Sounds S A R A S O TA J A Z Z
Winter 2022
ARTURO SANDOVAL
Photo courtesy of Jeremy Lock
10 TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER Headlines 2022 Jazz Festival
Inside About Arturo Sandoval 330 S. Pineapple Ave, Suite 111 Sarasota, FL 34236 941.260.9951 www.jazzclubsarasota.org
2022 Sarasota Jazz Festival Ken Franckling’s Jazz Notes and much more!
Staff
From the President of The Jazz Club
Jane Doernberg - Office Manager Susan Leavis - Accounting & Marketing Carline Ash - Special Projects Brad LoRicco - Media Support Carol LoRicco - Photography
Board of Directors
Ed Linehan President George McLain Vice President - Legal Affairs Prince Knight - Vice President General Operations Debbie Silver* Secretary Peter Anderson Treasurer
Directors
Louise Coogan Mark Gruder Tomas Martinez David Murphy Carlos Pagan Michael Ross, Scholarship Chair Nancy Roucher*, Music Committee Chair Robert "Nic" Walker Dave Walrath*, Past President Lenore Walsh*, Volunteer Chair Bob Weitz Honorary Board Members Dick Hyman Bob Seymour* *Life Members
The Jazz Club of Sarasota Sounds is sponsored by
Dear Jazz Club Members and Friends, The reemergence of the Jazz Club in this lingering pandemic epoch has been both encouraging and frustrating. We’ve had to make some mid-course adjustments, but we remain committed to our plan for growth. Here are some high points since the beginning of our 2021-22 season in October. Expanded Programing •
Sunset Jazz at the Crosley scholarship concert - Oct. 27th, 400 guests.
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A second scholarship concert is under development for April.
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Jazz Thursdays at Sarasota Art Museum monthly series began in January.
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Giving Hunger The Blues charity festival - Feb. 6th, 1,000+ participants.
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Sarasota Jazz Festival in March - moves to Nathan Benderson Park, expands to four Main Stage concerts with top national artists and adds Late Night Jazz Jam events.
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“Birth of the Cool” special project concert - April 9th at Holley Hall
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Discovery Road music series - currently under development.
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Jazz Club Summer Schedule - currently under development.
Other Milestones – •
Five Year Strategic Plan for development approved. (not yet published)
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Covid Precautions Policy established in coordination with more than thirty Sarasota arts organizations in the Safe Arts Sarasota initiative.
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JCS Board Membership expanded to 17 - four new members added.
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Active Membership has grown from 428 to 785 and expanding daily.
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Scholarship Fund has raised 73% of its ambitious $30,000 goal.
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High School Jazz Band Competition has grown to six schools.
Of course, there have been challenges and disappointments. By far the greatest disappointment for all those involved was the cancellation of the 2022 Jazz Cruise. We had nearly 100 people registered this year. As you may know, a last-minute warning against cruise vacations by the CDC lead to cruise organizers, after much deliberation, to cancel. They chose to accept the CDC guidance and to put safety first. While our members had a range of opinions, most felt it was the right decision and are already focusing on the 2023 cruise next January. Covid-19 also had its negative impact on our audience sizes here locally. The most significant was the loss of about 50% of our Jazz At Two audience. By the end of December, the programs financial losses threatened cancellation of the balance of the series for this year. In response to the crisis five members donated nearly three thousand dollars as sponsors; the venue agreed to a temporary reduction in the rent; and the Board approved a ticket price increase. These actions saved the series for this year. The ticket price increase to $15 for members, while regrettable, will provide the foundation needed to secure the event for the foreseeable future. On To The Festival In March! What can I say after I announce the all-star line up of Arturo Sandoval, John Pizzarelli, Catherine Russell, Tierney Sutton, Shelly Berg, Ken Peplowski, Dick Hyman, Terell Stafford, Russell Malone, La Lucha, and Houston Person? If that doesn’t get you excited, check your pulse! Then check our website for ALL the details including special festival events, FAQ (frequently asked questions), hotels and my favorite section – TICKETS! In addition to selecting your seats at the various price points, there are still a few VIP Tickets and Sponsor Opportunities (with ticket perks) available! https://jazzclubsarasota.org/sarasota-jazz-festival Thank you for being the Heart of our Jazz Community! I sincerely enjoy sharing with you our love of this music.
Very truly yours,
Ed Linehan, President
941.260.9951 • www.jazzclubsarasota.org
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Arturo Sandoval “Born into poverty in Cuba and held back by his government, he risked everything to share his gifts with the world. In the decades since, this astonishing trumpeter, pianist and composer has inspired audiences in every corner of the world and awakened a new generation of great performers. He remains one of the best ever to play.” –Barack Obama presenting Arturo Sandoval The Presidential Medal of Freedom 4
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protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer. He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time. He has been seen by millions at the Oscars, at the Grammy Awards, and the Billboard Awards. Sandoval has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and nominated 19 times; he has also received 6
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10 time Grammy Award Winner Emmy Award Recipient 6 Time Billboard Award Winner 2015 Hispanic Heritage Award Recipient 2016 Honorary Doctorate recipient in Fine Arts from The University of Notre Dame
Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award. The latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country” that starred Andy Garcia as Arturo. His two latest Grammy award winning albums, “Dear Diz “Everyday I think of you” and Tango “Como Yo Te Siento” are now available worldwide. Recently released, is a new book chronicling his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie entitled “The Man Who Changed My Life”. Arturo also is the 2013 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Arturo Sandoval reaches beyond the scope of mere effort. His struggles while in Cuba and since his defection have given him more energy and strength, urging him to accomplish and surpass his childhood dreams. Filled with a virtuoso capability, he desires nothing more than to share his gift with others who feel the same intense adoration for music as he does. One frequently speaks of Arturo Sandoval’s virtuoso technical ability or his specialty in high notes, but he who has seen him on the piano, lyrically improvising a ballad, or has had the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of his music, through his compositions from the most straight ahead jazz, Latin jazz or classical, knows that Arturo Sandoval is a prominent musician, and one recognizes that Arturo is one of the most brilliant, multifaceted and renowned musicians of our time.
Arturo Sandoval will be performing at the Sarasota Jazz Festival on Saturday, March 19, 2022. For tickets visit: www.jazzclubsarasota.org
Don't miss a beat!
S
gin es win g un d e r th t a r s
Sarasota
Festival
March 13th - 19th
Nathan Benderson Park Production Partner
Schedule of Events
Sunday, March 13TH Jazz in the Park 3:00 - 6:30 (gates open at 2:00) free concert 3:00 Panama Drive 4:15 Melanie Massell 5:30 Roy Gerson Quartet
Thursday, March 17th Concert Film: Jazz on a Summer's Day 9:30 Film (doors open at 9:00) Burns Court Cinema 506 Burns Ct, Sarasota
Main Stage Concert 6:30 Terell Stafford & Friends 8:00 Dick Hyman & Ken Peplowski Friday, March 18th Main Stage Concert 6:30 Russell Malone & Friends 8:00 Tierney Sutton & Shelly Berg Jazz Jam 9:15 Late Night Jazz Jam (NBP Tower)
Tuesday, March 15th Jazz Trolley & Pub Crawl 6:00 - 10:00 10 locations in the Nathan Benderson Park Area Saturday, March 19th Main Stage Concert Wednesday, March 16th 6:30 La Lucha & Friends VIP Cocktail Party 5:00 - 6:00 8:00 Arturo Sandoval Main Stage Concert Jazz Jam 6:30 Houston Person & Friends 9:15 Late Night Jazz Jam (NBP Tower) 8:00 John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell All concerts and events at Nathan Benderson Park unless otherwise noted. A strict Covid policy in place for all events. Go to jazzclubsarasota.org/events for details.
Week at a Glance
Major Sponsors
The Harold and Evelyn R. Davis Memorial Foundation
FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION VISIT:
jazzclubsarasota.org/events Discounted Hotel Rates for Festival Attendees
or scan
Jazz Club of Sarasota
Changing of the Guard
he 2021 scholarship students gave two concerts this year: one in July, and the second in December. For those of you who saw one or both events, the high quality of musicianship the students are achieving from their college education was clearly visible. Bob and Vern Weitz have been on the Jazz Club Scholarship committee for twelve years, acting as co-chairs for the past eight years. The time has arrived for us to step down. The scholarship committee is currently strong with dedicated volunteers who work diligently during the year to select the best possible scholarship candidates. One of these committee members has stepped forward to assume chairmanship. We are pleased to announce that Michael Ross is the new chairman of the Scholarship Committee. Michael is a professional musician who works with high school students in our region. He is aware of the up-and-coming students who may be considering Jazz Studies as their college major. The other members of the committee will assist Michael in the considerable necessary paperwork. Vern will remain on as a committee member to assist in the transition. We want to thank current and former Board presidents, Ed Linehan, Dave Walrath, Peg Pluto and board members past and present for giving high priority to the Scholarship program. They realize the importance of students who study music are those who will keep jazz alive into the future. Although the scholarships are not funded by the Jazz Club, donations from club members and other afficionados of jazz in the community fill the fund coffers each year. The Board encourages donations and reports on the progress of our fund regularly. Dave Walrath, former chair of scholarships, Pictures courtesy of Carol LoRicco, Jazz Club Photographer from the December 2021 Jazz at 2 Scholarship concert. Top to bottom: Jonathan Munoz, Luca Stine, Dylan McHann and Colin Leonard. 8
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Left to right: Dylan McHann, Jonathan Munoz, Luca Stine, and Colin Leonard. Photo courtesy of Carol LoRicco.
has been a large help in raising money for scholarships at his Jazz @ Two sessions. Peg Pluto has offered to run two fund-raising events a year. The first one, early this fall, was a huge success and the upcoming spring event shows signs that it will be another successful event. Solicitations at other Jazz Club events, including the festival, will also help.
Our Volunteers are
the he of t art Jaz he z Cl ub
We have met some fine young men and women over the years. They have been academically proficient as well as musically gifted. We have wonderful memories of them all. Signing off with thanks to all of you who have placed confidence in this important Jazz Club effort. Bob & Vern Weitz, Past Co-chairs Scholarship Committee, The Jazz Club of Sarasota
for your continued support, attendance and hard work. We know that it's been difficult at times. Our Jazz Club has an exciting new season ahead and I hope to see all of our members and volunteers again.
Thank you Louise Brassard, Joyce Rosenthal, Elizabeth Wechsler, Colleen Odom, Judy Jones, Debbie Silver Heller, Dear Volunteers, Barbara de Clamecy, Peg Pluto, Louise The Jazz Club of Sarasota is still feeling the Coogan, Prince Knight, Mark Gruder, Brad effects of Covid-19 and Omicron. We started and Carol LoRicco. our Fall/Winter season with one-fourth of Kindly, our volunteers. The Jazz Club Board and I want to thank each and everyone of you Lenore Walsh, Director of Volunteers 9
Ken
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Latin Jazz at its Finest, drawing at times from bebop and Broadway
Figueroa spent many years as a leading Latin percussionist in New York City, working with a wide variety of major musicians, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, David Bowie and Chaka Khan. This Bronx native who was raised in Puerto Rico has been based in Miami for the past 20 years. His group for this concert included pianist Martin Bejerano (a longtime member of drummer Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth Band), bassist
Sammy Figueroa
onguero Sammy Figueroa brought a quintet version of His Latin Jazz Explosion band to Sarasota on Monday, November 22nd. As befits its name, the band and its leader were on musical fire all night for this Jazz Club of Sarasota concert. Martin Bejerano
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on the ballad “If Ever I Would Leave You", from the Lerner & Lowe Broadway musical Camelot. They dug into a Horace Silver arrangement, adding a strong Latin jazz tinge that Figueroa aptly described as “rice and beans.” The first set wound down with bassist Gabriel Vivas' composition “Alegria” (Happiness) from Figueroa's 2015 recording Imaginary World and pianist Mike Orta's uptempo “Latin What?” from the conguero's 2011 recording Urban Nature.
Cisco Dimas
Carlo De Rosa, tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts (a frequent collaborator with B-3 player Joey DeFrancesco), and trumpeter Cisco Dimas. Figueroa's program stretched nearly two hours, not counting a brief intermission, and included extended explorations of nine tunes that showcased the cohesiveness of the band's groove and the improvisational skills of each player. Pianist-composer Michel Camilo's fiery “And Sammy Walked In” quickly set the tone for the evening. Bejerano's “Origin Story” was wideranging in its moods, particularly during his piano solos. The first set highlight was the band's take
Troy Roberts
The second set was quite something, as the band romped through both the bebop canon and Latin jazz material. It included Cedar Walton's instrumental chestnut “Firm Roots;” the Latin ballad “El Último Suspiro” (The Last Sigh), which was a 1950s hit for Sammy's father, bolero singer Charlie Figueroa; and pianist Eugene Uman's “Niko's Dream.” Uman's cha-cha-cha tune was a burner that featured Figueroa's mastery on his three congas, set center stage, and the two horns. Roberts' and Dimas' unison horn work and solo skills were on full display again on the closer, the band's vibrant take on Silver's jazz classic “Cape Verdean Blues.” The sold-out concert was part of the Jazz Club of Sarasota's Monday Night Jazz Cabaret series at Florida Studio Theatre’s cozy John C. Court Cabaret in downtown Sarasota.
Carlo De Rosa
941.260.9951 • www.jazzclubsarasota.org
Ken Franckling is a veteran arts writer and freelance photographer specializing in music photography. These artcles and photos are from his blog. For more articles visit http://kenfrancklingjazznotes. blogspot.com/. 11
Festival Week Film Date: Time: Tickets: Place:
Thursday, March 17th Doors open at 9 AM, Program/Film at 9:30 General Admission $20, JC Members $15 Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Ln, Sarasota
FOR TICKETS VISIT:
jazzclubsarasota.org/events or scan
Jazz on a Summer's Day is a concert film set at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival in Rhode Island. It was directed by commercial and fashion photographer Bert Stern and Aram Avakian and Columbia Records jazz producer, George Avakian, was the musical director of the film.
Covid Policies Apply: Negative Covid Test or Fully Vaccinated Document required. Face Masks Required. Traditional Seating - No Social Distancing.