December 2012
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DECEMBER 2012 AN DIE MUSIK : A Dream Come to Life . 1 Sullivan’s Baltimore . 2 Matt Wilson at BCJS . 5 BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE Ben Frock and Love Unit . 6 Jazz Jam Sessions . 8 WEAA’s CD Pick of the Month . 9 BJA Products and Discounts . 10 Ad Rates and Member Sign-up Form . 11 VOLUME IX ISSUE XII THE BJA NEWSLETTER WWW.BALTIMOREJAZZ.COM AN DIE MUSIK A Dream Come to Life Home to restaurants, shops, banks and boutiques, Baltimore’s North Charles Street is also the scene of one of the city’s best music venues, An die Musik. Founded by Henry Wong in 2004 as a spinoff of a record and CD store, An die Musik, now a non-profit organization, hosts jazz and classical artists with local, national and inter - national names. “What other places in town give so many different musicians a chance?” asked Wong. “We host musi - cians from Towson, UMBC, College Park, Peabody, as well as musicians from all over the world.” Wong, a medical student turned music impresario, pro - fesses a Zen-like belief in the power of affirmation. “An die Musik is much like the process and work of the musicians we book,” explains Wong. “You have to suffer with the people you believe in . you have to see a dream come to life . At An die we develop with musicians and see results together.” PHOTO BY BRIAN V. WILSON Wong’s path to An die Musik has been eclectic, to say the Henry Wong, a former medical student turned music least. Born in Hong Kong to parents with some means, Wong came to America as a student with a family background that impresario, professes a Zen-like belief included Chinese classical music sung by his mother and in the power of affirmation. naval architecture practiced by his dad. Most important, his parents imparted to him the value of struggle. “You should always be hungry . you should always want more from Musik an enduring fixture on the Baltimore music scene. His yourself . it makes you appreciate struggle,” says Wong as two trusted aides-de-camp—Sean Johnson, a former audio en - he recalls the efforts that brought him to his present location gineer, and George “Doc” Manning, a DJ at WEAA—are at 409 North Charles. “I started with a record and CD store in equally engaged in this partnership of effort and spirit. John - Towson and what I have learned is that when doing impor - son’s vision for the future of An die Musik? “We should pro - tant work never put yourself first. Money is one thing . the mote upcoming talent while we also bring in famous, big spirituality of what you are doing is something else. I’d rather name musicians. That allows us to put lesser-known artists on be poor and do what I believe in and enjoy the benefit of shar - stage. Baltimore has a huge population of talented musicians.” ing the music we offer.” In recounting the past performances seen at An die Musik, Henry Wong is not alone in his efforts to make An die Johnson expressed his wonder at the variety of styles and in - r1 (continued on page 3) Sullivan’s Baltimore Here’s a surprise for local jazz lovers. There’s a venue in Baltimore that offers BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE live jazz five nights a week. Sullivan’s, located at 1 East Pratt Street (the Inner Harbor of MobTown) is part of a na - tional chain of steakhouses with nine - We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization teen locations across the USA. Sullivan’s Baltimore features many local jazz mu - he Baltimore Jazz Alliance (BJA) is a sicians: Dave Winter, The Dave Bach Greater Hartford International Festival of Tgrass-roots organization of jazz afi - Trio, Aaron Hill, Buena Vista, The Queen Jazz for seven years. Domingo says, “Sul - cionados, musicians and venues dedi - and I, Marcus Dagan, Greg Thomp - livan’s is very committed to jazz on a na - cated to enhancing and promoting jazz in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. kins/Dave Winter Duo, Jon Birkholz, tional level—most of their restaurants New members sharing this passion are The Corner Jazz Trio and many others. have a tuned baby grand piano and fea - always welcome as the BJA continues its Readers may find complete listing for ture jazz several nights a week.” The Bal - efforts to build a stronger and better net - performers in the entertainment section timore Sullivan’s has booked jazz for two worked jazz scene. Together we can of baltimorejazz.com. years—a rotation of twelve bands plays help this music thrive in the region and Having performed at Sully’s (as we music five nights a week. Sullivan’s may reward listeners and musicians alike. like to call it), I find the atmosphere be Baltimore’s best-kept jazz secret. BJA Priorities pleasant, the management and waiters Pianist Dave Winter recently re - • To develop new audiences for jazz professional. Musicians on the gig get marked, “I was really happy when • To strengthen communication free parking, better-than-average pay, Domingo offered me the opportunity to within the jazz community freedom to play what they want (espe - be a regular in the Sullivan's entertain - • To improve media relations on cially traditional or modern jazz), and a ment lineup. Living as I do in south cen - behalf of the jazz community bar menu dinner for each performer. tral Pennsylvania doesn't present very • To bring greater visibility to the entire array of jazz offerings in the The music starts at 7:00 and goes till many outlets for jazz performers. It was Baltimore region 10:30, usually consisting of one-hour an easy decision, even taking in the • To provide greater access to sets with fifteen-minute breaks. lengthy commute. Playing at Sullivan’s performance opportunities for Jazz listeners have the choice of sea- has given me the chance to meet and Baltimore-area jazz musicians ting at the large bar or high tables and play with some highly skilled players. Visit www.baltimorejazz.com chairs in an upscale room where musi - The best part is that I've been motivated for information about our cians can comfortably be seen and to elevate my own game like never be - accomplishments and future goals. heard. In American Steakhouse tradi - fore. Doing commercial/dance gigs has tion, the menu offers New York strip been financially rewarding but not al - Baltimore Jazz Alliance steak, Porterhouse steak, oysters, appe - ways musically challenging. Sometimes 847 North Howard Street tizers, desserts, and other selections. we need a little motivation to visit the Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Domingo Guerra, who books the woodshed, learn some different tunes Please direct your music at Sully’s, hails from Corpus and reinvigorate the creative process. questions and comments to: Christi, Texas. He fell in love with jazz Playing at Sullivan's provides all of that [email protected] during his teenage years while listening for me. Thanks to the management at to late night jazz radio shows Randy’s Sullivan's for being so supportive of live Record Sho p and Club Trussle . Before his jazz. A classy place deserves classy BJA STEERING COMMITTEE move to Baltimore three years ago he and music.” Alice Downs his girlfriend Sarah coordinated the – Gregory Thompkins Barry Glassman, Founder Leslie Imes Bob Jacobson, Vice President Todd Marcus UNIFIED JAZZ ENSEMBLE Marianne Matheny-Katz Camay Calloway Murphy, Emerita EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at 49 WEST CAFE Mark Osteen, President 49 West Street in Annapolis, Maryland Robert Shahid 410-626-9796 / www.49westcoffeehouse.com $6 cover / www.unifiedjazz.com Page 2 / December 2012 Baltimore Jazz Alliance Wong recalls, “The first six years we provides that.” A Dream Come to Life were here we were not non-profit and What rings clear in listening to (continued from front page) we lost money. Now we are non-profit Henry Wong talk about An die Musik’s Sean Johnson and we are concerned with educating past and future is his sincerity of pur - young people. We are not concerned pose. Hundreds of concerts featuring with money. We want young people to major figures of jazz, the locally known, come out and listen to jazz and learn those with public acclaim and the rela - about this music. This is their culture. tively unknown (or yet to be discov - Musicians give master classes, we have ered) all represent lessons to be shared concerts—that’s the epitome of the with aficionados and students of the music journey.” music. Wong maintains that “you have Manning and Wong began their ca - to believe in the music, the lessons of maraderie in 1990 working together in trials and tribulations that we all go the Towson music store that preceded through. An die Musik is like the artists An die Musik. Manning was the jazz and the music of jazz—its spirit. What specialist for a couple of record stores, the music and the musicians do is in - wrote articles on jazz and interviewed spire us to appreciate America’s cul - many celebrated musicians for Coppin tural heritage. Where else can young PHOTOS BY BRIAN V. JONES State College (now Coppin State Univer - people go in Baltimore to get that? We sity) in the ‘70s following a stint in Viet - sponsor the music and the artists one Johnson expressed his wonder at the nam. At the Left Bank Jazz Society’s day at a time . we are part of that variety of styles and influences Famous Ballroom, Manning met and struggle and the next day we start all audiences have come to appreciate.