Chick-Fest 2011 celebrates the friendship and music of Leon ‘Chick’ Freeman and John ‘Terry’ Hilliard. These great musicians have been playing music together for over 50 years. Hilliard is also a member of the Junius Courtney Big Band, who will be in concert at Yoshi’s Oakland with show at 8 and 10pm. Chick-Fest will host “The Big Latin Jazz Jam Session” @ La Penca Azul Restaurant in Alameda on Sunday, July 3 at 3pm.

Are you ready?

For the next 10 evenings, Healdsburg, CA will be filled with jazz. There is something for everyone.

This is the 13th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival and it is not to be missed. I have had the pleasure of hearing some of the finest in jazz at this festival.

Festival season now begins!!!

Friday, June 3
Opening Night
Fred Hersch and Julian Lage
plus the Noam Lemish Quartet
8 pm at the Raven Theater

Saturday, June 4
One Voice: An Afternoon of Vocal Jazz
Madeline Eastman, Kenny Washington, Rhonda Benin,
Ed Reed, Nicholas Bearde, Jackie Ryan
and many more
4-8 pm at Jackson Theater, Santa Rosa 

Sunday, June 5
Latin Jazz in Concert
John Santos, Arturo Sandoval, Pete Escovedo,
Brazilian stars Claudia Villela, Romero Lubambo, Ricardo Peixoto
and many more
1 – 6 pm at Jackson Theater, Santa Rosa

Monday, June 6
Jazz & Wine Dinner at DCK
John Stowell, Randy Vincent, Kai Devitt-Lee
7 – 10 pm, Dry Creek Kitchen

Tuesday, June 7
Jazz in the Healdsburg Plaza
San Francisco Jazz Festival High School All-Stars
6 – 8 pm, free

Wednesday, June 8
Brazilian Jazz at the Bakery
Sandy Cressman, Natalie Cressman and more 
7 – 10 pm, Costeaux French Bakery

Thursday, June 9
Motéma Music Night
Geri Allen, Marc Cary, Babatunde Lea and more
7:30 pm, Raven Theater

Friday, June 10
Sangam:
Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain, Eric Harland 
8 pm, Raven Theater

Saturday, June 11
Jazz All-Star Evening
Denny Zeitlin, John Heard Trio, George Cables, Bobby Hutcherson,
Craig Handy, Ray Drummond and more
8 pm at the Raven Theater

Sunday Morning, June 12
Jazz Spirituals Concert
Ruth Naomi Floyd, Bennie Maupin, and more
11 am at the Raven Theater

Sunday Evening, June 12
An Intimate Evening with Charlie Haden
Film, conversation and music with Haden and Alan Broadbent
7 pm, Raven Theater

All shows available at Brown Paper Tickets

Photo of Nicholas Bearde by James Knox. Nicholas will be performing in the One Voice: An Afternoon of Vocal Jazz Concert on Saturday afternoon.

Only sax man Howard Wiley can open with a swinging ass rendition of “Three Blind Mice” and take you right into “Take The ‘A’ Train.” I think the mice were swinging so hard they just jumped on the train. I think there was just a little “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” in there too!!! Howard on sax, Sista Kee on piano, Ron Belcher on bass, and Malachi Whitson on drums. Special guest on trumpeter John Turk on “My Funny Valentine.” They are cooking it nice and slow. Wiley called it a “Shirley Horn style of ballad. Next up, John Turk played piano and was joined by his very young son, Miles, on drums on Musiq Soulchild’s “Just Friends.” This kid can play the drums. Howard followed with a Latin-flavored “Autumn Leaves” with amazing rhythms with an assist from Lorin Benedict with his very unique scat vocals. Wiley closed jamming Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster.”

Wiley will be playing at 57th Street Gallery every Friday in August. – Live from 57th Street Gallery in Oakland #jazzlives

Photo of Howard Wiley at Intersection for the Arts by James Knox

Every First Friday EastSide Arts Alliance has been presenting an extraordinary group of jazz musicians – THE GRASSROOTS COMPOSERS ENSEMBLE.

Join us tonight – FRIDAY, MAY 6 from 8-10pm for an evening of beautiful sounds and good company. Each concert with this group is profound and moving. Audiences have appreciated the opportunity to listen to original compositions as well as treasured classic tunes, performed live by some of the best musicians in the area. Bandleader Mark Wright on trumpet provides an accompanying commentary that provides a history of the music. Try and come check it out. It’s up to us to help keep live music happening in the Bay. Come out and show your appreciation – you won’t be sorry.

Editor’s Note: I had the pleasure of hearing The Grassroots Composers Ensemble for my first time last month and they were excellent. They are definitely a hidden treasure not to be missed. See you there!

GRASSROOTS COMPOSERS ENSEMBLE
Friday, May 6, 2011
8:00 pm $10
EASTSIDE CULTURAL CENTER
2277 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94606

Photo Credit: James Knox

This is a quick post. I will make it pretty later.

Valerie Troutt is at The Jazzschool tonight at 8pm.
Oleta Adams is at The Rrazz Room through Saturday.
Goapele is at Yoshi’s San Francisco through Sunday.
Rachelle Ferrell is at Yoshi’s Oakland through Sunday.

It is another great weekend to go hear and support live music. You know what to do! Live music…be a part of it!!!

Photo of Valerie Troutt by James Knox

Ladies of Jazz

All Female Jazz Singer/Songwriters Concert

Don’t miss a fun filled evening with the Ladies of Jazz Singer/Songwriters Leanne Weatherly, Cathi Walkup, Jennifer Lee and Melissa Dinwiddie. All four Bay Area ladies will perform their own original material from comical swing to beautiful, touching ballads with a jazz trio backing them up. This show was so popular it completely sold out when they performed in Santa Clara this summer.

Jennifer Lee is a vocalist/pianist/guitarist with a warm, lovely voice, extraordinary musicality, and hip sense of time. Whether on guitar or piano, Jennifer accompanies herself with a simple elegance and sweetness, while maintaining a deep and thrilling in-the-pocket groove. Jennifer’s newest recording, Quiet Joy is an exciting mix of originals, standards, and Brazilian songs. Drummer / Grammy-nominated producer Bud Spangler calls the CD “a joy from start to finish.”  Both Quiet Joy and Jennifer’s previous recording Jaywalkin’ (named “finest debut of the year, big label or small” by Dan McClenaghan of All About Jazz) are collaborations with San Diego-based guitarist Peter Sprague, Jennifer’s co-arranger/co-producer and founder of SBE Records.

Jazz singer/songwriter Melissa Dinwiddie does more than just sing; she tells stories in song. Whether she’s crooning jazz standards or modern original compositions (“Online Dating Blues” and “He’s Just Not That Into You” are audience favorites), she delights listeners with her velvety voice and engaging delivery. She’s sexy and sassy, presenting modern jazz and blues with a sardonic twist.

Vocalist/lyricist/composer Cathi Walkup has been called “the thinking person’s jazz singer” for her choice of lyric driven songs, “a natural comedian” for her wit and ease on-stage, and “an important bop oriented singer, who is also an excellent lyricist” by jazz writer Scott Yanow in his new book “The Jazz Singers, The Ultimate Guide”

“Leanne Weatherly is the next major voice to watch out for- she’s got clarity, passion, and fun arrangements that anyone would enjoy, all wrapped up in a very bright future,” says Concord Music Group Artist Taylor Eigsti. As a result, Leanne has had the pleasure of singing with such jazz greats as Benny Green and has opened shows for legendary drummer, Louie Bellson. Bellson stated, “She has a definite and appealing sound that will produce many fans for her.”

The group was featured in http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_15605800?nclick_check=1 . The Ladies of Jazz Singer/Songwriter show in Santa Clara was a hit last July. The show completely sold out and it was standing room only. Following that success, the next show will be at the Theater on San Pedro Square in San Jose.

Concert Details:

Friday, November 5th at 8 PM.
Theater On San Pedro Square
29 N. San Pedro St.
San Jose, CA 95110

(408) 283-0200

Tickets: $15.00 adults and $5.00 students with I.D. cards

Tickets can be purchased at the door or pre-ordered at:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/134912

Visit  http://www.jennifer-lee.net/index.html ,   http://melissadinwiddie.com/ ,  http://www.cwalkup.com/ , and   http://www.leanneweatherly.com on the web.

Trumpeter Ian Carey and his quintet will be playing at Coda in San Francisco on Wednesday, 10/13 from 7-11pm. Go see live music!!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHICK COREA’S NEW TRIO TO PLAY 4-NIGHT RUN AT YOSHI’S OAKLAND

Young Masters to Join Corea October 11-14:

Bassist Christian McBride and Drummer Brian Blade

OAKLAND, CA (18 August 2010) – Sixteen-time Grammy winner Chick Corea will convene an all-star trio for a four-night run of performances at Yoshi’s Jazz Club in Oakland, October 11-14, 2010. There will be two shows each night, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Christian McBride, the most acclaimed bassist of his generation, and drummer extraordinaire Brian Blade, a longtime member of the Grammy-winning Wayne Shorter Quartet, will join Corea for the performance, part of an international tour. Corea is currently on tour with McBride in the Chick Corea Freedom Band, also featuring Kenny Garrett on saxophone and Roy Haynes on drums.

The three initially forged an indelible chemistry as the rhythmic backbone of the Five Peace Band on its tour of Asia and America in 2009 (Blade took over the drum chair from fusion icon Vinnie Colaiuta). During that tour, from night to night, there were rare moments when Chick’s co-leader John McLaughlin and alto sax burner Kenny Garrett laid out, allowing for brief interludes of piano trio magic to emerge. Their instant, easy rapport naturally stimulated the idea of yet another outlet for Corea’s tireless creativity. And a new trio was born.

The Corea / McBride / Blade Trio will commence touring on Sept. 24 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their Stateside tour includes a three-night engagement in New York City at the Highline Ballroom (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2) as well as appearances at Orchestra Hall in Chicago (Oct. 8 ) and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (Oct. 9). They follow with a European tour in early November and an Asian tour from the end of November to early December.

Corea says he is excited to be engaging in such an intimate, conversational setting with such enormously gifted musicians as McBride (a ubiquitous sideman on the New York scene for the past 20 years, playing with Sting, Pat Metheny and McCoy Tyner, as well as a brilliant composer and bandleader in his own right) and Blade (one of the elite drummers in jazz today, who has worked with Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Kenny Garrett, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and who has held the drum chair in the Wayne Shorter Quartet for the past 10 years).

“Christian is a masterful musician,” says Chick. “He contributes great rhythmic ideas to any musical situation. But more than that, his communication abilities are out the top and he’s a lot of fun to make music with.

“And Brian is a master colorist as well as a master drummer. He certainly is a unique voice, easily recognized after hearing just a few seconds of his touch. When Brian came into the Five Peace Band, replacing Vinnie Colaiuta on the second tour, he took a whole new approach to the songs. In fact, it felt like we were playing a completely different repertoire as Brian found endless new twists to the creation of the rhythm and emotions of the compositions. Like Christian, he constantly contributes creative ideas to the flow of the music, whatever the setting is.”

With two such daring and free-spirited improvisers on board, this new trio tour will be a string of surprises, for both the audiences and the musicians on stage.

“I’m not sure what to expect,” says Chick, “but I am sure that it will be a fun musical adventure. I’m looking forward to exploring our communication in more depth. I’m sure that it will be something new and fresh.”

CONTACT:

Evelyn Brechtlein
Chick Corea Productions
Ph: 727-421-9518

Em: evelyn@chickcorea.com

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