Jazzheads Jazz Festival Took Place In New York City On May 4-5, 2012
This year Jazzheads celebrates its 20th anniversary as a label. The first annual Jazzheads Jazz Festival took place at the Players Club in New York City on May 4-5, 2012. The Players Club is the beautiful 18th century townhouse that belonged to Edwin Booth, the great Shakespearean actor and brother to John Wilkes. The townhouse has a performing banquet hall with wonderful acoustics and ambiance. It is a place to listen good performance space to listen to improvised music from some very fine musicians!
Friday night, Dave Frank performed a stellar set of solo piano pieces. This guy has super chops! It was followed by the fine and subtle playing of New York Jazz Initiative. Then, vocalist, Gabriele Tranchina group entertained with groove and joy. Closing the night was the flute maestro, Mark Weinstein with his rhythmic Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble. The players played their hearts out and the audience lucky enough to hear the music, responded with grand applause.
Saturday night was more of the same with an inspiring set by Jeff Lederer’s Sunwatcher group. Jeff takes the saxophone to new places and keeps the audience involved. The Randy Klein’s Two Duos project with Nik Munson and Alex Skolnick was subtle and musical. Nik Munson has a rich and alluring vocal sound and Alex Skolnick is a fine Jazz guitarist, with Randy Klein’s excellent piano accompaniment. Duo playing at its best! The evening ended with the screaming and enormously educational and fun Bobby Sanabria Big Band. Bobby is a master of the stage and this is one of the best big bands out there. This night the music was happening!
Jazzheads thanks to all the players and volunteers who made the festival a musical success! Look for more to come from Jazzheads in the future!
The NYC Jazz Record reviews “Mad About Thad”
What Derke and his players have done is revitalize and refresh the music of a composer whose work deserves to be heard and reheard. - The New York City Jazz Record (May 2012)
Rob Derke will be playing at the Jazzheads Jazz Festival on Friday, May 4 2012 at The Players Club NYC. Tickets available at the door.
Jazzheads Artists Featured at Carnegie Hall!
As part of the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Jazzheads’ artists Rob Derke, Carlo De Rosa and Benny Koonyevsky from the NYJAZZ Initiative were guest soloists on the world premiere of Karl Jenkin’s latest work, The Peacemakers, including a 250 voice chorale performed at Carnegie Hall. The Peacemakers, using text by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Albert Schweizter as well as Shelley, the Bible, Quran, Hinduism etc, is a work of extolling peace. ‘He had a dream that all mankind could live together in peace and harmony’ - Elegy for Martin Luther King Jr.
Described as an ensemble that ‘plays with perfection’ and includes ‘some of the most expressive musicians on the New York scene,’ the NYJAZZ Initiative is a non-profit organization at the forefront of redefining the future of Jazz. From their latest release, Mad About Thad celebrating the music of Thad Jones, to their educational programs that reach thousands of students, NYJAZZ is committed to the future of Jazz as a vital part of the American cultural landscape.
The audience honored the performance with a well deserved standing ovation!
