Several Past SFJB Artists Nominated for 52nd Annual Grammy's

We always beam with pride when musicians we've presented as part of our concert series or at JazzFest are Grammy Nominees! Here's the listing of jazz and blues categories, as well as a gospel and pop category where jazz and blues artists are included. (Artists that the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society has presented are in red.) Photo of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi at the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival 2007 by Kristen Mors Photography.

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

• Urbanus
  Stefon Harris & Blackout
  [Concord Jazz]
  
  
• Sounding Point
  Julian Lage
  [Emarcy/Decca]
  
  
• At World's Edge
  Philippe Saisse
  [E1 Music]
  
  
• Big Neighborhood
  Mike Stern
  [Heads Up International]
  
  
• 75
  Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate
  [Heads Up International]
  
  

Best Jazz Vocal Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• No Regrets
  Randy Crawford (& Joe Sample)
  [PRA Records]
  
  
• Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman
  Kurt Elling
  [Concord Jazz]
  
  
• So In Love
  Roberta Gambarini
  [Groovin' High/Emarcy]
  
  
• Tide
  Luciana Souza
  [Verve]
  
  
• Desire
  Tierney Sutton (Band)
  [Telarc Jazz]
  
  

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
(For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Dancin' 4 Chicken
  Terence Blanchard, soloist
  Track from: Watts (Jeff "Tain" Watts)
  [Dark Key Music]
  
  
• All Of You
  Gerald Clayton, soloist
  Track from: Two-Shade
  [ArtistShare]
  
  
• Ms. Garvey, Ms. Garvey
  Roy Hargrove, soloist
  Track from: Emergence
  [Groovin' High/Emarcy]
  
  
• On Green Dolphin Street
  Martial Solal, soloist
  Track from: Live At The Village Vanguard
  [CamJazz]
  
  
• Villa Palmeras
  Miguel Zenón, soloist
  Track from: Esta Plena
  [Marsalis Music]
• 
  
  
  

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

• Quartet Live
  Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Steve Swallow & Antonio Sanchez
  [Concord Jazz]
  
  
• Brother To Brother
  Clayton Brothers
  [ArtistShare]
  
  
• Five Peace Band — Live
  Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band
  [Concord Records]
  
  
• Remembrance
  John Patitucci Trio
  [Concord Jazz]
  
  
• The Bright Mississippi
  Allen Toussaint
  [Nonesuch]
  

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
(For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

• Legendary
  Bob Florence Limited Edition
  [MAMA Records]
  
  
• Eternal Interlude
  John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble
  [Sunnyside]
  
  
• Fun Time
  Sammy Nestico And The SWR Big Band
  [Hänssler Classic]
  
  
• Book One
  New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
  [World Village]
  
  
• Lab 2009
  University Of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band
  [North Texas Jazz]
  

Best Latin Jazz Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

• Things I Wanted To Do
  Chembo Corniel
  [Chemboro Records]
  
  
• Áurea
  Geoffrey Keezer
  [ArtistShare]
  
  
• Brazilliance X 4
  Claudio Roditi
  [Resonance Records]
  
  
• Juntos Para Siempre
  Bebo Valdés And Chucho Valdés
  [Sony Music/Calle 54]
  
  
• Esta Plena
  Miguel Zenón
  [Marsalis Music]
  
  

Best Traditional Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

• A Stranger Here
  Ramblin' Jack Elliott
  [ANTI]
  
  
• Blue Again
  The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito
  [429 Records]
  
  
• Rough & Tough
  John Hammond
  [Chesky Records]
  
  
• Stomp! The Blues Tonight
  Duke Robillard
  [Stony Plain Records]
  
  
• Chicago Blues: A Living History
  (Various Artists)
  Larry Skoller, producer
  [Raisin' Music]
  

Best Contemporary Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

• This Time
  The Robert Cray Band
  [Nozzle Records/Vanguard]
  
  
• The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
  Ruthie Foster
  [Blue Corn Music]
  
  
• Live: Hope At The Hideout
  Mavis Staples
  [ANTI]
  
  
• Back To The River
  Susan Tedeschi
  [Verve Forecast]
  
  
• Already Free
  The Derek Trucks Band
  [Victor Records]
  

Best Gospel Performance
(For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.)

• Free To Be Me
  Francesca Battistelli
  [Fervent Records/ Word Entertainment]
  
  
• Jesus Is Love
  Heather Headley Featuring Smokie Norful
  Track from: Audience Of One
  [EMI Gospel]
  
  
• I Believe
  Jonny Lang With Fisk Jubilee Singers
  Track from: Oh Happy Day
  [Vector Recordings/EMI Gospel]
  
  
• Wait On The Lord
  Donnie McClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard
  Track from: We All Are One (Live In Detroit)
  [Verity]
  
  
• Born Again
  Third Day
  Track from: Revelation
  [Essential Records]
  

Best Pop Instrumental Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.)

• In Boston
  Chris Botti
  [Columbia]
  
  
• Legacy
  Hiroshima
  [Heads Up International]
  
  
• Potato Hole
  Booker T. Jones
  [Anti]
  
  
• Modern Art
  The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman
  [Hear Music]
  
  
• Down The Wire
  Spyro Gyra
  [Heads Up International]
  

Search & Shop For Good This Holiday!

What if the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society earned a donation every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite cause.

And if you download the GoodSearch - Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society toolbar, our cause will earn money every time you shop and search online - even if you forget to go to GoodShop or GoodSearch first!

Add the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society toolbar now!

Your gift truly makes a difference! Your financial contributions will help our organization send young students to music camp, pair them with music teachers for private lessons, and provide workshops with guest clinicians to develop their abilities and self esteem!

Thank you for your support of jazz and blues music and for inspiring our young people to live out their dreams through music.

Happy Holidays!

All City High School Jazz Ensemble and Northlanders Sizzle

Last night, the All City High School Jazz Ensemble and Augustana College Northlanders Jazz Band performed at Kresge Auditorium to a nearly full house.

The All City program was established 8 years ago by the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society and features a select group of high school musicians nominated by their band directors with a focus on the art of jazz improvisation. A high school group is selected and performs in the fall with a middle school program scheduled each spring.

Yamaha artist, trumpeter and composer Jeff Jarvis returned to Sioux Falls and held clinics with both groups and performed as a guest soloist. Mr. Jarvis was most recently in Sioux Falls playing with the Northlanders at the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival last July.

Mr. Jarvis sat in with the All City group for their entire set. He mentioned that as he flew in to Sioux Falls, he noticed all the agriculture in our area and noted that we also "grow good kids in South Dakota."

SFJB board president, Neal Eddy, awarded Lincoln High School senior trumpet player Jordan Hoffman the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Scholarship for Higher Learning - a $1,000 award to help with college tuition to a state institution.

As part of the scholarship process, Jordan submitted a written essay to the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. Here are a few excerpts that demonstrate his passion for jazz music:

"...to teach kids how to play jazz, we'll I'd pay to have that job and it truly will be a dream come true when it happens," said Jordan.

"Jazz education is essential. The torch is being passed on to my generation and many are ignoring its flame. I plan to take that torch, run with it and keep jazz alive because if jazz dies, then a part of me has too."

Jordan was also a recipient of the Mike Miller Lifetime Achievement Award Scholarship when he was an 8th grader playing in the All City Middle School Jazz Ensemble. He's truly a special kid and a heck of a trumpet player as well.

The Northlanders Jazz Band was smokin’! The band started and ended their set with a bari sax solo. Awesome! Combined with a sizzling rhythm section, accomplished vocalist and great solos peppered throughout their 8 song set – their sound was a wall of swinging greatness.

Its fun for us at the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society to see kids that were involved in the All City Jazz groups evolve in their musicianship. Three of the Northlanders players are alums of the All City program: Chris Borchardt (alto and soprano sax), Meredith Reynolds (tenor sax), and Collin Block (trumpet).

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society would like to thank Dr. Paul Schilf, Ivan Fuller, Stan Eitrem and Augustana College; Jennifer Hawkinson band director at Washington High School, Robert Carlson band director at Lincoln High School, and Shane Macklin band director at Roosevelt High School. Thank you also to Ann Davis, Fine Arts Coordinator at Sioux Falls Public Schools.

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society would also like to thank Yamaha Corporation for its sponsorship making Jeff Jarvis's appearance possible.

Kyle Eastwood Band to Perform and Educate in Sioux Falls This Friday!

Jazzman and Composer for Academy Award-Winning Films, Kyle Eastwood Kicks Off Society's Concert Series Friday at Orpheum Theater.

WHAT: Kyle Eastwood Band presented by the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society
WHEN: Friday, November 13, 2009 at 8PM
WHERE: Sioux Falls Historic Orpheum Theater
TICKET INFO: Tickets are $42 or $25. Available by calling 605-335-6101 or online at www.sfjb.org. Student rush tickets are also available for $12 - ½ hour before the performance with a valid student ID.
WORKSHOP INFO: Eastwood will hold a FREE educational workshop at the Jeschke Fine Arts Center on the USF campus at 3 p.m. on Friday.
LISTENING PARTY AT TRE LOUNGE: Listen to Kyle's latest album "Metropolitain", enjoy happy hour specials and win a pair of tickets to Friday's concert - tomorrow night from 4-6p.m.

"Very sharp work. There's no denying Kyle has imagination and skill.”
- The Observer

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society will kick off its 2009-10 Concert Series with world-renowned bassist, band leader and composer, Kyle Eastwood and his band, on Friday, November 13 at the Sioux Falls Historic Orpheum Theater.

As the son of the Hollywood Legend Clint Eastwood it is perhaps unsurprising that Kyle Eastwood is able to produce an air of the "super cool" with his music. His smart, sophisticated and intelligent style has earned him a place on the jazz circuit all over the world. The air-tight live performances which he leads with sensitivity and professionalism have become synonymous with the highest quality music available. Working with a highly talented British band Kyle is breaking into the consciousness of music lovers all over the world and earning a reputation regardless of his surname.

Kyle's first memory of playing music was when Clint taught him to play the left hand bass line of Boogie Woogie while he plaed the right hand solo over the top. But it wasn't until 1986, two years into a film studies major at USC, that Kyle realized music was his true passion. After years of paying his dues gigging around Los Angeles and New York, his debut album From Here to There was released on Sony in 1998.

Eastwood has released four jazz albums as a leader and has composed and arranged music for eleven films including his father's award-winning pictures Gran Torino, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, Letters from Iwo Jima, Mystic River and the upcoming Invictus.

Eastwood's latest release, "Metropolitain", was released in June 2009 in the US. Co-produced by Erin Davis (son of Miles) and Kyle's long term writing partner Michael Stevens, the new album is set to capture the attention of the jazz world with its forward thinking style and the gathering of some of the best of today's jazz musicians.

As someone who has had a myriad of opportunities to shine, Kyle Eastwood has truly carved his own path as a musician. His playing reflects the richness and diversity of his experience.

The Kyle Eastwood Band concert and educational workshop are funded in part by a generous donation of Chuck and Jill Point, Avera McKennan, Vern Eide Motorcars and the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from South Dakota Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O' Lakes Foundation.

Jazz 101: For Adults - Kyle Eastwood and Jane Monheit Preview

WHAT: Jazz 101 – For Adults: Kyle Eastwood & Jane Monheit Preview WHEN: Thursday, November 5th, 2009 – 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. WHERE: CJ Callaway's South Events Center - off of 69th and Minnesota Ave. PRICE: FREE to subscribers and $5 to non-subscribers. Please RSVP by calling 605-335-6101

Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society is hosting a jazz adult education evening and social mixer for music lovers on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at CJ Callaway’s from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Free appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

This informal night will feature a discussion of 2 of the 5 artists that will be performing at during the 2009-10 "Legends In the Making" Concert Series. The Kyle Eastwood discussion will focus around his jazz upbringing and career, and the Jane Monheit discussion around her vocal style.

All those in attendance will be eligible to win a pair of tickets to the Kyle Eastwood Band concert on Friday, November 13th!

Cost for this educational evening is FREE to subscribers and only $5 for non-subscribers. Please RSVP by calling 605-335-6101!

Single Tickets to the 2009-10 Concert Series On-Sale Now!

Individual tickets for all concert series performances are now on-sale!

Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 605-335-6101.

2009-10 season subscriptions are still on-sale as well starting at $158 per person. Subscribers receive the best seats in the house! Call the SFJB office to learn more about subscriber benefits.

Jazz & Blues Society Awarded NEA Grant

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society is pleased to announce that it has received an Access to Artistic Excellence Grant in the amount of $12,500 from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Society's Executive Director, Robert Joyce, said the grant is a great honor and further validates the organization's educational outreach efforts.

"We are very excited to receive this grant from the NEA," Joyce said. "Funding from the NEA is quite competitive and to be recognized for our work shows that we are providing programming that is superior on a national level."

Money received from this prestigious grant will be used to support the Jazz Diversity Project, an educational program that brings live jazz music into middle schools across South Dakota.

"Ultimately this money will help us provide this program across the state of South Dakota and more kids will be able to enjoy the music and message the Jazz Diversity Project brings to their school," Joyce said.

Joyce added, "The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society has always strived for programming that is at the same level as arts organizations in larger markets. This helps to further validate our hard work and shows that we are succeeding."

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society strives to bring jazz and blues educational experiences to youth and adults in Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota through various educational programs and workshops.

The upcoming fundraiser on Saturday September 26th, Jazz & Brews, directly supports the Society's educational outreach programs, which includes: the Jazz Diversity Project, the All City Jazz Ensemble, scholarships, master classes and workshops, as well as free tickets to concert series performances for at-risk and underserved youth and families.

For more information please contact Robert Joyce, Executive Director, at 605-335-6101 or at info@sfjb.org.

Jazz & Brews Will Raise Funds for Music Education Programs

The fifth-annual Jazz & Brews beer tasting and silent auction will be held Saturday, September 26th at Vern Eide Motorcars from 7pm to 11pm. This event is a fantastic way to spend an evening, especially for all you beer lovers (dare-we-say "snobs"?) out there.

Jazz & Brews is the largest beer tasting in the area! In addition to a plethora of hoppy goodness, the event will also feature delicious appetizers from Chef Jeni and live music by Dakota Jazz Collective.

You won't want to miss bidding on great silent auction packages including a pair of his and hers bicycles from Spoke-N-Sport, a 52" Plasma TV and surround sound system from Karl's TV & Appliance, a private shrimp boil party at JazzFest 2010.

All proceeds from Jazz & Brews benefit the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society's music education programs including the All City Jazz Ensemble, the Jazz Diversity Project, scholarships, workshops and master classes with concert series artists. These programs benefit thousands of students each year.

Tickets to Jazz & Brews are on sale now! Call 605-335-6101 or purchase tickets online today.

NPR's The Picture Show: Jazz Ambassadors Jam Abroad

This slideshow with audio commentary is a wonderful look back to the import role that jazz musicians have played in our country and the to the world.

Kudos to NPR for reminding us that music and art can transcend global boundaries and make meaningful connections.

Kyle Eastwood Talks About New Release "Metropolitain"

Watch Kyle Eastwood talks about his new CD 'Metropolitain' in Music | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Tommy Castro's New Album "Hard Believer" Out August 11

[From modernguitars.com]

Alligator Records has set an August 11 street date for Hard Believer, the label debut from blues, rock and R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist Tommy Castro. Castro, winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award for Entertainer Of The Year, is famed not only for his hard-hitting, impassioned vocals, soaring guitar work and his blues-infused, rocking R&B sound, but also for his striking, original songwriting and exhilarating stage show. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, "Castro navigates seriously funky Southern soul, gritty big city blues and scorching rock...his silvery guitar licks simultaneously sound familiar and fresh." Castro, booked by the famed Rosebud Agency, will be hitting the road hard -- kicking off his 2009 tour on August 9 in Duluth at the Bayfront Blues Festival, playing festivals and clubs all across the U.S. and Canada.

More available here.

Two JazzFest Artists Up for Living Blues Awards

Two JazzFest 2009 artists have been honored as nominees for Living Blues Magazine's Reader's Poll.

Elvin Bishop is up for the "Best Blues Album of 2008 (New Recordings)" category, and Bettye LaVette has been nominated in two categories: "Best Live Performer" and "Most Outstanding Blues Singer".

Elvin Bishop will headline JazzFest on Friday, July 17 and Bettye LaVette will perform at 6:30pm on Saturday, July 18. The entire festival lineup is available at www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com/performers/.

The Living Blues Magazine Reader's Poll is open until July 5. Vote online at www.livingblues.com.

BBC Review of Kyle Eastwood's Metropolitain

Eastwood is central to the music, providing its vital pulse and focus.

John Eyles 2009-06-22

Kyle Eastwood’s band are a hot live act. Driven by Eastwood's bass guitar, they inject life into audiences, getting them moving and grooving. After taking time out to work on soundtracks for his father's films, most recently Gran Torino, Eastwood returns with this easy-on-the-ear album, his first since 2006.

On Metropolitain, the aim was to capture the energy of the band’s live sound. The album was recorded in Paris, allowing such renowned European players as pianist Eric Legnini, drummer Manu Katché, trumpeter Till Brönner and vocalist Camille to join the ensemble alongside regulars like British saxophonist Graeme Blevins and pianist Andrew McCormack.

The album's outstanding track, Hot Box, shows what they can deliver at their best. McCormack's electric piano, Eastwood's bubbling bass and Katché's whiplash snare drum propel a tight funk workout that recalls The Meters in their heyday, amply demonstrating why Eastwood's band are a wow in concert.

Such excitement is not sustained throughout Metropolitain. At times it narrowly avoids drifting too close to elevator music. The title track with its mellow piano riff from Legnini and wordless backing vocals from Camille radiates smooth elegance. It is only rescued by incisive trumpet interjections from Brönner that steal the track.

Throughout, Eastwood is central to the music, providing its vital pulse and focus. History shows that being a band's leader and its bassist can be a difficult combination. To his credit, Eastwood manages it with style. He is at his finest on Black Light, with its subtle Hammond organ riff.

Co-produced by Erin Davis, son of Miles, and Michael Davis, Eastwood's frequent collaborator, notably on those soundtracks, the album achieves a laid-back groove that comfortably blends jazz and funk.

Here's the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/nwjw.

The Kyle Eastwood Band will perform as the first concert in the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society's 2009-2010 Concert Series on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater. Tickets will go on-sale to the public September 15. Concert series subscriptions are on sale now starting at $158 per person. For more information about this concert or the 2009-2010 series, visit http:www.sfjb.org/concerts/.

Get to Know Bettye LaVette Better

Listen here for a great interview with JazzFest 2009 artist Bettye LaVette from MPR's Midmorning aired earlier today.

She's playing at The Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant in Minneapolis this evening at 7 and 10pm.

We're looking forward to her arrival in Sioux Falls on July 18!

Check out the JazzFest artist schedule here.

JazzFest 2000 Headliner, Koko Taylor, Passes at 80

We were saddened to hear that the legendary Blues singer and past JazzFest headlining artist, Koko Taylor, passed away yesterday. Ms. Taylor played the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest in July 2000.

You can read her obituary from the Chicago Tribune here.

Bettye LaVette to Release 6-song Digital EP Including Recorded Version of “A Change is Gonna Come”

We just got word that JazzFest 2009 performer Bettye LaVette will release a digital 6-song EP on iTunes on June 16th that includes "A Change is Gonna Come," the Sam Otis tune she and Jon Bon Jovi performed at Obama's Inaugural Celebration.

More information on this special release available at the Anti Label Blog.

'Legends in the Making' 09-10 Concert Series On Sale Now!

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society will highlight 'Legends in the Making' for the 2009-2010 Concert Series. The musicians presented in this year’s series will prove that legends in jazz and blues are indeed among us today. The artists for the 2009-2010 Concert Series are as follows:

Kyle Eastwood Band

November 13, 2009 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Growing up as the son of Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood must have been quite a production. Jazz was always a part of the Eastwood household. Kyle’s first memory of playing music was when Clint taught him how to play the left hand bass line of Boogie Woogie while he played the right hand solo over the top. Having dabbled on electric bass as a teenager, he now also plays the upright, acoustic and double bass. Kyle says, “My roots remain in jazz but I like adding all kinds of different flavors.”

Jane Monheit
December 3, 2009 – 7pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Jane Monheit is now firmly established as one of the post millennial jazz world’s foremost vocalists. Growing up, Jane lived in a house constantly filled with music. Both Monheit's grandmother and aunt worked as professional singers, while just about everyone else played various instruments or sang for pleasure, including her father, David Monheit, who plays bluegrass guitar and banjo in his spare time.

James Cotton "Superharp" Band
January 16, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

The musical pedigree of Grammy Award winner James “Superharp” Cotton consists of a veritable who’s who in the world of the Blues. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006, the Smithsonian Institute in 1991, and winner of countless W.C. Handy Blues Awards, he has shared the stage with B.B. King, Johnny Winter, the Allman Brothers, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Sam and Dave, The Grateful Dead among many others. His most famous association comes from his musical relationship with the great Muddy Waters, earning his nickname “Superharp”.

Bonerama
March 12, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

When Bonerama struts onstage with its four-trombone frontline, you can guess it’s not quite like any jazz rock band you’ve seen. New Orleans’ Bonerama has been recognized by Rolling Stone, hailed as “the ultimate in brass balls.” The group has also been honor for “Best Rock Band” by the Big Easy Awards 2007. Having appeared at the Sioux Falls JazzFest in 2007, Bonerama recently won numerous OffBeat Magazine Awards; and regularly tops Offbeat’s trombone category.

Brubeck Brothers Quartet
April 9, 2010 – 8pm
Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater

Being the son of a jazz legend can be daunting experience, especially if you follow in his footsteps. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is an exciting jazz group featuring two members of one of America's most accomplished musical families, Daniel Brubeck (drums) and Chris Brubeck (bass & trombone). Guitarist Mike DeMicco, and pianist Chuck Lamb, complete this dynamic quartet. The Brubeck Brothers Quartet's debut Koch recording, Intuition, impressed the national jazz media and spent several weeks in the top ten radio charts while earning enthusiastic reviews from JazzTimes, Downbeat, Boston Globe and many other respected publications.

Subscriptions for the 2009-2010 concert series are available now and start at $158 per person and are available through the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. Purchase your subscription online now, or call the office at 605-335-6101.

Bookfair Will Help Raise Funds for SFJB Ed Fund

Combine your love of books and music to help out the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society on Sunday, April 26 at Barnes & Noble!

Simply download and print out the voucher below, bring it to the cash register when you check out and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society.

The Barnes & Noble Bookfair is being held in conjunction with April is Jazz Appreciation Month and national Turnoff Week.

Dakota Jazz Collective will perform a special in-store set at 3pm that day.

Barnes & Noble Sunday hours are 10am to 9pm.

http://www.sfjb.org/downloads/Bookfair-Flyer-and-Voucher-SFJB.pdf

Wynton Marsalis Gives Nancy Hanks Lecture

What an inspiring way to start a Friday!

The 22nd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy from Americans for the Arts on Vimeo.

Brand-Spankin' New JazzFest Website Launches!

Thanks to our friends at Blend Interactive, the JazzFest website got a facelift. Check it: http://www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com.

Sioux Falls Fusion Premier with Middle School Jazz Ensemble

On Tuesday evening, the All City Middle School Jazz Ensemble performed a shared concert with the Augustana Northlanders Jazz Band at Kresge Recital Hall.

The Middle School Ensemble is comprised of 20 of the finest 7th and 8th grade jazz players in the city representing all five of the city's public middle schools. That evening, the band had the great honor of playing with Doug Beach, a nationally-known Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, composer, publisher, educator and arranger. Mr. Beach commissioned the piece "Sioux Falls Fusion" especially for the group, which served as a grand finale. A fun Latin-swing number, the commission of "Sioux Falls Fusion"was made possible with support from the Mr. Kealey Fund, the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, and the Sioux Falls Public Schools. (The photo below l-r: Doug Beach and Danny Kealey)

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society also had the great pleasure of awarding the Michael Miller Scholarship to two players in the band. CJ Point a bass player from Patrick Henry and Pierre Guzman from Memorial. Point and Guzman will have the opportunity to study jazz privately or attend Augustana's band camp with their scholarship awards.

SFJB Staff Picks Top 5 Jazz Albums

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, the SFJB staff decided on the arduous task of picking their top 5 jazz albums. Here's how things shook out:

Robert Joyce, Executive Director

Miles Davis Kind of Blue

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out

Miles Davis Sketches of Spain

Charlie Parker Parker with Strings

Fourplay Best of Fourplay

Katrina Lehr-McKinney,

Executive Coordinator

Fitzgerald and Pass Again

Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane At Carnegie Hall

The Very Best of Nina Simone 1967-1972 Sugar In My Bowl

Diana Krall Live in Paris

The Brad Mehldau Trio The Art of the Trio v.4 Back at the Vanguard

Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month during April!

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society is preparing to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month during April with several special events.

Jazz Appreciation Month was designated by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in 2001 and the U.S. Congress passed legislation in 2003 that declared April as Jazz Appreciation Month.

“The intention of the celebration is to draw public attention to the glories of jazz as both a historical and living treasure,” says Katrina Lehr-McKinney, executive coordinator of the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. “This is the fifth year we’ve put together special events for JAM.”

Throughout April, events around the United States will play a part in heightening the awareness of America’s only indigenous art form - jazz music.

Jazz Appreciation Month events in the Sioux Falls community include (insights from Katrina Lehr-McKinney in italic):

• Jazz film Sunday series at Monk’s House of Ale Repute. All films start at 7pm.
• April 5: Calle 54
• April 12: One Night with Blue Note
• April 19: Bird
• April 26: A Great Day in Harlem

This jazz film series is a new venture for us and we are very excited that Monk’s is willing to expand their usual film offerings to focus on jazz music! The films selected are a wonderful mix of documentary, live performance footage, and drama.

• The All City Middle School Jazz Ensemble/Augustana Northlanders Jazz Band concert April 7^th at 7:30pm at Kresge Recital Hall on the Augustana College Campus. Guest clinician/composer Doug Beach will also perform. The All City Ensemble will premier a piece by Mr. Beach entitled “Sioux Falls Fusion,” commissioned for the All City Middle School Jazz Ensemble.

The All City Jazz Ensemble program has been in existence since 2002. The program gives students an opportunity to learn about jazz improvisation and performance at an in-depth level. Two scholarships are awarded each year to students in this group as well, so they can go on to study jazz privately or at Augie’s band camp.

• Jazz 101 – For Adults: JazzFest 2009 Artist Preview April 14^th at CJ Callaway’s Event Center at 7:30pm
  

Jazz 101 is a great event for anyone interested in learning more about the jazz and blues musicians that are presented at JazzFest or on our concert series. Dr. Paul Schilf does a great job keeping the evening a fun yet educational experience for those with all levels of background on the music.

• Downtown Jazz Crawl on April 25^th
• Touch of Europe – Jazzed from 8pm to midnight
• Paramount Studio – Terry Brooks from 9-11pm
• Latitude 44 – Brian Hanagan Group from 9pm to close
• Monk’s House of Ale Repute – Dan Peterson Trio from 7-10pm
• A Taste of the Big Apple – John Kelly & Co. from 5-7pm, West Coast Jazz Trio from 7-9pm
• Michelle’s Coffee – Geoff Gunderson from 7-9pm
• Wild Sage Grille – Jim McKinney Trio from 6-9pm

Last year, we had crawlers from Brookings, Iowa, and several surrounding communities take part in the evening. Making an evening out and visiting all the Jazz Crawl locations is a great time! You can have appetizers and drinks at one location, dinner at another, dessert at a third, and so on! It’s truly a great event that benefits both downtown businesses and local jazz musicians!

• Barnes & Noble Book Fair Fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society April 26^th. Special in-store performance by Dakota Jazz Collective at 3pm. A percentage of most purchases will be donated to the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society!

We hope that our fans will come down to Barnes & Noble on the 26^th to help us raise funding for our Educational Fund, which provides scholarships and education events to students in Sioux Falls and throughout South Dakota. You’ll also want to hang out and listen to Dakota Jazz Collective’s set at 3PM!

For more information about Jazz Appreciation Month events, visit the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society’s website, www.sfjb.org.

Blue Note 7 Were 'RED HOT'

'Red Hot' concert series ends on a high note.

March 25th was the end of the 2008-2009 'Red Hot' concert series and what a way to end it! The Blue Note 7 performed an amazing set list and the crowd enjoyed every minute of it!

Pictured are Bill Charlap on piano, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Ravi Colstrane on tenor sax, not pictured: Lewis Nash (drums), Nicholas Payton (trumpet), and Steve Wilson (alto sax).

Malone Wowed and Educated

The Russell Malone Quartet played the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater on Saturday as the fourth performance on the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society's 2008-2009 concert series.

Malone's quartet played with pure class on tunes like "April in Paris" and "Witchcraft". "I've never liked the song 'Unchained Melody' until I heard him play it," said one concert-goer.

Earlier that day, Malone gave a workshop/Q&A to nearly 50 musicians and music lovers interested in getting an in-depth look into Malone's technique and approach to his playing.


The workshop and concert were presented with support The Design Studio, Inc. and the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from South Dakota Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation.

Keb' Mo' and Elvin Bishop to Headline JazzFest 2009

JazzFest 2009 Set for July 17-18

The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society is planning for an exciting JazzFest on July 17th and 18th at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, SD.

In 2008, the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival - JazzFest had over 90,000 attendees enjoying the beautiful summer weather and hot music!

JazzFest 2009 will bring an opportunity for the Sioux Falls community to come together and enjoy some great live music and summer fun for everyone.

Festival admission information:
• JazzFest remains a free event with donations accepted at the gate.
• There will be a $10 parking fee for this year’s festival inside Yankton Trail Park.
• No outside food or beverage will be allowed inside grounds as JazzFest is a fundraiser for the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society and proceeds for the festival are raised through beverage and food sales.

South Dakota Public Broadcasting will be at the festival from the first note to the last, taping for The Best of JazzFest 2009.

The Sanford Children’s JazzQuest will feature family friendly musical performances and other arts activities and games.

The Midcontinent Communications Big Screen will give all attendees a bird’s-eye view of the happenings on the main stage with these excellent artists*:

The uniquely creative sounds of Elvin Bishop, progressive jazz from The Bad Plus, soul stylings from veteran Bettye LaVette, the dynamic musicianship from the Tommy Castro Band, Delta blues from Keb’ Mo’, South Dakota’s “King of the Guitar” T. Wilson King, sweet jazz sounds from Dakota Jazz Collective, big band beats from Augustana’s Northlanders Jazz Band featuring guests Chris Vadala and Jeff Jarvis, funky Zydeco from Lil’ Brian and the Travelers, and local blues masters Blues Bashers.

Second stage will feature local talent from: Kyle Knutson, Jami Lynn and the Aquila Band, Coltcockers, Truth & Adapt, TIM the Band, Liquid Thin, Blue in Green, The Body Electric, Chris Saub, and Tri-Dimensional.

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest is organized by the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, a non-profit arts organization.

For interviews, photos or bios, please contact the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society at 605-335-6101 or info@sfjb.org.

Get Ready for Russell Malone

Next week's visitation of jazz guitarist Russell Malone in the Sioux Falls community is a jazz-lovers dream come true. The virtuoso is a legend in the jazz world, having played with many of the best and brightest including Diana Krall and Harry Connick, Jr.

On Saturday, March 14, Mr. Malone will conduct a free workshop/demonstration/Q&A at the Orpheum Theater at 3pm. This is a great opportunity for guitarists, jazz musicians, or music lovers interested in learning about Mr. Malone's technique and approach to music.

The Russell Malone Quartet will perform at 8pm that evening, also at the Orpheum. The lineup of musicians is as follows:

Russell Malone: Guitar
Martin Bejerano: Piano (also plays with Roy Haynes and is a Grammy nominated musician)
Tassili Bond: Bass (played with Antonion Hart, Elvin Jones, Stefon Harris)
Johnathan Blake: Drums (Grammy nominated drummer and composer work with Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker)

Tickets are still available for this performance. Call the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society box office at 605-335-6101 or purchase online.

Cool Down at Tre Lounge immediately following the concert with the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society. SFJB ticket holders will enjoy food specials and happy hour prices. You never know ifa special guest will make a surprise appearance!

The Russell Malone Quartet concert and workshop are sponsored by The Design Studio, Inc., and the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from South Dakota Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation.

Today is the day to Save the Arts in SD! Act now!!

Dear Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society Supporter:

Today is the day to help save the arts in South Dakota! And I need your help. The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society receives funding from the South Dakota Arts Council in order to keep JazzFest free, tour across the state with our Jazz Diversity Project, present quality concerts in our series, as well as our provide other educational outreach programs.

This week, a bill was introduced HB1229 (Click for a fact sheet) which proposes to provide funds from a .5% tax increase on what is best known as the “tourism tax.” It passed as amended in the House Taxation Committee by a vote of 15-0. This would keep the arts office open and help us receive a nearly 2 to 1 increase in our NEA grants due to Obama’s new stimulus package.

Most importantly it will insure that our quality of life in South Dakota continues to rise and that we have great art all across our state, helping to education and inform, entertain and enlighten!

Our representative’s will need to hear from you TODAY! This bill will be voted on as early as THIS MONDAY, Feb 23rd!

Please take a moment and send a quick message to our legislators, letting them know you support House Bill 1229. Something as simple as:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am in favor of HB 1229 as a way to help save the South Dakota Arts Council and keep the arts alive in our state! Thank you!

Be sure to add your town to your signature.

Click below and send your short message!
http://legis.state.sd.us/who/index.aspx

Thank you for what you are doing to help the arts in our state and the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society.

Robert Joyce
Executive Director
Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society
605-335-6101 rjoyce@sfjb.org

Busy Week of Education Programs

We had a busy week with educational outreach in the community.

The Jazz Diversity Project played for six schools in the past week, visiting Sioux Falls Patrick Henry, Axtell Park, Memorial, Edison, and Whittier along with Brandon Valley Middle School.


Over 1,200 students saw the Jazz Diversity Project. Not bad for one week.

(See pic - Jimmy and Nate thought that as horn players, they deserved to take a seat on the thrones at Axtell Park.)

On Tuesday, the second Jazz 101: For Adults was held at CJ Callaway's. Over 50 people gathered to learn about jazz guitarists and the history of Blue Note Records while meeting other music fans.

Thanks so much to Randy, Tina and the team at CJ Callaway's, PRIME Magazine, and Paul Schilf for making this program a success!

The next Jazz 101: For Adults will be held on April 14th in celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month. Stay tuned for more information!