April 06                      

        Guitarist, Dan Balmer called me recently to update us on his most busy career, and to promote an exciting night at Jimmy Mak’s on Saturday, April 15^th, a “big deal” he says, when he will be playing with former Oregon resident, Gary Versace, and drummer, Matt Wilson.  Both Versace and Wilson are currently New York residents, so don’t miss this opportunity to see them while on the Pacific coast.  

But, before we give you more details, who said the following:

    “If a composer could say what he had to say in words, he would not bother trying to

          say it in music.”

Answer appears at the end of the column.    

Balmer says, both Versace and Wilson have made it “big time”, and he is thrilled to have this opportunity to play with them.

Versace plays piano, organ and accordion!   Many of you will recall that Versace lived in Oregon, and for eight years was a tenured, associate professor at the University of Oregon in the jazz studies department.  He earned a master’s degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music.  He currently works with, and tours Asia and Europe with guitarist, John Scofield.  He has also played with John Abercrombie, and Eloit Zigmund.          

          He recently recorded with legendary saxophonist, Lee Konitz, release date, TBA.  He has recorded on numerous fine labels as leader and sideman, and in April 1999, performed a two-piano duet with Marion McPartland on her “Piano Jazz” radio program.  She called his playing inventive, and said he was “an extraordinary talent”.

            Please visit his website, www.garyversace.com for the complete story on his impressive career.

            Upon reading Matt Wilson’s wonderful story, www.mattwilsonjazz.com, I was immediately struck by his energy, talent and the genuine sense of fun he brings to his work.  While in college at Wichita State University, he had the opportunity to study with mentor Dr. JC Combs.  Of Combs, he said, “he is not only a fantastic percussionist, but he possesses one of the most creatively fertile imaginations on the planet.  We played percussion works featuring a wide array of strange components…pinball machines, cloggers, bowlers and professional wrestlers were all standard fare.” 

             The Downbeat Critics Poll named him #1 Rising Star Drummer in 2005 for the third year in a row. He was also named a Rising Star for Jazz Artist, Drums, Composer and Acoustic Jazz Group categories.

            He recently recorded Not in Our Name, with Charlie Haden and the Liberation Music Orchestra featuring Carla Bley, and Live At Jazz Standard with Bill Mays Trio with Marty Wind.

            Wilson invites everyone to “check out my recordings on the very groovy Palmetto label, www.palmetto-records.com”.

            Balmer says on April 16^th, the day after the gig at Jimmy Mak’s, they will all be going into the studio to record an album together.

            Balmer also reports he has another new CD in his “Go By Train” series ready to release in late spring, recorded at Kung Fu Bakery with Micah Cassel on drums, and Clay Giberson on piano.  He characterizes the music as “modern, techno, rock, funk, fusion jazz”.

            Drummer, Mel Brown will also soon be releasing another Quartet album with his regular Wednesday night band at Jimmy Mak’s, which includes Tony Pacini on piano, Ed Bennett on bass, and Balmer.  They recorded it at Kung Fu Bakery with a live audience.

            Globe-trotting guitarist John Stowell, is back in town in April, and will playing frequently at Koji’s on Barber Blvd.  They are continuing their live jazz program on Thursdays from 8-10 pm when Randy Porter is usually at the keyboard, and Friday and Saturday nights, 9-11pm.  Frequent players also include David Friesen when he is in town, John Gross, and others.  Check the calendar for dates and players.

            Stowell has two new books out.  One is a book/DVD, published by Mel Bay, entitled, “Jazz Guitar Mastery”, (he reminds us HE didn’t select the title).  He plays one number on “Masters Anthology of Jazz Guitar Solos, Vol 4”, also published by Mel Bay.

            In late April, Stowell travels to the University of Nevada, Reno campus, to adjudicate at their annual jazz festival.  Nancy King and Gary Hobbs have also been adjudicators in past years.

            Here’s a “Mark Your Calendar” date for Friday, May 19^th at Tula’s in Seattle.  It’s the Seattle Premiere of the long-running, “Two Tenor Bash”, featuring dueling saxes, Hadley Caliman and Rob Sheps.  One night only, 2214 Second Ave., in Belltown, between Blanchard and Bell.  Reservations strongly advised. 206-443-4221.

            We were sorry we missed reporting on Gordon Lee’s appearance with the Third Angle group in January, but want to give you the details anyway.  Lee, Dan Balmer, and Rob Sheps were all invited to write original material to be performed with the group.  Lee’s contribution was an arrangement of Debussy’s Prelude, originally written as a solo piano piece.  Lee’s treatment was for a string quartet with flute for one of the violins, violin, viola and cello.  Lee played improvised piano solos, throughout.  He says his arrangement “opened it up to blow”!

            Other work on Lee’s desk includes composing music for the East West Continuo, for New Zealand flutist, Tessa Brinkman.  It is an arrangement of the late, great, Native American sax player, Jim Pepper’s “Wichi tia to”.  It will be performed in September.  Lee played with Pepper for many years before his untimely death at age 50, in February 1992.

            Larry Nobori, clarinet and saxophone, former Jazz Society Board member, and retired music teacher in the Portland Public Schools, commissioned Lee to write a jazz clarinet and piano sonata, which they premiered in early 1998.  They will play the work again on June 11^th at Cathy Walkup’s loft in the San Francisco Bay Area, and hopefully in Oregon again soon.

            During the first week of June, Lee will be teaching at a special, 5-day,  “mini” jazz camp, of Mel Brown’s highly regarded one week camp, usually held during August at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.  It is their first time with a smaller version of the camp.  The camps have been so popular that they are adding a second week in August, as well, to accommodate all the students who wish to attend.  Check out www.wou.edu/melbrownjazz, for further info.

            Violinist, Aaron Meyer and Bill Lamb will also be repeating their summer music camp at First Christian Church on July 10 –14.  Ages 8-13. No musical experience is required.  9:00 am to Noon, Monday – Friday with a final performance for friends and family on July 14^th.

            In this one-of-a-kinds program, children will learn how to write lyrics and produce their own music CD, record and perform their own original music, and make their own CD.  They will also get to tour a fine northwest recording studio. 

            Tuition is $250 per student, and class size is limited.  Call 503-515-3461 for more information and registration.

            Peruvian guitarist, Alfredo Muro was invited to perform on April 9^th at the Toca do Vinicius Cultural Center, in Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting the second most important musical festival in Brazil.  This year’s event will honor several well-known artists and writers, among them, Ruy Castro, author of the famed book, “History of Bossa Nova”, by immortalizing their hand prints on the Hall of Fame of the Ipanema Street.

     It is a huge honor for him, but we are not surprised because his dazzling technique, and warm and sensitive playing style, embodies the true essence and soul of South American culture.   Also on the program will be Za da Velha, Silverio Pontes, Marcos Sacramento and Banda de Ipanema.

     Muro will be playing music from his new CD, Alma Brasileira, which will be released at the event.

            Sax icon Bud Shank will celebrate his 80^th birthday on May 27, 2006, and according to “Mrs. Bud”, is playing better than ever, and in stranger and stranger places!   He played in Fargo, ND in March where it was minus 6 degrees and snowing a blizzard. 

            He is planning a tour of Taiwan/mainland China/Hong Kong this summer.

            Coming out soon is the Bud Shank Big Band CD, recorded at a “roaring, fantastic performance live at Ken Poston’s fall event in 2005”.  This is the first-ever big band of his own, and he hopes to do a lot more work with them in the near future.  He also plans to record a Duo CD with pianist, Bill Mays, in New York City this spring.

            In celebration of such a major birthday, he treated himself to a very special gift, a silver, 2006, Porsche CaymanS, ordered months ago, so he could have the first one in Arizona.  “Mrs. Bud” says it is a “positively sinful-looking automobile, and if he keeps driving the way he is now, he probably won’t make it to 81”!

            Guitarist, John Butler and his wife, Peruvian-born, dancer and choreographer, Luciana Proano proudly announce a benefit concert, at the Aladdin Theater, at 1:00 pm, on Sunday, April 23^rd.  Entitled “Family Path”, it will be a “lighthearted concert of profound original jazz” with the proceeds benefiting the non-profit, Burlingame Preschool where their 5 yr old son Dar attends.  Established in 1958, the preschool “fosters creativity and self-esteem in children aged three to five”.

        The concert will feature Butler’s original Latin-infused Jazz compositions and dance vignettes with sculptural costumes by Proano.  The varied musical influences and heritages of all the performers will be celebrated.

            Their goal is to “link the preschool to the larger community, helping create social awareness of the importance of early childhood education and parent participation in it”.

             Bassist, Nigerian-born, Essiet Essiet, drummer Ronnie Burrage, who played with Duke Ellington at age 9, and with McCoy Tyner at age 18,  and David Valdez on alto and tenor saxophones will also play.

            Butler met Luciana in 1988 while they were both performing at the New Music American Festival in Miami, which led to regular performances in Peru as her musical, director.  In 1991, he received a Fulbright Grant to Peru where he performed solo concerts and taught jazz workshops in the conservatories of Lima, Cucso, Arequipa, Trujillo and Chiclayo.  He also studied Afro-Peruvian music with Carlos Hayre.

            Butler began his professional career in Portland in 1975, performing extensively with Jim Pepper.  He moved to NYC with Pepper in 1981.  He then was contracted to for an 85-gig tour of Holland and Belgium with Dutch pianist, Rene Van Helsdingen.  He remained in Holland for 6 more years, where he became a recording artist and guitar instructor at Hilversum Conservatory.

            He has played concerts at the Lincoln Center in NYC, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and a numerous other festivals and events in the USA and South America.  While living in NYC he played at Visiones, Knitting Factory, P.S. 122, Roulette, Angry Squire, 55 Bar, Zanzibar, Kava Haz, Sweet Rhythm, Zinc Bar and many others.  He makes several trips back every year to play with Essiet Essiet.

            Call 503-977-0620 for tickets, or Ticketmaster at 503-224-4400 where a surcharge may apply.  Children $14.00 in advance, $16.00 at the door, Adults, $16.00 in advance, $18.00 at the door.  Ticket price is tax deductible.

            We’d like to conclude with news of the truly fabulous 3-month gig, pianist and jazz singer, Robert Hicks is enjoying in Singapore. 

          He is enjoying first class treatment from the management in all aspects of this gig.  Would that venues and audiences in this country would do the same! 

            Please read and enjoy the following email Robert sent to his friends and fans in Oregon, after two weeks on the “job”. 

Greetings to all!