|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| New Orleans: Crescent City Gospel Featuring Wycliffe Gordon The saints will be rockin' when Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra trombonist Wycliffe Gordon brings his Crescent City Gospel to Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 4, 5, 6, 2006. The first half of the show will feature Wycliffe Gordon (trombone) with Eric Reed (piano), Reginald Veal (bass), Alvin Atkinson (drums) and Damien Snede (organ). The second half of the show will showcase New Orlean's singers including Topsy Chapman. The New Orleans Celebration completes the six major jazz cities in Jazz at Lincoln Center's 2005-06 season entitled Jazz >From Coast to Coast. Other cities featured included: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Detroit. As a longstanding member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Mr. Gordon knows how to get the audience involved in the show; clapping hands and stomping feet! His trombone playing mixes powerful, intricate runs with sweet notes extended over clean melodies, and has been hailed by The New York Times as "masterful." Mr. Gordon plays with passion and is as fun to watch as he is to hear. Mr. Gordon promises to raise the roof in The Allen Room as you're dazzled by the amazing view of the Manhattan skyline. Mr. Gordon brings his gospel, hymns and spirituals with a distinctly New Orleans flavor. This show revisits the 1920's, when the jazz revolution was brimming in the Crescent City and the 1930's when jazz styles found their way into the churches, bringing in more diverse instruments and paving the way for emerging gospel groups. Mr. Gordon explains, "The musicians in this show have a background in the church, they understand the sound of the church. A key focus will be on the music of New Orlean's own Mahalia Jackson. It's not a tribute to her, but in the spirit of Mahalia Jackson and Louis Armstrong. We're gonna have a good time!" This series in The Allen Room is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center's New Orleans Festival. Just across Frederick P. Rose Hall in Rose Theater during the same dates, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in collaboration with Odadaa! will perform a world premiere composition called "Congo Square" co-written by Wynton Marsalis and Yacub Addy who leads Odadaa! The new work is dedicated to Mr. Marsalis' native New Orleans. Also, next door in Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the New Orleans celebration features Wess "Warmdaddy" Anderson all week, May 2-7. Wycliffe Gordonenjoys an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger, and educator, receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike. Gordon tours the world performing hard-swinging, straight- ahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of state to elementary school students. His trombone playing, which mixes powerful, intricate runs with sweet notes extended over clean melodies, has been universally hailed by jazz critics. Gordon is rapidly becoming one of America's most persuasive and committed music educators. Currently serving on the faculty of the newly established Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School and serves as Artist-In-Residence at the School of Music at Michigan State University. His work with young musicians and audiences from elementary schools to universities all over the world is extensive, and includes master classes, clinics, workshops, children's concerts and lectures - powerful evidence of his unique ability to relate musically to people of all ages. Growing up in Kentwood, Louisiana,Topsy Chapmanbecame interested in music at an early age due to the fact that her father was a vocal music instructor. After high school she moved to New Orleans where she developed a gospel group, The Chapmans, which performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and for many clubs in and around the Crescent City area. Ms. Chapman also composes and arranges music for the group. As one of the original members of the Broadway hit "One Mo' Time, " Ms. Chapman gained international recognition. The cast album was nominated for a Grammy. She has toured the world and performed with a wide variety of artists, including Nicholas Payton, Herb Ellis and Dick Hyman. Ms. Chapman has endeared herself to crowds all over the world with her authentic style and clear melodious voice. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |