More jazz highlights for this weekend: Sept 17-19

Before we get to the highlights here’s news relevant to Madison jazz fans: according to a WSJ article Magnus Restaurant will close Jan 1st and reopen in March with a new theme that appears to deemphasize jazz. This is a blow to the jazz scene and now makes it more important than ever to support the lone remaining weekly jazz series, Fridays at Inn on the Park.

Starting then with that series, this Friday at 8 pm Inn on the Park features Gerri DiMaggio and World Beat. I’m not sure if Gerri has renamed her band and reoriented her repertoire, or if this is a special show. Either way Gerri always puts on a great performance.

Sunday at 7:30 pm rising jazz star Esperanza Spalding plays the Stoughton Opera House. This is going to be really good! Esperanza’s music incorporates elements of jazz, world music, and contemporary music into a joyful whole. For a video and more, see this previous article.

I’d really like to hear Esperanza but it overlaps with the Madison Jazz Jam Sunday 4-7 pm at the Washington Hotel Coffee Room. Given the choice between performing or listening I’ll always pick performing. In this case my main duties will be hosting the event, but I hope to jam on a few tunes like everyone else!

A somewhat similar event is Laurie Lang’s Improvisation Music Workshop 6:30 pm Friday at the Washington Hotel Coffee Room. The theme this time is “Single-Line Groove and Song Building.” Here’s a review of her workshop the last time that theme was used. It was an especially popular and fun workshop.

As always more jazz events can be found at the Madison Jazz Calendar.

Introducing Madison Jazz Jam

Madison Jazz Jam is a new monthly jam session that welcomes players of all ages and levels and includes educational feedback. The 1st session is September 19th. The band will be Nick Moran - bass, Rand Moore – drums, Zach Nielsen –  upright piano, and Dan Wallach – saxophone and educator.
 
Below is some information from the  Madison Jazz Jam website.. The website contains regular updates and email subscription is available. 

New Improv Workshop!

The Madison jazz scene is really taking off! The jazz calendar is full, the new Friday night jazz at Inn on the Park is a great success, and now Madison bassist Laurie Lang is hosting/facilitating a new improvisation music workshop for listening and/or participation. It starts this Friday. See the information below and at ttp://laurielang.wordpress.com/.

IMW (Improvisational Music Workshop) will meet twice a month on Fridays from 6-8pm at the Washington Hotel Coffee Room located on Lakeside Street in Madison.

• All people, all ages are invited to attend, observe, cheer us on, eat the good fresh food and drink.
• Experienced improvisational musicians are encouraged to come with instruments and be prepared to join in to the music making.
• Each week will have a different emphasis and it will be published here with some detail.  Microphones, a PA and a nice new Kawai piano (from Farley’s) will be provided.

May 14th Friday, 6-8pm – We’ll kick off the first IMW session with an exploration called “Change the Feel.” All songs will be played with a varied meter, experimenting with the “feel” or messing with some kind of polyrhythmic/hemiola ideas in soloing and comping.

In the coming weeks:
May 28th Friday, 6-8pm – Single Line Groove and Song Building
June 11th Friday, 6-8pm – Original Music only!
June 25th Friday, 6-8pm – Space – Minimalistic approach

What IMW IS and What it is NOT

• A house band will kick off the session with several songs, and then others will be invited to join the music making.
• This is NOT a jam session but a musical workshop.
• IMW will encourage playing music together, listening and responding to what is happening.
• This workshop is NOT a gig.
• IMW is a safe space for good music to begin and evolve
• It is a place to nurture musical relationships in the community.