Festival Celebrates Three Jazz Masters of the Modern Era: Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, and Herbie Hancock
Dedicated to creating new works and highlighting the music of historically important jazz composers of the modern era, the SFJAZZ Collective comes to Zankel Hall for a three-night festival from Tuesday, March 28 to Thursday, March 30. Each Zankel Hall program features works by a different jazz luminary--Ornette Coleman (March 28), John Coltrane (March 29), and Herbie Hancock (March 30)--in addition to performances of new music by the Collective's members. The SFJAZZ Collective is composed of Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone and Artistic Director), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Miguel Zenn (alto saxophone), Andre Hayward (trombone), Renee Rosnes (piano), Matt Penman (bass), and Eric Harland (drums). These concerts are presented as part of Nonesuch at Carnegie.
The festival begins on Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m., when the SFJAZZ Collective pays homage to jazz legend Ornette Coleman in a program that showcases the different periods and qualities of the renowned saxophonist's compositions. As both a composer and an instrumentalist, Ornette Coleman explored the possibilities of extending and fusing elements of honky-tonk, blues, funk, and bebop. He created a personal musical vocabulary free from the conventions of harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic structures and established his place among a select group of major 20th-century American composers, such as Charlie Parker, Harry Partch, Charles Ives, and John Cage.
Regarded as one of the most important jazz musicians of the 20th-century, tenor saxophonist John Coltrane created some of the most innovative and expressive music in jazz history, including hit albums My Favorite Things, Africa Brass, and A Love Supreme. Many of Coltrane's innovations have been incorporated into the jazz fusion movement as well as into the mainstream music of such rock musicians as Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. Coltrane's massive influence on jazz began during his lifetime and continued to grow even after his death. On Wednesday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m., the Collective focuses on Mr. Coltrane as a composer and performs many of his seminal works.
The festival closes on Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m., when the Collective highlights the music of pianist, bandleader, composer, and creative artist Herbie Hancock. With a career spanning five decades, Mr. Hancock has moved fluidly between almost every development in acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B and embraced the elements of rock, funk, and soul while adopting freer stylistic fundamentals of jazz.
Launched in 2004 by SFJAZZ--the West Coast's largest non-profit jazz institution--the SFJAZZ Collective has quickly become one of the most acclaimed groups on the American and international jazz scenes. Each year the Collective divides its repertoire between all-new compositions--written by each of the eight band members and commissioned by SFJAZZ--and works by a modern jazz master (in new octet arrangements by Grammy-winner Gil Goldstein).
To cultivate its distinctive sound, SFJAZZ Collective convenes in San Francisco each spring for a three-week residency. Throughout this extended rehearsal period the octet workshops the season's new repertoire and interacts with the Bay Area community through SFJAZZ's education programs for youth and adults. The Collective then takes to the performance stage, including home season concerts under the auspices of the SFJAZZ as well as a national and international tour with stops in a number of the world's most prominent concert halls.
Following each season, SFJAZZ Records releases a deluxe, limited-edition CD set representing the Collective's full annual repertoire in concert. The Collective's music is available in wide distribution on the Nonesuch label, which releases a single-disc edition of each year's concert highlights.
Nonesuch Records has been home to original and adventurous performers and composers for nearly four decades. Its roster of artists spans the genres of world music, contemporary music, classical, jazz, music theater, and alternative pop. This season, Nonesuch at Carnegie features John Adams, Bill Frisell, Richard Goode, Kronos Quartet, Audra McDonald, Youssou N'Dour, SFJAZZ Collective, and Dawn Upshaw.
Program Information
Tuesday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
Joshua Redman, Artistic Director and Tenor Saxophone
Bobby Hutcherson, Vibraphone and Marimba
Nicholas Payton, Trumpet
Miguel Zenn, Alto Saxophone and Flute
Andre Hayward, Trombone
Renee Rosnes, Piano
Matt Penman, Bass
Eric Harland, Drums
In this concert, in addition to the group's own cutting-edge compositions, the Collective will focus on music by the celebrated jazz innovator Ornette Coleman.
Wednesday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
In this concert, in addition to the group's own cutting-edge compositions, the Collective will focus on music by the iconic saxophonist and composer John Coltrane.
Thursday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE
In this concert, in addition to the group's own cutting-edge compositions, the Collective will focus on music by the legendary Herbie Hancock.
Nonesuch at Carnegie
Ticket Information Tickets, priced at $32 and $38, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212- 247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, www.carnegiehall.org.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
