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10, by George: Ted Rosenthal explores the Gershwin songbook

Ted Rosenthal and his trio perform jazz interpretations of ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ and 9 other familiar compositions of George Gershwin

Ted Rosenthal is one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation, actively touring worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and in various configurations. Winner of the 1988 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and James Moody.

His interpretation of George Gershwin compositions was captured on the CD “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” which provides the foundation for our “10, by George” concert. In reviewing this album, Kevin Whitehead of NPR said, “Rosenthal gets Gershwin’s sensibility (with) a classical pianist’s reverence for the material and a jazz musician’s way of running off of it.” As for the band, Whitehead adds, “these players really make the Rhapsody their own and make it modern again.” It’s no wonder that this CD reached #1 in jazz album sales at iTunes and Amazon.

A virtuoso interpreter and presenter of jazz and crossover music, Ted has 15 CDs to his name. His trio includes Martin Wind, bass, and Tim Horner, drums.

A wine bar, featuring the products of Berkshires’ own Balderdash Winery, will be available starting at 6:30pm.

This concert is part of downtown Pittsfield’s annual “10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival,” when arts organizations present a variety of concerts, plays, and other performances with a “10” theme.

Click here for tickets.

Mary Ann McSweeney at the Whitney Center for the Arts, May 13

A special, one-time concert of jazz interpretations of Portuguese music themes, Mary Ann McSweeney’s “Urban Fado Project” made its Berkshires debut on May 13, at the Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. Tickets are available here.

Her quartet includes Jason Ennis on guitar, Todd Reynolds on violin, Conor Meehan on drums, and McSweeney on bass, and augmented by special guests.

Fado originated in Portugal in the 1800s. Of Portuguese heritage herself, McSweeney says “the beautiful melodies of Fado resonated for me immediately. The sadness, the sigh of the voice, the story of fate told by the singer inspired me to compose music that is Fado.” McSweeney wrote much of the new music at home in Brooklyn, and so she named the repertoire the “Urban Fado Project.”

Known for her jazz prowess as both a leader and ensemble member, McSweeney brings new grooves and new chord structures to the Fado form. “I want to bring a new voice and vibe to this music and share the cultural diversity it has to offer.” Her instrument, the string bass, brings a melodic and low supportive voice to the music. “I like to keep the form of the traditional Fado song, but I have also expanded it to leave room for improvisation. Musicians can layer their voice onto the form of the piece.”

The intimate setting of the Whitney Center for the Arts lends itself well to this music, presented in a cabaret setting.

royal hartigan returns to Pittsfield with his blood drum spirit jazz ensemble

The blood drum spirit jazz ensemble will present a concert of original and traditional music in jazz and global traditions on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 3 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 67 East Street in Pittsfield. It will be to honor and remember those loved ones we have lost through death or separation, notes drummer and leader royal hartigan. The concert is dedicated to Karl Tyler, Clifford Adams, and Mary Ann Knight, a founding member of the Friends of Springside Park. People are invited to bring photos, poems, writings, or other remembrances for display in the church during the concert. The Zion Lutheran Church is collaborating in the support for this performance. A free will offering is requested to assist the churches’ programs.

The ensemble will include saxophonist David Bindman, pianist Matan Rubinstein, bassist Wes Brown, and percussionist royal hartigan, with dancer and Pittsfield native Olivia Ilano, who currently resides in the Pioneer Valley. The ensemble has recorded three double CDs and toured throughout the world, including West Africa, Asia, and the United States.

A Pittsfield native and professor at UMass Dartmouth, hartigan has recently returned from two years in Ghana, West Africa, as a J. William Fulbright scholar/artist at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. While there, blood drum spirit toured across the country, and performed and recorded with local musicians in numerous villages. The work will be released as a film and CD set entitled We Are One with a focus on the connections among the world’s peoples.

For concert information contact royal hartigan at (508) 999-8572 or royaljhartigan@gmail.com.

Berkshires Jazz Artist in Residence program

Our Jazz Artist in Residence program is the subject of an excellent article in the Berkshire Eagle. The story, by Education Editor Jenn Smith, ran in the March 1 edition, the first day of “Music in the schools” month.>>
http://bit.ly/2mdzk1r

Thanks to The Feigenbaum Foundation for making it happen, and to clinicians John Mastroianni, Joe Smith, and Richard Boulger, who all have contributed to the success of the program.

Centennial Celebrations of Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk highlight 2017 programs

After a whirlwind 2016, Berkshires Jazz is even more active this year, starting with our “10 Flavours” performance by the Dechamplains on Feb. 25, and highlighted by centennial salutes to three jazz giants: Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ella Fitzgerald. Two of these are part of two separate jazz festivals, and the third is a standalone event.

This is our most active year ever, so please mark your calendar, and return here for box office information and updates. The schedule, as it now stands:

May 13: Mary Ann McSweeney Quartet, plus guest vocalist Natalia Bernal. The Urban Fado Project. A great turnout at the Whitney Center for the Arts.

June 15-18: Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend (in collaboration with Berkshire Gateway Preservation, Inc.)

June 16: Ella Swings, with the Vermont Jazz Center Orchestra and Wanda Houston. Tickets are available here
June 17: The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, with special guest Duke Robillard. Tickets are available here.

Aug. 12: Images of Monk: a centennial salute, the Ted Rosenthal Quintet

Oct. 6-15: Pittsfield CityJazz Festival

Oct. 13: Veronica Swift (rising vocalist, daughter of Stephanie Nakasian and the late Hod O’Brien)
Oct. 14: The Dizzy Gillespie Afto-Cuban Experience

10 Flavours of Jazz

Update: Here’s an excerpt from the memorable performance by Atla and Matt Dechamplain.

In conjunction with Pittsfield’s annual 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival Berkshires Jazz presents The Matt DeChamplain Trio, with vocalist Atla DeChamplain.

Saturday, Feb. 25, 8pm.

Flavours of Malaysia, McKay Street, Pittsfield.

New Orleans/traditional
swing
Brazilian/bossa nova
stride
Kansas City/blues
west coast/cool
contemporary
And more.
$25 in advance, $30 at the door.
inner available separately, starting at 7:45pm.
413-442-7718

Online sales for tonight’s performance are now closed. A limited number of seats may be available at the door. Please call or txt 413-841-7718 to confirm.

Karl Tyler Memorial

In Memory of a Jazz Fan Extraordinaire

Karl Tyler passed away on September 29, 2016. On October 29, there was a memorial service at Pittsfield Cemetery officiated by Rev. Timothy Weisman of Zion Lutheran Church. Karl was a Jazz enthusiast and played the bass, sang, and danced. He was a fan and friend of the legendary Jazz composer and pianist Randy Weston, percussionist, pianist, Ethnomusicologist, Fulbright Scholar and tap dancer Royal Hartigan, and most of the Berkshire County Jazz players and fans.

Karl’s lifelong love of Jazz was a central part of his life, and was equaled only by his expertise for Jazz history, styles, and musicians, many of whom knew and highly respected Karl. He would customarily be asked to sit in and scat sing or whistle solos with a group. On many occasions, he would trade short solos with world-class New York Jazz artists playing in the Berkshires, such as Randy Weston’s famous sextet at Avaloch Inn in Lenox during the 1950s and 1960s.

Karl was a legend for his quick memory of people and places in Jazz among the Berkshire Jazz community and among many players in New York. Karl was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Pittsfield.

Karl Tyler Memorial Of the attendees at the memorial service were Royal Hartigan, Dick Di Nicola, Ted Murray, and Rich Vinette, all musicians who knew Karl and remembered his enthusiastic presence at any and all jazz happenings in Berkshire County. (If there was a riff in the air…Karl would be there).

Royal Hartigan recited a poem at the memorial and led the musicians in a short West African inspired ceremonial musical piece in Karl’s honor.

After the service, Karl’s family wanted to thank the four musicians for bringing the spirit of Jazz to the service and insisted on giving them each a crisp $100 bill. The musicians in turn have donated the entire amount to Berkshires Jazz, Inc. in Karl’s name and his spirit in supporting Jazz.

We are pleased to post this recollection of a consummate jazz advocate, and welcome additional contributions, either in someone’s memory, or to help Berkshires Jazz continue on our journey, Donations may be made anonymously or attributed.

R.I.P., Karl Tyler

Please stay tuned…

With the 2016 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival in the books, new programming will be be announced here soon – and via our mailing list, which you are welcome to join today:

2016 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival featured Scott Robinson, Karrin Allyson, Army Jazz Ambassadors

Final updated schedule before the 2016 Pittsfield CityJazz Festival

Jazz Prodigy Concert – Nathan Farrell, alto saxophone

Thursday, Oct. 13, 7pm – Jazz Prodigy Concert – Nathan Farrell, alto saxophone – Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave. (free)
Sponsored by the Friends of the Athenaeum

Scott Robinson Quartet

Friday, Oct. 14, 8:00pm (doors open at 7:30pm) – Scott Robinson Quartet – Flavours Malaysian Restaurant (entrance on McKay Street)
The online box office for the Scott Robinson Quartet performance is now closed. Some tickets will be available at the door starting at 7:30pm. To hold tickets, please call 413-841-7718 or email jazzpittsfield@aol.com.

Karrin Allyson U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors

Saturday, Oct. 15, 7:30pm – Karrin Allyson U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors – Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble – Colonial Theatre, 111 South St.
$20/$35, Tickets: 413-997-4444, or
www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

Jazz Brunch

Sunday, Oct. 16, 11am-1pm -Jazz Brunch – Dredi (Jazz/Reggae) – Dottie’s Coffee Lounge – 444 North Street

A new part of the festival is a month-long exhibit of the works of award-winning photojournalist Ken Franckling. Opening with the First Friday Artswalk on Oct. 7, the exhibit of more than 20 of Franckling’s photos will hang at the Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave. Franclking will be present at the First Friday Artswalk reception on Oct. 7 (5-8pm), signing his book, “JAZZ IN THE KEY OF LIGHT.”

In addition to visually capturing a variety of the world’s jazz greats in performance or moments of personal reflection, Franckling paired the images with essential quotes from interviews he conducted over his long career, working for a variety of mainstream and jazz publications. It is not your typical fine art photography book,

As part of its Pittsfield CityJazz Festival, a local group of professional musicians, the Pittsfield Sister City Jaz Ambassadors, visits elementary and middle schools in the county, educating and entertaining students.

Most of the festival’s events are free, thanks to underwriting support from The Feigenbaum Foundation, North Coast Brewing Co., TD Charitable Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Berkshire Bank, the Crowne Plaza, and jazz advocate and educator Brent Banulis.

ABOUT THE HEADLINERS

Kicking-off “headline weekend,” the exciting, creative sounds of saxophonist Scott Robinson will fill Flavours Restaurant on Oct. 14, starting at 8pm – doors open at 7:30. ($25 advance; $30 day of show) Robinson graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1981; the next year, he joined the college’s staff, becoming its youngest faculty member. He has appeared on more than 200 LP and CD releases, including eleven under his leadership. Robinson’s quartet makes its Berkshires debut at the popular nightspot (entrance on McKay Street, across the street from the parking lot and garage).

The remarkable vocalist and pianist Karrin Allyson performs with her trio at The Colonial Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 15, at u7:30pm. Allyson has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, and has received positive reviews from several prominent sources, including the New York Times, which has called her a “singer with a feline touch and impeccable intonation.” After her set, the Jazz Ambassadors –America’s big band– take the stage, and Allyson will return for some numbers with the big band.

In addition to the headline performers, the Oct. 15 concert will be opened by the Berkshires Jazz Youth Ensemble, which is in residence at Herberg Middle School. Under the direction of Chris Nelson-Unczur, the ensemble mainly comprises the student musicians in the Herberg Middle School Jazz Ensemble, augmented by graduates and visiting students. Tickets for the Oct. 15 headline concert is available at www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org.

Jazz About Town – Annual Jazz Crawl, Oct. 7-9, 2016, Downtown Pittsfield

Friday, Oct. 7

Ken Franckling’s “Jazz in the Key of Light”
Reception and book signing, 5-8pm
First Friday Artswalk “after party”
Jazz from 8-10pm
Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave.

Andy Kelly, Gypsy Jazz, 7pm
Patrick’s Pub, 26 Bank Row

Dave Bartley, piano/vocal, 6:30-8:30pm
Panchos, 156 North Street

Blue Light Trio, 7:30pm
Rainbow Restaurant, 109 First St.

Saturday, Oct. 8

John Kozinski, guitar, 6:30-8:30pm
Panchos, 156 North St.

Rich VInette Quintet, 7-10pm
J. Allen’s Clubhouse Grille, 41 North St.

Warren Sieme, 7:30pm
Rainbow Restaurant, 109 First Street

Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis, 8-10pm
Mission Bar and Tapas, 438 North Street

Gruppo Mundo, 9pm-close
The Lantern, 455 North Street

Sunday, Oct. 9
Rainbow Restaurant, 109 First Street
Jazz Brunch
11am-3pm

Other events of interest

Month-long Jazz Photography exhibit
Ken Franckling’s
“Jazz in the Key of Light”
Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave.

Sunday, Oct. 16
Jazz Brunch
Dredi (Jazz/Reggae)
Dottie’s Coffee Lounge
444 North Street, 11am-1pm

Andy Wrba and guests, 7:30pm, every Monday.
Mission Bar and Tapas, 438 North Street

Gruppo Mundo, 6:30pm, every Wednesday
Rainbow Restaurant, 109 First St.

Berkshires Jazz, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to present jazz events and promote jazz education in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Berkshires jazz summer 2016

Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils, Zucchini’s Restaurant, August 6

In New Orleans, a city known worldwide for its music, Samirah Evans was one of its most popular jazz and blues vocalists. She first performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1990, and became a regular fixture as either a leader or featured vocalist for 14 consecutive years. She has toured Europe, Asia, and both North and South America as a headliner, and shared stages with legendary artists from B.B. King and James Brown, to New Orleans’ own Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas. Samirah’s “handsome devils” are accomplished and up-and-coming musicians, including Michael Zsoldos, saxophones; Miro Sprague. Piano; Marty Jaffe, bass; Conor Meehan, drums.

Dinner for tonight is sold-out. A limited number of tickets may be able for the music only; please call 413-841-7718 for details.

Saturday, August 6, 8pm,
Zucchini’s Restaurant (downstairs, enter from parking lot)
1331 North St., Pittfsield, Mass.

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