Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee pianist Donald Ryan and Barron Ryan, a recent piano graduate of the University of Oklahoma, will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame’s Jazz Depot, 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), Tulsa.
The concert is dedicated to the memory of David Sahler, friend and Ragtime board member. Concert tickets are $15 adults; $10 for seniors, Jazz Hall members and college students; and $5 students older than 12 years. Limited seating is available. For more information, call (918) 281-8600. Also, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame will host Argentinean group Viento Sur Trombone Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Wed. Oct. 7. Ticket prices for this engagement are same as Sunday concerts.
Author: mitchmuse
Global communicator, Journalism, Entrepreneur, Web editor, Blogger, Freelance writer, Jazz enthusiast
When he was 16, Chicago-based Jason Stein was known to be more of a rock guitarist than a base clarinetist. But it was jazz great Thelonius Monk who drew him in. And later when he heard Eric Dolphy play the bass clarinet, Stein was so inspired that he forged an unwavering commitment to cultivate a single tonal voice.
Also a student of drummer Milford Graves, saxophonists Charles Gayle and Donald Walden and brass player/theoretician Ed Sarath, Stein assimilated from these powerful figures the conceptual and philosophical lessons that compelled him to capitalize on his innate nature as a serious, self-motivated musician.
Fans will have two chances to appreciate Stein’s talent on November 10. His compositions are contained in the upcoming release “Three Less Than Between,” from a reconfiguration of Stein’s original trio, Locksmith Isidore, on the Clean Feed label, and in Stein’s debut solo outing on Leo Records, “In Exchange for a Process.”
“Three Less Than Between” will feature Chicago bass player Jason Roebke and drummer Mike Pride in a traditional jazz setting. “In Exchange for a Process” is described as “an articulated source for endless discovery of the elements indigenous to a world that is known only to Jason Stein. Treating the bass clarinet with energy equal to that applied by sax players, he follows in the footsteps of many contemporary avant-garde solo saxophonists, who have each expanded the concept of tonality.”
Anita Arnold, executive director of BLAC Inc., announced today that African Storyteller Dylan Pritchett will return to Oklahoma City after a long absence to do a number of educational activities with schools and with the Pauline E. Mayer Shelter.
For 20 years, Pritchett worked in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, where he trained staff to present stories as well as interpretive and musical programs to the public. Currently, he presents storytelling programs in more than 100 elementary and secondary schools each year and leads numerous workshops for teachers. Pritchett also presents programs in museums for both children and the adult public.
The Kennedy Center trainer will present storytelling programs at Highland Park School in the Mid-Del Schools District, for 7th and 8th graders at Douglass High School and children at Pauline E. Mayer Shelter. While in the city, Pritchett will conduct teacher workshop, “Storytelling: Involving Students in African Tales.”
Arnold said, “We are always excited to have Dylan come and spend time with our teachers and children. He is, especially effective with students and has the unique ability to engage children despite their circumstances. BLAC Inc. provides this service to our community through The Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education Program that BLAC Inc. brought to Oklahoma City in 1995. BLAC Inc.’s school partners are Oklahoma City Public Schools and Mid-Del Schools.”
This program is sponsored in part by Mid-Del Schools, Oklahoma Department of Education, Oklahoma Art Council, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and BLAC Inc.
Mack Records has announced that Grammy winning pianist Danilo Pérez will be joining the label. An extraordinary Panamanian artist, composer and educator, Pérez’s distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz (covering the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music) has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences.
“It has been a long journey full of unexpected twists up to now and I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life,” Pérez said.
“Danilo is an artist of uncompromising artistry,” Mack Avenue Records President Denny Stilwell said. “We are pleased to have him as a member of the Mack Avenue family and look forward to an album that will mark a new beginning in his expansive career.”
Pérez has recorded and performed with Wayne Shorter, Steve Lacy, Roy Haynes, Jack DeJohnette, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Tito Puente, and Wynton Marsalis, among others.
He plans to release his debut Mack Avenue Records album in 2010.
Ailey II (an Alvin Ailey Company) will perform at Rose State Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. Ailey II, one of the country’s best young dance talents, exudes spirit, energy, passion and creative vision.
Ailey II began in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, when Alvin Ailey initiated a workshop composed of the most promising scholarship students from the Ailey School. The original members of the company were handpicked by Mr. Ailey. Ailey II embodies Mr. Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training and community programs for all people. Today, Ailey II has become one of the most popular dance companies in the United States.
Anita Arnold, executive director of Black Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc. in Oklahoma City, said this will be the third time in 20 years that the company has performed in Oklahoma City. “We are looking forward to their usual vividly, electrifying dance performance as we open our 2009-10 season of performing arts,” Arnold said.
Tickets are on sale at the Civic Center box office, 201 N Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, and Rose State box office, located off Interstate 40 at Hudiburg Drive in Midwest City.
For more information, call BLAC, Inc. at (405) 524-3800 or the Civic Center box office at (405) 297-2264. Tickets are $50, $40, $30, and $20. Special discounts are available for seniors, students and groups. The performance is generously sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Performing artists who want to learn the business skills needed to become more marketable should register for the Oklahoma Arts Conference. The conference will be held October 7-9 in Stillwater. In addition to workshops offered during the Conference sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council, there will be excellent opportunities for performing artists to network with presenting organizations from across the state.
At this year’s conference, Jeri Goldstein, award-winning author of the book, “How To Be Your Own Booking Agent: A Performing Artist’s Guide To A Successful Touring Career,” will conduct a series of workshops for performing artists.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, and Thursday, Oct. 8, Goldstein will conduct several workshops where performing artists will focus on acquiring communication skills, (e-mail, social networking and effective Web site content) that will help present a more effective marketing message to various audiences. Performing artists will also learn how to appeal to presenters and to the media. Actual Web sites will be critiqued, and the group will discuss how Web sites can offer more appeal to increase bookings.
The registration fee is $50 and includes a pre-conference session, lunches at the conference center, receptions and community events. Register online for the 2009 Oklahoma Arts Conference at http://www.arts.ok.gov. Participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible. The deadline to register is Sept. 25.
The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa has announced two upcoming musical events for the 2009 Autumn Music Season.
Chuck Cissel, artistic director and executive producer of the Autumn Jazz Concert Series said, “We are thrilled to present four months of Sunday afternoon concerts from September through December 2009 at the Jazz Depot.”
The series is titled “Sounds of the Spirit” and kicks off at 5 p.m. Sunday, September 13 with smooth jazz Tulsa saxophonist, Grady Nichols. Nichols is also the 2003 Legacy Tribute Award recipient from the Jazz Hall and one of Tulsa’s most popular entertainers.
Other artists that will be featured in the series include Maestro Marc Gottlieb and his string quartet, with special guests vocalist Charlotte Blakely and New York Philharmonic pianist, Harriett Wingreen. In addition, University of Tulsa’s Big Jazz Band will feature trumpeter great Walter White of the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s jazz ensemble in New York City, led by JALC artistic director, Wynton Marsalis.
Also on board for the Autumn season, the Rev. Cortez Rex performs his special musical tribute to gospel legend, the Rev. James Cleveland.
Cissel said the Viento Sur Trombone Quartet from Argentina will also make a return appearance this Fall at the Hall, and the concert series will conclude with the Holiday Concert featuring Jazz Hall inductee, the Rev. Joey Crutcher and the Gospel Workshop Choir of America.
According to Cissel, “This is perhaps our most ambitious Autumn series programming effort yet, because we are covering the bases from ragtime, classical, Dixieland, big band, swing, traditional jazz, blues and gospel, while several of our musical guests will be making their debut at the Jazz Depot and many of the musical artists will be from New York City. Our programming efforts are to make it fresh and exciting by putting a new spin on the music each season; give the Jazz Hall members and music lovers new music to enjoy and new artists to become acquainted with.”
All Autumn Jazz Concert performances are held at the Jazz Depot (1st and Cincinnati – upper level)at 5 p.m. on Sundays. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, college students and Jazz Hall members and $5 for students. You may also reserve a seat at $20 per person at one of our tables of eight. Reserved seating and table reservations need to be purchased in advance of the concert date(s). For tickets or more information, call the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame at (918) 281-8600/8609 or go online. Gift shop and concessions are available. All major credit cards are accepted. *Tickets for weeknight performances are the same price as Sunday performances. All weeknight performances begin at 7:30pm.
Sapulpa Community Theatre presents “The Premature Corpse,” a crime thriller with lots of twists and turns. The scene is a hotel room, where-in the audience will meet a man in the government witness protection program and his not-so-loving wife. Throw in the wife’s lover, who is also the husband’s accountant and best friend, who would also just as soon see the husband killed by the mob, and a gung-ho government agent who is determined to protect his witness at all costs, or so it seems.
Performances are Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13 and Sept. 18-20. Evening performances are 8 p.m., and matinee performances are 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children.
Sapulpa Community Theatre is funded in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts. Sapulpa Community Theatre is a member of Oklahoma Community Theatre Association, the American Association of Community Theatres, and the Tulsa Area Community Theatre Alliance. For more information, call (918) 227-2169, or send an e-mail to stheatre@sbcglobal.net.
Saxophonist Grady Nichols will make his Autumn Jazz concert debut at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 111 E. First Street (Upper Level), in Tulsa. Performing with Nichols is his outstanding band, with guest vocalist, Krista Branch, of American Idol fame.
Tickets are $15 adults; $10 seniors, Jazz Hall Members and College Students; and $5 students older than 12 years old. Attendees can purchase tickets at the door
or call the Jazz Hall to make table seating reservations ($20 each). Call on/before Friday each week by 5pm at (918) 281-8609.
There is free parking in the Grand Central Parking Lot (across from the entrance
of the Jazz Depot).
Mark Temple, board president of the Liberated Arts Center (BLAC) Inc., appointed Orville Prince as chairman of the 2010 Charlie Christian International Music Festival. The festival is scheduled to be held in early June 2010.
Soul Bowl Party in the Park kicks off the beginning a serious effort to fund a memorable experience for the 25th year of the festival.
“The idea behind the Soul Bowl Party in the Park is to give the community an opportunity to come together in a fun filled evening of hearing great music and seeing new talent as they enter into a little friendly competition in a T-Shirt contest that will benefit some high school in the area,” Prince said. “At the same time, it should be fun to see folks display their pride in their alma maters.
“I think the community is ready for this event. In fact, if we are as successful as we think, we will make it an annual event,” he concluded.
Temple indicated that in an act of strengthening the organization, several new board members will be seated in October prior to Oct. 18’s Ailey II performance at Rose State Performing Arts Center.
“We expect a big year for BLAC, Inc.,” Temple said. “In fact, it is exciting to me that so many people are coming forward asking to be involved with BLAC. It is amazing to me that in 2010, BLAC, Inc. will celebrate 40 years, the festival will celebrate 25 years, and we will celebrate 15 years of being a partner in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education Program. There is no doubt it will be a year of celebration.”
For more information about BLAC, Inc. and its activities, call (405) 524-3800.