BoMuse News, vol. 20 no. 11

======================

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.

Follow @BoMuseMusic  on Twitter, and Facebook,  at All About Jazz, and YouTube

======================

1. October Gigs Reflections

2. The Jazz Lounge

3. San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra Auditions

4. SD County Arts Education News

5. New Video

6. Gigs

*************************

1. October was an especially happy month for me, with two concerts for listening audiences. I want to thank everyone who attended these performances. First the October 8 show at Dizzy’s with Derek Cannon, trumpet, Thomas Meyer, piano, Angelica Pruitt, bass, and Koosha Hakimi, drums. We played music loved by, or written by jazz musicians that was used in the movies. 

Then at the end of the month, an evening of Music By Tadd Dameron at The Merc, with Melonie Grinnell, piano, Rob Thorsen, bass,

Richard Sellers, drums, and special guest Sherry Williams, voice. If you live in San Diego, it can be a bit of a hike up to Temecula, home of The Merc, but it is a very special venue, and well worth the trip.

The band for the Dizzy’s gig included a rhythm section of young players whom I hope to play with more in the coming months. At The Merc it was a delight to be reunited with one of the rhythm sections who played on the Unknown Dameron CD. Not only a delight, but an honor, since these are among the very best musicians in the region; and to have chance to play with the marvelous Sherry Williams, even for just one song, was a real treat. 

*************************

2. A cause for celebration! Vocalist, percussionist, and song writer Leonard Patton has opened a new venue here in San Diego, The Jazz Lounge, 6818 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. Leonard tells us that, “The Jazz Lounge has been a lifelong dream. An intimate place to hear live music where the music is the focus. Where the music and the listeners are the heart and soul of the venue. A place where local, regional, and even national musicians can thrive. The Jazz Lounge is also a place where creative endeavors will come to life. The venue is located in San Diego near SDSU and just west of La Mesa.” 

“The Jazz Lounge is partnering with Terra American Bistro to provide excellent food for our concerts. All of our concerts are dinner concerts unless noted [otherwise] and food is included in the ticket.”

“All of our concerts unless noted are live streamed.”

I apologize for not getting this out sooner and missing notice of the first November show. There is a place on the site for the venue for you to sign up for email notices of upcoming shows. 

Here is a video of the Opening Night. 

*************************

3. This just in, courtesy of the Musicians Association of San Diego County, Local 325, AFofM:

The San Diego Civic Youth Orchestra has begun its 65^th performance season and still has openings for strings, winds, and brass musicians to complement its seven ensembles. We are announcing an unprecedented second round of auditions on Saturday, December 11, 2021 to enable your top students to join the Spring semester of our nationally recognized orchestral training program. Click on the date for further information. 

*************************

4. While I no longer sit on any of the committees of AERO, the Arts Education Resource Organization of San Diego County, I do stay in touch. A couple of weeks ago I received this email news from Pauline Crooks, the VAPA Coordinator for the SD County Department of Education. Unfortunately some of the information is now out of date, but there is a lot here worth knowing about. If you are an arts teacher, or know one, or have a serious interest in arts education in our schools, please read and share this. 

*************************

5. I just uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel. In this video I play Tadd Dameron’s If You Could See Me Now solo. This performance comes from a concert celebrating the 100th birthday of Tadd Dameron, February 21, 2017. At this point the videographer had only the stationary camera, which was plugged in, while he needed to replace the battery in the hand held camera. Hence, the odd composition of the video. The concert was broadcast and recorded by radio station KSDS at the Saville Theater of the City College of San Diego, as part of its Jazz Live series.

*************************

6. Gigs

I continue to join bassist Dene Davidson and guitarist Joey Carano on Wednesday afternoons at the Carlsbad The Village Faire, located at Carlsbad Blvd (US 101) and Carlsbad Village Dr., in Carlsbad, CA. The time varies on the schedules of the players, but we start at either 2:30 or 3:30, depending. Lately, we have been joined by drummer Bob Weller, when his schedule permits. We always have a good time playing, and clearly folks like us, since we’ve been doing this for a few years now. I’m getting some bookings in December, more on those next month.

This just in: it looks like I’ll be playing bari in The Blast Big Band, on the afternoon of Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, 2040 N Santa Fe Ave., Vista, CA . I don’t have all the information at the moment, and want to get this issue out (it’s late enough already). I will post the information under Events here at my Website when I have it. 

I’m getting some bookings in December, more on those next month.

In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3 and pick up a copy of the Troubadour. Be sure to visit the Athenaeum Website to stay on top of their jazz presentations, and again go to site of The Jazz Lounge, and sign up for the email list. Holly Hofmann is presenting a weekly series at the Westgate Hotel, unfortunately the hotel has not updated the Website with the November shows, but you can call for information, on those as well as Gilbert Castellanos’ Friday residency, and Rob Thorsen’s Sunday brunch.

If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston, visit the Facebook page for Jazz at the Tap, the Seacoast Jazz Society Web site, the Post Underground in Brookline, and the listings for The Sahara, in Methuen. Of course, where ever you are go join All About Jazz so you can receive their Jazz Near You notices.

As always, Thank you for supporting live music.

*************************

BoMuse News, vol. 19, no. 10

======================
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.  For questions or comments contact Paul at this Website.

Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.

======================
1. Correction – Better News Re: Arts Ed.
2. YouTube
3. Gigs?

*************************
1. I spoke too soon in the last issue. Fortunately, the arts education community is working to cope with the current situation. Arts Empower, a program of San Diego County Dept., of Education has a virtual replacement for its annual Mega Conference, and you can get more information here.

Also after I had sent out the last issue I was happy to receive an email from Arts For Learning San Diego, who are carrying on with virtual programs, while we work through this crisis

*************************
2. I will have to suspend monthly YouTube uploads, while I take care of some copyright issues. But in the meantime, here are some recommendations for your viewing, if you like gong to YouTube.

I have been deepening my understanding of the the drums in jazz by watching some instructive videos. While it is too late in the day for me to take up the drum set, I have long been able to respond to what the drummer is doing, and these have taken me deeper into how the drummer does what he or she does. Master drummer Michael Carvin’s short videos on the rudiments of drumming are easy to understand and are not only good for beginning drummers, but will enhance the listener’s understanding of what the drummer is doing. The rudiments are for the drummer what scales and arpeggios are for other musicians.

You might have to poke around, but there are some analyses of great drummers work that are not too technical, where you can see the application of the rudiments, and get a better idea of why what you hear in a drummer’s solo makes sense to you, even if you are not sure as to why. Here is one very good online drum teacher, Aubry Dayle, and while he is addressing drummers, I think this can help even the non-player jazz lover gain some insight. He is discussing a famous intro played by Philly Joe Jones on a Miles Davis recording.

Also in my YouTube explorations I came across an extended interview with Philly Joe Jones. This is part of a series only very recently uploaded, and there are others with important jazz musicians.

I fear the copyright stuff will take some time to work out. It involves asking questions in emails and waiting, sometimes for a week or two, for answers, so I will have some more recommendations in the next issue.

*************************
3. Still, other than an occasional private party, I have not much to say for myself. We continue to look into a live stream from one of the venues where I play from time to time, but until they give the “go-ahead” I would rather not say more. Keep you “ear to the ground” and support the folks who are managing to stream.

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

BoMuse News, vol. 18, no. 7

======================
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, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.

======================
1. Unknown Dameron Release and Reviews
2. New Video
3. AERO San Diego
4. Tri-C Jazz Festival
5. Gigs

*************************
1. Unknown Dameron, my new CD on Summit Records, was released on my birthday, June 7, a nice present. It is now available at the Summit website. So far we have received a couple of nice reviews on the Internet, and more in print are sure to follow. The first is on the site jazzdagama.com, run by musician and author Raul DaGama. First there is an article about Dameron that includes a couple of paragraphs about my work, second there is Raul’s review of the CD. Next there was an announcement of the release on the French Website Culture Jazz. More recently Mark Meyers wrote about it on his blog Jazz Wax. By the way, Mark posts daily to Jazz Wax, and if you are a serious jazz fan it is really worth checking out. So far I have booked two “celebrations” of the CD, one at the Handlery on Sunday, August 25, with Melonie Grinnell, Rob Thorsen, and Richard Sellers. The second at Dizzy’s on Friday, October 11, with Derek Cannon, Kamau Kenyatta, Rob Thorsen, and Kevin Higuchi. I am calling these “celebrations” because I will be connecting Tadd’s work with that of others who were inspired by him, as well as playing work by Dameron that we did not record. More on these and other “celebrations” as we get closer.

*************************
2. Back in 2013, after the publication of Dameronia, I gave a concert

with the quintet I had assembled, with Jim Cameron, Don Hemwall, Herman Hampton, and Stanley Swann, to play Tadd’s music, and eventually record a CD of some of the music I had discovered. Sadly, due to a lack of resources, I was not able to take this band into the studio. However, I did set up a video camera and document the concert. I have now edited that long video into a dozen shorter ones. The first, with the band playing “Good Bait,” has just been uploaded to my YouTube channel, Paul Combs – BoMuse. The remaining videos will be posted monthly, along with others that I plan to make. Please go take a look, and if you use YouTube, subscribe to my channel, and click the bell. It will help a lot.

*************************
3. I had just moved to San Diego when I was invited to join the board of the SoCal Jazz Society, an organization that provided jazz education in the elementary and secondary schools. Since I am a jazz musician and have background in education, it was a good fit. Sadly SoCal Jazz Society had to cease operation due to lack of funding, but even in the short time I was involved, we did some good work with several hundred children. While on that board I accepted a general invitation to join the Governance Committee of the Arts Education Resource Organization of San Diego County (AERO). It has been an honor to have participated in the development of this organization, and to have taken part in planning professional development events presented by AERO. My term on these committees is up, at the same time as my career as a performer, and hopefully an educator at the post secondary level, moves to a new phase. It has been wonderful to get to know others in the arts and arts education community here in my new home, and I hope our paths will continue to cross. I will continue to advocate for and support the advancement of arts education in San Diego County, and to spread the word about AERO San Diego. If you have children in your family in please do whatever you can to support the arts in their schools. STEM (science, technology, engineering, & math) needs to be expanded to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, ARTS, & math), because the arts touch on, and facilitate all topics that are necessary for a complete education.

*************************
4. The Tri-C Jazz Fest in Cleveland, OH just turned 40 this past weekend. Tri-C stands for Cuyahoga Community College which founded the festival and continues to facilitate it. Cleveland is the birthplace of, and in later years something of a sanctuary for Tadd Dameron in hard times. He remains a local hero, and there was some acknowledgement of him this year in the form of a commissioned work by the remarkable bassist, arranger, and composer John Clayton honoring Tadd. It was presented as part of a concert by the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra that included Dianne Reeves singing a couple of Tadd’s songs. I was invited to be interviewed by Joe Mossbrook in the Festival’s Talk Tent. Joe wrote a book about jazz in the Northeast Ohio region that was a big help to me in the early days of my research, and has been very supportive of my work on Dameron over the years. It was good to spend a little time with him again.

*************************
5. Gigs

I am really grateful to continue to play on Wednesday afternoons (2:30-4:30) at the Carlsbad Village Faire with Joey Carano and Dene Davidson, and on Saturday afternoons (3:00-6:00) at Witch Creek Winery with Dene. I will also be at The Landings at Carlsbad Airport for Sunday Brunch on July 21, 11:00-2:00 with Joey Carano, and the La Mesa Wine Works with Dave Castel Del Oro the following Sunday, July 28, 1:30-4:30. Details are at Events here on my Website.

In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3 and pick up a copy of the Troubadour. If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston, visit the Facebook page for Jazz at the Tap, the Seacoast Jazz Society Web site, and now in Brookline, the Post Underground, and where ever you are go join All About Jazz so you can receive their Jazz Near You notices.

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

Follow @BoMuseMusic  on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.

BoMuse News, vol. 18, no. 6

======================
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, and Facebook, at All About Jazz , and now on YouTube at Paul Combs – Bomuse

======================
1. Unknown Dameron
2. Music at Grossmont College
3. Tri-C Festival
4. La Mesa Walkway/La Mesa Wine Works
5. Awards received by SDSCPA
6. JJA Awards and NEA Jazz Masters
7. Gigs

*************************
1. Unknown Dameron, a CD of little-known and even never before recorded tunes and songs (7 to of 12 selections) will be available from Summit Records in just a week or two. I just bought a CD from them and the process was very easy. You can also come to one of the celebrations of its release that I will be giving, and purchase it there. The first will be at the Handlery 950 Lounge on Sunday August, 25, at 4:30. Joining me will be pianist Melonie Grinnell, bassist Rob Thorsen, and drummer Richard Sellers, who are all on the CD.

We still do not have an exact date for the release. I will send out an “extra” when the CD is available.

If you haven’t had a chance to see it yet, go to my YouTube Chanel to see the promo video for the CD that John Brooks of Canis Lupis Productions made for me.

*************************
2. One of the things that impressed me the most upon moving to California is the excellent community colleges we have here. I guess you could say my most recent alma mater is Grossmont College, which has an excellent music department. There are some good summer classes which you or someone you know might find very interesting, including Manny Cepeda’s class in Afro-Cuban Percussion Class for beginners. You can find out about all this on the Music Department’s Face book page. You can also find out about concerts at the school by following this page. Registration is done through the Grossmont College web site.

*************************
3. Later this month I will be be at the Tri-C Jazz Festival in Cleveland OH. I have been asked to give a talk on Tadd Dameron in connection with the Tribute to Tadd Dameron featuring Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Dianne Reeves, on Friday June 28 at the Ohio Theater in Playhouse Sq. I will be in the Talk Tent at 4:45 on Saturday, June 29.  After all my research trips to Cleveland, birth place of Tadd Dameron, I developed a love for the city, and I am looking forward to visiting it again.

The exact time and location within the Festival are still being determined. I will Include those in the “extra” announcing the availability of the CD.

*************************
4. La Mesa Wine Works has been hosting small local jazz groups for a while now, but its location in an essentially commercial zone has made inaccessible except by car. Now the City of La Mesa has opened a walkway from the end of Spring Street to Center Street making access by foot from the Village and the La Mesa Boulevard Orange Line stop possible. The music starts a 1:30, so folks can catch a set or two, and sample the wines from San Pasqual and Wyatt Oaks wineries, before catching any other Sunday entertainment that might be on their calendar. They have a calendar where you can see who will be playing. I will be there with pianist Adam Wolff on June 26.

*************************
5. Last month I reported on ensembles of young musicians from San Diego area schools going to New York for Festivals. I don’t fine any mention of awards for the the New York Music Festival at Carnegie Hall so we will assume it was a non-competitive festival, and the honor was in being accepted. I rather like non-competitive festivals and we are proud of any of our young musicians who distinguish themselves.

There were awards at the Essentially Ellington Festival, where Dr. John Reynolds was able to take his jazz band from San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts. Bassist John Murray was cited as both an Outstanding Bassist and given the Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Soloist Award. Tiger Diep was cited as an Outstanding Alto Saxophonist, and Alvin Page received and Honorable Mention as a Tenor Saxophonist. It is not clear to me just what these titles mean relative to each other, but going to New York to play in one of only 15 bands from across the U.S., is in itself quite an honor. For you readers in the Boston area you will see, no surprise, that the band from Foxboro did quite well. You can see the awards here. Congratulations to all.

*************************
6. More jazz related awards. The Jazz Journalists Association, annually gives out a wide variety of awards, including their Jazz Heroes awards, which acknowledge folks who are doing the good work of presenting the music on a local level. San Diego’s own Holly Hofmann is among the honorees this year, and she is a shining example of someone who regularly goes the distance to make a good space for the music to be heard.

The NEA Jazz Masters have also been announced. The National Endowment For The Arts seems to be continually under threat from those in government who do not understand the importance of a nation’s culture; so it is heartening to see that in this particular time this set of honors is still being given.

Lastly, there is the All About Jazz poll of 100 favorite jazz venues. The poll was based on a response of 4000 of the 191,000 folks who have joined AAJ, so it certainly is not scientific. However, It does let you know of 100 of all the places presenting jazz across the country.

Go see who has been honored in these sets of awards. If there are people or venues you do not recognize, read up on them find their music or schedules, and keep in mind that there are many more who are worthy of attention. Jazz never died, and is very much alive.

*************************
7. Gigs

Witch Creek Winery has moved Dene Davidson’s Santa Cruz Sound & Co. from Tuesday evenings to Saturday afternoons 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. I will be playing with him on June 1, 8, and 22, Joey Carano will be there on the 15th and 29th. As mentioned above, Adam Wolff and I will be at the La Mesa Wine Works on Sunday, June 23, 1:30 – 4:30 PM. Please visit Events here at my Website for details.

If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston, visit the Facebook page for Jazz at the Tap, the Seacoast Jazz Society Web site, and now in Brookline, the Post Underground. In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3 and pick up a copy of the Troubadour, and where ever you are go join All About Jazz so you can receive their Jazz Near You notices.

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

Follow @BoMuseMusic  on Twitter, and Facebook, at All About Jazz , and now on YouTube at Paul Combs – Bomuse

BoMuse News, vol. 17, no. 4

======================
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, and Facebook

======================
1. “Dameron” Quintet at Dizzy’s
2. La Mesa Wine Works
3. JJA Jazz Heroes
4. My East Coast Trip
5. Gigs

*************************
1. Friday April 7, I’ll be giving a concert of music by Tadd Dameron at Dizzy’s, which now presents its concerts at the Musicians Union hall, 1717 Morena Blvd., San Diego. Joining me will be trumpeter Derek Cannon, pianist Kamau Kenyatta, bassist Rob Thorsen, and drummer Richard Sellers. The concert starts at 8:00 and will include some of the little-known music by this great composer that will be on the CD I am working on. We have just one more session to complete the project, and it is scheduled for release some time next year.

*************************
2. Thank you to every one who came out to hear Adam Wolff and me at La Mesa Wine Works and couple of Sundays ago. We had a very nice afternoon, and I understand we will be invited back. La Mesa Wine Works features wines from two local wineries, and has provided me a taste-bud opening experience regarding the uniqueness of Southern California wines. They present local jazz musicians every Sunday afternoon.

*************************
3. The Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) honors not only jazz musicians and those write about jazz, but local activists who work hard to support the music and bring awareness to their communities. As they explain it:

“The Jazz Journalists Association is pleased to announce the 2018 Jazz Heroes: Advocates, altruists, activists, aiders and abettors of jazz who have had significant impact in their local communities. The ‘Jazz Hero’ awards, made annually on the basis of nominations from community members, are presented by their local fans and friends in conjunction with the JJA’s annual Jazz Awards honoring significant achievements in jazz music and journalism.”
This year’s honorees are, the following, and you can read about each by clicking on their names :
1. Atlanta: Dr. Dwight Andrews
2. Baltimore: Lea Gilmore
3. Chicago: Margaret Murphy-Webb
4. Detroit: James Gallert and Lars Bjorn
5. Denver: Charleszine Nelson
6. Hartford CT: Maurice Robertson
7. Miami: Robert D. Bielecki
8. Minneapolis-St.Paul: Larry Englund
9. New Orleans: Ellis Marsalis Jr.
10. New York City: Bruce Lee Gallanter
11. Philadelphia: Rhenda Fearrington
12. Tucson: Pete Swan
13. Pittsburgh: Roger Humphries
14. Portland OR: Marcia K. Hocker
15. San Diego: Daniel Atkinson
16. Seattle: Karen Caropepe
17. SF Bay Area: Angela Wellman
18. St. Louis: Jim Widner
19. Tallahassee FL:  Therese  & Christopher Seepersaud
20. Washington D.C.: Larry Appelbaum

*************************
4. I started my annual East Coast trip in New York and New Jersey with a visit to my son. While there I met with Don Sickler of Second Floor and 28th Street Music to take care of some final business for the CD. Second Floor now has a terrific on-line resource called jazzleadsheets.com, where one can purchase lead sheets for a dizzying array of tunes and songs by many great jazz composers, including Tadd Dameron, of course. I also visited the Institute of Jazz Studies and Rutgers University – Newark, where I did a lot of my research for Damerona – the Life and Music of Tadd Dameron. I will be giving a talk there on Dameron and his music as part of their monthly Roundtable series, next year on April 17, 2019. More on that when the time comes, of course.

I had some business to take care of in the Boston Area, as well as the yearly performance

of Bob Franke’s Good Friday Cantata. We first performed this in 1980, and I have played in it every time since. While it is now a good distance from my home, and I could be replaced, I guess my contributions to this work have become an integral part. It has also become something of a “family reunion,” and, of course, I have great admiration for Bob’s music. There was also the opportunity to play a couple of the gigs I used to play when I lived there, thanks to my friend and go-to guitarist, Mark Michaels. The visit finished with a gig at the Chit Chat Lounge in Haverhill, MA, on the Sunday night

jazz series I started many years ago. In these days of diminishing venues – especially in the Boston area – it is a comfort that this jazz night continues, along with the little big band I founded.

*************************
5. Gigs

In addition to our concert at Dizzy’s, my regular Wednesday, with Dene Davidson, and Thursday, with Fred Hardy, gigs continue. Click here to get the details.

If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston. In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3.

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

Follow @BoMuseMusic  on Twitter, and Facebook

BoMuse News, vol. 15, no. 4

======================
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.

======================
1. SoCal Jazz Society Fundraiser Event
2. Concert At Cuyamaca College
3. Concern Over Future of WWOZ
4. Bohemian Cavern Closes
5. Reflections on A Trip East
6. Congratulations
7. Passings
8. The Schedule

*************************
1. On Sunday, April 24 from 2:00-5:00 PM, The SoCal Jazz Society will present its annual Fundraising Event at the Musicians Association of San Diego Hall, 1717 Morena Boulevard, San Diego CA. The Event will feature a trio led by Grammy Award Winning pianist and producer Kamau Kenyatta, and a host of guest performers including some of the Society’s teachers and Board members. There will also be a silent auction, and of course the proceeds go to support SoCal Jazz Society’s educational work in the San Diego Schools. A donation of $25 is requested for admission, and the proceeds of the door and the auction will help us to continue to bring our program to as many schools as possible. The SoCal Jazz Society is a 501.c3 organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

The SoCal Jazz Society is devoted to increasing the enjoyment, understanding and interest in the American art form of Jazz Music by providing in-school classes, master classes and private jazz music education, as well as concerts and the promotion of jazz events in the Southern California region.

*************************
2. On Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 PM, the Grossmont College Afro-Cuban Ensemble, with Special Guest Manny Cepeda, and Grossmont Jazz Band will give a joint concert at the Performing Arts Center of Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy., in El Cajon, CA. Both bands have been hard at work preparing this evening of music. I’ll be in the sax section of the Afro-Cuban Ensemble, along with some special guests. There is $10.00 admission.

The Afro-Cuban Ensemble will also take part in a Jazz Night at Helix High School, 7323 University Ave, La Mesa, CA, along with the high school and an middle school jazz bands, and Special Guest trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Admission is $10.00.
http://helixinstrumental.org/

*************************
3. We are watching a drama unfold at New Orleans radio station WWOZ. Several long-time staff members have resigned over a variety of issues. While I do not “have a dog in this fight,” I do care very much about the health of jazz radio, and hope this will all be resolved  satisfactorily in the end.

*************************
4. Another sad day for live jazz. Last summer we lost Act III, the successor to the Acton Jazz Cafe, in Littleton, MA. Just a few weeks ago Ingrid Croce closed her excellent restaurant and listening room, Croce’s Park West in San Diego. Now the venerable Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC has closed its doors.

http://jazztimes.com/articles/171748-bohemian-caverns-d-c-jazz-landmark-set-to-close

http://tinyurl.com/j477s3p

*************************
5. Congratulations to Christian McBride on his appointment as the Artistic Director for Newport Jazz Festival.

Congratulations to Phillip Griggs. “Just a few weeks ago on the 58th GRAMMY Awards telecast, GRAMMY Foundation Honorary Chair Ryan Seacrest announced the recipient of our 2016 Music Educator Award, Phillip Riggs. Phillip has taught band and choir at various grade levels in North Carolina for the past 27 years. Currently an instructor of music at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, he is a recipient of the Exceptional Contribution in Outreach Award presented annually by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for his work with music programs throughout North Carolina.” — Neil Portnow, President/CEO, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation

And if not congratulations exactly, at least some justice for Cecil Taylor in his long-time struggle to regain award money that was stolen from him by a con-artist.

*************************
6. My little East Coast tour was a pleasure on several levels. It started with reuniting with my old friend Jim Cameron at the Northampton (MA) Jazz Workshop Tuesday night show and jam session, where we played music of Tadd Dameron. This was our first time playing in their new location, The City Sports Grille. If you are ever in Western Massachusetts on a Tuesday night, don’t miss this long-standing jazz gathering. The guest artists are among the best in our profession (I consider it a great honor to have been included) and the house trio is excellent.

On Good Friday I played in Bob Franke’s Meditations, a cantata for that day. I have performed in this ever since the first performance in 1980, and since I created my part, it is hard to let go of it. Bob is a brilliant song writer and the Cantata is a most powerful piece of music. Thanks to the congregation of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Marblehead, MA, for cherishing this very special musical event.

Sunday I returned to the stage of the Chit Chat Lounge in Haverhill, MA to reunite with the most recent edition of my quartet: Mark Michaels, guitar, John Doherty, bass, and Jody Bregler, drums. We were joined in the second set by cornetist Neil Flewelling, and saxophonist Jim Cameron. It was great playing with all these old friends, and to see the Sunday jazz program I started over a dozen years ago continuing. Thanks to all those who came out to hear us.

Monday I played in a trio with Mark Michaels and bassist Manual Kaufmann at Tres Gatos, a tapas bar in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. The three of us had played there several times before, so this was another reunion. If you should be in Boston, it is worth visiting Tres Gatos not only for the food, but the book and record store in the back.

My tour ended with one more performance in an old haunt, Savinos Restaurant in Belmont, MA. Mark Michaels and I performed there regularly on Thursday nights, and Mark continues to be in the rotation. Thanks to chef/owner Tom Cutrone for supporting jazz with this Thursday night series.

Throughout my visit east I had the great pleasure to catch up with many old friends, a couple of whom I had missed connecting with before my move to San Diego. I was happy to find them in good health and good spirits, and the warmth of their friendship inspires me as I begin a new chapter of my life here in California.

*************************
7. Condolences to the families and friends of these members of the Jazz Community:

*John Chilton, historian and trumpeter;
http://tinyurl.com/zgoj2gu

*Nana Vasconcelos, percussionist (even if you cannot read Portuguese, you might enjoy this)

*Ernestine Anderson, vocalist,

*Gato Barbieri, saxophonist.
http://tinyurl.com/hs42b4r

I would like to mark the passing of two more from the larger musical community:

*Sir George Martin, record producer

*Al McKenney, road and festival manager, and personal friend. I only found out about his passing recently. We had lost touch, but he was there with me at some important moments in my life.

*************************
8. The Schedule

If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston. In San Diego visit the Calendar section at KSDS Jazz88.3.

*Tue April 12, 7:30 PM, Jazz and Afro-Cuban Big Band Concert, Perfroming Arts Center, Cuyamaca College, 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy., in El Cajon, CA.
http://www.cuyamaca.edu/

*Tue April 19, 7:00 PM, Jazz Night Concert, Featuring Special Guests Gilbert Castellanos and the Grossmont Afro-Cuban Big Bnad, Helix High School, 7323 University Ave, La Mesa, CA
http://helixinstrumental.org/

*Sun April 24, 2:00 PM, SoCal Jazz Society Fundraising Concert and Silent Auction, Musicians Association of San Diego Hall, 1717 Morena Boulevard, San Diego CA.

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

Follow @BoMuseMusic

BoMuse News, vol. 15, no. 3

======================
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.

======================
1. East Coast Tour
2. Jazz Grammy Winners
3. My adventures in San Diego
4. Congratulations
5. A plug for a friend
6. The Schedule

*************************
1. I will be doing a little Massachusetts tour later this month. It starts in Northampton with the Northampton Jazz Workshop on Tuesday, March 26, 7:30 PM. Jim Cameron and I will be the featured guests, performing a set of Tadd Dameron tunes, several of them never recorded. We will be accompanied by the excellent house trio led by pianist Paul Arslanian. On Friday, March 25 at 8:00 PM, I will take part in Bob Franke’s Good Friday Cantata. I have played in this wonderful musical service in every performance since the first one in 1980. Sunday, March 27, at 6:00 PM, I return to my old haunt the Chit Chat Lounge for a quartet gig with some old friends, including Mark Michaels, guitar and John Doherty, bass; drummer TBA. Mark will join me along with bassist Manuel Kaufman on Monday, March 28, 8:00 PM at Tres Gatos on Jamaica Plain. And finally, Mark and I will play another old haunt, Savinos Restaurant in Belmont on Thursday March 31, 8:00 PM. the addresses for all of these are listed in the Schedule.

I hope to catch up with as many old friends as possible while I am there, and maybe visit a museum or two as well.

*************************
2. Here are the Jazz Grammy Winners:

Improvised Jazz Solo: “Cherokee,” Christian McBride,
Jazz Vocal Album: “For One to Love,” Cécile McLorin Salvant,
Jazz Instrumental Album: “Past Present,” John Scofield,
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: “The Thompson Fields,” Maria Schneider Orchestra and Latin Jazz Album: “Made in Brazil,” Eliane Elias.

I think there were a couple of other jazz folks who won in some of the other categories, but I will have to leave it there as time is short. You can check out the complete list of nominees and winners at grammy.com, if you like.

*************************
3. This issue and the next are going to be a bit thin. The main reason for this is my busy musical life here in San Diego. I am now playing baritone sax in three different bands, and subbing in a fourth. Each of these has some really challenging music, so I am practicing every day as much as I can. Add to this, preparations for Tadd Dameron’s Centennial next year, and my volunteer activities with the SoCal Jazz Society and, on occasion, radio station KSDS, and I am leading a pretty active life. There will be concerts in April and May, which will be mentioned in the coming issues.

*************************
4. Congratulations to Verve Records on 60 years of jazz releases.

*************************
5. I don’t usually do this, but Artie Bakopolus is not only a friend, but he is my successor as director of the Chelmsford Community Jazz ensemble, and an excellent saxophonist. He will be performing with his quintet, AB5, at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts in the Cafe on March 13th starting at 7 pm. Included in the band are Ross Adams on guitar, Dennis Cecere on Keyboards, John Doherty on Bass, Al Stone on Drums along with  Artie, who will be playing Alto sax.

Chelmsford Center for the Arts presents Jazz in the Cafe on a pretty regular basis, and is also the home of the Chelmsford Community Band and Jazz Ensemble, so I am also happy to give them a “shout out.”

*************************
6. 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

*Tue. March 22, 7:30  Paul Combs & Jim Cameron Play Tadd Dameron, Northampton         Jazz Workshop, City Sports Grille at Spare Time Northampton, 525 Pleasant St.,         Northampton, MA 413-584-4830

* Fri. March 25, 8:00 Bob Franke’s Good Friday Cantata, St. Andrew’s Episcopal
    Church, 135 Lafayette St, Marblehead, MA

* Sun. March 27, 6:00 Paul Combs Quartet, Chit Chat Lounge, 103 Washington St.,         Haverhill, MA

Mon. March 28, 8:00 Paul Combs Trio, Tres Gatos, 470 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA

* Thu. March 31, 8:00 Paul Combs/Mark Michaels Duo, Savinos Restaurant, 449 Common St., Belmont MA

As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!

Follow @BoMuseMusic

BoMuse News, vol. 15, no. 2

======================
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.

======================
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
*************************
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 warm-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.

*************************
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.

*************************

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.

*************************

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.

*************************
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.

*************************
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.

*************************
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.

*************************
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!

Follow @BoMuseMusic