SFJAZZ Collective, March 1, 2009 @ Dominion-Chalmers United Church

[Big Wooly Mammoth]

San Francisco’s SFJAZZ Collective perform in their first Ottawa appearance together on Sunday, March 1, 2009, 8pm at Dominion-Chalmers United Church

San Francisco’s SFJAZZ Collective perform in their first Ottawa appearance together on Sunday, March 1, 2009, 8pm at Dominion-Chalmers United Church

Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas, Miguel Zenón, Robin Eubanks, Renee Rosnes, Matt Penman and Eric Harland are each giants of the jazz genre.

Tickets are $50 for Reserved Section, $43 for General Admission and $25 for Students 25 and under with valid ID, and are available at the Ottawa Jazz Festival office (613) 241-2633, Compact Music and all 3 CD Warehouse locations; or Ticketmaster (613) 755-1111 or www.ticketmaster.ca.

Musicfest participants: $10 rush tickets at the door- depending on availability.

Visit ottawajazzfestival.com for more information.

[Big Wooly Mammoth]

I just picked up two of the "reserved" seats. They guarantee seats in the first eight rows of the centre section. I figured that it was worth the $7, since I'm likely to show up right b4 showtime. This should be a great show.

"... this all-star octet... features an exceptionally gifted and varied cast of musicians" - San Francisco Chronicle

The San Francisco's SFJAZZ Collective might be the most perfectly assembled group of musicians ever to deal with seemingly extreme concepts in jazz such as tradition and modernity.

The ultimate weapon for achieving this nearly impossible task is an ingenious concept behind the SFJAZZ Collective. Its members convene in San Francisco each spring for a three-week rehearsal period, during which they workshop new repertoire, focusing on the works of a great modern Jazz composer from the Golden Age era and eight new compositions, one from each band member.

SFJAZZ's strong focus on modernity transpires from its musical content to the diversity of its cast of all-star musicians, who easily move from Golden Age jazz to cutting-edge contemporary sounds. Aside from being instrumentalists, members are also band leaders, arrangers and composers in their own respect. Four horns, vibraphone and rhythm can provide a richly hued palette of sounds, and the arrangements span from the lush timbres favoured by pianist Renee Rosnes to the edgy dissonances of trumpeter Dave Douglas and trombonist Robin Eubanks.

The SFJAZZ Collective celebrates Jazz as a living, ever evolving and relevant art form.

To date, the composers of focus have been Ornette Coleman (2004), John Coltrane (2005), Herbie Hancock (2006), and Thelonious Monk (2007). The composer for the 2008 season is Wayne Shorter. The SFJAZZ Collective earned

"#1 Rising Star Jazz Group" honors in DownBeat's 2006 Critics Poll, and placing high in 2007's year-end "best albums" lists from the likes of National Public Radio (#3 album) and JazzTimes (#14).

Joe Lovano (Tenor Saxophone)

Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano stands alone at the vanguard of large and small group jazz. From his recent work with Gunther Schuller, Streams of Expression, to his work as Gary Burton Chair of Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music, the Cleveland native fearlessly challenges and pushes the conceptual and thematic choices he makes in a quest for new modes of artistic expression and new takes on what defines the jazz idiom.

Dave Douglas (Trumpet)

Two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Dave Douglas has earned national and international acclaim, including trumpeter, composer, and jazz "Artist of the Year" by such organizations as the New York Jazz Awards, DownBeat, JazzTimes, and Jazziz. His solo recording career began in 1993 with Parallel World and he has since released twenty-two CDs. In 2005 he launched his own label, Greenleaf Music. He was also honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship that same year. His current release, Meaning and Mystery, features his working quintet of Uri Caine, James Genus, Clarence Penn, and Donny McCaslin.

Miguel Zenón (Alto Saxophone & Flute)

A founding member of the SFJAZZ Collective, Miguel Zenón hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He attended Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music, and has worked with Charlie Haden, Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Baretto, the Mingus Big Band, Steve Coleman and the Village Vanguard Orchestra, among others. He has topped the prestigious DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll for "#1 Rising Star, Alto Saxophone" three years in a row

(2004 -2006) and has released three recordings as a leader: Looking Forward, Ceremonial and Jibaro.

Robin Eubanks (Trombone)

Twice named "Trombonist of the Year" in the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll, Robin Eubanks is one of the foremost trombonists at work today. In addition to leading his own groups, EB3 and Mental Images, Eubanks has done Grammy-winning work with Dave Holland and Michael Brecker, and has collaborated with music legends Art Blakey, Sun Ra, and the Rolling Stones.

The native Philadelphian is also an acclaimed composer and recipient of prestigious grants from Chamber Music America and ASCAP, as well as numerous commissions from fellow musicians.

Renee Rosnes (Piano)

Canadian native Renee Rosnes has been described as a pianist and composer with a truly unique, personal vision whose improvisations have an almost visual quality. During her distinguished career, she has been the pianist of choice for such legendary artists as Joe Henderson, J.J. Johnson, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, and James Moody, among others. She has made nine acclaimed recordings on the Blue Note label.

Matt Penman (Bass)

Originally from New Zealand, Matt Penman studied at Boston's Berklee College of Music before relocating to New York in 1995. In addition to releasing his own critically acclaimed CD as a leader, The Unquiet (2002), he has recorded as a sideman on some 50 other discs and has performed with the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gary Bartz, Kenny Werner, Nnenna Freelon, Madeleine Peyroux, Brian Blade, Mark Turner, and Guillermo Klein.

Eric Harland (Drums)

A leading drummer on the national scene, 28-year-old Texas-born Eric Harland has performed with jazz legends like Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, and McCoy Tyner, and has played on more than 35 recordings with such artists as Terence Blanchard, Greg Osby, Charles Lloyd, and Stefon Harris.

In Down Beat's 65th Annual Readers Poll, he was included in the short list of top drummers, in the company of masters like Roy Haynes and the late Elvin Jones.

[flipzoso]

I think I'll check this out considering its only 25 for me (student and under 25).

[SaggyBalls]

Holy crap - what an awesome lineup!