Outstanding High School Jazz Ensembles in Concert on 4/20 and 5/5

Under the direction of the awesome educator Steve Sveum, the jazz program at Sun Prairie High   School is one of the best in the country. As it has often done over the past two decades, the school’s Jazz Ensemble I has been selected as one of 15 finalists in the annual nation-wide “Essentially Ellington” competition produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City (watch here as students find out the big news). In the coming weeks, Madison area jazz fans have two chances to catch performances by Jazz I as they prepare for their big trip to New York.

This Saturday, April 20, at 7:00 PM in the school’s Performing Arts Center (888 Grove Street in Sun Prairie), Jazz I will be performing in a concert that also features the other two Wisconsin high school jazz ensembles that made the “Essentially Ellington” finals this year: Beloit Memorial and Lake Geneva Badger. Each band will be performing the pieces that they’ll be performing at LincolnCenter next month. This concert is free and open to the public.

Then, on Sunday, May 5^th, at 7:00 PM, Jazz I will give its ticketed “Send Off” concert of Ellingtonia to help raise the funds needed to send the band to New York. This concert will be held at Sun Prairie’s Cardinal Heights Middle School Auditorium (the former high school building) at 220 Kroncke Drive in Sun Prairie, and will feature special guest vocalist Kyle Ketelsen singing the Sinatra songbook.

Come out and support these very talented and hard-working young musicians who will be responsible for keeping the music alive for decades to come.

UW Jazz Studies Professor Johannes Wallmann’s New Sextet @ The Brink This Sunday (3/10/13)

As part of the mutual welcome to our community at the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium’s “Jazz Junction” kickoff event at Full Compass this past November, the UW School of Music’s new Jazz Studies Director Johannes Wallmann, http://www.music.wisc.edu/faculty/bio?faculty_id=94, gave us a sneak peek at the brasstet format that’s been at the forefront of his composing, arranging and performing, and that is heard on his latest CD, “The Coasts” (2010, MWP Records).

Johannes has now firmed up the membership of the Wisconsin edition of his brasstet, and Madison Music Collective is bringing them to the Brink Lounge tomorrow (Sunday, 3/10/13) for a 3:30 PM concert hosted by Mad Toast Live’s Chris Wagoner and Mary Gaines and a 6:00 PM interactive workshop hosted by Laurie Lang of the Improvisational Music Workshop. In addition to Johannes on piano, the new band (called The Sweet Minute) includes the stellar line-up of Dave Cooper (trumpet), Darren Sterud (trombone), Marty Erickson (tuba), John Christensen (bass) and Devin Drobka (drums).

Discounted advance sale tickets are available at http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ai1ec_event/jazz-on-a-sunday-johannes-wallmann-and-the-sweet-minute/?instance_id=1456. Full-price tickets will also be available at the door. For more info about the band, visit http://madisonmusiccollective.org/Events/Johannes.shtml.

Free workshop by The Bad Plus

The Bad Plus are coming to Madison for a free performance at the Sett (Union South) this Sunday at 8:00 pm. Now, a free workshop for jazz students and community members has been added for the following day.

WORKSHOP / Q&A with The Bad Plus
Monday, March 4, 11:00 am to noon
Morphy Recital Hall
UW School of Music
455 N Park Street, 2nd floor, Madison, WI 53706
Free & unticketed

While the concert on Sunday evening is directed towards a general jazz audience (and really anyone who enjoys good music), the workshop on Monday will be geared towards musicians / music students.

Dennis Mitcheltree comes to Madison

Today’s article is by guest author Joyce Markle.

Heads up! It’s not every day that a great tenor player, well-traveled in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. makes time in his busy tour schedule to visit Madison. Later this week, Los Angeles saxophonist Dennis Mitcheltree makes a rare visit to Madison to play three dates with his friend, UW Professor of Jazz Studies, Johannes Wallmann. All are free.

• Saturday, March 2^nd, 8-11pm, Dennis joins Johannes at his weekly gig at The Fountain, 122 State Street.
• Sunday, March 3^rd, 4 – 7:30 pm, Dennis performs and coaches local players at Madison Jazz Jam at The Fountain.
• Tuesday, March 5^th, 7:30-9:30 pm, Johannes performs a program of original compositions as part of the UW Faculty Recital Series. Dennis and UW Parkside Professor of Jazz Studies trumpeter Russ Johnson are featured. Morphy Hall in the UW Humanities Bldg.

Valentine’s day with Gerri

Looking for a place to take your honey for Valentine’s day? Well, what could be more romantic than dinner while listening to one of Madison’s most popular jazz vocalists? Gerri DiMaggio performs with her trio every Thursday at the Fountain, and this Thursday is Valentine’s day. Here’s a note from Gerri:

Thursday, February 14th 6:30 to 9:00 at The Fountain, 122 State Street in the back bar.  Hearts, flowers, champagne and love songs…. Join us for a special Valentines show this Thursday with Paul Hastil, piano and Matt Heredia, bass and be My Funny Valentine!

Love Light, Love Dark

“Love Light, Love Dark,” a jazz concert with Susan Hofer, Doug Brown & John Christensen.

Where: the Center for Conscious Living, 849 E. Washington Ave., Suite 118, Madison, WI, 53703

When: Saturday, February 9th, 7pm – 10pm?

Cost: Admission is $12 day of show or $10 with advance purchase, available with a credit card or Paypal account

More Info: Experience world class jazz in an intimate setting as these musical magicians weave a seductive tapestry of sonic delight. Susan will be joined by Doug Brown on guitar and John Christensen on bass for this evening of romantic, dynamic improvisation. Settle in for an evening designed to fill your heart and enliven your soul. This is a substance free “Teahouse Concert.”

For more event info, go to http://www.mylovingspirit.com
To listen to some music online, go to her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/susanhofermusic