Thursday January 20, 2022
VIRTUAL MARATHON NIGHT 4
Steven Bernstein’s Millenial Territory Orchestra
Brianna Thomas
Nite BJuti With Candice Hoyes, Val Jeanty, &
Mimi Jones
Zoh Amba
Mars Duo With Tim Berne & Gregg Belise-Chi
Amir Elsaffar
8PM EST BROADCAST BEGINS
Amir Elsaffar
Personnel:
Amir ElSaffar - Trumpet, Santur, Voice, Modular Synthesizer
Winter Jazzfest at Hermitage Artist Retreat, Florida
Composer, trumpeter, santur player, and vocalist Amir ElSaffar has been described as “uniquely poised to reconcile jazz and Arabic music,” (the Wire) and “one of the most promising figures in jazz today” (Chicago Tribune). A recipient of the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award and a 2018 US Artist Fellow, ElSaffar is an expert trumpeter with a classical background, conversant not only in the language of contemporary jazz, but has created techniques to play microtones and ornaments idiomatic to Arabic music that are not typically heard on the trumpet. Additionally, he is a purveyor of the centuries old, now endangered, Iraqi maqam tradition, which he performs actively as a vocalist and santur player. As a composer, ElSaffar has used the subtle microtones found in Iraqi maqam music to create an innovative approach to harmony and melody, and has received commissions to compose for large and small jazz ensembles, traditional Middle Eastern ensembles, chamber orchestras, string quartets, and contemporary music ensembles, as well as dance troupes.
Described as “an imaginative bandleader, expanding the vocabulary of the trumpet and at the same time the modern jazz ensemble,” (All About Jazz), ElSaffar is an important voice in an age of cross-cultural music making. ElSaffar has received commissions from the MAP Fund, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), Newport Jazz Festival, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chamber Music America, Jazz Institute of Chicago, and is composer-in-residence at the Royaumont Foundation in France in 2017-2019.
Mars Duo With Tim Berne & Gregg Belise-Chi
Personnel:
Tim Berne - Alto Saxophone
Gregg Belisle-Chi - Guitar
Winter Jazzfest at Soap Box Gallery, Brooklyn
Tim Berne
Alto and baritone saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and label boss Tim Berne has a strong and singular musical personality, one that links each of his diverse, frequently absorbing works, almost always juxtaposing meticulously noted arrangements with free improvisation. A fan of R&B and Motown, he wasn't particularly interested in jazz until he heard saxophonist Julius Hemphill's album Dogon A.D. Immediately inspired by Hemphill's ability to project R&B soulfulness in a creative jazz context, Berne traveled to New York City and located the saxophonist, whom he took saxophone lessons from. Berne's two recordings for Columbia in the '80s included the cult classic Fulton Street Maul. From 1988 to 1995, he delivered nine albums for Stefan Winter's JMT label, including two Live in Paris volumes from his avant-fusion band Bloodcount. Berne started the Screwgun label in 1996, which hosted Bloodcount's recordings as well as other Berne-led projects, including his bands Hard Cell, Paraphrase, and Big Satan (with Marc Ducret). He signed to ECM in 2012, issuing the self-titled debut by his new band Snakeoil. Between 2012 and 2017, the group issued four albums for ECM, including 2013's Shadow Man. Berne has influenced many creative improvising musicians, and since he knows his way around the music business, he's been free to explore his uncompromising musical path.
Gregg Belisle-Chi
Gregg Belisle-Chi is a guitarist and composer living in Brooklyn, New York.
Throughout his career, he has performed with Bill Frisell, Cuong Vu, Steve Swallow, Reid Anderson, Ted Poor, Eyvind Kang, Wayne Horvitz, Tom Varner, Bob Sheppard, Jay Clayton, and Jessica Dobson (Deep Sea Diver, Beck, The Shins).
He maintains an active career in music as a leader, sideman, and educator.
Zoh Amba
Personnel:
Zoh Amba - Sax
Micah Thomas - Piano
Henry Fraser - Bass
Marc Edwards - Drums
Winter Jazzfest at Loove Labs, Brooklyn
Zoh Amba is a saxophonist, composer, & painter from Tennessee who since moving to New York in fall 2021 has emerged into the avant garde and creative music scenes, collaborating with great sound painters such as Vijay Iyer, William Parker, Eric Harland, Cooper-Moore and Francisco Mela. 2022 is already looking bright for Zoh, with a residence at The Stone (Jan 5-8) and a debut record for the Tzadik label; a quartet with Micah Thomas, Thomas Morgan & Joey Baron plus guest John Zorn (release date TBA).
Nite BJuti With Candice Hoyes, Val Jeanty, &Mimi Jones
Personel:
Candice Hoyes - Vocal/Poetry
Val Jeanty - SoundChemist
Mimi Jones - Bass
Winter Jazzfest at Electric Garden, Brooklyn
Brianna Thomas
Personnel:
Brianna Thomas - Vocalist
Conun Pappas - Piano
Ryan Berg - Bass
Marvin Sewell - Guitar
Fernando Saci - Percussion
Darrien Douglas - Drums
Winter Jazzfest at Samurai Studios, Queens
Born and raised in Peoria Illinois, Brianna grew up surrounded by music. Her father, Charlie Thomas, not only influenced her with his own unique talents as a vocalist and percussionist, he created an exceptionally well-rounded musical environment that fostered Brianna’s emerging abilities.At the tender age of six, Brianna made her singing debut performing a duet rendition of the jazz classic, “What A Wonderful World” with her father. At the age of eight she won her first of thirteen trophies, all first place and overall, from various district and regional talent shows. Between the ages of eight and ten she had her first gigs performing for a variety of banquets, black tie affairs and as a guest on local radio stations. It didn’t take long for people to notice her talent and potential. Just shy of her teens, Brianna’s talents were discovered by distinguished jazz educator Mary Jo Papich. Soon after, Brianna toured Europe with the Peoria Jazz All-Stars, a big band under Ms. Papich’s direction. This was the beginning of Brianna’s career as jazz vocalist.
Steven Bernstein’s Millenial Territory Orchestra
Personnel:
Steven Bernstein - Trumpet/Slide Trumpet/Flugelhorn /Arranger
Curtis Fowlkes - Trombone
Charlie Burnham - Violin & Vocals
Doug Wieselman - Clarinet & Sax
Peter Apfelbaum - Sax
Steve Elson - Sax
Matt Munisteri - Guitar
Ben Allison - Bass
Ben Perowsky - Drums
Winter Jazzfest at Electric Garden Studios, Brooklyn
An impactful presence on the New York scene over the past 30 years, trumpeter, composer, arranger and bandleader Steven Bernstein has immersed himself in such a wide array of music with his bands Sexmob, Millennial Territory Orchestra, Diaspora Soul, Universal Melody Brass Band, Spanish Fly, Blue Campfire and the Butler-Bernstein Hot 9 that he defies easy categorization. A former member of the Lounge Lizards and Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band, Bernstein has also composed works for film, theater and dance in addition to doing arrangements for a diverse list of artists ranging from Lou Reed to Lee “Scratch” Perry, Allen Toussaint, Marianne Faithfull, Linda Ronstadt, Rufus Wainwright, Darlene Love, Mario Pavone, Bill Frisell, John Lurie and the Kansas City All-Stars. His lengthy list of sideman credits includes recent recordings by Laurie Anderson (Heart of a Dog), Roswell Rudd (Trombone for Lovers), Mostly Other People Do The Killing (Loafer’s Hollow), Antony and the Johnsons (Turning) and Nels Cline (Lovers). He also continues to perform with Ray Anderson’s Pocket Brass Band, Omaha Diner and the Kamikaze Ground Crew.