A Program Not To Be Missed

Jackie McLean (1931-2006) joined the music faculty of The Hartt School of Music at the end of the turbulent decade of the 1960s.  The Harlem native was in the midst of a career that has many ups and downs but understood he needed to not only settle down but also to educate young people on the American art form that had grown up from the brothels of the deep South and from the riverboats along the Mississippi River to be played in nightclubs and concert halls around the world.  McLean, in the span of 4 years (1972 - 1975) founded the African American Music Program at Hartt, became the head of the Jazz Studies, and with his wife Dollie, created the Artists Collective in Hartford, a "safe haven" for at-risk children where they could learn about and participate in the music, theater and dance. Though Jackie McLean went on to be named a NEA Jazz Master and continued to record great music, the Artists Collective may stand as his (and Dollie's) greatest achievement.

The following is the press release created by the Artists Collective for the 7th Annual Jackie McLean International Arts Festival Memorial Celebration:

Wednesday,  May 14, 2014

*  Artists Collective Theater * 
1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

Nelson Mandela Remembered

An inspirational evening of reflection and music dedicated to the anti-apartheidrevoluntionary, politician, and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Mandela died in December 2013. The program will feature South African born Andrea Van Den Heever, the founder of the, CT Center for a New Economy, along with Kathleen S. Santiago, President, CT Chapter Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Bill Shortell, Machinists Union, John Fussell, Tree of Life, andDan Durant, Hartford Rising.

Artists Collective dance and music ensembles will perform. Nelson Mandela Remembered is presented by the CT Mandela Committee in collaborationwith the Artists Collective.

 Free and open to the public.

Thursday, May 15, 2014
*  Artists Collective Atrium *
1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

African American Connecticut Explored 
* Panel Discussion * Book Signing * Reception

Considered the first book for a general readership to present an overview of more than 300 years of the African American experience in Connecticut, numerous essays by many of the state's leading historians document an array of subjects beginning from the earliest years of the state's colonization around 1630 and continuing well into the 20th century.  Panelists for this thought-provoking and enlightening historical journey will feature some of New England's foremost African American historians, including Stacy Close, Eastern Connecticut State University, Katherine Harris, Central Connecticut State University, Wm. Frank Mitchell, Amistad Center for Art & Culture, and moderator Elizabeth Normen, editor of the volume, and publisher of Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history.  The panel discussion will be followed by a reception. Books will be for sale and the authors will be available to sign.

Free and open to the public. 

Friday, May 16, 2014 
* Artists Collective Atrium *
1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

UCONN Funky Dawgz

The UCONN Funky Dawgz return for a participatory Second Line presentation outside and inside of the Artists Collective.  This innovative and exciting brass band is based on the New Orleans genre. The Funky Dawgz are entertaining and educational while preserving an important piece of American musical history. 

Free and open to the public.

Saturday, May 17, 2014
* Artists Collective Theater *
1200 Albany Avenue, Hartford
8:00 pm

The Jimmy Greene Quartet

Jimmy Greene (pictured above left) has emerged as a positive presence in the jazz world. His nine solo releases and numerous appearances as a leader and sideman have won rave reviews from critics, fans and his peers. As a composer, he has been recognized by the ASCAP/IAJE, Chamber Music America, the State of Connecticut, City of Hartford, to name a few.  

Jeff Watts, drums * John Patitucci, bass * Renee Rosnes, piano

Concert tickets: $30 advance general * $35 at the door

The Artists Collective is located at 1200 Albany Avenue (corner of Woodland Street/Jackie Mclean Way) in Hartford. Call 860-527-3205 for more information.

20 Years of Schooling and They Put You on the Day Shift

Artifacts: Great Performances from 40 Years of Jazz at NEC - Various Artists (New England Conservatory) -  The New England Conservatory of Music, located in Boston, MA, came into existence in 1867 and has been (pun intended) instrumental in the academic, performance and compositional development of thousands of students and teachers.  100 years after its founding, NEC President Gunther Schuller announced plans for the Department of Afro-American Music and Jazz Studies and, 2 years later, the school welcomed its first students.  Over the past 4 decades, teachers such as George Russell, Jaki Byard, Bob Brookmeyer, Jimmy Giuffre, Steve Lacy, George Garzone, Joe Maneri, Rakalam Bob Moses, Mick Goodrick, Ran Blake, Ken Schaphorst, and others have worked with students such as Marty Ehrlich, Fred Hersch, Roger Kellaway, John Medeski, Hankus Netsky, Don Byron, Frank London, Richie Barshay, Darcy James Argue and Noah Preminger (and that's just a smattering.)
To celebrate the anniversary, there have a slew of events in Boston and 8 days of concerts (March 20-27/2010) in New York City (click here to read more.)  And, the school has issued this fascinating compilation of l4 performances culled from hundreds of concerts.  The oldest is a 1973 performance of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" by the NEC Ragtime Ensemble, Gunther Schuller, conductor, and the newest is a student trio from 2008 honoring Jimmy Giuffre with a fine reading of his "The Train and the River" (the trio consists of tenor saxophonist Sam Decker, guitarist Will Graefe, and bassist Nate Therrien.) Along the way, there are 2 solo piano versions of Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight", the first from Jaki Byard (1975) and the second by Ran Blake (2004). Lacy plays a solo soprano saxophone version of Monk's "Thelonious" and the NEC Jazz Orchestra tackles Byard's "Aluminum Baby", a track that features noted alumnus Harvey Mason (drums). The Orchestra romps through Ken Schaphorst's "Making Lunch" with the composer conducting (and Malcolm Campbell on piano) while Brookmeyer leads the ensemble with his valve trombone on a lovely reading of his "Cameo." Russell leads the Jazz Big Band through a rousing version of his "All About Rosie."
The trio of George Garzone (tenor saxophone), John Lockwood (bass) and Rakalam Bob Moses  (drums) blazes its way through John Coltrane's "India" while vocalist Dominique Eade presents her "Go Gently to the Water" with guitarist Mick Goodrick and pianist Jed Wilson.
One of the most interesting pieces on the disk is "Zeibekiko", a 1976 recording of Joe Maneri (clarinet), Rebekah Zak (piano), Albin Zak (guitar) and Sophia Bilides (dumbek).  It's a traditional Greek dance and it's neat how Maneri weaves his keening, wailing, clarinet through the music. As a side note, Ms. Bilides is now a noted singer of traditional Greek music. 
This is a lovely, loving and lively smorgasbord of performances that are more than just slabs of history but illustrate the timeliness of jazz.  Go to http://necmusic.edu/jazz40 to find out more about the recording, the school, and the concerts.
The title of the review is a reaction to an online discussion of the expense of jazz education engendered by several blog postings from saxophonist/critic/author Chris Kelsey (whose writing is always worth reading and whose music is very much his own - go to http://chriskelsey.com to find out more.)  The original posting is here and should give you pause.