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SFJAZZ Collective at Zankel Hall

On Wednesday, March 5 the SFJAZZ Collective brings to Zankel Hall new compositions by the ensemble's members and the works of one of jazz's quintessential modernists: iconic saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter. Named “Rising Star Jazz Band of the Year" in DownBeat's 2006 International Critics Poll, the Collective includes Joe Lovano (saxophones), Dave Douglas (trumpet), Miguel Zenn (alto saxophone and flute), Robin Eubanks (trombone), Renee Rosnes (piano), Matt Penman (bass), Eric Harland (drums), and Stefon Harris (vibraphone and marimba).

The SFJAZZ Collective's composer focus this season is on Wayne Shorter, best known for carefully conceived and complex tunes, and whose body of work as a composer includes writing for such illustrious groups as Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis's famous mid '60s quintet, and fusion supergroup Weather Report. This performance is a part of Nonesuch at Carnegie and Carnegie Hall's 2007–2008 The Shape of Jazz series. The Shape of Jazz series is presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Festival Productions.

The SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star ensemble comprising eight of the finest performers/composers at work in jazz today—including DownBeat Critics Poll “Artist of the Year" honorees Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano. Launched in 2004 by SFJAZZ—the West Coast's largest non-profit jazz institution and presenter of the annual San Francisco Jazz Festival--the Collective has quickly become one of the most exciting and acclaimed groups on the American and international jazz scenes. Upon the Collective's debut, the The New York Times hailed “a serious jazz band rises in San Francisco." Each year, the ensemble performs an entirely new list of works, mixing compositions by a modern jazz master and new pieces by the Collective's members, commissioned by SFJAZZ. Through simultaneously honoring jazz's recent history while championing the music's up-to-the-minute directions, the Collective embodies SFJAZZ's commitment to jazz as a living and ever-changing art form. The Collective convenes in San Francisco each spring for a multi-week residency. Throughout this extended rehearsal period, the octet workshops the season's new repertoire and interacts with the Bay Area community through SFJAZZ's education programs for youth and adults. The Collective then takes to the performance stage, with home season concerts under the auspices of the SFJAZZ Spring Season and national and international tours, with stops in a number of the world's most prominent concert halls. Following each season, SFJAZZ Records releases a deluxe, limited-edition CD set representing the Collective's full annual repertoire in concert.

Nonesuch Records has been home to original and adventurous performers and composers for nearly four decades. Its roster of artists spans the genres of world music, contemporary music, classical, jazz, music theater, and alternative pop. This season, Nonesuch at Carnegie also features John Adams, Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, and Steve Reich.

Now in its fifth season, The Shape of Jazz series features artists from a wide spectrum of styles. In addition to the SFJAZZ Collective, this season's lineup included The David Snchez Group (October 17) and The Bad Plus (December 12). The 2007–2008 season of The Shape of Jazz concludes on April 2 with a performance by Manhattan Trinity.





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