BoMuse News, vol. 15, no. 2
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BoMuse News is a monthly newsletter from BoMuse Music. It presents items of interest related to jazz, and advocacy for music education, as well as news of releases from BoMuse Music and the performing activities of Paul Combs. Questions and comments should be sent by visiting “Contact” at Paul Combs’ Web-site.
Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter.
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1. SoCal Jazz Society Fund Raiser Party
2. Jazz At Chit Chat
3. Jazz at the Chelmsford Center For The Arts
4. Voting in the Grammys
5. JEN Conference
6. Congratulations
7. Passings
8. The Schedule
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1. We had a fine time at the SoCal Jazz Society Fund Raiser Party, Thursday, January 28, at the cozy Shooters Bar, in the Sheraton, La Jolla. We raised some money and had a chance to show off the playing and singing of several of the teachers and Board members. This was a wa
rm-up for our big event in April, and it enabled us to give a couple more Kindergarten classes this season.
(Left to right in the photo, bassist Grant Clarkson, who graciously donated his fine playing to the cause, pianist John Cain, who also teaches in the program, Mary Angela Talbot, Founder and Executive Director of SoCal Jazz, here singing as well, tenor saxophonist Alison Bowles, also Secretary of the Society, and on trumpet the Society’s President, Mark Nicholson.)
You can also connect with the SoCal Jazz Society on Facebook.
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2. Jazz At Chit Chat is back! Of course, there was no music on February 7, Super Bowl Sunday, but the monthly Jam Session took place place on February 14, with Artie Bakopolus as host. Pocket Big Band will be there on the 21st, and drummer Alan Stone brings his 10-piece band, Stoney’s Wicked Din, on the 29th. The Wicked Din play a variety of modern charts from Buddy Rich to Tower of Power. Definitely a fun band.
Jazz At Chit Chat takes place (almost) every Sunday at the Chit Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St., Haverhill, MA, from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
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3. The Chelmsford Center For The Arts has been presenting Jazz performances since it opened. Now it has become the home for Joan’s Jazz Jam, a Jam session and cable TV show produced by vocalist Joan Watson-Jones. Joan used to present this on fifth Sundays at the Acton Jazz Cafe. Sadly the AJC is no longer, but I am happy to see that Joan’s Jazz Jam continues. Also, coming next month my friend and now the Director of the Chelmsford Community Band Jazz Ensemble, will be performing with his Quintet. That show takes place on March 13.
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4. Well, I did have time to vote in the final round of the Grammys, at least in the Jazz categories. It is always a challenge as all the nominees are both excellent and unique; and it does take some time to vote correctly, because one has to listen to several albums, perhaps more than once, if a decision is hard to reach. I wish I had had time for the “top of the ticket” categories of Song of the Year, Album of the Year, etc. Sometimes there are some surprises there, like the year when Esperanza Spalding won over Justin Bieber, or Herbie Hancock won for his take on the work of Joni Mitchell.
Ben Ratliff’s recent article in the New York Times sums up part of what I find difficult in voting for the various categories in The Grammys, especially the “Best Instrumental Solo.” In the case of the solos nominated, I felt that while in all were excellent, there beauty was as much their relation the whole piece, as it was their individual excelence. In addition, other solos within the same performance were of equal quality.
All that being said, I am glad I have the opportunity to voice support for Jazz in this industry poll. It still baffles me to a certain extent, why certain music, jazz, classical, folk (or Americana as it is called in the industry) is viewed as marginal, when there is so much high quality and creative work being done in those fields by people of all ages. I know the perception is based on sales, but that seems like a chicken or egg kind of thing. If the media only make a fuss of Adele, for instance, or Rihanna, then those folks who are not digging deeper think their music is all that matters.
Well, we just have to stay on it…
I am finishing this as the Grammy ceremony is taking place, but the Jazz awards have not been posted as yet. Since the next issue is due in a couple of weeks (I hope I won’t be so late next time) the winners will be listed in next months Congratulations section.
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4. This year’s Jazz Education Network Conference was stimulating, as always. Of particular interest to me were sessions on various aspects of influences of Cuban, Dominican, and Brazilian music. These took me a little deeper into music that I am increasingly involved with. There were also illuminating sessions regarding grant writing, and of course I got to reconnect with several folks, particularly those interested in celebrating Tadd Dameron’s 100th birthday next year.
Last month I also mentioned Larry Reni Thomas who was awarded the Meade Legacy 
award from the African-American Jazz Caucus. The award is given to a notable historian of Jazz and African-American culture. Mr. Thomas is an educator, author and broadcaster. He also blogs about the Jazz History of the Carolinas.
You can find more photos from the conference, as well as general information about the Jazz Education Network at their Web-site.
I just would like to leave you with this. JEN is working hard to provide a venue for sharing and networking in the Jazz Community and deserves the attention, encouragement and support of all of us who care about this wellspring of American music.
The next Conference will be in New Orleans, January 4-7, 2017.
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5. Congratulations to Ron Carter for achieving the World Record for being the Most Recorded Jazz Bassist in History, according to the Guinness World Records. It is good to know that someone is paying attention. We should also say there is good reason why Maestro Carter has earned this distinction.
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6. *Pianist Paul Bley had a remarkable career, he played with Bird and Ornette, among many others, and developed a truly unique approach to improvisation. Here is his obituary from the New York Times.
*Natalie Cole, as they say needs no introduction, daughter of Nat Cole, and an accomplished and versatile singer; Ms. Cole’s obituaries from the Los Angeles Times and Tulsa World.
*Maurice White, best known for founding and leading the band Earth Wind And fire, was a jazz drummer from Chicago who played somewhat famously with Ramsey Lewis, and also Jack DeJonette back in the days when DeJonette was working as a pianist. Here is The Guardian’s obituary.
*The outstanding Cuban trumpeter Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros died on January 6 of the year. Here are his Wikipedia article and an obituary from Billboard.
*Pianist, Alfredo Valdes, Jr, esteemed Cuban musician has passed. This comes from Arturo Gomez and Janine Sanchez of KUVO, Denver. Unfortunately, I cannot find an obituary, but here is a video of the pianist in the company of the great Israel “Cachao” Lopez in concert at the San Sebastien Festival in Spain a few years ago.
*While his career was mostly noted for his work with the funk band Tower Of Power, trumpeter Mic Gillette was fine jazz player and an educator who is fondly remembered in his community. Obituary from the Mercury News.
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7. The Schedule
If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston. In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3. If you are on Twitter follow the very hip Ms. Donna M @ElemantsOfJazz who regularly posts live jazz listings from various locations. And if you don’t already, follow me @BoMuseMusic
JAZZ AT CHIT CHAT, Chit Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St. Haverhill, MA
*Sun Feb 14, Monthly Jam Session, Artie Bakopolus, host
*Sun Feb 21, Pocket Big Band
*Sun Feb 28, Stoney’s Wicked Din (10 piece modern jazz band)
*Sun Mar 7, Pocket Big Band
As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!