The Al Downing Jazz Association Annual Membership Meeting and Concert

Dwayne White Sent this to me. The Al Downing Jazz Association has severed the Tampa Bay Area for years and contiunes to provide support for great support music in our community. It's something well worth supporting!


The Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association, Inc. invites you to
its annual meeting and free concert
(come and find out more about our association)
Sunday, May 18th - 2:00 p.m.
Al Downing Theatre
(at Perkins Elementary school)
2205 18th Avenue South, St. Petersburg


The FREE Concert Begins at 3:30 p.m.
featuring
The Boca Ciega High School Jazz Band
directed by FRANK WILLIAMS
Come hear this fabulous group of youngsters
and experience the jazz sounds of the next generation.

The Daniel Joiner Trio at Harry's

The Daniel Joiner Trio will be performing every Wednesday night at Harry Seafood Bar and Grill on Sheldon Road. When asked do describe his music, Joiner replied, "The Trio performs a variety of jazz standards with vibrant and fresh interpretations, with styles ranging from swing, blues, ballads, Bossa Nova, and funk." He continued by saying, "The atmosphere in the restaurant is both sophisticated and comfortable. You can either relax in the bar area and enjoy friendly conversation and half-off martinis while catching your favorite sports team overhead, or enjoy fine dining at one of the charming tables or booths. The combination of elegant lighting, friendly and professional staff, great food, and the constant sound of jazz, make Harry's a perfect destination for either a romantic evening or a fun night out with friends."


Daniel Joiner is a graduate of Stetson University in DeLand Florida, where he studied classical piano with Dr. Michael Rickman. His style has been greatly inspired by jazz pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Fats Waller, Michel Camillo, Errol Garner, and his teacher Harold Blanchard, in addition to influences from his study of classical literature. Having performed both in the University setting and in the community utilizing the classical genre, he now continues his performance endeavors as a jazz pianist. Since college, he has continued his studies in jazz improvisation with legendary New Smyrna jazz pianist Harold Blanchard. Joiner is focused on developing as a professional musician, making connections between a variety of styles including classical, jazz, Latin, blues, and gospel. He is currently attending the University of South Florida in Tampa to pursuing a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies" (excerpt from The Daniel Joiner Trio CD baby bio).

Where: Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille 11935 Sheldon Road Tampa, FL 33626
When: Every Wednesday 6:00 - 9:00pm
Phone: (813) 920-6020

Buster Plays What?

I posted this earlier today on my personal blog, and Matt pointed it out that this should be posted here as well.

I was just hipped to a great video of the Tampa Bay area's very own Buster Cooper. Buster has been playing for years now down at The Garden Restaurant in St. Petersburg and always generously allows young aspiring jazz musicians to sit in. Sitting down to talk to him about his experiences is veritable history lesson in jazz and more specifically a recount of the late 1960's Duke Ellington Orchestra. Here he takes the second solo blowing over "The Opener," but what's he playing?

The Mars Trio Performing at Local Art Show

This Friday April 25, The Mars Trio will be performing live at DaSilva’s Coffee House and Roastery in Fish Hawk. DaSilva’s is hosting nearly 20 local artists for an art show from 7-11 pm. This event will be similar to that of the Canvas Art Events hosted at the Crossings Church in Brandon FL. Click here to see related posts.

DaSilva’s: the best coffee, the best friends, the best destination in town.

Where: 15282 FishHawk Blvd, Lithia FL, 33547.
When: 7:00pm.
Admission: Free.
Open To All Ages.


The Mars Trio Personnel:
Rich Van Voorst: Saxophone
Alejandro Arenas: Bass
Mark Feinman: Drums

Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet at St. Pete College

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Chamber Music America, St. Petersburg College and EMIT present a special Encore concert of Codebook by Rudresh Mahanthappa with Vijay Iyer on piano, François Moutin on bass, and Damion Reid on drums Saturday, March 1 at the Music center at St. Pete College beginning at 8:00pm. There will also be a pre-concerton discussion at 7:pm.

Guggenheim fellow Rudresh Mahanthappa is one of the most innovative young musicians and composers in jazz today. Named a "Rising Star" of the alto saxophone by the Downbeat International Critics Poll for the past four years, #2 in 2006, Rudresh has incorporated the culture of his Indian ancestry and has fused myriad influences to create a truly groundbreaking artistic vision.

St. Petersburg College Music Center is at the corner of 66th St. and 5th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. Donation admission is $10 (cash) at the door. This concert benefits music student scholarships at St. Petersburg College.

Mimi Fox at Cultural Center Theatre

Jazz Guitarist Mimi Fox will be performing in Port Charlotte on Sunday, March 16th at 7:30pm at the Cultural Center Theatre, sponsored by the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte county. For more information go to www.charlottearts.org

Fox started playing drums at nine, and then guitar when she was ten. She was inspired by the wide variety of music enjoyed by her family - show tunes, classical, Dixieland, Motown - and her own youthful inclination toward pop, folk, and R&B. When she was fourteen, she bought her first jazz album "because it was on sale." The one she chose had no guitarist, but she was "blown away" by it. That album, John Coltrane's classic "Giant Steps," changed the course of her musical life. She began touring right out of high school and eventually moved to San Francisco in 1979, where she became a sought-after musician. She is Chair of the Guitar Department at the innovative Jazz School in Berkeley, California and adjunct professor at New York University.

A seasoned player, Fox has performed with fellow guitarists Charlie Byrd, Charlie Hunter, Stanley Jordan and Kenny Burrell, as well as with Grammy award winners saxophonists Branford Marsalis and David Sanchez and Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel, saxophonist Don Lanphere, Hammond B3 organ virtuosos Barbara Dennerlien and Dr. Lonnie Smith, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Fox has also appeared on numerous television and radio shows including BET on Jazz and NPR's Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland as well as many others. Mimi is the head of the Jazz Guitar department At The Jazz School in Berkeley California.


Mimi will also be giving a workshop for players on Saturday March 15th, from 6-8pm at the Charlotte County Chamber office.

When: Sunday March 15, 6-8pm
Where: 2702 Tamiami Tail, Port Charlotte FL, 33952
Call (941) 764-8100 to reserve space
Cost: $25 per person

Pat Metheny Trio Coming to Tampa

Monterey at 50

The Monterey Jazz Festival's 50th Anniversary tour will be rolling through Sarasota Monday, 11 Feb 2008.

Building on the exciting and unprecedented legacy of fifty years of historic jazz presentation, the Monterey Jazz Festival is proud to announce the nationwide, ten-week, fifty-four date Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour. Heralded as a meeting of three generations of jazz masters, the 50th Anniversary MJF All-Star Band features the leaders of the past, present and future with Terence Blanchard on trumpet, James Moody on saxophone, Benny Green on piano, Derrick Hodge on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums. Vocalist Nnenna Freelon will also be a featured member of the group as they embark on the twenty-two state tour starting in January, 2008.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Center
Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour
Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, 8 PM
Tickets: $45, $40

Jeremy Powell Jazz Workshop at Musicology

Jeremy Powell, of Mayhem Productions, will be giving an eight week, in depth workshop jazz improvisational, jazz history, theory, and harmony, hosted by Musicology in Clearwater, starting Saturday Feb.9th from 2:30-3:30 and continuing through March 29. The workshop is geared towards the musician who wants to break out of the pentatonic scale and learn how to improvise over chord changes. This eight-week course will cover and break down the many different aspects of basic improvisation: chord tones, chord scales, guide-tone lines, modes etc., and analyze those aspects, helping students to improve on them regardless different skill levels. During the eight classes essential elements of jazz theory and song forms will be taught and, from the blues, to modal, rhythm changes, and other jazz song forms. By the end of the eight week session all of the students will have a better understanding of how to improvise as well as a priceless new confidence at soloing on there respective instrument.


Schedule:
Sat. 2/9/08 (1st class)- The Blues
An in-depth look at the blues and how to get more out of it.

Sat. 2/16/08 (2nd class)- Minor Blues
Why make the blues minor and what possibilities can this open up in our playing.

Sat. 2/23/08 (3rd class)- Modal songs
A look into the impact that “so what” had on jazz, the new style that followed, and how this style can help us improve our improv. chops.

Sat. 3/1/08 (4th class)- 6/8 or 3/4 anyone?
With a focus on songs in 3 and 6, we’ll look at how to improve our playing in 3, and why it’s so much easier than 4.

Sat. 3/8/08 (5th class)- “Boring” Ballads
We’ll focus on how to make your playing in this style more interesting and easy.

Sat. 3/15/08 (6th class)- 32 bar forms
We’ll take an in-depth look at this common song form and how to make it work for us, not the other way around.

Sat. 3/22/08 (7th class)- rhythm changes
We’ll analyze this song style’s hidden formula and simplify it... beacuse it should be simple.

Sat. 3/29/08 (8th class)- wrap-up/play
Since this will be the last class of the workshop we will review, answer any unanswered questions or concerns and of course, play!

Who: All instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome!
Where: Musicology 2576 Sunset Pt. Rd. Clearwater, FL 33765
Phone: (727) 723-1000
When: Saturdays from Feb.9th through March 29 from 2:30-3:30pm
Level: beginning to intermediate instrumentalists (some basic note and sight-reading knowledge is preferable).
Cost: Each of the 8 workshops is only $25 per person.

To reserve your spot in any of these classes or if you have any questions about this workshop please call Musicology at 727.723.1000 or e-mail Jeremy Powell at logan@mayhemproductions.us and notify them of which class(es) you will be attending. Each class is only $25.

Jamey Aebersold in Sarasota

On Friday and Saturday, January 4th and 5th, Jamey Aebersold will be performing with the Michael Royal Trio at the East Village Cabaret is Sarasota. Come hear a Master of Jazz Saxophone, making music for over 40 years.

Jamey is a internationally-known saxophonist and authority on jazz education and improvisation, and has developed a series of Play-A-Long book and cd sets for the development of improvisational skills. The Aebersold play-a-longs allow a musician the opportunity to practice and improvise with well-known jazz personalities at home as well as in the classroom.

In 1989, the International Association of Jazz Educators inducted Jamey into their Hall of Fame at the San Diego convention. With this award, Jamey joins other jazz luminaries such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong and others. There will be two sets per night at 7:30 and 9:30pm. Admission is $20.00 per show.

Where: East Village Cabaret
6265 Lake Osprey Dr
Lakewood Ranch, FL USA 34240
When:January 4th & 5th
Phone: 941 373 3933
Cost: $20 per set