April 2011 Vol. 26 No. 3 www.wmichjazz.org An All-Volunteer orgAnizAtion Retrospective 25 Years of Keeping Jazz Alive Wmjs: 1986 - 2011 Beginnings By Betty Forrest Quite often a good Nancy Gould, Kathi Swets, program, an orga- and Bob & Ginny Taylor. nization, or even a By April the first edition business, is developed of Jazz Notes was mailed to out of what was es- 40 people and our first public sentially one person’s meeting/gig was held at the individual, even self- former Pockett’s Club where ish, motive. Mine was one of our founding members, to establish a support Bruce Early, was appearing group to help promote with his big band (which has an annual Jimmy now evolved into the Grand Forrest Scholarship Rapids Jazz Orchestra). Mem- Fund concert. After bership rose to nearly 100 at Jimmy’s death in Au- a June jazz party held at the gust 1980, I had estab- home of Jim and Nancy lished a fund through Gould (Jim was drafted to GRJC to award mon- be our first President), and we ies to students major- felt we were off and running. ing in jazz studies by By the end of 1986, when we presenting an annual had our first annual holiday concert featuring pop- party, we had written by-laws, ular jazz stars that he established our non-profit had known or played Jimmy Forrest status, had money in the bank, with during his own 40-year career on tenor saxophone. and a membership of nearly 150! We call these our Charter Successful concerts were given each of the following five Members, and of these, 90 were still with us nearly 10 years years, with the Count Basie Orchestra appearing on later. While only 34 remain – many have retired and moved his behalf both 1981 and 1983 (Forrest had performed as to warmer climates, many have passed away – we think these lead tenor with the band from 1970- loyalists deserve attention, 77). Unfortunately, the 1985 concert so here they are, our Charter featuring Stan Getz, at the height Members: of his popularity, drew an audience of only 200, which caused a loss of over John & Jacki Bartley $4,000 to the scholarship fund. Bill McFadden Ray Gill, Director of Jazz Studies Maxine Corder at JC at that time, blamed a lack of Trudy Lynn Newland advertising and communication with Rafael Diaz jazz fans. He had a list of 20 names Bob & Helen Nolan of people who had previously tried Jack Hoppus to establish a jazz society, so letters Lee & Carol Rozelle went out to them in January 1986; a Joyce Racette meeting was called; a dozen interested John Shea parties came out, and the nucleus of Dan Kovats what soon became the West Michigan Jerry & Judy Subar Jazz Society was formed. MargEd Kwapil Seven of our original 13 jazz lovers Marv & Donna Veneklasen who attended our organizing meet- Dan & Mary Lee Lynch ings in January and February 1986 Gordon Vonk still maintain their membership. We Kathleen Maguire call them our Founding Members, and George & Yolanda Williams they are: Tom & Cleo Mitchell Betty Forrest, Ray Gill, Jim & Ray Gill jAZZ NOTEs • April 2011 • 3 The first five years From our first public event in April 1986, Lewis Quartet in it was decided that we should have a monthly November. We were newsletter and present monthly events, starting flying high, and pre- with featuring popular local artists such as the senting local and area John Shea Trio. Our May 1987 scholarship jazz artists at various fundraiser featured Hank Crawford and locations the months Jimmy McGriff, and in November we were big concerts were not thrilled to have the great combo of Houston scheduled. Our 1989 Person and Etta Jones. Nationally-known picnic in July was held jazz stars could still be booked for fairly reason- at Caledonia’s Emmons able prices in those days! We also held our first Park, which became its jazz picnic in June of ’87 on the banks of the “home” for the next 18 Thornapple River where members Bob & years. Pat Good supplied their premises and the 1990 gave us a John Shea Trio supplied the music. new look for our Jazz By 1988 we had formed a partnership with Notes when Chuck radio station WGVU, which at that time was Neller became our primarily a jazz station, and the St. Cecilia Mu- publisher, giving us a sic Society. We booked our first “Classic Jazz in larger size with much a Classic Setting” concerts featuring trumpeter better graphics and Art Farmer in October and pianist Tommy John Shea pictures. He has con- Flanagan in November. Former Grand Rapids tinued to perform in this pianist Clare Fischer was featured in Feb. ’89, vocalist capacity for the past 20 years. Our Classic Jazz concerts this Susanah McCorkle in September, and the Ramsey year included the Amad Jamal Trio in August, guitarist/ vocalist Henry Johnson in October, and pianist/vocalist Dave Frishberg in November. Continuing into 1991, we presented Detroit tenor saxman George Benson in January; pianist Oliver Jones in February, and the Danish Radio Big Band in March. The fall season brought the Joanne Brackeen Quar- tet in October, and the highlight of the year was the Ray Brown Trio with Gene Harris on piano for the Jimmy Forrest Scholarship Fund concert at the end of May. What a group! They even accepted an invitation to an “after glow” party at my house after the concert where our Board members got to hear lots of great “jazz on the road” stories. Years six thru ten: 1992-1996 Our St. Cecilia concerts began their fifth year with the return of pianist Oliver Jones in January, the Brad Goode Quintet in March; and an overwhelmingly popu- lar presentation of the Four Freshmen in September. Guido Basso Quintet appeared in November, and Gene Bertoncini in April with our own popular bassist Paul Keller. A highlight for many members was Bob MacKercher’s organization of a bus trip to Mt. Pleasant Paul Keller and Cary Kocher to hear Phil Woods with the Boss Brass. 4 • April 2011 • jAZZ NOTEs 1993’s concerts were high- lighted by Houston Person and Etta Jones, and Oliver Jones making his third appear- ance in six years. Our annual holiday party featured pianist Eddie Russ at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, and that sum- mer’s picnic in August was huge due to the Keller-Kocher Trio. Jan. of 1994 started with a standing-room-only concert by the Four Freshmen; guitar- ist Herb Ellis was a huge hit that March. Our co-sponsors (WGVU and St. Cecilia) want- Chizil ed to try a blues act, so vocalist Johnny Adams was String Quartet (an odd choice) performed in February, featured at our October concert, and very poorly received! and everyone fell in love with pianist Monty Alexander Oliver Jones made his fourth appearance in November who performed for our March concert. The great Nat Ad- and we closed the year with the Keller-Kocher Quartet derly Quartet filled the auditorium in November, and for our holiday party at Club East. Society member and pianist our 10th holiday party at the Harley House featured Detroit Dick Reynolds brought his Chicago-based Latin jazz vocalist Harvey Thompson amidst a winter storm. group Chizil for our January concert; the Turtle Island Ten takes us to fifteen: 1996-2001 Just before she hit the big time due to a feature article in McBride in February, the Jacky Terrasson Trio in Time magazine, we managed to book Diana Krall for our March, and the Nicholas Payton Quartet in April. January 1996 concert with Paul Keller on bass and Rus- Horace Silver was scheduled for May, but had to can- sell Malone on guitar. cel due to illness. Paul March brought back pianist Keller’s “Bird of Para- Gene Harris and in April dise” orchestra performed we had a very poor turnout for our January ’98 concert, for nationally-known alto Kurt Elling in March, and saxman Phil Woods. The pianist Bennie Green in month of May we celebrated April. Two of our founding our 10th anniversary with members, Bruce Early a huge event at the Char- and Thelma Benchick levoix Club (no longer in passed away, but his Big existence) on 28th St. Held Band lived on with Tim on Sunday, May 19, it fea- Froncek as leader for our tured the Keller-Kocher holiday party at Rembrandt’s Quartet. Recognition was that December. given to our founding mem- Paul Keller, Diana Krall, and Russell Malone Our 12th annual picnic in bers as well as past and present Board members and Presidents. August ’99 featured the Paul Keller Ensemble. Classic A special “history of us” edition of the Jazz Notes was given to Jazz brought back the ever-popular Oliver Jones as well all attending, which totaled over 200! Our November concert as the Dave Holland Quintet and the T.S. Monk featured Amad Jamal, and this historic year ended with Ensemble. We celebrated the beginning of a new mil- vocalist Margaret Carlson from Chicago entertaining lennium with a January party at Centennial Country Club us at our holiday party at Sayfee’s. featuring vocalist Edye Evans Hyde. That June we began Our 10th year of Classic Jazz concerts was kicked off by Continued on next page vocalist Jeanie Bryson, followed by bassist Christian jAZZ NOTEs • April 2011 • 5 what has become an annual event, honoring one of our local jazz artists as “Musician of the Year.” Our first was tenor saxmanCurt Purnell (now deceased) and was held at Sayfee’s.