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| Vermont Jazz Center Presents Eugene Uman's Convergence Project May 21, 2022 @ 8 pm Eugene Uman's Convergence Project Composer and pianist Eguene Uman and the original members of the Convergence Project return to the Vermont Jazz Center for a reunion concert performing high-energy original jazz compositions. "Eugene combines sounds from around the world to form a uniquely creative palette for his explorations. The Convergence Project performs his compositions with great skill and joy." -Bobby Watson Composer and pianist Eugene Uman and the original members of the Convergence Project will return to the Vermont Jazz Center for a reunion concert performing high-energy original jazz compositions on Saturday, May 21st at 8 PM. Members of the Convergence Project joining Uman will be Michael Zsoldos on saxophone, Jeff Galindo on trombone, Stomu Takeishi on electric bass, and Satoshi Takeishi on drums. This configuration of the Convergence project, with the Takeishi brothers' rhythm section, hasn't performed together since 2015. Uman has prepared new material and revised some old favorites in preparation for this exciting concert. "The intention when writing these pieces was to combine the vocabulary of jazz with the edge of rock and funk and the inspiration of Colombian folkloric rhythms such as pasillo, cumbia, currulao, puya and porro, " says Uman. The music of the Convergence Project balances an artistic tightrope between fresh, innovative and exploratory on one side, and accessible, understandable and visceral on the other. The leader of the Convergence Project, Eugene Uman, is a composer, pianist, and educator. He has been the Executive Artistic Director of the Vermont Jazz Center since 1997, has worked tirelessly to connect music and the local community and has written over 200 jazz compositions, including three that appeared on Latin Jazz star Sammy Figueroa's 2005 Grammy Nominated CD, In Walked Sammy. NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath has called Uman's compositions "music of substance and integrity." Another saxophone legend, Jerry Bergonzi, says "I always love listening to Eugene's compositions; they make so much musical sense and bring you on a journey with a very healing, uplifting feel." For the VJC performance on May 21st, the Convergence Project will be playing material from their first two albums as well as debuting new compositions that Eugene recently wrote. The arrangements intentionally travel far afield from traditional structures by incorporating odd meters and musical language from the worlds of jazz and rock. But the pieces based on the Colombian rhythms still retain their original folkloric essence. These rhythmical grooves provide an immutable finger-print that enhance Uman's compositions. "In putting together the Convergence Project, I have created a situation in which I could effectively express all the styles that have influenced my own compositions" said Uman. "As a teen in the 70s I was greatly influenced by progressive rock groups like Yes, the grooves of the Stones, the blues of Muddy Waters, the songwriting of James Taylor, and the sounds of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans (I was fortunate to catch all four of these pianists, live). I was also influenced by the music of Charlie Parker, Coltrane, the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Cecil Taylor who showed me that music is also a reflection of Spirit; their offerings gave me the permission to explore the expressive power inherent in improvised music. As an adult I lived for a while in Colombia where music is a rich and constant presence. Rhythm is the foundation of Colombian musical culture - a vast vocabulary of rhythms imbues both popular and "art" music. Those rhythms have permeated my soul and are now an extension of my vocabulary." Furthermore, everyone in the Convergence Project is encouraged to add their own voice to the big picture. The band concept is founded on the synergy of each musician's personal style in combination with the primordial, rhythmical pulse. "Each of these musicians brings vast knowledge and wisdom to a musical performance, " said Uman, "the Convergence Project gives me the opportunity to incorporate the voices of my favorite collaborators. These musicians add depth, soul, sophistication and perspective. I so value the way that they insert their own experiences and knowledge, surprising me and exponentially enhancing the creative result. Our feelings of mutual respect for each other establishes an environment that cultivates trust and therefore permits a willingness to take chances. Stomu and Satoshi in particular bring their own limitless palettes of sound that they have developed over the years playing with sonic pioneers like Henry Threadgill. Their approaches place creativity at the apex of their sound. Therefore, each composition becomes a sonic playground that awaits their brush." Members of the Convergence Project include Uman and: Drummer Satoshi Takeishi has appeared on over 200 recordings including those by Latin giants Nestor Torres, Ray Barretto, Hector Martignon, Francisco Zumaqué, and Eliane Elias. His roots are deep in jazz and experimental music as well. Takeishi's creative input can be heard on recordings by Joshua Redman, Marc Johnson, Sam Newsome, Eddie Gomez, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Mark Murphy, Herbie Mann, Jen Shyu, John Hébert, Lalo Schifrin, Giora Fiedman, Laszlo Gardony, Badal Roy, Erik Friedlander, Colombian saxophonist Antonio Arnedo, Paul Winter, Anthony Braxton, Theo Bleckmann/Ben Monder, Joel Harrison and Rob Brown, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band. His unique style incorporates percussion and electronics along with the traditional drum set. Stomu Takeishi is no ordinary bassist, his unique approach is at once percussive, melodic and focused on the quality of sound for its own sake. Takeishi plays a 5-string, fretless electric instrument which he uses with pedals and effects to generate his own vocabulary. Takeishi has performed in jazz festivals and major venues throughout the world. In Downbeat's 57th Critics Poll, he was the winner in the category of Electric Bass, Rising Star. He has appeared on over 120 recordings including those with Cuong Vu and Pat Metheny, Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Lazlo Gardony, Dave Tronzo, Henry Threadgill & Make a Move, Badal Roy, Erik Friedlander, Myra Melford's Crush, Steve Gorn, John Zorn, Colombian vocalist Lucia Pulido, Patrick Zimmerli and many others. Saxophonist Michael Zsoldos has performed with Paquito D'Rivera, Sheila Jordan, Kevin Mahogany, Houston Person, Luis Perdomo, Jason Palmer, Matt Wilson, Helen Sung, George Schuller, Armen Donelian, Bernadette Peters, Carole King, the Temptations, and many others. Zsoldos' debut CD as a leader, Off the Cuff, includes other A-list performers such as Miro Sprague (piano), Matt Wilson (drums) and Martin Wind (bass). Since 2005, Michael has been the instrumental arranger for the Dartmouth College Gospel Choir and Dartmouth Idol. With these two gospel groups he has made two European tours and performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Chicago House of Blues, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and President Obama's inauguration. In June 2009, Michael was the musical arranger for Oprah Winfrey's Trip of a Lifetime Mediterranean cruise. Michael is a lecturer in classical saxophone and music theory at Dartmouth College, and was saxophone instructor at the University of Vermont from 2009-2017. Michael composed the music for the 2017 documentary "Seeing Through the Wall: Meeting Ourselves in Palestine and Israel." He is also on the teaching faculties of the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro, and Interplay Jazz and Arts. Trombonist Jeff Galindo sums up his personal musical philosophy in one phrase: “Music doesn’t lie. We can speak lies, but a musician plays who he is.” When Jeff picks up his horn, the truth of that statement becomes obvious. Every utterance is crazy wisdom: beyond thought but with deep roots in study and talent. Galindo has toured the world with Phil Woods, Makoto Ozone, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Irving Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. He was trombonist and musical director for Esperanza Spalding and played on her Grammy-award winning CD, Radio Music Society. Galindo has performed with Chick Corea, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, George Russell, Slide Hampton, and Johnny Griffin, Gunther Schuller, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Bergonzi, Bobby Shew, The Boston Pops Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr. and the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra among many others. In Boston, Jeff performed regularly with the Greg Hopkins Big Band and Nonet, the Galindo/Phaneuf Sextet plus his double quartet with George Garzone. Galindo has two albums out as a leader and appears as a sideman on recordings with Angélique Kidjo, Esperanza Spalding, Robin McKelle, Cheryl Wheeler, Amanda Carr, Danilo Pérez, Greg Hopkins, Toni Ballard, Rebecca Parris, Bob Moses, Bob Nieske and others. Uman refers to the Convergence Project as his dream band. Each musician is skilled at reading and interpreting his compositions, they are all strong soloists, each with a unique sound and an individualized vocabulary. The entire band is able to authentically interpret both Latin and swing rhythms and everyone is fearless, willing to stretch out into unfamiliar territory and jump into the abyss of the unknown. Here’s Eugene’s composition ‘Cumbia Dramatica’ to give you a taste of the energetic delight in store. The Convergence Project on Saturday, May 21st at 8:00 PM is made possible with generous financial support from Michael McKenzie and the McKenzie Family Charitable Trust. Words cannot express the Jazz Center’s gratitude to the Trust for their decades-long assistance which gives the VJC the means to follow through with high-quality programming and scholarship. Publicity is underwritten by The Commons and The Brattleboro Reformer. The VJC is also grateful to the Vermont Arts Council, the Vermont Humanities Council and New England Foundation of the Arts for their constant and generous support. write your comments about the article :: © 2022 Jazz News :: home page |