Author: mitchmuse

Global communicator, Journalism, Entrepreneur, Web editor, Blogger, Freelance writer, Jazz enthusiast

Annie Ellicott and Nathan Fifield to open jazz concert series in Tulsa

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 23, 2010

Tulsa jazz singer Annie Ellicott and composer/pianist Nathan Fifield opens the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame’s concert series on Sunday, Jan. 24. The duo will present songs from their new CD release “Something Tells Me,” a compilation of music composed by Joseph and Nathan Fifield, two brothers who grew up in Idaho and later lived together in New York City. Joseph died tragically in 2006 in the Utah Mountains at age 27.

The performance is at 5 p.m. at the Jazz Depot, First and Cincinnati (upper level). Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 seniors, college students and Jazz Hall members; $5 for youth over 12 years old. For tickets, contact the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame at (918) 281-8600 or purchase online at myticketoffice.com.

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Trumpet/flugelhorn player Claudio Roditi releases “Simpatico” on Feb. 9

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 20, 2010

Grammy-nominated trumpet/flugelhorn player Claudio Roditi is set to offer his latest release “Simpatico” on the Resonance record label in February.
According to a news release, “Simpatico” showcases Roditi’s playing and composing talents. Accompanying him on several songs are drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, pianist Helio Alves, electric bass guitarist John Lee, trombonist Michael Dease and guitarist Romero Lubambo.
“To me,” Roditi says in the release, “the main difference of this album from everything else I have done is that for the very first time these are all my compositions, all twelve of them. There are some new pieces, some a little older, but these are mostly things I haven’t recorded, and some of them I haven’t played live.”
Roditi is best known for his patented blend of Brazilian samba and bossa nova with straight-ahead jazz. In 1989, Roditi became a member of Dizzy Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra, and since then he has toured and recorded with The JazzMasters and The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Gillespie tribute groups led by musical director Slide Hampton. He has received a Grammy nomination for his 2009 release “Brazilliance x 4.”

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Contemporary gospel group Greg Roberts and Soulful Celebration to record live CD in Washington D.C.

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 15, 2010

Gospel recording artist Greg Roberts and Soul Celebration prepare to record the upcoming CD/DVD project “Go Forth” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at Temple of Praise, 700 Southern Ave., SE, in Washington D.C.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.gregandsoulfulonline.com. General admission is $10 and $15 for V.I.P. Seating. General seating admission will be available at the door for $12.
The recording will include guest artists Melonie Daniels, Nakita Clegg-Foxx of the Kurt Carr Singers, and Angela White of Tye Tribett & GA.
According to a news release, Greg Roberts and Soulful Celebration began in 2000 while Roberts was enrolled at Hampton University in Hampton, Va. Since then, the group has relocated to the Washington, D.C. area where it has cultivated a strong and loyal underground following. The group’s previous projects include “All Things: The Soulful Experience LIVE” and “Soulful Worship.”

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Theatre Tulsa presents British farce “What the Butler Saw”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 13, 2010

Theatre Tulsa production “What the Butler Saw” by Joe Orton is a British farce that focuses on the antics of Dr. Prentice, a psychiatrist who believes that the best way to interview a girl for a job is to seduce her. The production is directed by Jim Queen and is recommended for mature audiences only.
Geraldine does her best to comply, but nothing is going to work smoothly in this nut house that includes Mrs. Prentice, a nymphomaniac who is seduced by a bellhop in a hotel (or is it the other way around?). What follows is a wild melee of disappearances, disguises and discoveries as husband and wife try to hide their prizes from one another and from the state inspector.
Performances are at 8 p.m. January 8-9, 14-16 and at 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Liddy Doenges Theatre, Tulsa PAC, located at 110 E. 2nd St. in downtown Tulsa. For tickets, call the PAC box office at (918) 596-7111 or Theatre Tulsa at (918) 587-8402.
Theatre Tulsa is the 2009 TATE award recipient and a proud member of the American Association fo Community Theatre, Oklahoma Community Theatre Alliance, The Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance.

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50swats group examines death in production “The Grace Project”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 13, 2010

50swats presents “The Grace Project” at Nightingale Theater, 1416 E. 4th St., in Tulsa.
Death is the theme in this brand-new show from the writers’ group 50swats, commissioned by Tulsa’s Grace Hospice. Short-form scenes and monologues examine the nature of death, in pieces alternately funny, disturbing, touching, and absurd.
“The challenge of creating an entertaining bit of theater out of such a serious and daunting subject has been hard,” said a 50swats writer in a news release, “but if you can’t laugh at necrophilia, then the terrorists have won.”
Performance time is 8 p.m. Jan. 15-16, 22- 23, 29-30. Admission is $8. For more information, call (918) 633-8666, e-mail info@nightingaletheater.com or go online to http://www.nightingaletheater.com.

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Pianist/Composer Greg Burk takes fans to “Many Worlds” on Jan. 26

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 10, 2010

Pianist/composer Greg Burk returns to the spotlight on Jan. 26 with his fourth release “Many Worlds” on 428 Music.
The project marks the first recording of a quartet featuring Burk, Henry Cook on woodwinds, bassist Ron Seguin and drummer Michel Lambert. According to a news release, Burk and Cook’s collaborations date back to their time with Boston’s Either/Orchestra, and Burk, Cook and Seguin have a performing history in Rome, Burk’s home since 2004.
Nevertheless, to Burk, “Many Worlds was inspired by the mysterious lives and folk dances of electrons, quarks, neutrinos, protons, neurons and the like.” His diverse interests which include the innovations of John Coltrane, studies with Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp and Paul Bley help conjure his involvement in the rhythmically flexible group concept which pervades much of the quartet interplay on “Many Worlds.”

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Saxophonist Dave Rempis, drummer Frank Rosaly release “Cryllic”

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 9, 2010

Chicago jazz musicians Dave Rempis and Frank Rosaly have released new compact disc “Cryllic,” comprised of improvisations produced without written material or standard licks, on the 482 Music label.

Rempis and Rosaly have worked together in The Rempis Percussion Quartet and The Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten Quintet, and since 2004, they have been performing as a duo. “Cyrillic” consists of seven improvised tracks ranging from “Still Will” to the heavy swing of “In Plain Sight” to the pseudo blast beats of “How to Cross When Bridges Are Out.” While the music can be explorative, “Cyrillic” is a high energy affair with heavy grooves recorded during a short four-hour session at Chicago’s Strobe Studios.

According to a news release, Rempis has been named twice “a rising star” in the annual DownBeat Critic’s Poll on both alto and baritone saxophones. Rosaly is an active member of several bands, such as Matana Roberts’ Chicago Project, Rob Mazurek’s Mandarin Movie, Jeff Parker/Nels Cline Quartet, as well as leading his own quintet.

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Pianist Marian McPartland receives order by Queen Elizabeth II

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date January 9, 2010

Legendary jazz pianist and National Public Radio host Marian McPartland, 91, was awarded the prestigious “Officer of the Order of the British Empire” honor by Queen Elizabeth II.

McPartland, one of two honorees with New York ties, received the citation (the highest honor other than “Dame”) for services to jazz and for aspiring young musicians in the United States.

“I am thrilled and proud to have received this great honor bestowed on me by Queen Elizabeth,” said McPartland in a news release. “I am truly grateful.”

The Order of the British Empire recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.

McPartland continues to showcase the world’s top musicians on NPR’s longest-running and most widely carried jazz program, “Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz,” which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary on-air.

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Vocalist/Pianist Justin Echols headlines BLAC Inc.’s Soul Food Dinner Theater January event

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 30, 2009

Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. announced that the 2010 opener will be “An Evening of Jazz” featuring Justin Echols, as part of its Soul Food Dinner Theater series at the Petroleum Club, 34^th Floor, in Oklahoma City. The Soul Food buffet begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, and the show starts at 8 p.m.
Echols, who is a vocalist/pianist, has appeared in many venues and is a favorite on the Oklahoma City jazz scene. He performs on a regular basis at the Skirvin Hotel Lounge.
“We are pleased to present Mr. Echols in performance for this series,” BLAC Inc. Executive Director Anita Arnold said. “What better way to begin our 40^th anniversary year than to have a wonderfully delicious meal with great artistry in a superb environment. Justin opens the first of three Soul Food Dinner shows. The remaining two will be Feb. 6 and April 17.”
The show is sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council. Tickets are $45 and are on sale now and may be purchased through BLAC Inc., Capital Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz Rhythm and Blues Store, KM66, and Learning Tree Toy Store. Mastercard and Visa may be used by calling BLAC Inc. at (405) 524-3800.

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A “Hello/Goodbye” Party for Tulsa’s Clark Theatre

Post author By mitchmuse
Post date December 20, 2009

Clark Theatre, 11440 E. Admiral in Tulsa, is moving to a new location at the end of the year. However, all the classes, shows, and camps that audiences have been used to at Clark will be moved to a new theatre facility at Henthorne Park, 4825 S. Quaker, Tulsa.

Clark Theatre had been housed at the 11440 E Admiral location for 32 years, and there will be a party from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 to say “goodbye” to the old and “hello” to the new. The party will be held at the ‘old’ Clark Theatre building (11440 E Admiral). Anyone and everybody who’s had anything to do with Clark Theatre is invited.

Activities include: 3 to 4:30 p.m. – socializing, dancing, and signing the stage; 5 to 6 p.m. – pizza party & open mic (sign up with Bailey Grufik); 6 to 7 p.m. – sharing stories and a ‘memories’ slideshow.

Admission is free. Donations are accepted but not necessary. All proceeds go to the Clark Council. For more information, go to http://www.clarktheatre.com/ or call (918) 746-5065.