The Brubeck Festival 2011
The 2011 Brubeck Festival took place on the campus of the University of the Pacific on March 31 and April 1, 2, and 3. It featured concerts and a presentation of the new Clint Eastwood documentary on Dave Brubeck. The theme of the festival was "Creativity".
One of the hallmarks of Dave Brubeck's life and career has been his creativity. He has not only created new music for over six decades, he has moved musical art forward, never simply replicating the past, but always challenging himself, his fellow musicians, and his audiences to go forward and explore new territory. He has broken the mold many times, and he has always worked outside the box of tradition.
The 2011 Brubeck Festival presented contemporary musicians, composers, and creative artists who continue to push the envelope today and who are moving the art of music forward into the future.
The 2011 Brubeck Festival Artist Lineup & Schedule
Thursday, March 31, Community Room in the University Library, 3:00-5:00 pm
Pacific Studies Brubeck
A discussion of the Brubeck Collection and its role in supporting scholarship.
University Archivist: Michael Wurtz
Research presentations by Conservatory of Music students.
Presenters: Andria Cabrera & Karl Angelo Udang
Thursday, March 31, 7:30 pm. Faye Spanos Concert Hall; General Admission
Trio M
Trio M is a leaderless project featuring Myra Melford, Mark Dresser and Matt Wilson. The band explores compositions by each member while maintaining a commitment to spontaneous improvisation. Noted jazz commentator Scott Yanow praised the group's debut album as "consistently unpredictable, drawing upon much of jazz history of the past 40 years while creating new and fresh music."
Pianist Myra Melford is a fearless musical adventurer with 30 albums to her credit, including 19 as a leader or co-leader. In addition to leading several small groups, bassist Mark Dresser has also performed and recorded over 100 albums with some of the leading figures in contemporary music. Voted #1 Rising Star Drummer in the 2007 DownBeat Critics Poll, Matt Wilson has earned a great reputation playing with today's leading jazz musicians, while also leading his own quartet and the critically acclaimed Arts & Crafts Ensemble.
For more information on Trio M, Click Here
Friday, April 1, 7:30 pm. Faye Spanos Concert Hall; General Admission
Capital Jazz Project
with guest artist
Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, saxophone
The Capital Jazz Project was formed in 1997 by Sacramento area musicians to stimulate the public's interest in jazz through performance and educational presentations. Concert themes are created around the work of legendary jazz musicians including Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, and many others, as well as original music composed by CJP members. This performance will feature works from Joe Gilman's new highly acclaimed album, "Americanvas", original works inspired by contemporary American paintings.
For more information on CJP, Click Here
Saturday, April 22:30 pm Recital Hall
Long Time Coming
"Long Time Coming" positions pianist Lara Downes' performance of a new solo piano arrangement of Duke Ellington's iconic work "New World A Comin'" alongside an original work by composer David Sanford. He has created this new work for Downes as a modern-day response to Ellington's score, composed as an anthem of hope during WWII and first heard at Carnegie Hall in 1943. Featuring Lara Downes on piano, the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, the poetry of former US Poet Laureate Rita Dove, "Long Time Coming" combines music, spoken word and film in a poignant reflection on Ellington's enduring legacy, the power of hope in troubled times, and the dramatic impact of American music on our nations' history.
This event featured a conversation with Lara Downes about the concept of the work and the creative process that had brought it into being. Only portions of the work was performed at this time, but the entire work premiered the following week at the Mondavi Center in Davis, California.
For more information about "Long Time Coming", Click Here
Saturday, April 27:30 pm Faye Spanos Concert Hall
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Maria Schneider's music has been hailed by critics as "evocative, majestic, magical, heart- stoppingly gorgeous, and beyond categorization." She and her orchestra became widely known starting in 1994 when they released their first recording, 'Evanescence.' With that recording, Schneider began to develop her personal way of writing for her 17-member collective, tailoring her compositions to distinctly highlight the unique voices of the group. Since then, the Maria Schneider Orchestra has performed at festivals and concert halls worldwide. She has received numerous commissions and guest conducting invitations, working with over 85 groups from over 30 countries spanning Europe, South America, Australia, Asia and North America. Schneider and her orchestra have a distinguished recording career with nine Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards. She also holds numerous awards from the Jazz Journalists Association and from DownBeat magazine.
For more information about the Maria Schneider Orchestra,
Click Here
Sunday, April 3, 2:30 pm. Faye Spanos Concert Hall; General Admission
2011 Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet
The DownBeat magazine award-winning Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet opened the afternoon with a performance of works by Dave Brubeck and originals by members of the group.
For more information on the BIJQ, Click Here
In His Own Sweet Way
The afternoon and the 2011 Brubeck Festival concluded with a showing of the new documentary film by Clint Eastwood about Dave Brubeck, entitled "In His Own Sweet Way." Appearing to talk about the film will be the film producer and director Bruce Ricker, and the film's co-producer and Pacific faculty member, Patti McCarthy.
For more information about "In His Own Sweet Way", Click Here