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Inaugural Sedona JazzFest Week

chamberSedona AZ (March 16, 2014) – The inaugural Sedona JazzFest makes its debut March 19-23, 2014, kicking off Wednesday with “Rediscovering Dave Brubeck” at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre, in west Sedona on AZ SR 89, followed by Club Crawls ThursdayThe Wild Party” at the Sedona Arts Center, and much more. While the sounds of jazz in Sedona continue to be heard at various community venues from churches to restaurants and clubs, Chamber Music Sedona is reintroducing jazz to its series with an unprecedented grass-roots effort.

“We’re working with many community businesses and venues, Sedona schools, NAU and others to bring jazz back to Sedona in a significant way,” said Festival Director Bert Harclerode.

“We listened to many of Sedona’s jazz musicians, and our intent is to include Sedona’s rich wealth of artists in a variety of settings featuring their talents, fellow musicians and ensembles,” said committee chair Dwight Kadar. “The Thursday through Saturday Jazz Club Crawls will feature these artists from 3:30-11:00 p.m. each night and we’re pleased that the Sedona Magical Trolley will be our circulator providing transportation – all packaged together. Jazz lovers traveling from out of town will want to visit our web site to learn about the many activities, all leading up to the Sunday March 23 concert at the Sedona Performing Arts Center opening with the NAU Jazz Combo and followed by the Festival headliner – Road Work Ahead.”

pianoRoad Work Ahead (RWA) is four artists whose impressive credentials include performances with many of the world’s finest jazz legends. Pianist Bill Mays is beyond category. With deep roots in jazz, gospel, pop and classical music his eclectic, prolific career as pianist, composer and arranger spans five decades. He can be heard on hundreds of recordings, TV and movie soundtracks, Bill’s concert and studio credits include a who’s who of modern music, from Benny Golson to Gerry Mulligan to Sarah Vaughan and Frank Zappa.

Guitarist Peter Sprague is a composer, musical arranger, recording engineer, and music producer. In 1984 noted jazz critic Leonard Feather, in a review for the Los Angeles Times, called Sprague, “One of the emergent great guitarists.” He has produced or played on more than 190 recordings and has studied with Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, David Benoit (with whom he toured for three years), and Sergio Mendes. He recently toured Europe and Japan with vocalist Dianne Reeves, and, in 2010, was awarded a Chamber Music America grant commission to compose and perform new music Sprague entitled Dr. Einstein’s Spin.

guitar 2Bassist Bob Magnusson toured with Buddy Rich’s Orchestra and with Sarah Vaughan. He has worked with John Klemmer, Art Pepper, Benny Golson, Joe Farrell, Linda Ronstadt (with Nelson Riddle’s Orchestra), Bud Shank, Laurindo Almeida, Shorty Rogers, George Cables, Joe Pass, Art Farmer, Kenny Barron, Freddie Hubbard, Slide Hampton, Carl Fontana, Tommy Flanagan, Mike Wofford, Holly Hofmann, Kenny Burrell, Roger Kellaway, Ernie Watts, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Peter Erskine, Bobby Shew, Natalie Cole, Neil Diamond, Bonnie Raitt, 10,000 Maniacs, Madonna, Hank Jones, Cedar Walton, Jimmy Heath and others. He has performed in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Bob served on the Musician’s Institute faculty in Hollywood, and authored the book “The Art of the Walking Bass.”

Drummer Jim Plank was born and educated in San Diego, graduated from San Diego State University, and began his professional career as a percussionist with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra at age 16. Additional orchestral positions include that of Principal Timpanist with the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra until 2008. He has played with Kenny Barron, Art Farmer, Hank Jones, Joe Pass and many more. His discography and videography include recording and /or television programs with Laurindo Almeida, Mike Wofford, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Marian McPartland, and Red Rodney.

“We’re excited about the scope of the JazzFest,” said Harclerode. “Education is such an important part of our operation, and we’ve built in a variety of activities that promise to open our patrons’ hearts, ears and eyes. The 7:00 p.m. Wednesday documentary in partnership with the Sedona International Film Festival is the documentary ‘Rediscovering Dave Brubeck.’ Jazz Club Crawls, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, will feature local musicians at venues including Sedona Rouge, Tlaquepaque, Ken’s Creekside, Hoppy Grape and Sound Bites. Transportation from venue to venue will be provided by the Sedona Magical Trolley for $6/person nightly.”

Friday at the Red Rock High School Sedona Performing Arts Center (SPAC), the NAU Jazz Combo under the direction of Christopher Finet will perform a district wide concert made possible with support from the Sedona Community Foundation and Arizona Tax Credits.

“I’m a big believer in the peer mentoring, and the opportunity for our youth to see the NAU Jazz Combo may ignite some young musicians in the audience,” said Harclerode.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Red Earth Theater and the Sedona Arts Center in partnership with Chamber Music Sedona presents The Wild Party by Joseph Moncure March and directed by Kate Hawkes at the Sedona Arts Center:  Tickets are available at www.RedEarthTheatre.com.

Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., the program “Musical Explorations and Discoveries” for youth takes place at the Sedona Creative Life Center, Schnebly Hill Road, Sedona, supported by a grant from the Sedona Community Foundation. The program begins with an hour open rehearsal at 10:00 a.m., free to the public featuring RWA. Registered and participating students will then work with RWA artists for a series of hands-on master classes. From 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. students will be coached in a mock performance and, at 2:00 p.m., participating student ensembles will perform a free one hour concert.

Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. the Barking Frog Grille will host the Champagne Jazz Brunch. Reservations are required for the event and will feature the NAU Jazz Combo.

“Funds raised during the brunch will be shared with the NAU Jazz Program as we continue to work with the NAU School of Music,” said Harclerode.

Soon thereafter, with KJZZ’s Blaise Lantana as Master of Ceremonies, the grand finale takes place at the Sedona Performing Arts Center when the NAU Jazz Combo opens for Road Work Ahead at 2:00 p.m. with RWA center stage at 3:00 in the afternoon. Tickets are $20 general admission and $40 for reserved seats. The concert is sponsored by Dwight & Andrea Kadar and an anonymous sponsor.

A post-Festival jazz jam will take place Sunday evening after the concert at Sound Bites Grille hosted by Sedona’s own Susannah Martin.

For complete information visit www.SedonaJazzFest.com or call 928.204.2415. The Festival is a part of Chamber Music Sedona’s 31st Season made possible with support from the City of Sedona, the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sedona Community Foundation, the Verde Valley Medical Center, Aspey Watkins & Diesel PLLC, and WESTAF.

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