October 4, 2005
To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
Mel Martin and Bebop And Beyond Sweep The Bay Area And Beyond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(October 1, 2005 Novato, CA) Mel Martin and Bebop and Beyond will be performing a number of important dates in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento in October. Mel Martin and Bebop and Beyond return with a vengeance performing music from their latest CD, “Friends and Mentors, Bebop and Beyond Plays the Music of Mel Martin". This is the original sextet format of the band featuring the current all-star rhythm section and the great soloists Jack Walrath and Andrew Speight.
Bebop and Beyond is an acclaimed classical repertory jazz ensemble committed to working with some of the foremost performers and composers in jazz. Originally formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 by reed player, composer/arranger Mel Martin, the group has garnered international attention for their dynamic and innovative presentations and finely produced recordings of new arrangements of classic bop compositions by Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tadd Dameron and others as well as forward looking originals by members of the group. Bebop and Beyond strives to bring an authentic interpretation to the classic repertoire and to invigorate the music with a broad and entertaining approach, drawing the audience into a musical environment that brings together the musical lineage of modern jazz including many of the later innovations of the music. Bebop and Beyond has been awarded a number of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Marin Arts Council and, most recently, Chamber Music America.
Mel Martin, the Artistic Director of Bebop and Beyond, is a versatile bop-based reed player with an open-minded style. Mel Martin has been a fixture in San Francisco since the 1970s. He had his first gig when he was 14 and after attending San Francisco State he dropped out to become a professional musician. Among his early associations were such rock groups as Santana, Azteca, Cold Blood, Boz Scaggs and Van Morrison in addition to working in the studios. During 1977-78 he led an adventurous fusion band Listen, a group that recorded two albums for Inner City Records. In 1983, after recording a duet album (for Catero) with guitarist Randy Vincent, Martin formed Bebop and Beyond, a band that has since recorded for Concord and Bluemoon including NEA funded tribute albums to Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie with Dizzy participating on the latter. Among Bebop & Beyond's sidemen have been Randy Vincent, George Cables, Frank Tusa, Donald Bailey, Jeff Chambers, Wayne Wallace, Eddie Marshall, Mark Levine, Jack Walrath, Akira Tana, Andrew Speight and Warren Gale with such guests on their albums as John Handy, John Santos, Joe Henderson and Howard Johnson. In addition to recently performing music from the Charles Mingus songbook with Bebop and Beyond and the Mingus Epitaph Performance, Martin has recorded a solo set of Benny Carter tunes, Mel Martin Plays Benny Carter on Enja Records also with funding from the NEA. Mr. Carter is a featured as a special guest as is Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Victor Lewis, Harold Jones and Roger Kellaway. He was also awarded an NEA Fellowship in 1994, which enabled him to perform several concerts on both the East and West Coasts. Since then he has been dividing his time working on both coasts. He is currently conducting the Bebop and Beyond Advanced Jazz Workshop in the Novato schools. http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/B_B2k.html http://www.jackwalrath.net http://www.andrewspeight.com
Friday Evening, October 7, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ ZEBULON'S LOUNGE, - Jazz Club · Wine Bar · Art Gallery 21 Fourth Street · Petaluma, California 94952 · (707) 769-7948 Featuring Mel Martin - tenor & soprano saxes, flute, Jack Walrath - trumpet & flugelhorn, Andrew Speight - alto saxophone. Mark Levine - piano, Robb Fisher - bass and Akira Tana - drums. $12 http://www.zebulonslounge.com http://www.marlkevine.com http://www.akiratana.com
Saturday Evening, October 8, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ The JAZZ SCHOOL - 2087 Addison St., Berkeley, CA 94704, Ph: (510) 845-5373, [email protected] 8-12PM Minors welcome! http://www.jazzschool.com
Sunday Afternoon, October 9, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ SAVANNA'S LOUNGE, 1401 Arden Way, 5-8pm, $8 for adults/$5, Call (916) 723-5517 for your reservation or email me at [email protected]. Minors welcome! http://www.sacjazznotes.org
Monday Afternoon, October 10, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND@ San Marin High School, Student Center, 15 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA 2:30-5:30PM with Mel Martin - saxophones, Jack Walrath - trumpet, Andrew Speight - alto, Art Khu - piano, Robb Fisher - bass and Akira Tana - drums. Free admission
One hour Concert and One hour + clinic for all music students.
Sponsored by The Marin Arts Council, SMS and SMHS Band Boosters and Chamber Music America (415) 898-2121 http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/events.html
Friday and Saturday Evenings, October 14 & 15, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ JAZZ at PEARLS Shows at 9 &11PM 256 Columbus Ave (at Broadway), San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 291-8255 $15 -$20. Minors welcome! Featuring very special guest: Eddie Marshall on drums (the original Bebop and Beyond drummer)
The conclusion of our whirlwind Bay Area tour at our favorite venue. Pearl's has become the most jazz-friendly cub around and the band will be smokin'. Be there or you know what! http://www.jazzatpearls.com http://www.eddiemarshall.com
Quotes:
“I am most impressed with Mel Martin's musicianship." Benny Carter
“Mr. Martin displays a dazzling technique and an awesome command of jazz harmony. His approach to playing is unique. He doesn't sound like anyone else" Saxophone Journal
“Blistering bebop chops...his tenor speaks in romantic, sculptured phrases. Upbeat, naturally fluent melodic qualities." Owen Cordle - Jazz Times Magazine
“Martin is a solid workmanlike, improviser with a facile technique, a firm rhythmic feel, and a vivid harmonic vision." Don Heckman - Los Angeles Times
“An amazing tenor and soprano saxophone player, sophisticated with a fresh point of view." Saxophone Journal
“The Mel Martin Band was exciting, rewarding and more." Phil Elwood - San Francisco Examiner
“The Whirlwind with the woodwinds" San Francisco Chronicle
“Mel Martin's interpretation of his own tune 'Longhorn' was a wailing, logically constructed chain of phrases. His arrangements were clean and straightforward." Downbeat Magazine
“Martin's ballad work shows a remarkable feeling for styles associated with a couple of generations before he was born...his sound is as inherently attractive as anyone I can think of." Phil Elwood - San Francisco Examiner
“Mel Martin is one of the few reedmen who has really developed a big, pure, shimmering flute tone and his breathtaking work soars majestically." Jesse Hamlin - San Francisco Chronicle
“A great Teacher" Stan Getz
“A hidden treasure - invaluable." Jeff Kaliss - San Francisco Chronicle
“You really play your ass off!" Dizzy Gillespie
“Bebop and Beyond remains solidly committed to mining a deep vein of modern American music for nothing more than the joy of the art. It's about time for the band's recognition to catch up with its accomplishments." Derk Richardson - Bay Guardian
“This is some of Dizzy's best recorded work in years, a case of mutual inspiration. Mel Martin has cooked up personalized charts that retain the essence of Gillespiana. The honored guest can't go wrong with these cats who have done their homework." Owen Cordle - Downbeat ****
“This inspiring project of the music of Thelonious Monk will stand as an important contribution to the legacy of bebop." Dave Liebman - Saxophone Journal
“It is fascinating to witness the creation of a repertory approach to Monk's music." CD Review
“This is one of the 'big thinker' recordings of the year." Linda Gruno - Jazz Link
“This is very exciting, tricky, complex, unusual music beautifully played by an out-of-the-ordinary group of musicians." Mike Ferro - Victory Review
“Mel Martin has done a beautiful job with the material which is most significant. It is an outstanding tribute to the memory of Monk. The performance was excellent as well. I am most impressed with Mel 's musicianship." Benny Carter
“Bebop and Beyond are very serious musicians......and I think they did a wonderful job with my material." Dizzy Gillespie MEL MARTIN'S JAZZ and SAXOPHONE WEBSITE http://www.melmartin.com ********************************************************** MEL MARTIN AND BEBOP AND BEYOND CD Release “FRIENDS AND MENTORS - Bebop and Beyond Plays the Music of Mel Martin" now available at http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/releases.html and iTunes
P.O. Box 2758 Novato, CA 94948-2758 USA Contact: Mel Martin - Artistic Director Phone:(415) 892-5911 Fax; (415) 893-1114 [email protected] http://www.melmartin.com
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To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES
Mel Martin and Bebop And Beyond Sweep The Bay Area And Beyond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(October 1, 2005 Novato, CA) Mel Martin and Bebop and Beyond will be performing a number of important dates in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento in October. Mel Martin and Bebop and Beyond return with a vengeance performing music from their latest CD, “Friends and Mentors, Bebop and Beyond Plays the Music of Mel Martin". This is the original sextet format of the band featuring the current all-star rhythm section and the great soloists Jack Walrath and Andrew Speight.
Bebop and Beyond is an acclaimed classical repertory jazz ensemble committed to working with some of the foremost performers and composers in jazz. Originally formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1983 by reed player, composer/arranger Mel Martin, the group has garnered international attention for their dynamic and innovative presentations and finely produced recordings of new arrangements of classic bop compositions by Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Tadd Dameron and others as well as forward looking originals by members of the group. Bebop and Beyond strives to bring an authentic interpretation to the classic repertoire and to invigorate the music with a broad and entertaining approach, drawing the audience into a musical environment that brings together the musical lineage of modern jazz including many of the later innovations of the music. Bebop and Beyond has been awarded a number of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Marin Arts Council and, most recently, Chamber Music America.
Mel Martin, the Artistic Director of Bebop and Beyond, is a versatile bop-based reed player with an open-minded style. Mel Martin has been a fixture in San Francisco since the 1970s. He had his first gig when he was 14 and after attending San Francisco State he dropped out to become a professional musician. Among his early associations were such rock groups as Santana, Azteca, Cold Blood, Boz Scaggs and Van Morrison in addition to working in the studios. During 1977-78 he led an adventurous fusion band Listen, a group that recorded two albums for Inner City Records. In 1983, after recording a duet album (for Catero) with guitarist Randy Vincent, Martin formed Bebop and Beyond, a band that has since recorded for Concord and Bluemoon including NEA funded tribute albums to Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie with Dizzy participating on the latter. Among Bebop & Beyond's sidemen have been Randy Vincent, George Cables, Frank Tusa, Donald Bailey, Jeff Chambers, Wayne Wallace, Eddie Marshall, Mark Levine, Jack Walrath, Akira Tana, Andrew Speight and Warren Gale with such guests on their albums as John Handy, John Santos, Joe Henderson and Howard Johnson. In addition to recently performing music from the Charles Mingus songbook with Bebop and Beyond and the Mingus Epitaph Performance, Martin has recorded a solo set of Benny Carter tunes, Mel Martin Plays Benny Carter on Enja Records also with funding from the NEA. Mr. Carter is a featured as a special guest as is Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Victor Lewis, Harold Jones and Roger Kellaway. He was also awarded an NEA Fellowship in 1994, which enabled him to perform several concerts on both the East and West Coasts. Since then he has been dividing his time working on both coasts. He is currently conducting the Bebop and Beyond Advanced Jazz Workshop in the Novato schools. http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/B_B2k.html http://www.jackwalrath.net http://www.andrewspeight.com
Friday Evening, October 7, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ ZEBULON'S LOUNGE, - Jazz Club · Wine Bar · Art Gallery 21 Fourth Street · Petaluma, California 94952 · (707) 769-7948 Featuring Mel Martin - tenor & soprano saxes, flute, Jack Walrath - trumpet & flugelhorn, Andrew Speight - alto saxophone. Mark Levine - piano, Robb Fisher - bass and Akira Tana - drums. $12 http://www.zebulonslounge.com http://www.marlkevine.com http://www.akiratana.com
Saturday Evening, October 8, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ The JAZZ SCHOOL - 2087 Addison St., Berkeley, CA 94704, Ph: (510) 845-5373, [email protected] 8-12PM Minors welcome! http://www.jazzschool.com
Sunday Afternoon, October 9, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ SAVANNA'S LOUNGE, 1401 Arden Way, 5-8pm, $8 for adults/$5, Call (916) 723-5517 for your reservation or email me at [email protected]. Minors welcome! http://www.sacjazznotes.org
Monday Afternoon, October 10, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND@ San Marin High School, Student Center, 15 San Marin Drive, Novato, CA 2:30-5:30PM with Mel Martin - saxophones, Jack Walrath - trumpet, Andrew Speight - alto, Art Khu - piano, Robb Fisher - bass and Akira Tana - drums. Free admission
One hour Concert and One hour + clinic for all music students.
Sponsored by The Marin Arts Council, SMS and SMHS Band Boosters and Chamber Music America (415) 898-2121 http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/events.html
Friday and Saturday Evenings, October 14 & 15, 2005 - MEL MARTIN and BEBOP AND BEYOND @ JAZZ at PEARLS Shows at 9 &11PM 256 Columbus Ave (at Broadway), San Francisco, CA 94133 (415) 291-8255 $15 -$20. Minors welcome! Featuring very special guest: Eddie Marshall on drums (the original Bebop and Beyond drummer)
The conclusion of our whirlwind Bay Area tour at our favorite venue. Pearl's has become the most jazz-friendly cub around and the band will be smokin'. Be there or you know what! http://www.jazzatpearls.com http://www.eddiemarshall.com
Quotes:
“I am most impressed with Mel Martin's musicianship." Benny Carter
“Mr. Martin displays a dazzling technique and an awesome command of jazz harmony. His approach to playing is unique. He doesn't sound like anyone else" Saxophone Journal
“Blistering bebop chops...his tenor speaks in romantic, sculptured phrases. Upbeat, naturally fluent melodic qualities." Owen Cordle - Jazz Times Magazine
“Martin is a solid workmanlike, improviser with a facile technique, a firm rhythmic feel, and a vivid harmonic vision." Don Heckman - Los Angeles Times
“An amazing tenor and soprano saxophone player, sophisticated with a fresh point of view." Saxophone Journal
“The Mel Martin Band was exciting, rewarding and more." Phil Elwood - San Francisco Examiner
“The Whirlwind with the woodwinds" San Francisco Chronicle
“Mel Martin's interpretation of his own tune 'Longhorn' was a wailing, logically constructed chain of phrases. His arrangements were clean and straightforward." Downbeat Magazine
“Martin's ballad work shows a remarkable feeling for styles associated with a couple of generations before he was born...his sound is as inherently attractive as anyone I can think of." Phil Elwood - San Francisco Examiner
“Mel Martin is one of the few reedmen who has really developed a big, pure, shimmering flute tone and his breathtaking work soars majestically." Jesse Hamlin - San Francisco Chronicle
“A great Teacher" Stan Getz
“A hidden treasure - invaluable." Jeff Kaliss - San Francisco Chronicle
“You really play your ass off!" Dizzy Gillespie
“Bebop and Beyond remains solidly committed to mining a deep vein of modern American music for nothing more than the joy of the art. It's about time for the band's recognition to catch up with its accomplishments." Derk Richardson - Bay Guardian
“This is some of Dizzy's best recorded work in years, a case of mutual inspiration. Mel Martin has cooked up personalized charts that retain the essence of Gillespiana. The honored guest can't go wrong with these cats who have done their homework." Owen Cordle - Downbeat ****
“This inspiring project of the music of Thelonious Monk will stand as an important contribution to the legacy of bebop." Dave Liebman - Saxophone Journal
“It is fascinating to witness the creation of a repertory approach to Monk's music." CD Review
“This is one of the 'big thinker' recordings of the year." Linda Gruno - Jazz Link
“This is very exciting, tricky, complex, unusual music beautifully played by an out-of-the-ordinary group of musicians." Mike Ferro - Victory Review
“Mel Martin has done a beautiful job with the material which is most significant. It is an outstanding tribute to the memory of Monk. The performance was excellent as well. I am most impressed with Mel 's musicianship." Benny Carter
“Bebop and Beyond are very serious musicians......and I think they did a wonderful job with my material." Dizzy Gillespie MEL MARTIN'S JAZZ and SAXOPHONE WEBSITE http://www.melmartin.com ********************************************************** MEL MARTIN AND BEBOP AND BEYOND CD Release “FRIENDS AND MENTORS - Bebop and Beyond Plays the Music of Mel Martin" now available at http://www.melmartin.com/html_pages/releases.html and iTunes
P.O. Box 2758 Novato, CA 94948-2758 USA Contact: Mel Martin - Artistic Director Phone:(415) 892-5911 Fax; (415) 893-1114 [email protected] http://www.melmartin.com
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