BoMuse News, December 2018, vol. 17, no. 12
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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.
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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1. Lenore Raphael at Wolfe Gardens
2. U. Arts. 50th Anniversary of Jazz Ed.
3. Revamp of My Website, www.PaulCombs.com
4. The Arts Education Resource Organization/Scholarships
5. More Louis Armstrong House News
6. Gigs
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1. My friend, pianist Lenore Raphael will be playing at Wolfe Gardens, the house concert hosted by Deborah Wolfe, in a duo with bassist Rob Thorsen on Friday January 4, at 7:00. Since the concert takes place a Deborah’s home, I won’t provide the address here, but you can contact me and I will pass your email on to Deborah, who can add you to the invitation list. Lenore is Steinway Artist who is well established on the East Coast. She makes a West Coast tour in January. Last year schedules worked out so that she could play the Jazz Happy Hour at the Handlery Hotel, and she delighted the full house audience. As last year, I will sit in for a number of two, as well.
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2. I took a quick trip to Philadelphia to attend a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Jazz Education at the University of the Arts. U. Arts is the successor to the school I attended as an undergraduate. I earned my B.Mus in Composition there, somewhat ironically a year before there was a jazz program there. The University of the Arts was the brainchild of my composition teacher, Joseph Castaldo. Joe had envisioned a multi-arts university that would be created by merging the Philadelphia Musical Academy (PMA) with the Museum School of Art a couple of blocks away, and restoring the dormant dance and graduate degree programs that had been part of PMA before I arrived. In those 50 years since I graduated in 1968 (is it really that long ago?), the school has grown enormously, and has become a major presence in arts education. This is not to say it was a backwater back in my day. Among my classmates Florence Quivar distinguished herself as a star of the Metropolitan Opera, and Michael Pedicin, who reached out to me with an invitation to the event, went on to play with Dave Brubeck, and Pat Martino, among others. The notable bassist Stanley Clarke entered the year after I left. The event included excellent ensemble performances by both
current and former students. My thanks to Mike for getting me to attend and reconnect with my alma mater, which I am proud to have attended.
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3. I have pretty much finished revamping this Website, www.paulcombs.com. As with any Website, it is a work in progress, but the big changes are finished. Since I no longer have my teaching studio in Cambridge, that section of the site has been repurposed to hold information on my continuing educational work. The Main section focuses on me as a performer, and the third section is now a store, where my CDs and arrangements are available, as well signed copies of Dameronia – the Life and Music of Tadd Dameron. This last section of the site is still being developed, but it is at least possible to make purchases via email. It will take a while to get the direct purchase (credit card, PayPal, Venmo) programming done. I hope you will have a chance to explore the site, and welcome your comments and suggestions.
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4. AERO, the Arts Education Resource Organization of San Diego, continues to develop its organizational strength. When I joined the Governance Committee a little over two years ago, we were the only group helping to guide the then-resurgence of AERO. Now we have four committees, which means we can get more done, and involve more people. In addition to connecting professional providers of arts education, from large organizations like The San Diego Opera and Arts For Learning, to individual artist/educators, AERO organizes professional develop events for arts/educators, and works to advocate for arts education in our schools, both the work of visiting artists, and the programs resident in the schools. Membership in AERO is open to all qualified teaching artists and related services that address the needs of elementary and secondary schools. More information can be found here.
Recently some scholarship opportunities for high school students have been announced through AERO and I would like to pass these on. The American Theatre Wing (ATW) is now accepting applications for the 2019 Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative University Scholarships. According to the ATW “Scholarships of $40,000 ($10,000 a year, renewable for four years), will be given to high school seniors who demonstrate need, talent, and the interest to attend a four year university theatre program. The student’s area of focus can be in any aspect of theatre from performance, to design, to writing, to stage management, and others. To learn more, please visit our website. The deadline to apply for the 2019 University Scholarships is Friday, January 25th, 2019 at 11:59PM EST. To start an application, please click here. If you have any questions about the University Scholarship program, please email Programs Associate, Alicia Vnencak, at alicia@thewing.orgor call our office at 212-765-0606.”
Another ATW Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative scholarship helps middle and high schools students attend summer theater training programs. The area of study can be any aspect of theatre- acting, directing, design, etc. Click here for a list of theatre programs by state. the deadline to apply for a 2019 Training Scholarship is Friday, January 18th, 2019 at 11:59PM EST. There is no fee to apply – click here to start an application.
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5. As a follow up to the item that included news of the Louis Armstrong House in last months issue here is an article about Louis’s house, and his collected papers and personal recordings by Giovanni Russonello, from the New York Times. If you are visiting New York I highly recommend a visit to his house, but if you cannot you can still visit the Louis Armstrong House Museum Website and see the digitized collection.
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6. The Schedule
The Wednesday afternoon gig that Dene Davidson established at the Carlsbad Village Faire continues. We, the core band of Dene on bass, guitarist Joey Carano, and I, are grateful for the support of the businesses at Village Faire, as well as that of the management. Adam Wolff and I will return to the La Mesa Wine Works on Sunday December 30, from 1:30 to 4:30. The Wine Works is a lovely place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon, and we hope to see you there. See the details here on the Events page.
If you are in Boston check the listings at Jazz Boston, visit the Facebook page for Jazz at the Tap, and the Seacoast Jazz Society Web site. In San Diego visit the Calendar section at Jazz88.3.
As always, thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC!
Follow @BoMuseMusic on Twitter, and Facebook, and now at All About Jazz.