Kate Skinner photo courtesy of the artist.
Johnaye Kendrick Receives Chamber Music Award Grant
Congratulations to vocalist Johnaye Kendrick and all the other winners of CMA’s Performance Plus grant. The award supports U.S.-based female-led jazz ensembles by connecting them with an experienced jazz artist-educator for six evaluative listening sessions with the goal of enhancing the ensemble’s performance. Johnaye Kendrick and her ensemble will be working with artist-educator Jim Knapp, who is a renowned trumpeter, composer, and orchestrator. For more details visit chamber-music.org.
SWOJO 2020 Girls Jazz Band Program
Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) presents its 2020 Girls Jazz Band program, from January 29– March 25. The program is open to girls in middle school and above and offers eight after-school workshop sessions with a special concert to cap off the course. All instruments are welcome. Members of SWOJO will provide mentoring to help develop skills in jazz interpretation and improvisation. Online registration begins January 2 at swojo.org. For more information contact robyn@swojo.org.
FACE Foundation Call for Applications
FACE Foundation, in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S., is requesting applications for their 2020- 2021 Jazz & New Music Program. The program awards three different grants: creative grants, residency grants, and touring grants for eligible projects jointly conceived with French and American musicians. Funding is offered to American or French non- profit organizations who represent individual artists or ensembles. The application deadline is March 2. Visit face-foundation.org for more details and application.
Sweeping Changes Proposed to Artist Visa Fees
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed fee increases and policy changes, which includes plans to increase many of its filing fees, including those for artist visa applications, filed by nonprofit art organizations. These fees will make it costlier for international artists to obtain visas, create severe processing delays, and endanger planned performances and events. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is inviting public comment on its plans to increase its filing fees. Chamber Music America (CMA) has signed on to comments objecting the specific changes outlined in this proposal. For more details visit uscis.gov and read “An Invisible Wall” in the fall issue of Chamber Music at chamber-america.org.
CMA New Jazz Works
Applications are now open for Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program. Grants are provided to professional U.S-based jazz ensembles to create, perform, and record new works. Ensembles consisting of 2–10 musicians may apply with any ensemble member eligible to create the composition. CMA is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Applications are due February 7, and are available at chamber-music.org.
Featured Community Event: Olli Hirvonen New Helsinki and Dan Phelps at The Royal Room
Olli Hirvonen, a Finnish guitarist now Brooklyn-based leads his NYC group New Helsinki, in support of their new album Displace (Rope- adope). Accompanying Hirvonen are Luke Marantz (piano), Marty Ken- ney (bass), and Nathan Ellman-Bell (drums). Local Bainbridge Island gui- tarist Dan Phelps opens. The concert takes place January 21, 8pm at The Royal Room. For more information visit theroyalroomseattle.com.
On The Horizon
2020 Biamp PDX Jazz Fest February 19–March 1
Various venues, Portland, Oregon
Archie Shepp, Branford Marsalis, Kandace Springs, David Sanborn, María Grand, Miguel Zenón, Kenny Barron, John Medeski, Kat Edmonson and Halie Loren, Antibalalas, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Wil Blades, and many more. Full schedule, information, and tickets available at pdxjazz.com.
Seattle Opera: Charlie Parker’s Yardbird February 22–March 7
Seattle Opera will present an opera that celebrates legendary jazz musician and bebop innovator Charlie Parker’s life and music. With music by Daniel Schnyder and the libretto composed by Bridgette A. Wimberly, the opera explores Parker’s desire to meld the classical and jazz idioms. Performances take place at McCaw Hall. For more details and tickets visit seattleopera. org.
Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest February 28–29
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
Joshua Redman, The Lionel Hampton Big Band, Amy Shook, Erik Ap- plegate, Kate Skinner, Brian Claxton, and more. More information at uidaho.edu/class/Jazzfest.
The 35th Annual Seattle Improvised Music Festival
March 11–15
First organized by the late Paul Hoskin, the Seattle Improvised Mu- sic Festival (SIMF) brings together the most innovative improvisers from the eclectic scene. Now in its 35th year, SIMF is the longest-running festival in the United States dedicated solely to music that is completely improvised. More information at nseq.org.
