Michael Jackson Remembered

I know it is not jazz, but he was a major force and influence in popular music. As Michael Jackson’s memorial service is being held in L.A. as I write, I felt moved to go to the files and pull up an old negative from the time I got to see him perform and photograph him. We were all so much younger, and his music was a dominant note on the soundtrack of our lives. He was everywhere on the radio and MTV. It is almost incredible to remember how really big he was then. Seeing him and photographing him on assignment was a big deal. It is so sad to see him gone.

Michael Jackson performed at the Gator Bowl Stadium in Jacksonville Florida before 45,000 people for every night for three nights  July 21, 22, 23rd 1984.  I was there on July 23rd on assignment to photograph him for the Black Star Photo agency.  It was a big news story everywhere Michael went.

He was on his Victory tour at the top of his game. He performed with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and Randy. The tour reunited all Jackson brothers including Michael, who had just released the highly successful Thriller album in 1982, two years previous to the tour, and Jermaine, who had not recorded or toured with his brothers since they left Motown in 1975. The Jacksons’ Victory Tour was the group’s final concert tour of the United States and Canada.

Garfield High School Jazz Band

Here is a color version of the photograph on the cover of this month’s Earshot Jazz, the magazine, honoring Seattle’s Garfield High School, under the direction of Clarence Acox, for taking top honors on Sunday, May 10th in New York at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 14th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. They were selected as the winner by a panel of judges composed of distinguished jazz musicians and historians — Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Artistic Director; composer, conductor and Ellington authority David Berger; educator, clinician and pianist, Reginald Thomas; and legendary jazz trumpeter and composer/ arranger, Gerald Wilson— from among the 15 finalist bands from the U.S. and Canada that came to the Competition & Festival in New York City. At the awards ceremony, Wynton Marsalis presented prizes and cash. Acox accepted the 1st place trophy and an award of $5,000. Scott Brown, Director of the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band, accepted the 2nd place trophy and an award of $2,500. For complete list of winners, including top soloists and sections, visit www. earshot.org.

Story by Danielle Bias from Earshot Jazz, the magazine.

Phil Kelly Big Band Group Portrait

Phil Kelly has been working on a new CD project out at Bear Creek Studio in Woodinville recently. I got to make a panoramic photo of the whole band on a break out behind the studio. Phil is seated at right.

Jerry Dodgion Portrait

Jerry Dodgion was in town this weekend playing in a big band making a recording with Phil Kelly. He told me he needed a new portrait for publicity since he has some gigs coming up in the San Francisco Bay area. He grabbed his sax and we got together and made this portrait. Jerry is a jazz saxophonist and flautist.
Jerry Dodgion, alto saxophone, flute, arranger and composer, hails from Richmond, California on San Francisco Bay. He gained early experience in 1950s with bay area bands of Rudy Salvini, John Coppola/Chuck Travis and Gerald Wilson as well as brief appearances with the Vernon Alley quartet which included backing Billie Holiday in 1955.
Dodgion joined Benny Carter, on Gerald Wilson’s recommendation, for the opening of the “Moulin Rouge” in Las Vegas ‘55. Jerry joined the Red Norvo quintet [`58-’61] which included long stints in Las Vegas at the “Sands Hotel.” Many tours accompanying Frank Sinatra ‘59-’60 plus touring as part of the Benny Goodman groups of ‘59-’61 which incorporated the Red Norvo quintet into Goodman’s ten piece band (including Flip Phillips, Bill Harris and Jack Sheldon) and subsequent versions which included Zoot Sims, Carl Fontana and Charlie Shavers.

After a long career as a side man, Dodgion’s first release as a bandleader arrived in 2004 with his ensemble The Joy of Sax, featuring saxophonists Frank Wess, Brad Leali, Dan Block and Jay Brandford, pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Dennis Irwin and percussionist Joe Farnsworth.

Danilo Perez – Jazz Photography

Photographing Danilo Perez in concert at ast weekend’s 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival was a lot of fun. He was so unpredictable as he moved around a lot as he played the piano and sometime like here he played on the side of the piano. His music was serious but he made the performance feel fun. This just about wraps up my coverage of the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Dianne Reeves Redux

Here is another shot of amazing jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves from last weekend’s 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival. This one was made during the sound check and I love her expression of emotion as she sings even with the huge hall empty of an audience.

Kurt Elling Redux

Here is another shot of Kurt Elling from last weekend’s 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival.

Thomas Marriott and L.Ron Weinstein

Thomas Marriott  appeared last weekend at the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival with his Trio at the Cypress Lounge and Wine Bar at The Westin Bellevue. Thomas here waits as the great organist L. Ron Weinstein, wearing a tie, does his solo on the Hammond B-3 organ

Greta Matassa Quartet

Here is a shot of jazz vocalist Greta Matassa who appeared last weekend at the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival.

Bill Anschell Trio – Jazz Photography

The Bill Anschell Tiro who appeared last weekend at the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival performed at the Bellevue Grill to a packed house.

Jazz Photos – Mingus Big Band

Here are some more shots of the fantastic Mingus Big Band who appeared last weekend at the 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival with a description of them from their website at http://mingusmingusmingus.com/:
“The Mingus Big Band celebrates the music of the composer and bassist, Charles Mingus, who died in 1979. Under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, this 14-piece band performed Thursday nights from 1991 to 2004 at the Fez under Time Cafe in New York City, occasionally alternating with the Charles Mingus Orchestra. From November 2004 to September 2008, the big band had a residency at Iridium Jazz Club and in October 2008 moved to Monday residency at Jazz Standard. The Mingus Big Band tours extensively in the United States and abroad, and has eight recordings to its credit, six of which have been nominated for Grammys.

Regulars currently appearing in the 14-piece band:
3 Trumpets: Randy Brecker, Earl Gardner, Alex Sipiagin, Lew Soloff, Tatum Greenblatt, Ryan Kisor, Kenny Rampton, Jack Walrath, Sean Jones
3 Trombones: Conrad Herwig, Andy Hunter, Ku-umba Frank Lacy, Earl McIntyre, Dave Taylor, Robin Eubanks, Joe Fiedler, Clark Gayton
5 Saxophones: Vincent Herring, Seamus Blake, Abraham Burton, Wayne Escoffery, Donny McCaslin, Mark Gross, Craig Handy, Jason Marshall, Lauren Sevian, Jaleel Shaw, Steve Slagle, Ronnie Cuber, David Lee Jones
Piano: Orrin Evans, David Kikoski, Helen Sung, George Colligan, Kenny Drew Jr.
Bass: Boris Kozlov, Hans Glawischnig, Andy McKee, Joe Martin, Ugonna Okegwo, Dwayne Burno
Drums: Donald Edwards, Gene Jackson, Victor Lewis, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Adam Cruz “

 

Jazz Photography – Patricia Barber

Here is another shot of Patricia Barber from last weekend’s 2009 Bellevue Jazz Festival.