Up for Jazz Grammys

McCoy Tyner photo by John Abbott (left) and Joe Lovano photo by Jimmy Katz (right)

Many past – and a couple future – Center favorites are nominees 

by Cristofer Gross 

Nominations for the Grammy® Awards were announced on December 6, and among the nominees in Jazz categories are Segerstrom Jazz Series favorites, including two with upcoming shows. 

Fred Hersch photo by David Bartolomi

Saxophonist Joe Lovano, nominated in the Large Jazz Ensemble category for his guest work on the Brussels Jazz Orchestra's "Wild Beauty" CD, is here this weekend as a special guest with the McCoy Tyner Trio. (Don't miss it: tickets here.)

Fred Hersch, nominated in the Soloist Category for "Free Flying," will make his Center debut May 2. His CD is a duo with Julian Lage, who was here in February 2008 with pianist Taylor Eigsti. 

Hersch is competing against four-time Center visitor Terence Blanchard, whose last visit, in April 2011, was a memorable double bill with Branford Marsalis' quartet. 

For Best Jazz Vocal Album, two-timer Tierney Sutton (2004, 2007) is our favorite for "After Blue," a Joni Mitchell collection. In 2007, when asked about singer-songwriters in general and Mitchell in particular, Tierney told me, "Joni is a genius. I love her. There may come a time when I can figure out something honorable to do with something of hers." 

The nomination makes "After Blue" officially "honorable!" 

Instrumental Competition

Terri Lyne Carrington photo by Tracy Love

In the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category, vibraphonist Gary Burton, who joined Chick Corea for a dazzling duo here in March 2011, is nominated for "Guided Tour," competing with drummer Terri Lynn Carrington, who was just here in ACS with pianist Geri Allen and bassist Esperanza Spalding. She is nominated for a reworking of Duke Ellington's "Money Jungle," called "Provocative In Blue." 

Bassist Christian McBride's trio is also up for "Out Here." Christian is another three-time Center visitor, most recently with Blanchard as part of the Ivan Lins tribute in 2007. 

Best wishes to all Jazz nominees (full list). The awards will be announced in a live CBS broadcast on January 26. 

Cristofer Gross writes jazz features for Center publications. His interview with Joe Lovano is here.

An Acronym by Any Other Name

A trio of contemporary jazz greats choose to abbreviate. 

By Cristofer Gross

Forty years ago the most successful progressive rock group went by its initials: ELP. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, veterans of other famous bands, formed a "supergroup." With much less fanfare but more raw firepower, a new super trio has emerged in contemporary jazz. 

Unlike the men of old, ACS has no recordings. That's because pianist Geri Allen, drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, and bassist Esperanza Spalding are so busy with individual Grammy-worthy projects they could only squeeze in a short tour. Fortunately, it includes shows in the Samueli on October 25 and 26. 

Although it will be Allen's first visit, Spalding had an unforgettable debut here in 2009, before she became the first jazz artist to earn Best New Artist in Grammy history. Since then she released two more acclaimed CDs and has been in constant demand in the studios and on festival stages. 

In May, Carrington, who was here eight years ago, spoke about ACS for a story in Revue. 

"Our very first gig in New York was at the Vanguard and we recorded a couple of those nights," she said. "It sounds good, but we don't have any plans to release it or go into the studio. But anything can happen." 

Saxophonist Joe Lovano, who will be at the Center with the McCoy Tyner Trio in December, has appeared alongside ACS this summer in concerts marking Wayne Shorter's 80th birthday. In a separate interview, he praised the trio. 

"Geri's amazing," he said. "She's fabulous and knows so much music. Terri also, the way she reorganizes and restructures things within the music is just beautiful." 

Don't miss ACS. This is one acronym-supergroup whose touring days may be as abbreviated as its name. 
_________________________________ 

Read Cris’ full story in the Center’s online Revue magazine here. To read Mr. Gross's interview with Carrington, please visit his website, Theater Times. 

Tune In: International Jazz Day Global Concert LIVE

Today is International Jazz Day! Tune in now (11 a.m. PDT) for the Global Concert live webcast at live.jazzday.com for live performances by Herbie Hancock and other jazz greats. 

To learn more about International Jazz Day, please read our post here or visit www.jazzday.com.

Celebrate Jazz Around the World

Wynton Marsalis

Tuesday, April 30 is International Jazz Day, designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This international art form is recognized for promoting peace, dialogue among cultures, diversity, respect for human rights and human dignity, eradicating discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, fostering gender equality and reinforcing the role of youth for social change. Jazz artists will perform and workshops will be held to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. 

International Jazz Day is chaired and led by Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General, and celebrated jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock, who serves as a UNESCO Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Chairman of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. 

For more information about International Jazz Day or to watch live streaming of concerts, visit www.jazzday.com. 

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® © Alejandro Perez

Don’t miss the Center’s 2013 – 2014 Jazz Season: 

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® featuring Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Guajiro Mirabal & Barbarito Torres with special guest Roberto Fonseca 
September 17, 2013 

ACS: Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding
October 25 & 26, 2013 

McCoy Tyner and Joe Lovano 
December 13 & 14, 2013 

Dr. Lonnie Smith 
February 21 & 22, 2014 

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis 
March 14, 2014 

Fred Hersch Trio 
May 2 & 3, 2014

Billy Elliot: More Than Ballet

Billy Elliot The Musical is the story of a young boy who aspires to a career in ballet, but people are often surprised that the show also encompasses tap, hip hop, jazz, acrobatics and folk dancing. Even walking becomes a form of expression. 

The diversity was very deliberate. Said choreographer Peter Darling, “I didn’t want to convey the notion that only one form of movement is of value. I wanted to use as many different forms of movement as possible. We’re celebrating dance; dance is worthy of celebration and all forms of dance can tell a narrative.” 

Darling infused the ballet choreography with contemporary movement, steps that would contradict traditional classical dance. When Billy auditions for The Royal Ballet in the number “Electricity,” the ballet he performs includes street dance, hip hop and acrobatics. “The idea is that The Royal Ballet is looking for young dancers with potential, who are phenomenal movers,” says Darling. “And Billy shows that he’s a phenomenal mover who can also turn three pirouettes. Ballet can be one of the most thrilling things you’ll ever see, because of the amount of training, technique, and strength required to do it. The training enables the body to do things that are phenomenally difficult. You’re able to travel through the air. It’s got a great freedom to it.” 

To learn more about Billy Elliot The Musical, please visit SCFTA.org. 

2013 - 2014 Season Announcement

The Center is proud to announce its 2013 – 2014 Season, featuring the very best in performing arts across dance, Broadway, jazz, cabaret, classical music, enriching family entertainment and more.

Information for renewing season ticket holders for the upcoming season will be sent to current subscribers, with new priority order for new season tickets available soon. Single tickets will go on sale approximately six weeks prior to individual engagements.

For more information and detailed descriptions, please click the respective series titles or visit SCFTA.org.

International Dance Series

• Diana Vishneva: On the Edge (November 6, 7, 9 & 10, 2013)

• Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev (January 24 – 26, 2014)
• Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Swan Lake (February 27 – March 2, 2014)
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 27 – 30, 2014)


Broadway Series

• EVITA (December 10 – 22, 2013)

• The Wizard of Oz (February 11 – 23, 2014)
• The Book of Mormon (May 13 – 25, 2014)
• Jersey Boys (June 24 – July 13, 2014)
• Ghost The Musical (July 22 – August 3, 2014)
• ONCE (August 19 – 31, 2014)


Curtain Call Series
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert (October 22 – 27, 2013)
• CHICAGO (January 28 – February 2, 2014)
• I Love Lucy® Live On Stage (March 18 – 23, 2014)


Special Bonus Productions






• Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (January 14 – 19, 2014)
• Mamma Mia! (April 8 – 13, 2014)


Jazz Series

• Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® featuring Omara Portuondo, Eliades Ochoa, Guajiro Mirabal & Barbarito Torres with special guest Roberto Fonseca (September 17, 2013)

• ACS: Geri Allen, Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding (October 25 & 26, 2013)
• McCoy Tyner and Joe Lovano (December 13 & 14, 2013)
• Dr. Lonnie Smith (February 21 & 22, 2014)
• Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis (March 14, 2014)
• Fred Hersch Trio (May 2 & 3, 2014)


Cabaret Series 
• Bernadette Peters (October 11, 2013)
• Marilyn Maye and Clint Holmes (November 14 – 16, 2013)
• Peter Gallagher (February 13 – 15, 2014)
• Patti LuPone (March 22, 2014)
• Jimmy Webb and Maureen McGovern (April 11- 13, 2014)


Concert Series

• Pacifica Quartet with Marc-André Hamelin (November 12, 2013)

• Jeffrey Kahane, Joseph Swensen and Carter Brey (December 12, 2013)
• Emerson String Quartet (January 10, 2014)
• St. Lawrence String Quartet (February 20, 2014)
• Philharmonia Baroque Chamber Players (March 16, 2014)


Family: Discovery Series
• The Okee Dokee Brothers (December 7 & 8, 2013)
• Still Awake Still! (February 8 & 9, 2014)
• Cre8tion: Fluff (April 5 & 6, 2014)
• Bristol Riverside Theatre: The Little Prince (April 26 & 27, 2014)
• Lightwire Theater: The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and The Hare (May 17 & 18, 2014)


Family: Explorer Series

• Perth Theatre Company: The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer (October 18 – 20, 2013)

• The Intergalactic Nemesis Book Two: Robot Planet Rising (November 9 & 10, 2013)
• Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (January 17 – 19, 2014) – Explorer Series subscribers have a unique and special opportunity to see the full production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in Segerstrom Hall as a part of their subscription package.


Opera Series






• LA OPERA In Concert: Falstaff (November 26, 2013)
• LA OPERA In Concert: Thaïs (May 27, 2014) – previously announced for May 22, 2014

Center Jazz Series Artists in Grammy Race

Pat Metheny © Jimmy Katz

Ahmad Jamal

Two performers from this year's Jazz Series have been nominated for Grammy® Awards in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. Pat Metheny, who received a nomination for Unity, performed in Segerstrom Hall on September 28. Ahmad Jamal, up for his Blue Moon album, performed in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on November 24. 

Other artists nominated this year who have also appeared in the Center's Jazz Series include Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau, Kurt Elling, Esperanza Spalding and Arturo Sandoval.

Upcoming performances in the series include Ninety Miles, with Stefon Harris, Nicholas Payton, David Sánchez, Edward Simon, Luques Curtis, Henry Cole and Maracio Herera on December 14 and 15 and Monterey Jazz Festival 55th Anniversary Concert, featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Christian McBride, Ambrose Akinmusire, Chris Potter, Benny Green and Lewis Nash. 

Remembering Jazz Great Dave Brubeck

 

For one of Dave Brubeck’s visits with us, we decided on a more intimate series of evenings with him and the quartet in Founders Hall with the stage against one wall and the audience seated around on the other three. The opening night of the run was scheduled for Thursday September 13, 2001.

Mr. Brubeck’s representative was in contact with me late in the day on September 11 looking to cancel and reschedule the concert to a later time. Dave was in Stockton, the quartet was in the New York area, and all air traffic grounded for the next several days. I said that in times of tragedy and great sadness, music brings comfort and solace. He conveyed my message to Brubeck and his response was immediate. He and Iola started the drive down to Costa Mesa, and on the way on his cell phone, put together Bob Hurst on bass, Danny Brubeck on drums and Andy Suzuki on sax. They arrived the afternoon of the 13^th, rehearsed for a time, and retired to their hotel.

At 7 p.m., the doors to Founders Hall opened, and the audience began to take their seats. Normally, the house would have been buzzing with excitement, having the chance to experience Brubeck and the group up close. But the capacity house was mostly quiet with subdued conversations, almost like church before the service begins.

Brubeck came out by himself. The audience was delighted to see him, greeted him with warm and extended applause, relieved to enter into the ritual and structure of a live concert. Out of the quiet, he began to slowly form the music, the old spiritual “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” He played the melody line simply, with spare harmonic support in the left hand. At the end, the audience held their applause for a long while before rising to their feet in sincere appreciation.  With this one song, he had given expression to all our emotions with dignity and with the art of a master musician.

Danny, Bob and Andy then joined him for the next 90 minutes in a joyful, life-affirming set. We were all the better for it.

by Aaron Egigian, Senior Director of Music Programming at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Downbeat Magazine

Left: Ahmad Jamal 
Right: Esperanza Spalding © Johann Sauty

Downbeat Magazine has just released its top picks and Annual Readers Poll. High on the lists are many artists familiar to Center audiences through the Jazz Series and special engagements. Diana Krall was named Downbeat's Female Artist of the Year. Esperanza Spalding is there for No. 1 Jazz Artists and Jazz Album. No. 2 album is Blue Moon, by Ahmad Jamal, who just last weekend performed in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Also in the top 10 are other series veterans including Tony Bennett, Brad Mehldau, Arturo Sandoval, Sonny Rollins and Chick Corea.

Note: As Ahmad Jamal was leaving the concert hall, greeting guests and encouraging enthusiastic young fans and musicians, the Center's Senior Director, Music Programming Aaron Egigian asked him if he had enjoyed playing in the Renée and Henry. His response was immediate, "Oh yes, this is a wonderful hall, one of the five best halls in the world."

NY Loves Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding - who will perform in the Center's Jazz Series Nov. 6 and 7 - made quite a splash at New York's Central Park SummerStage festival this weekend. The New York Times raved about the up-and-coming musician's "ebullient singing and her agile bass playing," deeming her a charismatic and talented artist, bandleader and vocalist.

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, 24-year-old Spalding has also caught the eyes of President Obama and has twice performed in the White House. She is also a member of the faculty at Boston's prestigious Berkelee School of Music, her alma mater. Spalding's latest album, Esperanza, has been hailed by critics for its successful blending of Cuban and Brazilian influences with classic soul and contemporary pop - an irresistible fusion she is sure to exhibit during her visit to the Center this fall.

Read the full NY Times review of her latest performance here.