Vol. II, Number 3 1221 Wendell Ave., Sche 12308 Butch Conn. Editor Sweet S,ummer of Jazz Smash Fall Line-tlp ! Great JsLz Nl Over In the FaIl of 1991 we'll present first-class musicians/compos- There'll be a small orgr of Jazz ers in a festival of Jaz-z that lasts for two months. You'Il not only over the Summer which should be able to see and hear these musicians in concerts, but you'll please the palates of almost have a chance to audit or take Master Classes with some of the every Jaz-zfan. world's truly great Jazz Musicians. You'll also have a chance to hear them talk about new ideas inJaz-z and the History of Jazz,. Of course there's the well- known and well advertised Great instrumentalists comlng thls season lnelude ) Jazz Festival at SPAC Drummers : Akira Tana (whose played with almost everybody), (which has many fine musi- Marvin Smith (who is the favorite of many for dmmmer on re- cians. You'llreally love Geoff cordirrg dates), Portinho (one of the great BraziJiar: Drummers); Keezer and several ofthe other Brass players: Jay Ashby (trombonist with Claudio Rodlti, Tania less prominent acts) Maria and much in demand in Brazilian and Latin groups) Jimmy Owens (trumpet and one of the world's best kept secrets. There's lots of other activity as He's worked with Mingus, Dbzy.Kenny Baron, Hubert Laws, well. There's the Skip Parsons Shirley Scott, Herbie Mann and Archie Shepp and is in constant boat ride (mentioned in the last demand all over Europe); issue) of course. Then there's Bass Players: Rufus Reid (The master professional ln constant the Lake George program...... demand as well as a leader of his own group), Ray Drummond and the Skidmore concerts (maybe the bass player most in demand for recordings and connected with the Jazzlnsti- performances); tute as well as the Burlington Planlsts: John Hicks(considered to be one of the top Jazz pian- Jazz Festival. There's the Jazz ists and teachers in the country), Bill O'Connell(A master of series in Utica and the Iron Brazilian and Latin styles), Rob Schneiderman( a mainstay of Horse Cafe in Northampton. Tanareid and hailed for his brilliant compositions) Visitors to the area will include Reed players: Jesse Davis, Ralph Moore( in demand almost eve- Eliane Elias, Cassandra rywhere and widely hailed as the next generation of great reed Wilson, Doc Cheatam , Ken players) Peplowski, Lou Donaldson and :Guitarists: Peter Leitch(This Canadian player has recorded with Max Roach, to name a few. Oscar Peterson and now leads his own quarlet. A master with a strong blues element) and Romero lobrito (One of the best Our old standbyes Justin's and Samba/Jazz guitar players currently on the scene) the Van Dyck (still here despite the rumors). No Jazz at Peggr's e during the summer but there will be many programs at local p.2 Two Hundred Words p.7 Radio Jazz parks and outdoor festivals p.3 Order form for series p.7 Our Members which have not notified us, p.4 My p.8 Form Solo Membership Check Out our Calendar p.5-6 Jazz Calendar on page 5. You'll be AIVIAZED! TWo Hundred lVords On Strings Glyn T. Evans A truism trt)azz is that one cannot write for strings such that they swhg. A curious anomaly given the dynamo bass players w}:o drlve Jazz. Even more curious as one contemplates the violinists Stuff Smith, Venuti, Grapelli, who melted icecaps. Charlie Parker was not the first, or only, Jaz.zvlrtuoso who enjoyed the stimulus of a string cholr. (One of the truly happy pictures of Bird shows him conducting strings, alto strung around his neck.) Artie Shaw had successful stringsi but do you recall all those other stingr, stringr anUclimaxes? One is told that string fingering and phrasing ts anti-thetical to the collecUve swtng that could be attained by Kenton's Brass, or Duke and Basle's breathing. More likely this condition is from the lack of informed, concerned teachers. Well, no more, it seems. In 1984 the Kronos Quartet, (respected in the classical repetoire) recorded (with Ron Carter, bass) an album of Monk transcriptions, which does swing. Recently the Turtle Island Stfrng Quartet performed j az-2, at the Albany Egg. Both quartet's arrange- ments and compositions were fine; better, the players had skills to play and chops to s',Idng. lanning a one week 'Swing String Seminar' for string players at Stanford University, Californta this year. Someone is trying. W '"n':,ylii5,coor [Justin's June is GRP Records Month ldeol Gifis for Foiher's Doy From lhe newesl in Fusion to Trodilionol Gionls, we hove lhe finest selection of Jozz Compoct Discs ond Cosseltes in lhe oreo! Our new Stuyvesont Plozo locolion hos on exclusive Jozz Room with 4-compocl disc "lislening slolions." Good Food, Spirits, Jazz Voted Melrolond Mogozine's Best and Local Art Record Siore" overoll -losl four yeors! 301 Lark St.,Albany 436-7008 Our Gala Fall Line-rlp r/ a restival orutir"frf.ilSl3?X' t*o ,',orrt-rrr. r/world-class muslclans in concert. {Master Classes \rith great Jazz Artists. September 2O: Kenia and her Brazilian Jazz Sextet featuring Jay Ashby(trombone) and the Brazilian Drummer Portinho October 4: Jimmy Owens and his quartet fresh from their European tour. October 18: TanaReid w/ Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Ralph Moore, Rob Schnei- derman and Jesse Davis. November 8: Peter Leitch Quartet! featuring John Hicks, Ray Drummond and Marvin "Smitt5/" Smith. These stars will also be available for Master Classes with a lirnited number of students on the ,IAIIIIIIIIITIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII\ I Order now! (We sold 88o/o of our tlckets last year.) I II I I T t I I I ! Name: t T Address: T I 11/g Leitch t I Tel:( ) Completeseries I I Member: Yes No I I Master Classes I I T I Concerts are on Friday nights at 8:00pm Ash Owens I T at the First Unitarian Society. Tickets are I I $12.00 each. A complete series can be Reid I I bought for $42.00. Tana I I Master Classes will involve a2112hour Moore I I session with a leading Jazz artist. These Leitch T I classes will take place at the College of St. I Hicks $s0.00 I Rose on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9pm. I I Drummond They are limited to 6 musicians who are at I I Smith I r the professional or near professional level. I I There will be a l07o discount for members Membershi I and a limited number I of auditors, members T I anbt. allowed. 4udit fee $10. I J I ' i Make checks to JazzJFtJSS and mait to l22l Wendelt Ave., Schenectady, Ny 1230g I \T IIIIIIITIII IIIIIIII IIIII II IIIIIII ..J - My Solo possibility of us getting back into our old duos. About three APFJ and this Newsletter are Listening to a Sonny Stitt solo years ago, after much agornz- supported in part, by the First "Groovin on High" brought ing, he started aetually Unitarian Society of Schenec- back some very fond memories tady, SCIP, and membership studylng and playlng the contributions. Programs of playing some very tough 'air saxophone! horn" solos with my cousin include concerts, public work- shops, school-based Scott. A complete failure of the clinics and general support of you Jazz and its musicians. We tror the uninitiated, 'air horn" imagination if ask me! are alliliated with the National was a way that excited young Jazzfans would play along Jazz Educators. We welcome rvith musical heroes like I have p failure of imagina- Sonny Stitt, John Coltrane and announcements and com- tion. I just have a failure of ments. Deadlines are thelSth Charlie Rouse. Ail it took was get figuring out how to the of every odd month {7 / 15 /91, a broom handle or a baseball money to bring my imagination 9/ 15/91, etc.) bat placed to the lips like it into reality. The following ls was a saxophone(the most a llst of programs we want to Editor B.Conn macho of all the Jazz instru- brtng to the area but can't A Place for Jazz, 1221 Wendell ments for young males) and a afford yet. Ideas your con- Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308 very rich imagination. tributiuons could underwrite. o Tito Puente, Max Roach and We definitiely had imagination. Olatunji in a sacred drum We'd stand up for incredibly concert. long solos imagining quite dra- matically that it was us playing o Kenny Davis doing a Chil- Want Ads the solos and that all it took dren's Concerts and residency (We Want. You Add) was wanting to play Jazz Xt in local elementary and middle +++ Hospitality hosts for order for it to happen. Sort of schools like like the kid standing in the musicians. You'll have a mirror imitating a great base- o A great Jazz pianist series chance to meet these ball pitcher or a great orches- folks, spend time with tra conductor. o A Fletcher Henderson them and accompany Revival Band . Sometimes we'd play for hours, them to their workshops completely in the world of o A Latin Jazz series that and concerts. Requires being talented, famous and would include Tito Puente, organizauon and charm. applauded. (We couldn't actu- Dave Valentin, Claudio Roditi, ally go= see musicians these Tania Maria,telia Ct:"rz, a +++ Writers for APFJ because they played in bars revival of Batakumbele and as Newsletter.