Fall 2020 WWestest Michigan Vol. 34 No.04 • 616-490-9506 • www.wmichjazz.org • [email protected] azz Society An All-Volunteer Organization Since 1986 Planet D with RJ Spangler at Gull Landing, Scully Jazz Tour Mary Rademacher and Mark Kahny, Gull Landing, Scully Jazz Tour Third Coast Gypsy Jazz - Grant Flick, Andrew Henley, Kadein Plummer, Rick Reuther's front yard concert Steve Plummer Bob Thompson, Mary Rademacher and Mark Kahny Randy and Julie Gobles' patio. Bob Rutvan, Randy Goble, performing at Tom Norton and Lou Solis' back yard Laura Bennett, Mark Kahny Along with many things during this pandemic, event in their own back yard. WMJS had a music performances have also evolved with presence there and the appreciative crowd our changing times. People, hungry for live provided enough donations to pay the band and entertainment, have become increasingly there was a little left over for the Society. Read creative. In June, West Michigan Jazz Society the review of the awesome group that played, cosponsored a concert in the parking lot with Third Coast Gypsy Jazz, on page 4! Amore Trattoria ltaliana where GRGroove, the Clif Metcalf Organ Trio and In the Blue Guitarist Rick Jazz Ensemble provided the entertainment. Reuther set up his In September, another concert in the parking own sound and lot was held at Noto’s Italian Restaurant which provided a totally featured the Mary Rademacher Quartet.41. free concert for his many fans, friends, Venues throughout and neighbors. Most the area with outdoor of the neighbors sat space have continued across the street to have live bands, so there was plenty weather permitting. Tim of room to maintain distance with this larger Scully’s annual summer gathering. Rick played and sang two sets of northern jazz series has entertaining, and mostly original, tunes. At the held many successful conclusion of this generous gift of time and concerts and they talent on a beautiful night, he offered yet another were well attended. gift - his brand-new CD! “The Way It Looks from Relax at Rosa, hosted Here” contains all original tunes written by Rick. by Downtown Grand Great CD! Purchase one! Rapids provided a free lunchtime entertainment series which featured many local musicians. Tom Norton, general manager of local Music lovers, supporters of the arts and community WKTV, channel 25/26, and his musicians themselves have held small concerts partner Lou Solis are avid supporters of in back yards, front yards, gardens, and in the arts. Earlier this summer they hosted an driveways. These have been mostly attended by event to benefit Civic Theater. In August they groups of less than 25 people. Social distancing welcomed WMJS and sponsored the trio of was observed and many even wore their masks Mary Rademacher, Mark Kahny and Bob outside to show their respect for each other’s Thompson to play for some friends in their well-being. back yard. “With the difficulties we are all facing during the pandemic, we just didn’t want Board member Shannan Dennison and to forget the arts community who are suffering husband Kevin Hubbard hosted one such perhaps more so than others. I think it takes IN THIS ISSUE 8 Membership Drive 1 Jazz 9-11 All Figured Out 2 Local Concerts 12 Scholarship Recipient Message 4 Gypsy Jazz 13 Live Jazz Schedules 14 Virtual Jazz Schedules 5-7 New Board Members 15 Local Concerts continued 2 Jazz Notes creativity to solve problems Throughout the summer Paul Keller and we’re happy that the West has hosted many ‘barnyards’ concerts, Michigan Jazz Society joined both in the yard and in the barn! You with us for this benefit,” said can find them archived on his Facebook Norton. He also hinted that the page. Other concerts include a garden WKTV is talking about doing setting at Kathy Kramer’s home and a a weekly jazz special that will patio gathering at the home of Randy feature different performers and Julie Goble. and will likely call it “Jazz Works”. (Hopefully soon, as We music lovers thank EVERYONE the weather is changing, and who has persisted in making sure live outdoor concerts will not be music continues! Will there be bonfire happening.) Stay tuned for concerts coming soon?? that to develop!! Fall 2020 3 Gypsy Jazz comes to West and the name "gypsy jazz" Michigan in the form of the began to be used around the “Third Coast Gypsy Jazz Band”. late 1990s. They are the real deal, folks! Never have I witnessed such Reinhardt was foremost among authentic gypsy swing played a group of Romani guitarists by a group of young musicians working in Paris from the with so much conviction and 1930s to the 1950s. The group knowledge of a bygone and included the brothers Baro, nearly forgotten genre! The term Sarane, and Matelo Ferret and “gypsy jazz” refers to the years, Reinhardt's brother Joseph roughly 1930-1953. The group "Nin-Nin" Reinhardt. While consisted of Andrew Henley his fellow guitarists were also on bass, Steve and Kaedin sometimes featured as soloists Plummer on guitars and Grant with their own groups or on Flick, violin. other recordings (although never with Reinhardt's Hot [Gypsy jazz (also known as Club Quintette), Reinhardt is gypsy swing, "jazz manouche" universally recognized as the or hot club style jazz) is most outstanding improviser typically a small-group jazz among them, as well as the form originating from the originator (from around 1934 Romani guitarist Jean "Django" onwards) of the style of "hot" Reinhardt (1910–53), in guitar playing now generally conjunction with the French considered the archetype of swing violinist Stéphane "gypsy jazz" guitar. Grappelli (1908–97), as expressed in their group the The style was popular in Quintette du Hot Club de France and, via recordings France. Because its origins and appearances by the are in France, (Reinhardt was original Quintette, in other from the Manouche “French European countries before and Sinti” clan), and the style has immediately after the Second remained popular among the World War. It fell out of favor as Manouche gypsies, gypsy jazz the "swing era" came to an end, is often called by the French being replaced in its homeland name "jazz manouche", or by bebop, mainstream jazz, alternatively, "manouche jazz" and eventually, rock and roll. in English language sources. It however had a resurgence Some scholars have noted from the 1970s onwards among that the style was not named performers and audiences at manouche until the late 1960s festivals, etc., in particular the 4 Jazz Notes Festival Django Reinhardt which commenced in Satchmo favorite, “Dinah” and many more. It 1968 at Samois-sur-Seine, France (the location was notable how researched and authentic of Reinhardt's last residence) and continues to these young musicians are in re-creating the present time.] (source: Wikipedia) this often-overlooked music. Gypsy jazz has mounted a comeback in recent years, but you Thank you to Shannan Denison and Kevin are never going to hear it this polished and Hubbard for hosting this amazing and intimate completely natural as presented here. Thanks event in their music-friendly backyard venue. again to the West Michigan Jazz Society for The group covered a lot of ground in an all hosting this remarkable evening of gypsy jazz! too short performance, revisiting staples of the gypsy jazz repertoire such as “Dark Eyes”, -Mark S. Kahny “Nuages”, the blistering “Minor Blues”, the Dame Jazz Festival. He has also been invited to perform his compositions at North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial and Regional Conferences. As a composer and arranger, Dr. VanHemert has written for chamber ensembles, large and small jazz ensembles, and concert bands, which include the Central Wails Saxophone Orchestra of Central Michigan University, the L'anse Creuse North High School Saxophone Quickly gaining recognition as a diversely Choir, the Greenhill School Flute Choir in skilled emerging artist, Jordan VanHemert is a Addison, Texas, and Detroit's Moving Mind woodwind specialist, composer, and educator Jazz Orchestra. based in West Michigan. VanHemert has performed alongside many notable musicians Being a sought-after clinician, Dr. VanHemert such as Geri Allen, Stephen Rush, and Ed has presented clinics at the Michigan Music Sarath. Dr. VanHemert’s performing career has Conference and guest recitals and lectures at taken him to venues and festivals around the colleges and high schools around the country. United States, including Shapeshifter Lab, the VanHemert is also an adjudicator and clinician Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, the for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Virgil H. Carr Center, Edgefest, the Detroit Jazz Association, as well as CMU Jazz Weekend. Festival, the Elmhurst Jazz Festival, and Notre continued on page 6 Fall 2020 5 He has given masterclasses and lectures West Michigan to promote the “Be Nice” action about jazz history, lead alto and jazz plan, encouraging students to include music saxophone section playing, improvisation, a as a part of a healthy mental and emotional life. fundamental guide to performance in both He is one of the newest people serving on the the classical and jazz side of the saxophone board of West Michigan Jazz Society. and jazz composition. Dr. VanHemert's www.jordanvanhemert.com pedagogical writing has been published in The Instrumentalist and the Rhode Island Music Educator's Review. In addition to his work as a clinician, Dr. VanHemert maintains a private studio teaching jazz and classical saxophone. VanHemert currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Hope College and the Artistic Director of the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra. Jordan recently earned a DMA in Jazz Saxophone Performance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.