When we talked to Artistic Director John Clayton
about adding two intensive workshops to our jazz education programs, he
immediately named Big Band and Advanced Improvisation as the two topics
he wanted to address first. Along with our larger summer program, Jazz Port Townsend,
these two new workshops round out our 2009 offerings, all of which center on
a common theme—improvisation. Improvisation, after all, is what makes
jazz so special, challenging and rewarding for the player.
We'll be announcing the Advanced Improvisation session very soon, but let's talk Big Band!
John has rounded up two of the best – Jay Thomas, and the legendary Bill Ramsay to join him in leading a Jazz Big Band Intensive, September 17-20. It will run concurrently with "Jazz and the Word" a new literary gathering led by Quincy Troupe.
In describing his vision for this program John said, "
the model that has been established by the classic, historic big bands,
the Workshop Big Band will be comprised of soloists whose voices are
honed to collectively produce a unique sound. Duke Ellington, Woody
Herman, Count Basie, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis et al, were all bands
comprised of musicians who could improvise. This successful formula
will be explored in our workshop."
Visit our Jazz Big Band Intensive page for more information.
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