MAY 2013 A Celebration of Women in Jazz . 1 Maryland All-State Senior Jazz Band . 5 Jazz Jam Sessions . 6 BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE The Second Baltimore Jazz Composers’ Showcase . 7 Lady Day Way . 8 WEAA’s CD Jazz Pick of the Month . 9 BJA Member Notes, Products and Discounts . 10 Ad Rates and Member Sign-up Form . 11 VOLUME X ISSUE V THE BJA NEWSLETTER WWW.BALTIMOREJAZZ.COM A Celebration of Women in Jazz PHOTO BY ROBERT SHAHID L to R: Corinthia Cromwell, Rhonda Robinson, Camay Murphy, Gail Marten, Carla Wills, Maysa Leak, Gabrielle Goodman, Navasha Daya n Wednesday, March 20th, the Eubie Blake Cultural Following her graduation from Morgan State University Center and WEAA-FM radio ushered in spring by in 1991, Maysa left the Baltimore area to become a backup Ocelebrating Women's History Month with a panel singer for Stevie Wonder. She characterized this as a positive discussion on women in jazz . experience overall; but when she joined the British jazz funk Internationally renowned vocalist Maysa Leak and WEAA group Incognito, Maysa found it necessary to establish her - senior producer Carla Wills moderated. The panelists included self and demand respect from this all-male group. She is cur - saxophonist Corinthia Cromwell; vocalist and co-founder of rently on tour with Incognito and in the process of recording the band Fertile Ground Navasha Daya; vocalist and educator her tenth solo CD. Gabrielle Goodman; vocalist and songwriter Gail Marten; ed - Cromwell, a graduate of Howard University and a pro - ucator and historian Camay Calloway Murphy; and vocalist tégée of Wynton Marsalis, received a Master’s in Music from and flutist Rhonda Robinson. The format provided each of New York University. Her CD Peace of Mind was recently re - these accomplished women an opportunity to discuss her in - leased. She told the audience that, even today, one of the most troduction to and experiences in the world of jazz. difficult challenges she faces is convincing male musicians (continued on page 2) A Celebration of Women in Jazz (continued from front page) BALTIMORE JAZZ ALLIANCE We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization he Baltimore Jazz Alliance (BJA) is a Tgrass-roots organization of jazz afi - cionados, musicians and venues dedi - cated to enhancing and promoting jazz in Baltimore and the surrounding areas. New members sharing this passion are always welcome as the BJA continues its efforts to build a stronger and better net - worked jazz scene. Together we can WEAA senior producer Carla Wills and internationally renowned vocalist Maysa Leak help this music thrive in the region and moderated the panel discussion. reward listeners and musicians alike. BJA Priorities that she's a sax player, not a vocalist. Her aspect of your career. • To develop new audiences for jazz belief is that one of the strongest ele - Gail Marten emphasized the great • To strengthen communication within the jazz community ments of the music is its healing power. pleasure that being part of the music • To improve media relations on During the panel discussion she read her world has brought to her life. Marten has behalf of the jazz community poem “Silent Masters,” which honors received numerous international awards • To bring greater visibility to the many of the great women of jazz. for her songwriting and recordings, and entire array of jazz offerings in the Daya studied and graduated from her sixth self-produced CD, In Love Baltimore region • To provide greater access to Morgan State University. In addition to Again , featuring pianist Larry Willis, was performance opportunities for her vocal talents, she is a songwriter and named one of The Best 20 Vocal CDs of Baltimore-area jazz musicians producer. As co-founder and director of 2009 by jazz critic and journalist W. Visit www.baltimorejazz.com the Healing and Performing Arts of the Royal Stokes. Marten expressed grati - for information about our Youth Resiliency Institute, she is known tude to the male musicians who encour - accomplishments and future goals. for mentoring the younger generation. aged her in advancing her career. She An outspoken individual, she believes also stressed the importance of what you Baltimore Jazz Alliance that one must demand respect from say to children, as your words may en - 847 North Howard Street one’s fellow artists. courage or discourage them from realiz - Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Goodman is a graduate of Peabody ing their potential. Please direct your Conservatory and currently an associate Educator, historian, researcher and questions and comments to: professor at Berklee College of Music. writer Camay Calloway Murphy is the [email protected] She is also a composer and has been a elder statesperson of the group and the backup singer for Roberta Flack, Chaka daughter of legendary artist Cab Cal - Khan, and Patti Labelle. Goodman loway. Founder of the Cab Calloway BJA STEERING COMMITTEE stressed the importance of demanding Jazz Institute and Museum at Coppin Alice Downs respect and appreciating the business State University, she also served as chair 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, Treasurer 410-626-9796 / www.49westcoffeehouse.com $6 cover / www.unifiedjazz.com Page 2 / May 2013 Baltimore Jazz Alliance of the Eubie Blake National Jazz Insti - tute and Cultural Center. Discussing the history of music in the early days, she pointed out women's second-class citizenship and indicated that life for women in the music world was very difficult. Murphy’s aunt, Blanche Cal - loway, was part of this world, yet her courage and determination enabled her to establish an all-male band. Financial assistance for her family, not fame, was her main motivation. Continuing to be an avid supporter of jazz is one of Mur - phy's priorities, as evidenced by her many community projects. Rhonda Robinson was educated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The Sande Shurin Acting Studio in NYC and Peabody Preparatory in Balti - PHOTOS ON PAGES 2 AND 3 BY TONY BUNN more. Her initial pursuits were musical theater and singing classical and gospel Gabrielle Goodman and Camay Calloway Murphy music. She turned to jazz later in her ca - reer. She cited two early female per - the audience to an impromptu sample your most important asset. Your talents formers, Lillian Armstrong and Mary of this technique. should be your priority and it is neces - Lou Williams, describing how their ca - Improvisation: “One musician talk - sary to strike a balance between re - reers progressed through many styles of ing to another with their instrument or spectability and female appeal.” the music. their voice. In order to speak this lan - This wonderful evening concluded At the end of the discussion the group guage, knowledge of chord changes is with a jam session led by Craig Alston weighed in on the following topics: necessary.” and the EBCC house band. Many of the Scat singing: All agreed that Ella Audience: “You must be exposed to panelists and musicians from the audi - Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Betty the art form. If jazz is to have a future, ence performed, to the delight of those Carter were the ladies to listen to and it is important that we all get out and in attendance. This uplifting event learn from, even though Louis Arm - support live venues.” played to a full house. strong started it all. The group treated Female sexuality: “It must not be – Gina Have you been looking for jazz in all the wrong places? The jazz calendar at www.baltimorejazz.com is the right place to find live jazz in Baltimore! Baltimore Jazz Alliance Page 3 / May 2013 The Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society presents… The FREDDY COLE QUARTET SUNDAY, MAY 5 th 5 PM “. the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive . .” ( The New York Times ), the 80-year-young Freddy Cole is a living link to the Great American Songbook , which he delivers with a smoky baritone and an impeccable sense of swing. FREDDY COLE , piano/vocals; RANDY NAPOLEON , guitar; ELIAS DAILEY , bass; CURTIS BOYD , drums $35 General Admission THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART $33 BMA/BJA Members & Seniors 10 Art Museum Drive $10 Students Baltimore, Maryland 21218 Free pre-concert gallery tour at 3:45 (registration required 443-573-1818) BUY TICKETS ONLINE: www.baltimorechamberjazz.org More info at: www.baltimorechamberjazz.org BJA Members now receive a $ 2 discount off the general admission price! Just indicate your affiliation when ordering tickets. Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society The Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society is a non profit organization and is supported by a P.O. Box 16097 Baltimore, MD 21218 grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to 410-385-5888 cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. Page 4 / May 2013 Baltimore Jazz Alliance Maryland All-State Senior Jazz Band ust one week after hearing the stel - lar performances of “young lions” JSam King (age 23) and Tim Green (30) at the BJA’s co-sponsored Saxo - phone Colossi concert, we heard an im - pressive group of even younger jazz musicians—the Maryland All-State Senior Jazz Band. On March 2nd, this ensemble of twenty-two high school musicians put on a great show at the PHOTO BY DAVE COHN UMBC Jazz Festival. To seven pieces— 2013 Maryland All State Jazz Band, March 2nd, UMBC Recital Hall, mostly jazz standards—they brought not only solid technical abilities, but Christopher Vadala, Conductor, University of Maryland, College Park surprising polish, soulfulness and re - straint.