Archive for the ‘Jazz Conversation & More’ Category

~~ THURZZ APRIL 1ST ~ Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour at Macky Auditorium, CU Boulder ~~

CU-Boulder’s Artist Series invites you to experience guitarist/composer Lee Ritenour and pianist/composer Dave Grusin performing pieces from their Grammy-nominated album Amparo Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium.

Combining jazz and classical music, Amparo also fuses the duo’s Latin and folk influences. The two put their unique stamp on music by composers including Ravel, Handel, Albinoni, Jobim and Fauré with the help of CU-Boulder’s University Orchestra and conductor Gary Lewis. The second half of the program features music from Grusin’s award-winning film scores.

A free pre-concert conversation with CU-Boulder jazz studies professor Brad Goode will be held at 6:45 p.m. in Macky 102.

Ticket Information

Single tickets for this event are $12 to $52 with discounts for members of the CU community, seniors, youth and groups. Call the CU Presents Box Office at 303-492-8008 or visit http://www.cupresents.org for information or tickets for this performance.

Dave Grusin

Dave Grusin has worked in the music profession since the late 1950s, as an arranger, pianist, composer, and record producer. Born in Littleton, Colorado, and educated at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he holds honorary doctoral degrees from CU and from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Grusin has written more than 60 film scores, including The Graduate, Tootsie, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Firm, Havana, Heaven Can Wait, and On Golden Pond. He has received eight Academy Award nominations, and he won an Oscar in 1988 for The Milagro Bean Field War. Most recently, he scored Recount for HBO. Grusin’s life as a recording artist and producer has resulted in 10 Grammy awards and numerous nominations, including one for Two Worlds in 2002, and another for Amparo in 2008. These two classical projects with guitarist Lee Ritenour feature performances by Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, Chris Botti, and James Taylor, among others. He has also arranged for and/or performed with such artists as Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Arnold Steinhardt, Bobby Macferrin, Peggy Lee, Patti Austin, Diana Krall, Grover Washington Jr., Earl Klugh, Arturo Sandoval, Clark Terry, Sergio Mendes, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, and Paul Simon. From 1976 to 1995, Grusin and Larry Rosen owned GRP records. Together they are also cofounders of the National Foundation for Jazz Education, a philanthropic group dedicated to helping young jazz musicians. In addition to his career in music, Grusin is a rancher and a dedicated environmental activist. He has been a frequent participant in the Annual Conference on World Affairs held in Boulder.

Lee Ritenour

Growing up in L.A. in the 60’s, Grammy award winning guitarist Lee Ritenour received a rich cross section of exposure to jazz, rock and Brazilian music. From one of his first sessions at 16 with the Mamas and Papas to accompanying Lena Horne and Tony Bennett at 18, his forty year eclectic and storied career is highlighted by a Grammy Award win for his 1986 collaboration with Dave Grusin, Harlequin; 17 Grammy nominations; numerous #1 spots in guitar polls and the prestigious “Alumnus of the Year” award from USC. He has recorded over 40 albums, with 35 chart songs, notably the Top 15 hit “Is It You,” which has become a contemporary jazz radio classic. In the 90s, Ritenour was a founding member of Fourplay, the most successful band in contemporary jazz, with keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. The first Fourplay album in 1991 spent an unprecedented 33 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart. Adding to this legacy is his latest CD Smoke ‘n’ Mirrors; the recently completed Grammy nominated recording Amparo, (a follow-up with Dave Grusin to their highly-successful 2001 Grammy Award nominated contemporary classical crossover CD) and producer of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band’s latest CD Act Your Age (nominated for 3 Grammys).

About the Artist Series

The Artist Series, now in its 73rd season, has a rich tradition of bringing the finest performers in the world to Boulder’s Macky Auditorium. Recent performers on the series have included Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Hilary Hahn, and Arturo Sandoval. In addition to serving audiences with an exciting variety of performances, the Artist Series has an important educational mission, including outreach events planned in conjunction with almost every concert. The Artist Series is part of CU Presents which is hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music ~~ FMI: cwa-students@colorado.edu OR cwafans@colorado.edu ~~~~.

CU-Boulder’s Artist Series invites you to experience guitarist/composer Lee Ritenour and pianist/composer Dave Grusin performing pieces from their Grammy-nominated album Amparo Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium ~~ Combining jazz and classical music, Amparo also fuses the duo’s Latin and folk influences. The two put their unique stamp on music by composers including Ravel, Handel, Albinoni, Jobim and Fauré with the help of CU-Boulder’s University Orchestra and conductor Gary Lewis. The second half of the program features music from Grusin’s award-winning film scores ~~ A free pre-concert conversation with CU-Boulder jazz studies professor Brad Goode will be held at 6:45 p.m. in Macky 102 ~~ Ticket Information ~~ Single tickets for this event are $12 to $52 with discounts for members of the CU community, seniors, youth and groups. Call the CU Presents Box Office at 303-492-8008 or visit http://www.cupresents.org for information or tickets for this performance ~~ Dave Grusin ~~ Dave Grusin has worked in the music profession since the late 1950s, as an arranger, pianist, composer, and record producer. Born in Littleton, Colorado, and educated at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he holds honorary doctoral degrees from CU and from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Grusin has written more than 60 film scores, including The Graduate, Tootsie, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Firm, Havana, Heaven Can Wait, and On Golden Pond. He has received eight Academy Award nominations, and he won an Oscar in 1988 for The Milagro Bean Field War. Most recently, he scored Recount for HBO. Grusin’s life as a recording artist and producer has resulted in 10 Grammy awards and numerous nominations, including one for Two Worlds in 2002, and another for Amparo in 2008. These two classical projects with guitarist Lee Ritenour feature performances by Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, Chris Botti, and James Taylor, among others. He has also arranged for and/or performed with such artists as Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Arnold Steinhardt, Bobby Macferrin, Peggy Lee, Patti Austin, Diana Krall, Grover Washington Jr., Earl Klugh, Arturo Sandoval, Clark Terry, Sergio Mendes, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, and Paul Simon. From 1976 to 1995, Grusin and Larry Rosen owned GRP records. Together they are also cofounders of the National Foundation for Jazz Education, a philanthropic group dedicated to helping young jazz musicians. In addition to his career in music, Grusin is a rancher and a dedicated environmental activist. He has been a frequent participant in the Annual Conference on World Affairs held in Boulder ~~ Lee Ritenour ~~ Growing up in L.A. in the 60’s, Grammy award winning guitarist Lee Ritenour received a rich cross section of exposure to jazz, rock and Brazilian music. From one of his first sessions at 16 with the Mamas and Papas to accompanying Lena Horne and Tony Bennett at 18, his forty year eclectic and storied career is highlighted by a Grammy Award win for his 1986 collaboration with Dave Grusin, Harlequin; 17 Grammy nominations; numerous #1 spots in guitar polls and the prestigious “Alumnus of the Year” award from USC. He has recorded over 40 albums, with 35 chart songs, notably the Top 15 hit “Is It You,” which has become a contemporary jazz radio classic. In the 90s, Ritenour was a founding member of Fourplay, the most successful band in contemporary jazz, with keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason. The first Fourplay album in 1991 spent an unprecedented 33 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s contemporary jazz chart. Adding to this legacy is his latest CD Smoke ‘n’ Mirrors; the recently completed Grammy nominated recording Amparo, (a follow-up with Dave Grusin to their highly-successful 2001 Grammy Award nominated contemporary classical crossover CD) and producer of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band’s latest CD Act Your Age (nominated for 3 Grammys) ~~ About the Artist Series ~~ The Artist Series, now in its 73rd season, has a rich tradition of bringing the finest performers in the world to Boulder’s Macky Auditorium. Recent performers on the series have included Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Hilary Hahn, and Arturo Sandoval. In addition to serving audiences with an exciting variety of performances, the Artist Series has an important educational mission, including outreach events planned in conjunction with almost every concert. The Artist Series is part of CU Presents which is hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music ~~ FMI: Maura Clare,  Director of Public Affairs, Conference on World Affairs, University of Colorado, 465 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0465 ~~ 303.492.8611 ~~ 303.492.3934 ~~ ww.colorado.edu/cwa~~.

~~ FRI  MARCH 5TH THE CONCERT ~~ INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TROMBONIST/COMPOSER/ARRANGER WAYNE WALLACE AND FRIENDS PRESENT CLINICS AND A CONCERT DURING CUBAN MUSIC EXPERIENCE and 6TH ANNUAL NIGHT OF CUBAN MUSIC CONCERT, MARCH 2 – 5 ~~ Wallace’s new CD ¡BIEN BIEN! Earned 4.5 stars in DownBeat Magazine ~~ “Wallace’s arrangements, populated with tightly synched, beefy horn charts and sturdy Latin percussion, are inspiredŠ” – Jeff Tamarkin, Jazz Times ~~ “Wallace’s band made it clear from the first note that they were here to get down ~~ NOWŠ Wallace’s quintet is like an elite commando unit: lean, mean and packing some serious heat.” – Forrest Dylan Bryant, Jazz Observer ~~ The University of Colorado Denver’s Department of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies Department and UC Denver Live! are pleased to present the Cuban Music Experience featuring series of clinics and the 6th annual Night of Cuban Music concert on March 2-5, 2010 ~~ The Cuban Music Experience at the University of Colorado Denver integrates the teaching and performance of Cuban music. Internationally recognized artists Wayne Wallace, John Santos, Michael Spiro, and David Belove bring a wide range of musical expertise to the UC Denver campus. These artists will be featured at the 6th annual Night of Cuban Music concert on March 5, 2010. They will also present clinics throughout the day on March 2-5, free of charge, and open to all students and the public. The presentations will cover a wide range of topics including the Cuban rhythm section, history, styles, arranging, music business, recording, and specific instruments.~~ WHO:   University of Colorado Denver Cuban Music Experience featuring the 6th annual Night of Cuban Music Concert and Clinics ~~ WHEN: TUEZZ MAR 2ND (Cliniczz)~ FRI 5TH (Concert) 2010 ~~ WHERE: Cuban Music Experience Clinics ~~ March 2-5 in Various Locations and @ Various Times ~~ 6th annual Night of Cuban Music Concert ~~ Friday, March 5 @ 7:30pm ~~ King Center Concert Hall, 855 Lawrence Way, Auraria Campus ~~ COST: Cuban Music Experience Clinics – Free and open to the public ~~ 6th annual Night of Cuban Music Concert Ticketzz: $12 General Admission o $5 UC Denver students ~~ Box Office: 303-556-2296 or http://www.ahec.edu/kingcenter/main/box_office.html ~~ For detailed information about clinic locations and times or for ticket information for the concert, visit www.CubanMusicExperience.com, find us on Facebook under Cuban Music Experience, or email peter.ellingson@ucdenver.edu ~~ Master trombonist, composer, arranger, and producer WAYNE WALLACE is a three-time Grammy nominee and one of the most respected exponents of African American-Latin music in the world today. His most recent CD, ¡BIEN BIEN! has earned international acclaim including 4.5 stars in DownBeat Magazine, and he’s earned a place on the DownBeat Critic’s Poll both as a producer and trombonist. With a formidable career that has seen him on the stage and in the studio with countless luminaries of contemporary music from all genres (Count Basie, Ray Charles, Joe Henderson, Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, Lionel Hampton, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Sonny Rollins, Pearl Bailey, Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Lena Horne, Pete Escovedo, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, Earl “Fatha” Hines and cellist Jean Jeanrenaud of the Kronos Quartet to name a few), Wallace’s light is burning bright with a growing catalog of critically acclaimed releases on his Patois label. He is known to many as “The Doctor” for his production skills, but he is also a lauded composer who received an N.E.A. grant for jazz composition. He is also active as an educator, and his own teachers included Julian Priester, Bobby Hutcherson and Will Sudmeier. Wallace studied at La Escuela Nacional in Havana, Cuba, and continues to travel to the culturally rich island nation as both a student and educator ~~  http://www.walacomusic.com/ ~~ John Santos_Four-time Grammy nominee, and US Artists Fontanals Fellow, John Santos, is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. He is known for his innovative use of traditional forms and instruments in combination with contemporary music, and has earned much respect and recognition as an educator, composer, and record and event producer. He has performed, recorded and studied with acknowledged masters of the Afro-Latin and Jazz idioms such as Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Bebo Valdés, Lazaro Ros, Armando Peraza, Eddie Palmieri, Patato Valdés, Francisco Aguabella, Orestes Vilató, Rene López, Max Roach, Batacumbele, Steve Turre, John Faddis, Nestor Torres and Chocolate Armenteros. This experience has provided a solid foundation for Mr. Santos’ current ground- breaking work in bringing together styles, rhythms, concepts and artists from different generations. Born in San Francisco, California, November 1, l955, he was raised in the Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean traditions of his family, surrounded by music. The fertile musical environment of the San Francisco Bay Area shaped his career in a unique way. His studies of Afro-Latin music have included several trips to New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil and Colombia ~~ Michael Spiro is an internationally recognized percussionist, recording artist, and educator, known specifically for his work in the Latin music field. He has performed on thousands of records, co-produced and played on several instructional videos for Warner Bros. Publications (including Talking Drums, Changuito, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Ignacio Berroa), and produced seminal recordings in the Latin music genre, including Orquesta Batachanga, Grupo BataKetu, Mark Levine and the Latin Tinge, and Grupo Ilu-Aña ~~ David Belove is a Kansas City native who relocated to San Francisco in 1973 and soon became the Bay Area’s most prominent Latin and Brazilian bassist.  He has recorded, performed or toured with Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Tito Puente, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Rebeca Mauleón, Rolando Morales, Homenagem Brasiliera, Wayne Wallace, The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and many more.  Belove has also worked with jazz artists including Joe Henderson, Blue Mitchell, Eddie Harris, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Larry Coryell, Louis Bellson, Mark Murphy and Pat Metheny.  Belove teaches at the JazzSchool in Berkeley, CA, at Jazz Camp West, the Jazz In the Middle program for SF Jazz, and in 2004 he became an adjunct faculty member at Mills College. In addition, he teaches at his studio in Oakland where he also works on photography and graphics projects ~~ Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2008-09, the College of Arts & Media (CAM) at the University of Colorado Denver embraces the influence of modern trends on traditional art forms. Located on UC Denver’s downtown campus, CAM is at the heart of Denver’s thriving, dynamic arts Community. The college encourages its students to discover new artistic forms, explore creative applications of technology, and prepare themselves for careers in the current and emergent culture industry. CAM is one of 13 schools and colleges at UC Denver. The University offers more than 100 degrees and serves more than 28,000 students in Metro Denver and online. For additional news and information, please visit the UC Denver newsroom: http://ucdenver.edu/about/newsroom/Pages/Newsroom.aspx/ ~~ FMMI: Ann Braithwaite, Braithwaite & Katz  Communications, 248 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 ~~ Ph: 781-259-9600 ~~ Fax: 781-259-9606 ~~ ann@bkmusicpr.com ~~.

~~ SUN APRIL 25TH~~ Dale Bruning & Jude Hibler ~~ JLE’s First House Party – It’s About Time!  ~~ Virtuosic Guitarist Dale Bruning and Jazz Narrator/Historian Mzz. Jude Hibler  will be performing their 1ST JLE The Great American Songbook House Party Concert in a home ~~ Jazz Host Family, Dea and Bob Brayden ~~ @ 11562 W. 28th Ave., Lakewood. in Lakewood ~~ We are calling it “It’s About Time!” – with the songs based on the theme, of course, of “time.” ~~ Joining them will be Bassist Mark Simon ~~ The $27 tickets (sales tax included) can be ordered from their website OR by calling our office at 303-776-1764~~ It’s About Time Concert Tickets ~~ Seating is limited – a maximum of 45 people – first come, first served ~~ For questions & FMI: call the JLE office at 303-776-1764 or email us ~~ at info@jazzlinkenterprises.com ~~ Jazz Link Enterprises is pleased to announce the release of its latest CD, The Dale Bruning Quintet: Classical Connections, Vol II ~~ Special guest is flutist Ali Ryerson with Jeff Jenkins, piano, Mark Simon, bass, and Paul Romaine, drums ~~ This CD represents the second show of a live concert we performed in November, 2006 in Denver, Colorado ~~ To hear samples and to purchase this CD for $15 follow this link: Classical Connections Vol II ~~ FFMI: Jazz Link Enterprises, 3721 Columbia Dr., Longmont, CO 80503 ~~ 303-776-1764 OR info@jazzlinkenterprises.com OR www.jazzlinkenterprises.com ~~.

~~ The NEA ( The National Endowment For The Arts) ~ 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Books Are Available (As Long As They Last! ~ So Hurry, Hurry, Hurry) ~~ ADDITIONAL ~~ “NEA Jazz Masters ~ 1982 ~ 2010″ ~~ can be obtained for FREE (YEZZ, YEZZ, YEZZ, that’zz fer FREE!) by contactin’ The NEA @  www.arts.gov ~~ P.S.  The Person many of us appreciative jazz-beaux & -bellezz have to thanx is ~~  Mzz. Liz[z] Stark, Communications Assistant, The  NEA, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20506~0001 ~~ starke@arts.gov ~~ 202.682.5744 (p) ~~ 202.682.5400 (p)~~ 202.682.5611 (f)  ~~.

~~ WED FEB 3RD ~~ Vocalist/Songstress Wendy Fopeano joinzz Pianist Jeff Jenkins For His Weekly, “Piano Conversations” @ at Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St., Denver, CO 80203 ~~ Hit Timezz: The gig goes from 9pm to midnight ~~ Tickets: TBA ~~ Jeff invites different guests in a duo format to talk a little and play music, sort of like Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz.  FMI: ~~ http://www.dazzlejazz.com or 303.839.5100. ~~Please call 303.839.5100 and make a reservation! ~~ Check out Dazzle on Myspace!http://www.myspace.com/dazzlejazz ~~ FFMI: Wendy @wendy@outsideshore.com OR www.outsideshore.com ~~.