Lois Gilbert
May-12th-2003, 03:25 PM
San Francisco, CA – SFJAZZ is proud to announce the formation of the SF Modern JAZZ Collective, an all-star resident jazz ensemble led by world-renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman. Featuring incomparable talents representing an array of generations, styles, and cultures — including the dean of modern jazz vibraphonists, Bobby Hutcherson — The SF Modern JAZZ Collective fulfills an essential part of SFJAZZ’s mission statement to build new audiences for jazz.
Launching in March of 2004 in conjunction with the SFJAZZ Spring Season, and with invaluable start-up funding from The James Irvine Foundation, the SF Modern JAZZ Collective will undertake an annual multi-week residency in San Francisco — work-shopping new and newly arranged compositions, performing in concert, leading education events for youth and adults, and more. Following its San Francisco stay, the group will hit the road, touring in other parts of California in 2004 and, in future years, throughout the western states and across the country. During its inaugural year, the Collective will rehearse in Kanbar Hall at the new Jewish Community Center (JCC) of San Francisco facility, as part of the JCC’s opening season festivities.
The group’s annual repertoire will balance works of a great jazz composer of the modern era (i.e., 1950s onward) and new compositions commissioned by SFJAZZ from the eight band-members themselves. Through compelling live performances, original arrangements of modern jazz classics, and the introduction of at least eight new jazz compositions per year, the SFJAZZ Collective will strive to convey — and embody — the message that jazz is a living, ever-changing, and ever-relevant art form.
The SF Modern JAZZ Collective 2004: The Debut Line-up
The inaugural ensemble is a true “who’s who” of today’s jazz, each member of the collective a highly regarded band-leader and composer in his or her own right:
Bobby Hutcherson, vibraphone and marimba: A long-time Bay Area resident, Mr. Hutcherson is “the vibes giant of [his] generation” (Los Angeles Times) and, from the ’60s on, one of the architects of modern jazz.
Joshua Redman, saxophones (artistic director): The “crown prince of the tenor saxophone”(Associated Press) and one of the most acclaimed band-leaders in jazz today, Mr. Redman was raised in Berkeley and is now once again making his home in the Bay Area.
Nicholas Payton, trumpet: Nicholas Payton often draws comparisons with a fellow New Orleanian horn-man: “Surely no trumpeter today captures [Louis] Armstrong’s radiant tone and brilliant, high-register technique as masterfully as Payton”(Chicago Tribune).
Miguel Zenón, alto saxophone: Perhaps best-known for his work in David Sanchez’s bands, this Puerto Rican-born alto is one of the hottest rising stars on the scene today.
Renee Rosnes, piano: A onetime Herbie Hancock protégé, the Saskatchewan-born Ms. Rosnes combines influences from around the globe in her playing and composing — in DownBeat’s words, a “sense of adventure characterizes all of Rosnes’ explorations.”
Josh Roseman, trombone: A Brooklynite and regular collaborator of fellow New Yorkers Don Byron and Dave Douglas, Mr. Roseman also leads his own eclectic Joshua Roseman Unit, in which he “combines familiar pop tunes with edgy jazz charts and freewheeling solos” (DownBeat).
Robert Hurst, bass: A true Renaissance man of jazz, Mr. Hurst is one of the most in-demand bassists today (with credits including Grammy®-winning albums by Wynton and Branford Marsalis), as well as a member of NBC’s Tonight Show Band, a bandleader, educator, and film composer.
Brian Blade, drums: The leader of the Brian Blade Fellowship and one of the hottest sideman in jazz, the Louisiana-born percussionist “possesses a liquid approach that enables him to meet each piece of music on its own terms, saturating it with rhythmic propulsion and percussive color” (Jazziz).
“I think that the chemistry of this band is going to be wonderful,” Joshua Redman says. “We’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve been able to put together a great band of tremendous individual talents. Each band member is a brilliant jazz musician in his or her own right, and a great composer and leader on the jazz scene today. It’s very fortunate that they’re all willing to commit a five-week period of time to this residency and contribute their creativity.”
“I think that we have a great range of ages, styles, and approaches in the group. At the same time, though, we all share a common philosophy, or ethos, about jazz. Each of us has tremendous respect and love for the great musicians, styles, and language of jazz as it has evolved over time. But we also each have a great commitment to originality, creativity, and expressivity in the present. We all share a recognition of jazz as a music that is constantly and continually changing, evolving, and innovating over time. And I think we all have a desire to be a part of this change.”
About SFJAZZ
SFJAZZ is the leading non-profit jazz organization on the West Coast and the 6th largest performing arts organization in the Bay Area. Dedicated to encouraging the growth of jazz and jazz audiences in San Francisco and beyond, SFJAZZ presents a wealth of year-round programs, including the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Jazz Festival, the SFJAZZ Spring Season under the artistic direction of renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman, as well as numerous community outreach and education programs.
Founded in 1983 under the name of Jazz in the City, the organization adopted its new identity as SFJAZZ in late 1999, in recognition of its expansion from seasonal music presenter to year-round arts institution. All SFJAZZ programs reflect a spirit of artistic exploration, embracing the full breadth of jazz and its related musics; emphasize thematic programming, with tributes to jazz masters and celebrations of particular musical instruments, trends or styles; and strive to instill enthusiasm for jazz among wider audiences.
The SF Modern JAZZ Collective is a project of SFJAZZ, and is funded by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation.
Launching in March of 2004 in conjunction with the SFJAZZ Spring Season, and with invaluable start-up funding from The James Irvine Foundation, the SF Modern JAZZ Collective will undertake an annual multi-week residency in San Francisco — work-shopping new and newly arranged compositions, performing in concert, leading education events for youth and adults, and more. Following its San Francisco stay, the group will hit the road, touring in other parts of California in 2004 and, in future years, throughout the western states and across the country. During its inaugural year, the Collective will rehearse in Kanbar Hall at the new Jewish Community Center (JCC) of San Francisco facility, as part of the JCC’s opening season festivities.
The group’s annual repertoire will balance works of a great jazz composer of the modern era (i.e., 1950s onward) and new compositions commissioned by SFJAZZ from the eight band-members themselves. Through compelling live performances, original arrangements of modern jazz classics, and the introduction of at least eight new jazz compositions per year, the SFJAZZ Collective will strive to convey — and embody — the message that jazz is a living, ever-changing, and ever-relevant art form.
The SF Modern JAZZ Collective 2004: The Debut Line-up
The inaugural ensemble is a true “who’s who” of today’s jazz, each member of the collective a highly regarded band-leader and composer in his or her own right:
Bobby Hutcherson, vibraphone and marimba: A long-time Bay Area resident, Mr. Hutcherson is “the vibes giant of [his] generation” (Los Angeles Times) and, from the ’60s on, one of the architects of modern jazz.
Joshua Redman, saxophones (artistic director): The “crown prince of the tenor saxophone”(Associated Press) and one of the most acclaimed band-leaders in jazz today, Mr. Redman was raised in Berkeley and is now once again making his home in the Bay Area.
Nicholas Payton, trumpet: Nicholas Payton often draws comparisons with a fellow New Orleanian horn-man: “Surely no trumpeter today captures [Louis] Armstrong’s radiant tone and brilliant, high-register technique as masterfully as Payton”(Chicago Tribune).
Miguel Zenón, alto saxophone: Perhaps best-known for his work in David Sanchez’s bands, this Puerto Rican-born alto is one of the hottest rising stars on the scene today.
Renee Rosnes, piano: A onetime Herbie Hancock protégé, the Saskatchewan-born Ms. Rosnes combines influences from around the globe in her playing and composing — in DownBeat’s words, a “sense of adventure characterizes all of Rosnes’ explorations.”
Josh Roseman, trombone: A Brooklynite and regular collaborator of fellow New Yorkers Don Byron and Dave Douglas, Mr. Roseman also leads his own eclectic Joshua Roseman Unit, in which he “combines familiar pop tunes with edgy jazz charts and freewheeling solos” (DownBeat).
Robert Hurst, bass: A true Renaissance man of jazz, Mr. Hurst is one of the most in-demand bassists today (with credits including Grammy®-winning albums by Wynton and Branford Marsalis), as well as a member of NBC’s Tonight Show Band, a bandleader, educator, and film composer.
Brian Blade, drums: The leader of the Brian Blade Fellowship and one of the hottest sideman in jazz, the Louisiana-born percussionist “possesses a liquid approach that enables him to meet each piece of music on its own terms, saturating it with rhythmic propulsion and percussive color” (Jazziz).
“I think that the chemistry of this band is going to be wonderful,” Joshua Redman says. “We’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve been able to put together a great band of tremendous individual talents. Each band member is a brilliant jazz musician in his or her own right, and a great composer and leader on the jazz scene today. It’s very fortunate that they’re all willing to commit a five-week period of time to this residency and contribute their creativity.”
“I think that we have a great range of ages, styles, and approaches in the group. At the same time, though, we all share a common philosophy, or ethos, about jazz. Each of us has tremendous respect and love for the great musicians, styles, and language of jazz as it has evolved over time. But we also each have a great commitment to originality, creativity, and expressivity in the present. We all share a recognition of jazz as a music that is constantly and continually changing, evolving, and innovating over time. And I think we all have a desire to be a part of this change.”
About SFJAZZ
SFJAZZ is the leading non-profit jazz organization on the West Coast and the 6th largest performing arts organization in the Bay Area. Dedicated to encouraging the growth of jazz and jazz audiences in San Francisco and beyond, SFJAZZ presents a wealth of year-round programs, including the internationally acclaimed San Francisco Jazz Festival, the SFJAZZ Spring Season under the artistic direction of renowned saxophonist Joshua Redman, as well as numerous community outreach and education programs.
Founded in 1983 under the name of Jazz in the City, the organization adopted its new identity as SFJAZZ in late 1999, in recognition of its expansion from seasonal music presenter to year-round arts institution. All SFJAZZ programs reflect a spirit of artistic exploration, embracing the full breadth of jazz and its related musics; emphasize thematic programming, with tributes to jazz masters and celebrations of particular musical instruments, trends or styles; and strive to instill enthusiasm for jazz among wider audiences.
The SF Modern JAZZ Collective is a project of SFJAZZ, and is funded by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation.