Greetings Milwaukee Jazz Fans!
Saturday night brings forth the third installment of EASTSIDE JAZZFEST, Milwaukee’s bi-annual jazz festival, but with a slight change of approach.
This time around the festival will be an even split between local and New York-based talent, with the Eric Jacobson Quintet and Curt Hanrahan Quartet representing Milwaukee, along with a quartet and trio from George Braith and David Hazeltine, respectively, to represent New York.
Hazeltine, whose trio will close out the festival, has a personal history in Milwaukee — most notably as a legend of the famous Jazz Gallery scene. While often bumping elbows with jazz greats like Jimmy Smith and Nat Adderley on a regular basis in those days, Hazeltine has found continued success as a bandleader and arranger in New York.
Back in February, ESJF2 enjoyed a full house downtown with an eclectic variety of acts. For ESJF3, the change of venue from Todd Wehr Conference Center (downtown) to Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts (UW-Milwaukee campus) is not one of waning interest.
It is instead the result of fierce competition with local entertainment calendars, including Brady Street Festival, Punk Fest, and others. The lineup, despite its smaller size this summer, promises an explosive live experience.
LINEUP
Eric Jacobson Quintet (5-6 p.m.)
Curt Hanrahan Quartet (6-7 p.m.)
George Braith Quartet (7-8 p.m.)
David Hazeltine Trio (8-9 p.m.)
$20 in advance / $25 at the door
$15 student rate
For Advance Tickets go to:
http://www.esjf3.eventbrit e.com/
ABOUT
The Eastside Jazzfest was organized by three veteran Milwaukee musicians who saw a definite need for Milwaukee’s jazz scene to be recognized apart from other music festivals in the region. Neil Davis, Jamie Breiwick and Kevin Hayden organized the first festival to showcase the unique sound and talent of Milwaukee’s jazz scene – particularly that of the city’s vibrant Eastside. Seven groups took the stage to display what veteran and emerging jazz talent Milwaukee has to offer. The event was a huge success, so much that its organizers decided to continue the EASTSIDE JAZZFEST on a bi-annual basis.
ABOUT THE BANDS
ERIC JACOBSON
Eric Jacobson is a professional trumpet player, clinician, composer, and private instructor residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eric freelances in the Milwaukee and Chicago area playing in groups such as The Luis Diaz Quintet, Nabori, De La Buena, and leading his own jazz quartet. Eric has been fortunate to experience performances and lessons with numerous well-known artists, including Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton, Brian Lynch, Jim Rotondi, Tito Puente Jr., Eric Benet, and Wynton Marsalis. David Hoffman recently recognized Eric in Jazzscope magazine as having “a gorgeous round sound on both the trumpet and flugelhorn” and “on his way to being a jazz giant.” Eric also teaches at MYSO, Wauwatosa West High School’s Jazz Ensemble and assists the Wauwatosa West Marching Band. In 2001 Eric released his debut jazz CD entitled Inspiration, which features some of Milwaukee’s best jazz musicians as well as New York trumpet sensation Brian Lynch. Eric released his second album, Two A.M. – Live at the Jazz Estate, earlier this year with his quintet.
CURT HANRAHAN
Curt Hanrahan holds a bachelor of music degree from UWM and a Masters degree in multiple woodwinds from University of Wisconsin, Madison. He has worked with artists Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Cab Calloway, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., Arturo Sandoval, Big Band Manhattan Transfer, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Ray Charles. Curt teaches saxophone and directs the jazz program at University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, a position he has held since 1990. Curt is deeply involved with expanding the Milwaukee jazz scene. He has assisted developing a jazz network that has already created a draft strategic plan for creating more venues, fests, educational opportunities, and fans in Milwaukee.
GEORGE BRAITH
George Braith, a legend in the field of modern progressive jazz, commands an uncanny and absolutely phenomenal knowledge and use of harmonics, rarely evidenced in modern jazz music today. As described by Chris Kelsey, in Jazz Times, his Braithophone chops are developed, and his lines are long, and graceful. His tenor work is lithe, melodic and unpredictable in the best sense. Braith’s playing is a study in wisdom and authenticity.
George Braith is an inventor who has created the Braithophone, an instrument that blends two saxophones (soprano and alto) and Boptronics, which is “the conjunction of improvisational jazz and the use of electronic virtual instruments.”
Braith began developing his two-horn technique around 196l. In 1965 George was living in Los Angeles where he played with Freddie Hubbard and then sat in with Coltrane who was so impressed with his double horn playing that he facilitated his relocation to New York so that they could play together.
As Braith prepared to play with Coltrane, he opened Musart, in a basement in Soho. Musart, one of the first health food restaurants in the city, became an avant-garde center where musicians and artists could develop creatively. It became a center for the best jazz artists in town, such as Larry Young, McCoy Tyner, Max Roach, Freddy Hubbard, Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Abby Licoln, Wilbur Ware, Roy Haynes, Kenny Durham, Gilly Coggins, Albert Dailey and Beever Harris. Much of their music was recorded and currently is being released through Braith’s label, Excellence Records.
Following Musart, Braith toured Europe again. He returned to the states for a concert in Carnegie Hall, and to continue his two horn studies at Creative Arts Development Center and developed the Space Island Performance Group. After managing “The Ladies Fort” a jazz club in NOHO, George continued his musical development in New York City, Atlanta, Tampa and Milwaukee. When he returned to New York, he continued his musical journey, creating and producing a continuous stream of new music in concerts, performances and new CD’s.
DAVID HAZELTINE is one of a handful of young pianists who has successfully forged his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the accumulated greatness and weight of a modern piano tradition. David’s influences extend from Art Tatum and Bud Powell to such great living masters as Buddy Montgomery, Barry Harris and Cedar Walton.
David made his professional debut at age thirteen in Milwaukee, and later worked extensively in and around Chicago and Minneapolis. In Milwaukee, David served as house pianist at the famed Milwaukee Jazz Gallery, working with such greats as Charles McPherson, Eddie Harris, Sonny Stitt, Pepper Adams and Chet Baker. In fact, it was Baker who encouraged David to make his mark in New York City.
Since moving to New York City in 1992, David has made a name for himself as a “musician’s musician.” In addition to his working trio (with drum legend Louis Hayes and bassist Peter Washington), David is in constant demand as a sideman.
David’s debut CD as a leader Four Flights Up (featuring Slide Hampton,) released in 1996 on the Sharp Nine Label, received high praise from critics and musicians alike. Since then, he has recorded seven more CDs for Sharp Nine, the latest being The Inspiration Suite. David has also recorded six CDs for the Criss Cross label, the most recent being Blues Quarters Volume 2. In Japan, David’s six piano trio releases for the Venus label, including tributes to Bill Evans, Horace Silver, Bud Powell, and Burt Bacharach, have won him a large and growing following.
In addition to David’s twenty-three dates as a bandleader, his recorded work as a featured sideman reflects his status as one of the first call pianists in New York. Recent efforts include sessions with James Moody, Freddy Cole, Marlena Shaw, Jon Faddis, and Louis Hayes.
As a dedicated teacher, Hazeltine’s career reflects his intense commitment to the advancement of jazz culture and awareness. In Milwaukee, he was co-founder and director of The Jazz School, and Department Chairman at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Recently, he served as Associate Professor at Berklee College Of Music.
PRESS CLIPPINGS
Shepherd Express Online
“Eastside Jazzfest” by Shepherd Staff
July 17th, 2010
http://www.expressmilwauke e.com/article-11596-eastsi de-jazzfest.html
OnMilwaukee.com
“New music festival salutes enduring tradition” by Bobby Tanzilo
July 12th, 2010
http://www.milwaukeejazzvi sion.org/index.php?option= com_content&view=article&i d=1&Itemid=2
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online
“Jazz artists have great night planned” by Caillie Hammel
July 11th, 2010
http://www.milwaukeejazzvi sion.org/index.php?option= com_content&view=article&i d=1&Itemid=2
