Originally published in Earshot Jazz March 2013
Popular and strong are two words that describe both Seattle’s hometown coffee and public school jazz programs. Starbucks continues to support Seattle music education through Hot Java Cool Jazz, an annual fundraising concert now in its 18th year. Five Seattle area public high school jazz bands will perform at the Paramount Theatre on Friday, March 22.
Victor Noriega & Gust Burns – 2 Trios Project
Originally published in Earshot Jazz March 2013
Pianists Victor Noriega and Gust Burns first crossed paths at the Port Townsend Jazz Camp in 1996 when they were both 17 years old. Now, 17 years later, they will celebrate the release of their joint recording Two Trios at the Cellar in Vancouver, BC on Sunday, March 3 and the Chapel Performance Space in Seattle on Tuesday, March 6.
The idea behind Two Trios comes from the interplay between two different piano trios with the same bassist and percussionist. In 2010, Noriega and Burns selected bassist Jeff Johnson and percussionist Greg Campbell to join them in back-to-back sets at Gallery 1412 (formerly Polestar). After two successful shows at Gallery 1412, Noriega submitted a recording to the 2011 Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The award was used to create this recording.
Pianists Victor Noriega and Gust Burns first crossed paths at the Port Townsend Jazz Camp in 1996 when they were both 17 years old. Now, 17 years later, they will celebrate the release of their joint recording Two Trios at the Cellar in Vancouver, BC on Sunday, March 3 and the Chapel Performance Space in Seattle on Tuesday, March 6.
The idea behind Two Trios comes from the interplay between two different piano trios with the same bassist and percussionist. In 2010, Noriega and Burns selected bassist Jeff Johnson and percussionist Greg Campbell to join them in back-to-back sets at Gallery 1412 (formerly Polestar). After two successful shows at Gallery 1412, Noriega submitted a recording to the 2011 Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The award was used to create this recording.
Luke Bergman: Making Music Tangible
Originally published in Earshot Jazz April 2013
Sunday night at Café Racer. Rows of empty chairs line the room. CDs cover a table. Regulars perch at the bar. A crowd appears at the stroke of 8:00 and chairs fill with listeners. The announcer introduces musicians and guidelines for the jam session to follow. Bathed in green light, performers channel melodies and rhythms that swirl like the ceiling fan above the stage.
In the front row of the audience sits Luke Bergman, eyes closed, nodding with the musical energy, twisting his short beard between thumb and index finger. He is one of ten organizers behind the weekly Racer Sessions that grew out of Cuong Vu’s free improvisation ensembles at the University of Washington. Bergman calls the Racer Sessions “a platform for any possibility.”
Sunday night at Café Racer. Rows of empty chairs line the room. CDs cover a table. Regulars perch at the bar. A crowd appears at the stroke of 8:00 and chairs fill with listeners. The announcer introduces musicians and guidelines for the jam session to follow. Bathed in green light, performers channel melodies and rhythms that swirl like the ceiling fan above the stage.
In the front row of the audience sits Luke Bergman, eyes closed, nodding with the musical energy, twisting his short beard between thumb and index finger. He is one of ten organizers behind the weekly Racer Sessions that grew out of Cuong Vu’s free improvisation ensembles at the University of Washington. Bergman calls the Racer Sessions “a platform for any possibility.”
Jazz Hero Julian Priester
The Greek root of the word "hero" is akin to the Latin "seruare" meaning "to serve" and the Greek goddess Hera as "protector." The Jazz Journalist Association selection of Julian Priester as a Jazz Hero officially recognizes the Seattle based trombonist/composer/improviser/educator as a devoted protector of jazz. Priester's lifelong career connects sophisticated swinger Duke Ellington to astral explorer Sun Ra, bebop pioneer Max Roach and genre chameleon Herbie Hancock. In Seattle, Priester's four decades teaching at Cornish College of the Arts spread his accumulated wisdom to future generations.
Radio broadcaster Jim Wilke presented the JJA Jazz Hero award to Priester at Tula's jazz club in Seattle in front of an intimate gathering of friends and fans on April 30, 2013, International Jazz Day. Several attendees took the stage to praise Priester's work. Kent Devereaux, Music Department Chair at Cornish, remembered Priester teaching him as an undergraduate in the 1970's. Chuck Deardorf, Professor at Cornish, admired Priester's ability to maximize teaching with minimal speaking. Deardorf demonstrated Priester's technique of emphasizing a lesson by slightly tipping his head forward and glaring over the top of his wire frame glasses. Journalist Paul De Barros admired Priester's moving tradition forward through fresh sounds and new collaborations. Tom Varner, Assistant Professor at Cornish, mentioned Priester's nurturing respect during Varner's early career tour with George Gruntz. Band mate Dawn Clement appreciated Priester's knack for bringing out the best in those around him.
Priester took the microphone and addressed the audience in his quiet rasp. He was overwhelmed by the award and would continue to "give back the joy and knowledge" of music to others. "I look forward to meeting on the bandstand," Priester said. As an improviser concerned with what comes next, Priester asked the crowd, "Dinner anyone?"
Visit https://www.facebook.com/julian.priester to read more about Julian.
Radio broadcaster Jim Wilke presented the JJA Jazz Hero award to Priester at Tula's jazz club in Seattle in front of an intimate gathering of friends and fans on April 30, 2013, International Jazz Day. Several attendees took the stage to praise Priester's work. Kent Devereaux, Music Department Chair at Cornish, remembered Priester teaching him as an undergraduate in the 1970's. Chuck Deardorf, Professor at Cornish, admired Priester's ability to maximize teaching with minimal speaking. Deardorf demonstrated Priester's technique of emphasizing a lesson by slightly tipping his head forward and glaring over the top of his wire frame glasses. Journalist Paul De Barros admired Priester's moving tradition forward through fresh sounds and new collaborations. Tom Varner, Assistant Professor at Cornish, mentioned Priester's nurturing respect during Varner's early career tour with George Gruntz. Band mate Dawn Clement appreciated Priester's knack for bringing out the best in those around him.
Priester took the microphone and addressed the audience in his quiet rasp. He was overwhelmed by the award and would continue to "give back the joy and knowledge" of music to others. "I look forward to meeting on the bandstand," Priester said. As an improviser concerned with what comes next, Priester asked the crowd, "Dinner anyone?"
Visit https://www.facebook.com/julian.priester to read more about Julian.
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