dreamgirls” in Michael Bennett’s classic award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. She followed that performance with a fiery portrayal of Lillian in Bob Fosse’s critically acclaimed stage production“Big Deal.” Subsequent work in George C. Wolfe’s “Colored Museum” and “Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill,” cemented Devine’s status as one of the most talented and versatile stage actresses.

Film roles soon followed including a poignant turn as a single mother opposite Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett and Gregory Hines in “Waiting to Exhale” which earned her a NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress. Devine also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Penny Marshall’s “The Preacher’s Wife.” Devine also received an IFP “Spirit” Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in “Women Thou Art Loosed.” Devine was featured in the Academy Award-winning film “Crash” and the hit movie of “Dreamgirls.” Additional film credits include appearances in the successful “Urban Legend” franchise, “I Am Sam” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Pean, “Kingdom Come,” “What Women Want,” “Punks,” “Hoodlums,” “Down in the Delta” and “Stanley and Iris.” Devine also appeared in “Sticky Fingers,” “Amos and Andrew,” “The Breaks,” “The Price of Kissing,” “Lover Girl,” “Class Act,” “Living Large,” “Caged Fear” and “Little Nikita” and “Dirty Laundry” Most recently Devine co-starred in “This Christmas” and “First Sunday” both of which opened Number 1 at the box office. Ms. Devine voiced the character of Delta the chocolate brown toy poodle in “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” for Disney starring Drew Barrymore. Look for the upcoming 2010 release of Sony Screen Gems remake of “Death At A Funeral” with Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence and Danny Glover.

On television, Devine most recently was seen on the ABC series “Eli Stone” as well as her recurring role as Adele on the hit medical drama series “Grey’s Anatomy.” She received three NAACP Image Awards for her role on David E. Kelly’s Fox series “Boston Public.” Additional credits include series roles in “A Different World” and Lifetime Television’s “Wild Card.” Devine also provided the voice of Muriel Stubbs on the beloved animated series, “The PJ’s.”

Devine graduated from the University of Houston and later received a Master of Fine Arts in Threatre Arts from Brandeis University. She currently resides in Los Angeles.