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| Chicago Jazz Ensemble Presents Music of Miles, Coltrane and Ornette 1959 was a very good year. Hear how good it was when The Chicago Jazz Ensemble (The CJE) with Artistic Director Jon Faddis presents Honoring 1959: The Music of John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 East Randolph on the southeast corner of Chicago's Millennium Park, on Thursday, December 10, at 7:30 pm. The concert celebrates the 50th anniversary of Coltrane's Giant Steps, Davis' Kind of Blue and Coleman's Shape of Jazz to Come with performances of the renowned music by The CJE with special guest saxophonists David Sanchez and Steve Wilson. Concert attendees are invited to a free Pre-Show Conversation with Jazz Critic Neil Tesser and Jon Faddis in the Donor's Room at Harris Theater at 6:30 pm. In addition to the concert and pre-show conversation on December 10, don't miss the kickoff of The CJE's Listening Sessions program at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct. in the historic Dearborn Station building, on Saturday, December 5, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. The CJE's Music Director/Drummer Dana Hall will host the inaugural event, with Music Writer Peter Margasak and Ethnomusicologist/Musician Leonard Brown. Each participant will discuss the year 1959 from a unique context and play recordings that were produced in 1959 or were influenced by the 1959 records. The audience is invited to participate in the discussion and bring their favorite music from that momentous year. The event is co-produced by The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Center for Black Music Research, Columbia College Chicago. Students will be admitted for free; general public $5.00. Born in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, David Sánchez is one of the finest, most progressive players on the contemporary scene, as more than a decade's worth of bold, brilliant work has already proven. As noted critic Bob Blumenthal observed, he "has been nurturing his own distinct variety in recent years, one that draws heavily on…Miles Davis and John Coltrane and weaves rhythms in fluid strands." In 2004, the recording "Coral" earned David his first Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album and his fifth Grammy Award nomination. This recording features orchestrations and arrangements by Carlos Franzetti with the City of Prague Philharmonic. After that, Sánchez concluded a seven-album relationship with Sony Music. Three years of intensive writing, performing and shopping around for a new musical home led him to sign with Concord Records, where his latest album, "Cultural Survival, " was released in May 2008. Sánchez began playing percussion and drums at age 8 before moving to tenor saxophone four years later. While a student at the prestigious La Escuela Libre de Música in San Juan, he also took up soprano and alto saxophones as well as flute and clarinet. In 1986, Sánchez enrolled at the Universidad de Puerto Rico but dreamed of New York. By 1988, he had auditioned for and won a music scholarship at Rutgers University in New Jersey. With such close proximity to New York City, Sánchez quickly became a sought-after member of the jazz scene and began performing with Eddie Palmieri, Hilton Ruiz, Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Charlie Haden, Lalo Schifrin, Tom Harrell and Elvin Jones. Whether with giants of jazz and Latin music or under his own name, Sánchez has continued to tour extensively, bringing his mix of mainstream jazz with Afro-Latin influences to delighted audiences around the globe. A musician's musician with seven recordings under his own name, Steve Wilson has brought his distinctive sound to more than 100 recordings led by Chick Corea, George Duke, Michael Brecker, Dave Holland, Dianne Reeves, Maria Schneider, Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd, Billy Childs, Don Byron, Bill Stewart, James Williams and Mulgrew Miller, among many others. A native of Hampton, VA, Wilson began his formal training at age 12. Playing saxophone, oboe, and drums in school bands, he also played in various R&B and funk bands throughout his teens, and went on to a year-long stint with singer Stephanie Mills. He then decided to major in music at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, affording him opportunities to perform and/or study with Jimmy and Percy Heath, Jon Hendricks, Jaki Byard, John Hicks, Frank Foster and Ellis Marsalis. In 1987, he moved to New York and the following year toured the US and Europe with Lionel Hampton. He later became a first-call choice for veteran and emerging artists alike. In 1996, he joined the acclaimed Dave Holland Quintet, and from 1998-2001, he was a member of Origin, Chick Corea's Grammy-winning sextet. Wilson continues to tour with the Steve Wilson Quartet and Generations and performs with his long-time friend and colleague Lewis Nash, in the Lewis Nash/Steve Wilson Duo. He is also a touring member of the Grammy-winning Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, The Buster Williams Quartet and Mulgrew Miller's Wingspan. Always willing to share what he has learned, Wilson is on the faculty at The Manhattan School of Music, The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College-SUNY, and Columbia University; he was the Artist-in-Residence at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada) for the 2008/2009 school year. The 11th American Heritage Jazz Series continues with The Great Summit: The Music of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 7:30 pm at Harris Theater for Music and Dance. The CJE performs Ellington favorites from The CJE's library and special Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York arrangements of Armstrong classics, including "What A Wonderful World, " "Swing that Music, " and "Stardust." The CJE's founder, William Russo, had a special relationship with Ellington. Mr. Faddis, who performed with Ellington, is a Yale University Duke Ellington Fellow and has presented the Duke's music around the world. This concert officially kicks off the third annual Louis Armstrong Legacy Program and Celebration (LALPC), The CJE's educational initiative for students in Chicago Public Schools. Join The Chicago Jazz Ensemble at Harris Theater for Music and Dance on Friday, March 5, 2010, at 7:30 pm for an exploration of Jazz: Past, Present and Future, the American premier of Jon Faddis' "Teranga" compositions (from his critically-acclaimed album) arranged for big band by Michael Philip Mossman. The concert also features Slide Hampton's "Africa" (music commissioned in 2004–2005 by The CJE for Mr. Faddis' first season as Artistic Director) and arrangements by The CJE's founder, William Russo. Special guests on "Teranga" and "Africa" include Alioune Faye on djembe and Baba Faye on sabar. Dana Hall, The CJE's Music Director and drummer, also will be featured. Get In the Mood for Moody and head to The Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library Center on Friday, April 16, 2010, and The DuSable Museum of African American History on Saturday, April 17, 2010, both at 7:30 pm. NEA Jazz Master and Grammy-nominee James Moody brings his saxophone and songs, including his trademark "Moody's Mood for Love, " for an exciting evening with The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and long-time friend Jon Faddis. In addition, The CJE will present original Dizzy Gillespie charts from Mr. Faddis' own library and new arrangements of Mr. Moody's classics commissioned by The CJE. The Chicago Jazz Ensemble® is: JON FADDIS®, Artistic Director & trumpet; alto saxophones, DAN NICHOLSON and JARRARD HARRIS; tenor saxophones, PAT MALLINGER and ROB DENTY (also clarinet); baritone saxophone, TIM McNAMARA; trombones, AUDREY MORRISON, TIM COFFMAN, TRACY KIRK, and THOMAS MATTA; trumpets, MARK OLEN, LARRY BOWEN, ART HOYLE and PHAREZ WHITTED; piano, JEREMY KAHN; guitar, FRANK DAWSON; bass, DAN ANDERSON; Music Director & drums, DANA HALL; vocals, BOBBI WILSYN. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |