For Immediate Release: The 17th Annual Jazz4Justice Concert features a new partnership between George Mason University and Legal Services of Northern Virginia

George Mason University School of Music

presents
THE 17TH ANNUAL JAZZ4JUSTICE™
featuring a new partnership between George Mason University
and Legal Services of Northern Virginia

Friday, November 16, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas


Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts in Fairfax

 (FAIRFAX)— George Mason University’s School of Music presents the 17th annual Jazz4Justice LIVE! concert and fundraiser on Friday, November 16 at 8 p.m. in the Hylton Performing Arts Center and Saturday, November 17 at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Arts. The events raise funds to directly support vital legal services and the George Mason University Jazz Studies program. Information and tickets are currently available at hyltoncenter.org and cfa.gmu.edu.

For the first time, Jazz4Justice™ is presented in partnership with Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), the largest legal aid organization in Northern Virginia. “We are looking forward to partnering with Jazz4Justice™ as well as the entire Mason community to promote justice for a better community by providing civil legal assistance to those facing the loss of a critical need,” affirmed Marcy Kossar, Director of Development for LSNV.

James Carroll, Professor of Jazz Studies and Mason Jazz Ensemble Director, has assembled a stellar musical program for the upcoming Jazz4Justice™ performances. He shared, “we are excited to feature alto saxophone virtuoso Charlie Young, Professor of Music at Howard University and leader/Artistic Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. Charlie is, absolutely without a doubt, ‘the best’. In addition, we will feature amazing student musicians and compositions from Mason’s Jazz Studies Department, and there will be an open jam session hosted by Mason students following each concert. We will also be producing a live recording of the concert. We truly hope local audiences and arts supporters can join us for this wonderful collaboration between Mason Jazz and the legal community.”

Tickets to Jazz4Justice™ at the Hylton Center are available in person at the Ticket Office (open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.), by calling at 703-993-7759, or at hyltoncenter.org. Tickets to the Center for the Arts’ concert are also available in at the Ticket Office (open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.), by calling at 703-993 2787, or at cfa.gmu.edu.

About Jazz4Justice

In 2000, Fairfax attorney Ed Weiner attended a student jazz recital. He was impressed by the music but distressed by the small audience. As the President of the Fairfax Law Foundation, he saw an opportunity for a new partnership – universities would provide the musical talent and the local legal community would provide the audience and sponsors. Today, Jazz4Justice concerts are held throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Thus far, Jazz4Justic has raised over $350,000 for music scholarships and an array of educational and charitable services benefiting Virginia’s local communities. Jazz4Justice has received awards from the American Bar Association and the Virginia State Bar.

About the School of Music

The Mason School of Music is part of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Students study with nationally and internationally recognized faculty who are active performers, conductors, composers, music theoreticians, historians, and music teachers. Admission is based on acceptance to the university and audition. The music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

About the College of Visual and Performing Arts

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) provides an academic environment in which the arts are explored as individual disciplines and interdisciplinary forms that strengthen one another. The college prepares students for careers as creators, performers, teachers, scholars, arts leaders and arts entrepreneurs. Understanding that an education in the arts is deepened by regular contact with the work of distinguished visiting artists, the Center for the Arts, the professional presentation and production arm of the college, welcomes a variety of professional and world-renowned artists, musicians and actors to its stage. Students have the opportunity to perform, create and exhibit their work in a wide variety of public venues including a 2,000-seat Concert Hall. CVPA is home to the Schools of Music, Dance, Art and Theater, as well as the Computer Game Design, Arts Management, and Film and Video Studies programs.

About George Mason University

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 35,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility.

About Legal Services of Northern Virginia

Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), a private, not-for-profit organization, offers free legal services to low income individuals and families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and victims of domestic violence residing in Northern Virginia. With 7 offices located throughout the region, LSNV completed more than 6,000 cases in 2017 benefitting 15,000 individuals, providing assistance in the following substantive areas:

  • family law, focusing primarily on matters which include domestic violence
  • housing law which includes eviction and foreclosure prevention cases
  • consumer law
  • public benefits
  • veteran’s affairs
  • employment law
  • elder law
  • child advocacy
  • education law with a focus on children with special needs
  • HIV/AIDS Project

LSNV’s mission could not be accomplished without the generous support of the Northern Virginia community. We thank you for your support and invite you to learn more about how we benefit the community at www.lsnv.org.

For Immediate Release: Amy Shook and the SR4tet to perform at the Hill Center, October 4th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Burnett Thompson, 703-489-8704, [email protected]

Premiere DC Bassist Amy Shook and the SR4tet to open the Street Scenes Concert Series at the Hill Center on October 4th, 2018

Performing New Originals and Old Standards With a Star Studded Cast

Washington, D.C. (September 9th, 2018) — Street Scenes at the Hill Center presents jazz bassist Amy Shook with the SR4tet on Thursday, October 4th, at 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 on the day of the performance and can be purchased online or at the door. Purchase tickets on InstantSeats at https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=buy.event&eventID=A56190A9-939F-F073-A96255EFC0D4D987.

The Shook/Russo Quartet, comprised of Amy Shook on bass, Pat Shook on tenor sax, Frank Russo on drums and Jonathan Epley on guitar, has been working together for nearly 13 years in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. Their focus has always
been to compose and perform their own original music within the jazz idiom, honoring the masters by carrying on the tradition. The group has developed an incredible and unique sound by merging the diverse backgrounds of each of these fine musicians into one voice. The result is a whirlwind of grooves, melodies, and diverse textures that are a true delight to hear. Collectively, the members of the Shook/Russo Quartet have performed extensively throughout the United States, as well as performed in Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean, and at festivals such as the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Stan Getz Jazz Festival, the Cape May Jazz Festival and the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival to name a few. For more information, please visit www.amyshook.com.

“Amy Shook builds tension in her blues march groove to climax with the inclusion of the rhythm section and the harmonious horns that float, swirl, roll and boil to a gentle simmer, giving way to graceful poise…So Far From Home (Shook/Russo 4tet, Summit Records) should be in every straight-ahead, jazz lover’s house.” Paul J. Youngman, www.jazzreview.com

Hill Center Street Scenes Concert Series

For a complete schedule and artist bios for the Hill Center Street Scenes Concert Series, curated by Burnett Thompson and Shannon Gunn, please visit www.pianojazz.com/hillcenter.htm. Ensembles in residence at the Hill Center provide exquisite concert performances coupled with children’s programming in D.C. public schools. In its 7th season, the aim of the series is to bring the world’s rich musical universe to Capitol Hill and the wider Washington, D.C. community.

Street Scenes Concert Series:

October 4th, 2018: Amy Shook and the SR4tet
November 17th, 2018: Tom Teasley
February 14th, 2019: Sam Prather
March 27th, 2019: Washington Women in Jazz Festival
April 17th, 2019: Kris Funn and Cornerstore
May 15th, 2019: Monika Herzig’s SHEroes

Photo cut-line: Amy Shook and the SR4tet to perform at Street Scenes at Hill Center on Thursday, October 4th at 7:00pm.

Announcing: The Hill Center Street Scenes Concert Series 2018 – 2019

Announcing: The Hill Center Street Scenes Concert Series

For a complete schedule and artist bios for the Hill Center Street Scenes Concert Series, curated by Burnett Thompson and Shannon Gunn, please visit www.pianojazz.com/hillcenter.htm. Ensembles in residence at the Hill Center provide exquisite concert performances coupled with children’s programming in D.C. public schools. In its 7th season, the aim of the series is to bring the world’s rich musical universe to Capitol Hill and the wider Washington, D.C. community.

Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital Street Scenes Concert Series:

October 4th, 2018: Amy Shook and the SR4tet
November 17th, 2018: Tom Teasley
February 14th, 2019: Sam Prather
March 27th, 2019: Washington Women in Jazz Festival
April 17th, 2019: Kris Funn and Cornerstore
May 15th, 2019: Monika Herzig’s SHEroes

Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes to Perform at Republic Restoratives 3/2

Get Tickets: http://bullettes.brownpapertickets.com/

Start out the evening with a classy cocktail around 5:30 pm inspired by the community spirit that is Republic Restoratives, a new women-owned distillery turned venue in town. They are located just a few blocks north of the Angelika pop up and humane society on New York Ave in Northeast DC. There is plenty of parking (free for 2 hours) within a block in the Hecht’s garage. All ticket holders are given 20% off drinks. Feel free to drink water or soda, it’s not required to drink alcohol. Around 7 pm we’ll convene intro the huge industrial style back room.  You can also order food to be delivered, and there is a nice pizza spot nearby that delivers to the distillery. There are about 10 restaurants within a block, and Union Market is also really close.

Audience members will enjoy a trek through time following the changes in style of the jazz tradition with performances of arrangements by Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Oliver Nelson, and Thad Jones. Following their tribute to the masters, the jazz orchestra will play world premieres of new music by band members as well as groove arrangements of recent popular music. This will be a nice event, and we hope to see you there!

Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes
All-female Big Band
March 2nd, 2017 @ Republic Restoratives Craft Distillery and Bar
1369 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
7:00 and 9:00 Sets
Tickets range from $7 – $15

Tickets for each set will be sold separately. Ticket holders for the 7 pm set are welcome to stay through the 9 pm set.

TICKETS: http://bullettes.brownpapertickets.com/

Personnel:
Leigh Pilzer, alto sax
Halley Shoenberg, alto
Megan Nortrup, tenor
Julieta Eugenio, tenor
Michelle Acton, Bari
Mike “Bags” Davis, trumpet
Ginger Turner, trumpet
Alison Rogers, trumpet
Shannon Gunn, trombone
Nicole Connolly, trombone
Amy Bormet, piano
Adi Meyerson, bass
Ana Barreiro, drums

Bullettes to Perform September 20th At Castleton

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This is a cross posting to my other blog for my all-woman big band, Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes.
The Bullettes are busy this month! 
 
We hope you can join us this coming Sunday, September 20th, to kick off the Castleton in Performance series at the Castleton Theatre! This is a very prestigious event and we are extremely excited to perform there. 
 
At Castleton, the theme is to encourage young people in jazz. We will feature Caeley Niess (recognize that name?) on trumpet playing “Portrait of Louis Armstrong.” Yup, you read it right. We also have Jazz Academy All Star Ingrid Winkler on Baritone Sax joining us for a rousing rendition of “Moanin’.” Finally, I am super excited to invite Catie Story, Sam Sandler, and Dan Lyster-Mensh from Fauquier High School to the stage to help fill out our band for Nestico’s arrangement of “Fly Me To The Moon.” It will be a swingin’ affair! I have really enjoyed working with all of these high school students. The concert will benefit the Fauquier High School band program and will feature a history of jazz in the concert, topped off with originals by band members. I am extremely happy and blessed to get to play with such amazing musicians! Not to mention we have Sarah Hughes flying in from Boston, Miki Yamanaka coming in from New York, the amazing Jessica Boykin-Settles on vocals – you get it, the list goes on and on! Please check out our roster below!
 
Here are the details:
Sunday, September 20th
4 – 6 pm
Castleton Theatre House
7 Castleton Meadows Lane, Castleton, VA, 22716
(Please note: there is no cell data service out there)
Tickets are $20 to $40 and can be purchased here:
 
We will also be on the Morning Show at CBS in Richmond, VA on Friday, September 18th, at 9 am, to promote this upcoming Castleton performance! I am excited to bring in Adi Meyerson and Miki Yamanaka from NY as well as Jessica Boykin-Settles, Lydia Lewis, Alex Flanagan, and Caeley Niess to perform on TV! Many thanks to my folks for putting up the band!
 
 
Additionally, we’ll be going into the studio on Wednesday to record some tunes for our upcoming album, “Bullettes and Friends.” We will be releasing this album on Saturday, October 10th, at the Durant Center in Alexandria, VA, presented by Nomadic Jazz. Tickets are $25 in advance and $33 at the door. Anyone who purchases an advance sale will get a complimentary copy of the CD. We will make a limited run! I am extremely proud and excited to present new original music to you all. Here is the link for ticket pre-sales: http://instnt.us/NomadicJazz .
We hope to see you soon! As always, please feel free to hit reply and let me know how you are doing!
 
Keep swingin’!
 
Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes
 
September 20th:
Jessica Boykin-Settles, Vocals
Sarah Hughes, Alto
Halley Shoenberg, Alto
Michelle Acton, Tenor
Megan Nortrup, Tenor
Alex Flanagan, Bari
Mike “Bags” Davis, Trumpet
Cheryl Terwilliger, Trumpet
Caeley Niess, Trumpet
Kirsten Warfield, Trombone
Shannon Gunn, Trombone
Miki Yamanaka, Piano
Cyndy Elliott, Bass
Savannah Harris, Drums
 
Ingrid Winkler, Bari sax, Rockville MD
Catie Story, Trumpet, Fauquier HS
Sam Sandler, Trombone, Fauquier HS
Dan Lyster-Mensh, Fauquier HS

 

JazzCast Ep. 27: Wycliffe Gordon!

squareIn regards to his experiences walking the streets of Berlin, Wycliffe Gordon states: “I saw the thing that music does, and has done… time and time again… it shatters all of those things that separate us.” In this interview, Mr. Gordon tells stories about his experience in Germany, how Louis Armstrong stopped a war, and how the JLCO‘s performance of Ellington/Strayhorn’s Peer Gynt Suite helped break the proverbial “glass wall.” Please enjoy this episode of the JazzCast, where we dig into the music on his latest album, “Hello Pops.”

Mentioned in this podcast (in no particular order)

The beautiful thing about podcasting is that there is no time limit. It gives the artist a platform to share their insights, views, and stories related to their music. This interview was especially inspirational to me because it reminded me of my time at MSU, and specifically the Martin Luther King Jr. concert we did each year. This interview, along with my experiences at MSU, inspired me to create the Jazz and Freedom Festival, which happened MLK weekend in January 2015. Although we recorded this in the summer of 2014, it’s timeless. Thank you Wycliffe Gordon for your inspiration and beautiful artistry!

JazzCast Ep. 26: Bobby Jasinski

square_finalWelcome back to the JazzCast! This episode we have Bobby Jasinski, DC based pianist, composer, and bandleader. I’m very happy to share his latest endeavor, “Retrospection,” with you as we dig in behind the scenes in the music. This is Bobby’s second album and features 12 original songs played by a cast of amazing musicians he has put together. I hope you enjoy this interview!

Bobby and his Septet will be performing at the Jazz Loft on Sunday, May 10th, at Union Arts located at 411 New York Ave NE, Washington D.C. If you’re in town, swing on by, it will be awesome! The Loft starts around 7pm and there is a $15 cover charge. Sponsored by CapitalBop.

Mentioned in this podcast (more links to come later):

  • Bobby Jasinski
  • Joe Herrera
  • John Kocur
  • Tom Anderson
  • Corey Wallace
  • Gena Sobel
  • Lena Seikaly
  • Kris Funn
  • Lydia Lewis
  • Shenandoah Conservatory
  • Rocket Jackson
  • Robert Glasper
  • Marcin Wasilewski
  • http://foodforthepoor.org
  • CapitalBop
  • Gio Russonello
  • Luke Stewart

 

JazzCast Ep. 25: Donal Fox

Donal FOX(Lou Jones)_slider

Welcome back to the JazzCast! Today we have an interview with jazz pianist Donal Fox! He will be performing this Friday, April 10th, 2015, at AMP by Strathmore, located at 11810 Grand Park Avenue North Bethesda, MD 20852. Show starts at 8 pm.

With an encyclopedic ear and ravishing technique, Donal Fox draws on a vast repertoire in this solo piano concert that includes works by and based on J.S. Bach, Thelonious Monk, George Frideric Handel, John Coltrane, Frédéric Chopin, Radiohead, Robert Schumann, Ornette Coleman, John Dowland, Horace Silver and more.

Here are some additional questions that we didn’t get a chance to look at:

SG: Do you have any projects you’re working on, or any upcoming concerts or releases?

DF: Touring with my Inventions Trio this year with the great Cuban drummer, percussionist Dafnis Prieto in the drum chair.  Lot’s of solo piano concerts and special duet concerts with cellist Maya Beiser and the Fox Wolf Duo with Warren Wolf on vibraphone.

Donal Fox Inventions Trio

Newman Center for the Performing Arts

Cal Performances, Zellerbach Hall

Chautauqua Institute Amphitheater

Fox Wolf Duo
Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

 

SG: Any good books you recommend?

DF: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin Kelley

 

SG: What apps do you use?

Fitbit

Yelp

Opentable

Delta Airlines

Photo credit by Lou Jones

Mentioned in this podcast:

(coming soon…)

Bullettes Little Big Band to Perform March 13 at Westminster!

square_500Many thanks to Amy Bormet for having us back again for the Washington Women in Jazz Festival! I love this particular time of year because we get to see so many fantastic and talented women come out to perform. Amy has really built the WWJF into an amazing and high quality festival that everyone is still talking about throughout the year. I’m very thankful to get to play for the amazing audience at Westminster Church, one of the best venues in town. This year it will be the Bullettes Little Big Band with guests! I’m taking this opportunity to bring to light some of the amazing composition and arranging talent we have in this town. I’m also interested in promoting large ensemble music; too often, budget constraints keep people from putting large instrumental groups together. We’ll be premiering my arrangement of “Knives Out” (woo hoo Radiohead fans!) as well as the United States Premiere of “Wine Glass Perspective” by the great Australian composer Mace Francis. We’ll also be playing new original tunes by Todd Simon as well as Doug Pierce, and band members Anita Thomas,Leigh Pilzer, and Amy Bormet. We’ll be featuring Jessica Boykin-Settles on vocals as well. Rumor has it we may do something from her Abbey Lincoln library… stay tuned and see!

Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes
Little Big Band (LBB)
As part of Amy K. Bormet’s Washington Women in Jazz Festival
Westminster Church
400 I St SW, WDC
Friday, March 13, 2015
6 – 9 PM
$5 at the door
Personnel…
Michelle Acton, Bari
Savannah Harris, Drums
Angel Bethea, Congas and Percussion
Special Guest: Nicole Connelly, trombone
Possible additional special guests, possible additional originals from local composers
We will play some Ellington mixed in with our own original and new arrangements, including music from Australia and beyond! We will also feature local up-and-coming female jazz talent.
To jazz!
Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes

 

The State of Estates On the Web

wwwThis post is about the internet and clicks and how people are making money off of a jazz master’s name.

This post may seem a bit non-artistic to those that know me. I just feel the need to get this out there, and it goes in line with my JTTB Records 2015 Vision of creating a non-profit record label that promotes a sustainable music industry. More info about website services coming soon…. look for it summer 2015.

Dear jazz friends,

I am writing to try to bring attention to an issue that I have noticed, over and over again, regarding the internet and the names of the great jazz musicians. Basically, every time someone searches for something on Google and then clicks on a link, someone makes money off of that click.

There are a lot of really popular and amazing jazz musicians who don’t have websites, and thus lose all that traffic to a directory, which then makes money off their name.

Now, it might not be a lot of money, but it’s really easy money called passive income.  Once the site ranks #1 in google search results, people show up, click on ads, and you make an income without having to do anything.

I have nothing against directories, but when they rank #1 on Google in a search it bothers me. Why? Because they are making money off the name of the jazz master. Perhaps this money should go to the estate.

Let me illustrate.

Right now, if you go to the Google Keyword Planner Tool, you will see that there are between 300k and 500k searches a month for Louis Armstrong and related keyword strings. Now, don’t get me wrong, Google Keyword Planner is not super accurate, and is designed to give you a price for ads, but generally, you should know that it’s a good free way to see how many people are searching for something every month. Now, you might say, what’s the big deal? Half a mil searches? Ok? So What?

Well, put Louis Armstrong in the search bar on Google. What pops up? Wikipedia is number one. Then a PBS article. (no offense intended to PBS, sorry). Number 3 is a biography.com article. And then, what the heck? Smart Passive Income blog? Because someone with the last name Armstrong left a comment on a super strong site? I love that blog, but really??? Pat Flynn is getting traffic for a Louis Armstrong search??? OK so I love Pat Flynn (full disclosure – I’ve bought his course) but I’m not sure he should be ranking for Louis Armstrong. Ok then, finally, on number 7 in the search results is the Louis Armstrong charity.

OK, so the real Louis Armstrong is #7 in Google. What’s the big deal?

Well, 90% of people click on #1.

And for every 4,000 visits a month, you can easily make $40 in ad income for one little banner ad.

Therefore, with 90% of 400,000 visits a month, Wikipedia is getting 360,000 visits a month about Louis Armstrong. They monetize that by using that huge number of visits to try to get donations. Whether they use ads or donations, someone somewhere is making money off of Louis Armstrong’s name.

Imagine if you put up a site that ranked #1 on Google for Louis Armstrong. And on such site you put up 10 ads. For each ad you’d make $3,600 per month (360,000 / 4,000 = 90. Therefore 90 x $40 – $3,600.) Therefore, if you can create a site for Louis Armstrong that ranks #1 in Google you can easily make $36,000 per month in passive income from just a simple search for that name. That’s $432,000 per year.

Now do you see what I mean?

Off soapbox.

This is all perfectly legal. There’s nothing you can do, except to make a site as strong as Wikipedia and then SEO the heck out of it to get it ranked #1. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s a procedure you do to get your site ranked #1 on Google.

Now don’t go doing this at home, ladies and gents. Be careful with SEO. If you hire the wrong guy, you are putting yourself at risk of being ostracized by Google forever. You have to do it right.

Actually, someone could go ahead and do this without getting the estate’s permission, and they would get all that traffic completely legally. This has already happened to one jazz master who is still living, I can’t remember who – someone else made a website about him, and he can’t get his own site ranked against the fake one, and there’s nothing he can do. So, basically, if an estate doesn’t have a website up for their jazz master, they are essentially saying to the world that it’s ok to go ahead and take all that traffic.

This actually already happened to me for my Bullettes. I made a Yolasite and then dropped it. Someone else took that yola site domain name and turned it into a plumber site. It took almost a year to get that stupid Yola plumber site out of the rankings and have my own website rank #1 for the search, “Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes.” In the mean time, the #1 search result for Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes was a plumber site from San Fransisco that had nothing to do with my organization. I complained to Yola and they said there was nothing I could do, “ask nicely” for them to take down the plumber site. Thankfully now my own site (and all sites I have created or have control over) rank in the first page on Google. Lesson to musicians: don’t ever let go of your domain names, even the free ones through Yola or whatever.

Dear musicians, please make a website and get it ranked #1. Thank you. Let me know if you need help with that, especially the white hat SEO part, and especially if someone else is getting ranked for your name.

PLEASE NOTE:
1. please don’t come to me with dollar signs in your eyes asking for a website and expecting to get rich. It takes time, like 6 months to a year, to get ranked for your name sometimes. The income is negligible unless you have a large number of clicks.

2. I want to just say that I adore Pat Flynn, he has been an inspiration to me, and I know he will see this article because I’m pretty sure he has a google alert on his name. Thank you Pat for all you do and thank you for teaching me so much about the internet. This article is in no way meant to defame your name, or make you feel bad, it’s just an illustration of your amazing SEO and how you are ranked for Louis Armstrong. I feel like I know Pat well enough through listening to his podcasts and reading his blog posts that he wouldn’t be too upset at me for pointing this out, and for possibly eventually losing his ranking for Louis Armstrong.

Jazz and Freedom Festival

 

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Website: http://jazzandfreedom.com, http://capitalbop.com 

News: Jazz and Freedom Festival

Produced by: CapitalBop and JTTB Records

  • Cost: $20 suggested donation, portion of the proceeds benefit EmpowerDC
  • 411 New York Ave NE
  • Where: Union Arts
  • 4 pm – 12 am
  • When: Sunday, January 18th, 2015
  • Groups: Guest Panel of Speakers including Rusty Hassan and Fred Foss
  • Bullettes Octet,
  • Trio OOO,
  • Reginald Cyntje and Herman Burney duo
  • Alison Crockett,
  • Nasar Abadey and Jamal Moore duo
  • Jazz and Freedom Octet

Washington, D.C. – On Sunday, January 18th, 2015, there will be a Jazz and Freedom Festival at Union Arts Warehouse from 4 pm to 12 am in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. The festival will feature a guest panel of speakers and six bands followed by a jam session at the end. The festival is produced in conjunction with CapitalBop (http://capitalbop.com) and JTTB Records (http://jazztothebone.com). Union Arts is an underground warehouse for artists and it will be a warm atmosphere with food and donations accepted. A portion of the proceeds will go to Empower DC, a non-profit dedicated to helping the DC community (http://empowerdc.org).

At 4 pm on January 18th at Union Arts, there will be a panel discussion on jazz and its role in social activism featuring Fred Foss and Rusty Hassan. Fred Foss played saxophone and woodwinds with Hugh Masekela and Lionel Hampton, among others. Rusty Hasssan runs a jazz radio show at WPFW-FM and is very knowledgable about the history of jazz and its ties with freedom and justice. Then, at 5 pm, “Shannon Gunn and the Bullettes” all female octet will perform a tribute to Mingus. Following that will be free jazz ensemble “Trio OOO” at 6 pm. Then, Reginald Cyntje (jazz trombone) and Herman Burney (bass) will perform a jazz duo at 7 pm. At 8 pm, local songstress and outspoken hero Alison Crockett will perform selections from her one woman show, “Is this it? My American Dream.” Following her performance will be a duo with Nasar Abadey (percussion) and Jamal Moore (saxophone) at 9 pm. At 10 pm will be the Jazz and Freedom Octet, an ensemble created to promote peace and social justice by performing music that inspires freedom. The Jazz and Freedom Octet comprises of Jessica Boykin-Settles on vocals, Grant Langford on tenor sax, Donvonte McCoy on trumpet, Elijah Easton on tenor sax, Shannon Gunn on trombone, Sam Prather on piano, Karine Chapdelaine-Walker on bass, and Savannah G. Harris on drum set and will be joined by Tony Martucci on congas for this performance.  

The idea for this festival was was the brain-child of Shannon Gunn, local jazz trombonist and high school music technology teacher who runs a non-profit record label called JTTB Records (http://jazztothebone.com). She was inspired by a similar performance where her professors at Michigan State University performed as part of a Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend celebration in 2003. She approached Gio Russonello and Luke Stewart of CapitalBop (http://capitalbop.com), a blog that keeps tabs on the local jazz scene, to see if they might be interested in co-producing the festival at the Union Arts location. The two entities united their forces in pulling in artists and speakers together and turned the event into a fundraiser for EmpowerDC, a local community activist group whose mission is to enhance, improve and promote the self-advocacy of low and moderate income DC residents in order to bring about sustained improvements in their quality of life. (http://empowerdc.org) Half of the door donations will be donated to EmpowerDC.          

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Jazz and Freedom Octet to Perform for the Jazz and Freedom Festival 2015

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The Jazz and Freedom Octet is an ensemble created to promote peace and social justice by performing music that inspires freedom. The Jazz and Freedom Octet comprises of Jessica Boykin-Settles on vocals, Grant Langford on tenor sax, Donvonte McCoy on trumpet, Shannon Gunn on trombone, Sam Prather on piano, Karine Chapdelaine-Walker on bass, and Savannah G. Harris on drum set.

The Jazz and Freedom Octet will perform two shows for the Jazz and Freedom Festival 2015. They will start on Saturday, January 17th at a house show in Falls Church, Va. Then, on Sunday, January 18th, they will be last show at 10 pm for the Jazz and Freedom Festival at Union Arts located at 411 New York Ave NE in Washington, D.C. Please contact Shannon Gunn if you’d like more information or to book a reservation for the house show. $20 donation suggested for each show.

JazzCast Ep. 24: Reginald Cyntje Part 2

JazzCast_Ep24_Reginald_Cyntje_2Welcome back to the JazzCast, Episode 24, where we finish up an interview with Reginald Cyntje!  I’m happy to state that Reginald’s album, “Elements of Life” was just named one of the top five albums for 2014 by CapitalBop blog. Go Reggie! (And every album on that list is excellent, please check them out!) In this episode we get deep into the meaning behind the music as well as more philosophical matters. You can also check out more of Reginald’s music by going to the previous episode as well.  Most of all please support Reginald by purchasing his album on CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon, or from his website. He is running a 20% sale so check it out! Also please check out his new book, Stepping Stones, 15 studies in improvisation! I believe that Reginald wrote a bunch of new music since this episode (which was recorded in August) so please keep an eye out for what he puts together in 2015, I know it will be great. I hope you enjoy this in depth interview!

Mentioned in this podcast:

Vision for 2015

2015_new_yearIt’s time to write an actual blog post and start letting everyone know about how some things will get tweaked in the next year or two. This morning I sat down and spoke with my father about my plans, and he was very confused so this is partly to clear that up for him. This website has been a tool as a “temporary” place to hang my hat for my podcast, but now it will become a permanent home for the podcast and I am going to take all my personal music related stuff (performances, etc) and migrate all of that over to shannongunn.net. (Currently that’s just a splash page with links to everything else I do.) In the meantime, Jazz to the Bone is going to become more of an entity upon itself. I hate to use the word record label, but that’s the best term to describe it at the moment. But this “label” isn’t going to be like any other out there – artists will retain 100% royalties/earnings, in fact artists will still distribute under their own label name, and the entity will be a vehicle for their success, and not concerned with the end product. How is that possible? Read on.

This site will become the home of Jazz To The Bone (a.k.a. JTTB), a non-profit record label focused on recording and producing music that would not necessarily sell. In other words, a sustainable record label that will not depend on the sales of music to pay its bills. How, you might say? By focusing on high profit margin products. First in line will be education. Think about it, once you create a course online, all you have to do is drive traffic and then all income is passive income (income you earn without having to actually work). There is a huge demand for people wanting to learn to play instruments, record, and manage their finances and invest. (I threw finance in there because when I talk about this to other musicians, it seems to pique their interest more than anything else.) Other high profit margin items might include coffee, among other things. Once the entity gets established, and is running for a couple of years, we can go into development and raise funds through grants or corporate sponsorships and get proper 501(C3) status. Until then, though, the label will focus on giving high quality recordings utilizing the equipment I already own and use. At this point I am just a few mics and plugins short of having a pretty good little portable studio.

In return for sales on education, money will go toward producing concerts, festivals, recordings, promoting, and generally helping musicians. The podcast will be part of that, as well as this blog and education programs. All education programs will be offered online, with easy and quick access to an instructor for any questions that may come up. How will you do that, you ask? Working on that right now as a graduate student in Instructional Design and Technology at George Mason University. Each course will be offered online, videos will be on YouTube, and students will be able to download their lessons onto a Kindle. Eventually an online magazine will develop with updated links and articles about the topics of interest. All of this can be done for free now, with technology. I will be piloting a course called “Chords 101” to move in this direction in the next month. I created this course to teach my music technology students chords without having to read music, so they can play along with popular music and come up with their own chord progressions. Be watching for the Kindle version to arrive second week of January.

There are some people doing this already – with robust education programs in the DC metro area. But nobody can offer that plus the recording side as well. One thing I’ve found is that when you distribute sheet music, you should also distribute a video to show people how to play it. I would love to see this “Jazz to the Bone” not only record and promote music, but to be offered as a publishing arm for musicians, but with a twist – each published song would have tutorials, videos, and links to people performing it as it should sound. Once again 100% of income goes back to the artist.

There is really no overhead for any of this – except for the server costs, which I already have to pay anyway. Everything can be developed for free using technology. Artists can use this to their own discretion – and it will be merely a platform for their product. Traffic is cheap. Dowloading/uploading from a site is not. There are ways to do that, though, that will be free – Amazon S3, dropbox, archive.org, it can all be done for free.

This is just the tip of the ice burg for what I have planned for 2015 – as an artist, I’m also starting a new trombone quintet with two bones playing JJ and Kai and other straight-ahead goodness, and I’m working on a groove ensemble that will play more free as well. Bullettes will keep on working, as a septet or a big band as is needed, but that ensemble will remain straight ahead while I personally venture into free and groove oriented music. The JJ and Kai tribute band will be for literature and because I just love playing with other trombone players. I may also start a trombone quartet (four bones), but that will be a side project compared to the other things going on.

Right now, musically, I’m focusing on my Jazz and Freedom Festival which will be co-produced with CapitalBop during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend of 2015. I’m putting together a Jazz and Freedom Octet to perform Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite as well as other similarly themed songs. It’s going to be AWESOME.

This biggest need I see in the music industry right now is money. THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH MONEY. Never enough money to pay personal bills, to put on projects, to record, to transcribe or arrange music. There are other ways to make money other than performance and sales. A label doesn’t need to make money, just be solvent, if the goal is to distribute music.

JazzCast Ep. 23: Reginald Cyntje Part 1

Square_FinalWelcome back to the JazzCast, Episode 23! Here we have an interview with Reginald Cyntje, jazz trombonist from the DC region. He will be talking about his latest album, “Elements of Life.” He has a really interesting story for each song, I hope you enjoy this interview. This was recorded in August, and I apologize that it took so long to get it out. There are some references to successful performances at Twins and Bohemian Caverns in August and September. The recording was actually finished in the archives, I just had to re-record the intro. Finally was able to get to it this holiday weekend. I’m hoping to hire out some audio helpers in the future so I can get these out weekly!

Please check out Reginald’s new book, Stepping Stones. You can find it on Kindle, Amazon, or at his website at http://reginaldcyntje.com.

Mentioned in this episode (links coming soon!):

 

JazzCast Ep. 22: Miki Yamanaka!

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Welcome to Episode 22 of the JazzCast, where you can hear curated listening sessions with jazz musicians! This week we have Miki Yamanaka, jazz pianist from Japan and masters student at Queens College. If you’ve ever been to Smalls, you’ve probably seen her or even played with her. She’s busy! If you like her music, please come out and support her show at the Fat Cat in New York on Thursday night, September 4th, at 7:00 PM. There is a cover charge of $3. Miki has an infectious laugh that everyone loves! I hope you enjoy this “interview,” although it’s more like two friends talking about her music, which was great. Thanks for listening!

Mentioned in this podcast:

(to be continued…)

 

JazzCast Ep. 21: JS Williams!

square_finalWelcome to the JazzCast! Today I have an awesome and touching interview with JS Williams, jazz cat and trumpet player from New York. I was really thankful to be able to find a few minutes as he runs back and forth between DC and NY to be able to dig into his latest album, the “Late Bluemer.” He plays with a stellar cast of musicians, including:

What I liked most about this interview was the fact that I would have never known the meaning behind the songs “Grim Reaper,” “Ambivalence,” and “Submission” without sitting down and talking about it. It gives a whole new meaning to his music, and as always, JS tells it like it is! I was also really impressed at his tribute to his various teachers – his father, grandmother, his middle school teacher, and Josh Landris – who taught him one lesson but made an everlasting impact. In honor of all the parents making this the “true” teacher appreciation week I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Please support JS Williams by downloading the songs if you like them!

Click here to access JS William’s iTunes album: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-late-bluemer/id604034578 

Click here to access “The Late Bluemer” on CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jswilliams

Mentioned in this podcast: (links coming soon!)

JazzCast Ep. 20: Christie Dashiell!

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Welcome to the JazzCast! Today we have an interview with vocalist extraordinaire Christie Dashiell! Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Greenville, NC, contemporary award winning jazz vocalist Christie N. Dashiell honed her vocal skills at Howard University and then, later, the Manhattan School of Music. Dashiell’s history includes performances with Howard’s premiere vocal jazz ensemble, Afro-Blue. She has also performed at the Kennedy Center as a part of the 2010 Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead residency program. She is the recipient of Downbeat magazine’s Best College Graduate Jazz Vocalist and Outstanding Soloist awards in the jazz vocal category. Most recently, Dashiell appeared on season three of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” as a member of Afro-Blue and performs with the group, now known as Traces of Blue. Dashiell can be heard on several nationally released recordings including, John Blake’s Motherless Child, the Jolley Brothers’ Memoirs Between Brothers and as a Kennedy Center Discovery Artist on NPR’s “JazzSet” with Dee Dee Bridgewater. She has been seen in concert with Esperanza Spalding, Fred Hammond, Smokey Robinson, Geri Allen and Allan Harris.

Christie is performing at Bohemian Caverns in Washington, D.C. on Friday and Saturday, August 8th and 9th, with two sets each night at 8 and 10 pm. It looks like the 8pm on Friday night has already sold out, so be sure to get your tickets soon! You can get tickets here:  http://www.bohemiancaverns.com/tickets/.

Mentioned in this podcast:

NY Pics and more

IMG_3618Last Tuesday, I got to run up to New York for a bit to take a professional development course on teaching economics. I’m always at a loss of how to make econ easier, so it was a great way to get some new ideas that are actually fun and informative. I hate lecture! Looking forward to teaching the new year as a result. It will be fun! After the PD, I visited with my good friend Miki for a bit. Walked through Times Square and just loved it. The evening started out with a Barry Harris masterclass. The most amazing thing about the whole experience was watching how hungry the other students were. I was surprised at the diversity of ages – I thought it would mostly be younger cats, but it was all ages, to include seniors just learning to play.IMG_3629 Mr. Harris teaches a piano class first, where he plays something and then everyone (like 25 people) get up to the piano and try their hand at it. Takes forever but is informative and everyone was videotaping. Then came the singing lesson. He calls it ear training, but it’s more like karaoke, but with the same song over and over and over again. At first I was enjoying it because the song was difficult, and we all sang along, but when everyone got up to the mic individually it went a little long. As a result the instrumental lesson was only 22 minutes. However, there IMG_3622was more packed in that 22 minutes than all my college years combined, in some ways. He taught the way jazz should be taught, with the master singing and everyone imitating on their instruments. He started us off with scales (which, by the way, I wasn’t used to playing so fast, he does sixteenth notes at 240), to progress to patterns which he then strung together for sentences. Why isn’t everyone teaching this way? There should be a Barry Harris class at every college and university. IIMG_3655 recorded it on my phone and am slowing making my way through each night. I had difficulty understanding him sometimes, especially the difference between E and D and B, so it’s helpful to have the recording to go back to. That’s not all, though, I found myself at Zinc Bar to see Tivon Pennicott, and then Smalls which was alive and industrious. Met many new jazzers and was elated to see Laurence Leathers again! He was a freshman at MSU while I was a grad student. So many years ago. And now he’s famous, plays with everyone. Then, on Wednesday morning, I got to hang with Lynn Gruenewald, alto sax and flute player from MSU. I got to meet her beautiful dog Remo and catch up on life and happiness. She was actually looking after Ingred Jensen’s daughter (there was a Darcy James Argue rehearsal) so I got to see Ingred and family as well. Her daughter is so smart! I couldn’t believe how well she listened and how interactive andIMG_3641 verbal she was. And so there it is! I’m back again in NY this week as well to get some more Professional Development, and to see more jazz. I’ll also be conducting interviews for my podcast, yay! I’m writing this post as a test for this website, but it’s also fun to review the 24 hours of craziness that was New York last week. Looking forward to more jazz!

JazzCast Ep. 19: Elliott Hughes, Part 2

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Welcome back! This episode is part two of an interview with Australian composer and trumpet player Elliott Hughes. Episode 18 (part  1) was an introduction to large ensemble writing in Australia, and Episode 19 (part 2) is about Elliott Hughes‘ music and his Horizon Art Orchestra.

Elliott Hughes is a Melbourne based composer and trumpet player, who combines interests in jazz, contemporary classical chamber and orchestral music, and electroacoustic music. He has had his music performed in New York, Canada, Hong Kong and around Australia, releasing his debut recording in 2012 with his large ensemble Horizon Art Orchestra.  He has also worked collaboratively with theatre companies, scoring short films, and as a freelance arranger.

Elliott Hughes is coming to Washington, D.C. to have his music performed with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra on Monday, August 11th at 8 and 10 pm sets. Additionally, the Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble will perform his music at theJazz Gallery in NYC on August 12th, and at An Die Musik in Baltimore on August 13th. We hope you can make it out to one of these performances!

Upcoming Performances of Elliott Hughes’ Music:

Songs in order of appearance:

Mentioned in this podcast:

Part 1 Episode 18 Mentions:

Part 2 Episode 19 Mentions:

JazzCast Ep. 18: Elliott Hughes Part 1

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Welcome jazz fans! This podcast is an interview with Elliott Hughes, Melbourne based composer and trumpet player, who combines interests in jazz, contemporary classical chamber and orchestral music, and electroacoustic music. He has had his music performed in New York, Canada, Hong Kong and around Australia, releasing his debut recording in 2012 with his large ensemble Horizon Art Orchestra.  He has also worked collaboratively with theatre companies, scoring short films, and as a freelance arranger.

He completed undergraduate study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and is now completing a Masters degree in Composition at the University of Melbourne. In 2014 Elliott is also currently the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence, and is currently attending the Atlantic Music Festival Institute throughout July.  

This is the first part in a two part series and focuses on the amazing and talented large ensemble writers that are currently active in Australia. Please check back soon to hear the second part, which will showcase some of Elliott’s own arrangements!

Elliott Hughes is coming to Washington, D.C. to have his music performed with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra on Monday, August 11th at 8 and 10 pm sets. Additionally, the Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble will perform his music at the Jazz Gallery in NYC on August 12th, and at An Die Musik in Baltimore on August 13th. We hope you can make it out to one of these performances!

Upcoming Performances of Elliott Hughes’ Music:

Songs in order of appearance:

Mentioned in this podcast:

 

JazzCast Ep. 17: Brad Linde

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Summer greetings! Welcome to episode 17 of the JazzCast, where you can find curated listening sessions with jazz musicians. Today I bring you an interview with DC area jazz saxophonist and educator Brad Linde.

Many people know of Brad as the leader of the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra as well as his cool “Brad Linde Ensemble,” but his musical direction has changed in the last few years to move more toward free improvisation. And so we have the opportunity to be introduced to some of his new music here: the Team Players, Underwater Ghost, and his latest dixieland-meets free jazz venture Dix Out. Team Players is currently on tour across the United States, so be sure to check them out if they come into your town. Please see their schedule listed below. They just released a CD on July 15th, so please be sure to support them by purchasing their album on CDBaby! Also, the Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble will be at the Jazz Gallery on August 12th in NYC to play the music of Australian composer Elliott Hughes. (psst – we have an interview with Elliott Hughes coming soon too!)

Brad Linde Tour Dates to Note (East Coast):

  • 8/10 – Dix Out at Twins Jazz in Washington, D.C.
  • 8/11 – Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra plays the music of Australian composer Elliott Hughes at Bohemian Caverns
  • 8/12 – Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble featuring the music of Australian composer Elliott Hughes at the Jazz Gallery in NYC
  • 8/13 – Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble featuring the music of Australian composer Elliott Hughes at An Die Musik in Baltimore

Brad Linde Summer Tour Dates (complete list)

(Brad Linde – saxophones, Billy Wolfe – tenor sax, Aaron Quinn – Guitar, Deric Dickens – Drums)

 

  • 7/10 – Chapel Hill, NC @ University of North Carolina  (4 PM)  
  • 7/10 – Carrboro, NC @ The Station  w/ Danielle Soul w/ The Dickens Campaign (9 PM)
  • 7/11 – Greensboro, NC @ Elsewhere  – Brad Linde’s Team Players (8 PM)
  • 7/12 – Durham, NC @ Sharp Nine Gallery  – Brad Linde’s Team Players (8 PM)
  • 7/13 – Washington DC @ Capitalbop’s DC Jazz Loft  – Brad Linde’s Team Players (7 PM)
  • 7/14 – Woodbridge, VA @ NOVA  (9 AM) 
  • 7/21 – Athens, OH @ TBA – Brad Linde’s Team Players and Aaron Quinn’s Liver Quiver
  • 7/22 – Lexington, KY @ Natasha’s Bistro & Bar – Brad Linde’s Underwater Ghost and Aaron Quinn’s Liver Quiver (8 PM)
  • 7/23 – Louisville, KY @ Dreamland  – Aaron Quinn’s Liver Quiver and Brad Linde’s Team Players (7 PM)
  • 7/24 – Lafayette, IN @ Black Sparrow  – Aaron Quinn’s Liver Quiver and Brad Linde’s Team Players
  • 7/25 – South Bend, IN @ Merriman’s Playhouse – Aaron Quinn’s Liver Quiver and Brad Linde’s Team Players (7:30 PM)
  • 7/27 – Chicago, IL @ Phyllis’ Musical Inn  – Billy Wolfe’s Composers’ Tetradectet (9 PM)
  • 7/27 – Chicago, IL @ Hungry Brain  – Jackson/Linde/Roebke/Dickens and Brad Linde’s Team Players (10 PM)
  • 7/28 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Canterbury House  – Brad Linde’s Team Players and The Great Collapsing Hrung  (8 PM)
  • 7/29 – Detroit, MI @ Detroit Contemporary  – Brad Linde’s Team Players and The Great Collapsing Hrung (8 PM)
  • 8/1 – Seattle, WA @ Good Shepherd CenterWayward Music Presents Brad Linde/Erika Dohi Duo and the Syrinx Effect with Kate Olson and Naomi Siegel
  • 8/2 – Portland, OR @ Tea Zone and Camellia Lounge – Brad Linde and Erika Dohi Duo
  • 8/8 – New York City, NY @ Caffe Vivaldi – Brad Linde and Erika Dohi Duo
  • 8/10 – Washington, D.C. @ Twins Jazz – Brad Linde’s DIX OUT
  • 8/11 – Washington, D.C. @ Bohemian CavernsBohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra plays the music of Elliott Hughes
  • 8/12 – New York City, NY @ The Jazz Gallery – Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble featuring the music of Australian composer/arranger Elliott Hughes
  • 8/13 – Baltimore, MD @ An Die Musik – Brad Linde Expanded Ensemble featuring the music of Australian composer/arranger Elliott Hughes

Songs in this episode (in order of appearance):

Mentioned in this podcast:

 

 

 

 

 

JazzCast Ep. 16: Jeff Antoniuk Part 2

template_verticle_part2_final.jpgHi everyone! This is the second part in a two part series of interviews with Jeff Antoniuk, jazz saxophonist and educator.  Please click here to see the first half of the interview.

Jeff Antoniuk is an internationally respected jazz saxophonist and holds his own education programs to service adult learners, to include the Maryland Summer Jazz WorkshopInDepth Jazz Clinics, and the Jazz Band Masterclass. This year he will be pulling in several high class artists to help him with Maryland Summer Jazz, including: Peter Fraize on sax, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jim McFalls on trombone, Marty Morrison on drums, Kenny Rittenhouse on trumpet, Donato Soviero on guitar, and Helen Sung on piano. Whew, what a lineup! Additionally, his “Jazz Update” and “MARS 4-tet” groups will play at various locations around DC in the near future. Here are a couple of his upcoming shows:

  • July 18, 2014 – Jazz Update at the Westminster Church in Washington, D.C. for Friday night Jazz. 6 – 9 pm, $5 cover, 400 I Street SW DC. Tickets are sold at the door.
  • July 22, 2014 – MARS 4-tet featuring Jimmy Haslip on bass will be playing atBethesda Blues and Jazz Club. 7:30 pm, $22, 7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Click here to get tickets.
  • July 22 – 25, 2014 – Maryland Summer Jazz Workshop – this is a four day workshop for older adults and features multiple master classes as well as a end concert for all the faculty. The end concert (featuring students and faculty) is on July 25 from 7 – 10 pm at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church at 10701 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852. Tickets are $20.

Songs in this podcast (in order) are:

  1.  Global Village – from The Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  2.  Suddenly – from the MARS 4-Tet album titled “The Blind Watchmaker”
  3.  Slickery – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  4.  Meet Me at the Ponderosa – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  5.  Hot House – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  6.  Screwball – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”

I will post links to everyone mentioned in this podcast soon. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy this interview with Jeff Antoniuk!

JazzCast Ep. 15: Jeff Antoniuk Part 1

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Here you will find an interview with Jeff Antoniuk, jazz saxophonist and educator from the metropolitan D.C. area. This episode is the first part in a two part series – please check back for the second part to go up tomorrow. Jeff is an internationally respected jazz saxophonist and holds his own education programs to service adult learners, to include the Maryland Summer Jazz Workshop, InDepth Jazz Clinics, and the Jazz Band Masterclass. This year he will be pulling in several high class artists to help him with Maryland Summer Jazz, including: Peter Fraize on sax, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jim McFalls on trombone, Marty Morrison on drums, Kenny Rittenhouse on trumpet, Donato Soviero on guitar, and Helen Sung on piano. Whew, what a lineup! Additionally, his “Jazz Update” and “MARS 4-tet” groups will play at various locations around DC in the near future. Here are a couple of his upcoming shows:

  • July 18, 2014 – Jazz Update at the Westminster Church in Washington, D.C. for Friday night Jazz. 6 – 9 pm, $5 cover, 400 I Street SW DC. Tickets are sold at the door.
  • July 22, 2014 – MARS 4-tet featuring Jimmy Haslip on bass will be playing at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club. 7:30 pm, $22, 7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Click here to get tickets.
  • July 22 – 25, 2014 – Maryland Summer Jazz Workshop – this is a four day workshop for older adults and features multiple master classes as well as a end concert for all the faculty. The end concert (featuring students and faculty) is on July 25 from 7 – 10 pm at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church at 10701 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852. Tickets are $20.

Songs in this podcast include:

  1. Isfahan – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  2. Screwball – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  3. Brotherhood – from the Jazz Update album titled “Brotherhood”
  4. The Blind Watchmaker – from the MARS 4-tet album titled “The Blind Watchmaker”

Mentioned in this episode:

 

Apps for Jazzers Presentation at NJW 2014

Screen Shot 2014-07-09 at 2.28.14 AMHi everyone! Here is my presentation on “Apps for Jazzers” at the National Jazz Workshop in Winchester, Virginia. This presentation is interactive, so feel free to double click on the sandy part and add your ideas!!! You can access the presentation in many ways:

1. PDF – click here

2. Image – click here

3. Website – click here – http://padlet.com/jazztothebone/jazzapps

 

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Apps for Jazzers

Jazz Apps

iReal Pro app – if you don’t have it, you need it, now. 7.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ireal-pro-musicbook-playalong/id298206806?mt=8 

Mimicopy – best transcribing app. You can add music via WIFI, slow down, speed up, change keys, and it’s easy to use.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mimicopy-slow-down-pitch-shift/id405894824?mt=8 

iImprov Suite of Apps: http://jazzappsmobile.com -android and iphone 

Fundamentals app – learn scales,
chords, jams, ear training
Jazz Theory Quiz app – quizzes on jazz theory, 2.99
The Minor II V app – explanations, jam along 3.99
Modal app – Scales, audio, jams 3.99 Chord/Scale Compendium app – hear
and see any scale/chord .99
Bebop app – 9 lessons in how to apply
the descending half step, 8 jam alongs
3.99
Search “iImprov” and you will see all of them
Good Ear Intervals – Free https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goodear-intervals-ear-training/id588122114?mt=8 

Jazz Scale App – learn jazz scales, seenotation .99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jazz-scale/id463194964?mt=8 

Jazz Box App – shows you the root chord position for any jazz chord, .99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jazz-box/id532325909?mt=8  

The History of Jazz App – 45 hours of video, iPad only, timeline, 9.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-jazz-interactive-timeline/id411521458?mt=8 

Bebop Walking Bass App – 3.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bebop-walking-bass/id733300556?mt=8 

Bebop Scales on Guitar HD – 9.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bebop-scales-on-guitar-hd/id595790378?mt=8 

Band-in-a-Box – FREE https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/band-in-a-box/id397173717?mt=8 

Barry’s Scale Reminder – .99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/barrys-scale-reminder/id469793643?mt=8 

Music Listening Apps

http://spotify.com  – listen to any song from computer, pay to listen on mobile

http://listen.to  – just like spotify, but available for mobile, and has lyrics

Naxos music library – many schools
subscribe to this library which allows
you to hear millions of classical songs
online http://www.naxosmusiclibrary.com/home.asp?rurl=%2Fdefault%2Easp 

Recording Apps

Soundcloud – Free

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundcloud-music-audio-discover/id336353151?mt=8   

TinyVox Pro – easy to share, email, tweet, etc – free or paid version

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tinyvox-social-telephone-voicemail/id408118405?mt=8  

Garage Band – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/garageband/id408709785?mt=8 

Metronome/Tuner/Marching Band

Tempo app by Frozen Ape – create playlists, emphasize beats, light flashes https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tempo-metronome-setlists/id304731501?mt=8  

Tonal Energy Tuner app – best for pedal
tones https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tonalenergy-chromatic-tuner/id497716362?mt=8 

A.P.S. Music Master – Tuner, metronome, pdf viewer, markup, audio https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a.p.s.-musicmaster/id487715143?mt=8 

A.P.S. Tuning Trainer – plays pitches, determine sharp/flat https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a.p.s.-tuning-trainer/id552848024?mt=8  

Cleartune app – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cleartune-chromatic-tuner/id286799607?mt=8 

Audio Engineering Tools

If you’re still using Audacity orGarageband, switch to StudioOne immediately. http://www.presonus.com/products/studio-one/ 

APPS:

Audio Tool – dB meter, tempo, mic, oscilloscope, tone generator, bit calculator, audio glossary https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audio-tool/id379146462?mt=8   

Audio Tool for Android – spectrum analyzer, heat maps

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.julian.apps.AudioTool&hl=en 

Decibel 10th – decibel meter and oscillator (free)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/decibel-10th/id448155923?mt=8 

Music PDF Apps

http://imslp.org  – this site allows you to see any score before 1923

Unrealbook app – add pdfs to your iPad, create playlists, sync playlists across devices, turn pages with the air turn pedals, write on pdfs 2.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unrealbook/id370135173?mt=8 

iClassical Scores – search the IMSLP (Internet Music Library) for any score written before 1923 in the publicdomain. Also take pictures and add your own pdfs. 1.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/iclassicalscores/id495843728?mt=8 

Teaching Resources

http://padlet.com  – this bulletin board is interactive!

http://recordit.co  – quickly and easily create gifs from your computer

http://flubaroo.com  – automatically “grades” quizzes done through Google forms

http://prezi.com  – create presentations online, beautiful, great for non-linear topics

http://morguefile.com  – free stock photos

http://pdfonline.com  – convert PDF documents to word documents

http://quizlet.com  – create vocabulary sets, play games, print flash cards, print vocab sheet, AUTO GENERATE TESTS!!!!

http://animoto.com  – create animations!

YouTube playlists – I use YouTube playlists to keep all my video resourcesin one place for a topic

http://teacherspayteachers.com  – post your own materials or buy materials from others. Awesome resource for worksheets, bulletin boards, word walls, units, etc.

Video

http://velloapp.com  – like vine, but you can collaborate with multiple people to create a short video

http://wipster.io  – take a video with your phone. Upload it to wipster. send it to someone. they (and you) can put little sticky notes on it.

http://www.coachseye.com/  – coache’s eye app, review video and make annotations

Pocket tuber app – listen to youtube videos in the background

Music Teaching Apps (secondary)

Rhythm Sight Reading Trainer app – play along and it tells you if you played it correctly. Throw it up on a smart boardand let the band use it to warm up for articulations. 2.99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rhythm-sight-reading-trainer/id396302174?mt=8    

Scales Lexicon – learn 100+ scales 4.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scales-lexicon/id418528535?mt=8 

Tenuto app – this is the app that accompanies the website 3.99

http://musictheory.net 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tenuto/id459313476?mt=8    

Do Re Mi Voice Training App – sing into this app and it will tell you about pitch 9.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/do-re-mi-voice-training/id456486477?mt=8   

Notation Apps

http://noteflight.com  – free online notation program. export as MIDI. share and embed.

http://musescore.com  – create sheetmusic with the musescore software then share it on their website

http://www.lilypond.org  – music notation software, free

Notate Me – app that allows you to write a music with your finger or stylus then converts it to notation. export as MIDI. Notate Me Now is free and only allows 1 staff. 39.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/notateme/id699470139?mt=8 

Score Cloud Express – sing it, play it into
your iDevice, and it will write out your
idea in music notation https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scorecloud-express/id566535238?mt=8 

Instrument Apps

OMGuitar – great app to learn tunes,
strum chords, create music https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/omguitar-digital-guitar/id413803615?mt=8 

ProKeys – great app for keyboards, two manuals https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pro-keys/id364419812?mt=8 

Synthesizer Apps

Impaktor – awesome drum synth. Hit
the desk and create wav files based on
the sounds https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/impaktor-drum-synthesizer/id557824278?mt=8  

Session Band app – create chords for backgrounds, like band in a box http://www.sessionbandapp.com/ 

Harmonic Explorer – this is a free VST instrument provided by http://www.synthschool.com/free-plug-ins/index.html   which allows you to build square, sawtooth, and triangle waves by adding and subtracting the various harmonics Mechanical Licensing

https://songclearance.com  – LimeLight – clearance; better than Harry Fox (will clear almost anything!)

Digital Hacks

Reflector app – put your iPhone on your computer so it can be projected onto the big screen. Download Reflector onto your PC or Mac and it will pick up your iPhone or iPad through AirPlay automatically. http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/ 

https://www.kitestring.io/  – Keep yourself safe as you walk the city at night. You can sign up for this service, and it will send a text to a loved one if you don’t check in when you get home. It’s free and no smart phone required. All text based.

http://onetab.com  – get rid of tab clutter

http://getSignals.com  – track when someone opens your email

http://ifttt.com  – if this, then that. automate anything digitally with “recipes”

http://followup.cc  – automatically sends email reminders

Photon – Flash Browser for your iPad https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photon-flash-player-for-ipad/id430200224? 

Remote app – free remote from your
phone to Apple TV https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remote/id284417350?mt=8 

http://shotpin.com  – create a pin from a screenshot

http://www.stitcher.com  – Stitcher app is the best podcasting app! Coming out in new cars along with Pandora. Make playlists, favorite, low bandwidth

Jazz Radio

Listen to jazz from anywhere! http://jazzradio.com
Jazz Radio app – free
WBGO app – free

JazzBird from Jazz Boston app – free

Picture Editing

http://picmonkey.com  – create collages, add text to images, great for Facebook templates

http://pixlr.com  – like photoshop, but free and online

Grid Lens app – allows you to make collages of photos and post to social media https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grid-lens/id490495120?mt=8 Elementary Music Teaching Apps

Note Squish, app to teach notation for kids .99 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/note-squish/id381536270?mt=8   

Flash Note Derby – musical note flash cardshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashnote-derby-musical-note/id453126527?mt=8  

Tap and Sing app for toddlers – learn musical concepts for pre-k children https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tap-sing-by-storybots-free/id602903380?mt=8 

Cloud Storage

http://dropbox.com  – 3 GB 

http://drive.google.com  – 15 GB 

http://onedrive.com  – 15 GB 

http://box.com  – 50 GB

Motivation apps

http://lift.co  – create goals, social free

https://itunes.apple.com/app/lift/id530911645?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

Safety

Find My iPhone app – enable this to find an iphone from anywhere

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8 

Prey app – install this on any of your devices, and it will take photos with your built in camera if the computer is stolen (android and iOS)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prey-anti-theft-free-security/id456755037?mt=8  

Just For Fun

http://howmanypeopleareinspacerightnow.com  – self explanatory

Songsterr Tabs and Chords app – learn
any song (500k to choose from) with
tabs and chords https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/songsterr-tabs-chords/id399211291?mt=8 

Shazam – identify any song on the radio https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shazam/id284993459?mt=8 Background Noise while you Work

http://defonic.com  – pick nature sounds 

http://calm.com  – meditation sounds

http://coffitivity.com  – great starbucks sounds

http://noisli.com  – create combinations of nature sounds

Internet Marketing

http://bufferapp.com  – schedule tweets/facebook posts

http://similarweb.com  – see # visits and traffic for any site on the web

http://vcita.com  – use this to capture leads and interact with people on your site

Google Analytics

CrazyEgg Heat Mapping

Swiftype – know what people are looking for on your website