Dawn Clement and Julian Priester photo by Daniel Sheehan
Saturday, November 3, Royal Room, 7:30pm
Many friendships and musical alliances have formed among faculty members and students alike within the walls of Cornish College of the Arts. A perfect reflection of this is the connection between dynamic vocalist Jay Clayton and pianist Dawn Clement. Add an iconic figure in jazz in the person of trombonist Julian Priester, and a perfect storm of jazz lineage is formed.
Clement was hired immediately upon graduating from the esteemed arts college, and until her recent move to Denver, became a valued mentor to up-and-coming jazz artists over nearly two decades. At the same time, she developed an international profile as a recording and touring artist. Her latest release, Tandem (Origin, 2018), an album of duo performances with her closest musical collaborators, has gained critical acclaim. Her performances as a member of Jane Ira Bloom’s band illuminate her ability to take the music into uncharted territory.
Clement counts Clayton as a major influence during her time as a student, when the veteran singer was thrilling audiences and enlightening students during her time here in Seattle. With more than 40 recordings to her credit, Clayton has an impressive resume of performances including those with longtime collaborator, minimalist composer Steve Reich.
Special guest Julian Priester has been at the center of many of the most important performances and recordings in jazz history. He began by roving the blues clubs of his native Chicago, sitting in with the influx of blues musicians moving north to Chicago from the rural south. Before long, Priester was performing with Muddy Waters, Sun Ra, Lionel Hampton, and Dinah Washington. His association with Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln began in 1959, culminating in a torrent of recordings under his leadership, as well as under such historic jazz notables as Roach, Lincoln, Booker Little, and Eric Dolphy. He participated in John Coltrane’s Africa/Brass sessions as well, and, after a brief stint with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, became a founding member of Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi Band. Clayton, Clement, and Priester represent a historic jazz lineage that has to our great fortune, passed through Seattle.
$20 adults, $18 Earshot members & seniors, $10 students & military/veterans
