Cape May 2006 Photo Album

Check out veteran jazz photographer Ben Johnson's Cape May 2006 photo album. Mr. Johnson suggested that, "if you know an artist that appeared at the festival, or someone who attended the festival,please pass this link along to them if you feel they may have an interest in viewing the images." While at his site, checkout the other albums in the library of contemporary jazz musicians he has photographed. He is truely helping to preserve the music on his terms. Thanks Ben!

It's good to be seen!

P.S. - from Ben Johnson

The following link is about the Jazz Journalists Association’s ‘Photo of the Year’.

I was honored that my image of Cassandra Wilson was one of the 10 nominees.

The competing images can be seen at http://www.jazzhouse.org/vote/photo06/ however, only JJA members can vote.

Ben Johnson – Photographer JJA
- Cape May Jazz Festival Program Committee Member
- Contributing Photographer for AllAboutJazz.com

CTM Photography
“Capture The Moment”

Preserving the Art of Live Jazz Through Photography

Email: ctmphotography@comcast.net

TYRONE BROWN'S STRING SEPTET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Thursday May 4th, the Tyrone Brown String Septet will be
appearing at the Collingswood Community Center
(30 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, NJ) to close out the third season
of the Collingswood First Thursday Jazz Series. There will be one show
starting at 7:30PM. Tickets are $10/$5 for students. BYOB / Sodas free.

For info call: 856-858-8914

Bio info:

Bassist Tyrone Brown has recorded over 125 CDs to date including six with legendary drummer Max Roach, six with saxophonist Odean Pope, five with Grover Washington, Jr. (two went gold "Live At The Bijou" and "Reed Seed"), four with guitarist Pat Martino, three with Bobby Zankel, and one each with vocalist Rachelle Ferrell and pianist Dave Burrell. An alumnus of the famed Berklee School Of Music, Brown received a fellowship grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and won a grant from the Pennsylvania Council On The Arts for Artistic Excellence in Jazz Composition 2001. Tyrone Brown has also garnered the "Best Acoustic Bass" honors in the Jazz Philadelphia Magazine Readers Choice Poll 1993 and 1994. Traveling all over the world, Brown has conducted Master Classes in Barcelona, Spain and Jerusalem, Israel and conducted Improvisation Symposiums at Brigham Young University, Illinois State University, and Temple University. In 1996, his Solo Bass Concert at the 25th Anniversary of the Moers Germany Jazz Festival drew five thousand people. Tyrone Brown has also worked with Lou Rawls, Billy Paul, Trudy Pitts & Mr. C, Freddie Hubbard, Phil Woods, Mulgrew Miller, Clark Terry, Johnny Hartman, Sonny Fortune, Etta Jones, Benny Golson, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Marcus, Kenny Barron, J.J.Johnson, Dave Burrell, Donald Byrd, Nat Adderly, Cecil Bridgewater, Sam Rivers, Stanley Turrentine, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sir Roland Hanna, and many others. Brown has toured and recorded with The Max Roach Quartet since 1984, and the Odean Pope Trio and Saxophone Choir since 1991. Dizzy Gillespie wrote, “Tyrone Brown's playing reminds me of those colorful bouncing balls you see at a carnival." Drummer Max Roach said, "Tyrone Brown is one of the most creative musicians I have ever worked with. He is a fine composer and arranger and a virtuoso instrumentalist." Bob Blumenthal of the Boston Globe notes that "Tyrone plays with the passion and flair of a flamenco guitarist.” - Suzanne Cloud

AAMP Honoring BILLIE HOLIDAY!

Saturday, April 29 from 6:00pm to 12:00am The African American Museum in Philadelphia proudly presents The Next In Its TRIBUTE TO WOMEN IN JAZZ Honoring BILLIE HOLIDAY and featuring Vocalist Michal Beckham with Marc Johnson, piano; Charles Beasley, bass; Eddie Jones, drums; and special guest saxophonist Byard Lancaster The schedule for the evening 6:00pm - Screening of "Lady Sings The Blues" : 9:00pm - Open Jam Session : 10:00pm - Byard Lancaster : 10:30pm - Miss Michal Beckham

Admission $10.00

701 Arch Street in Philly

For More Information Call 215-574-0380

SUPPORT THE MUSIC!

Natalie's Jams on Saturday!

Local pianist, Dan Paul, was ticklin' the ivory at Natalie's famed Saturday Jam Session hosted by Lucky Thompson. This place has hosted jazz activities for over 50 years at the same location. Natalie's should be on the historical ledger of jazz joints! Ms. Carol "Bebop" Harris was also in the house and stirred the crowd with some of her animated stylings. Bassist Kenny Davis, Donald Washington, Saxophonist and Napolean Black, Percussionist, were in the house, too! A student from Penn named Jason Edwards sat in for Lucky and really showed some talent. Check out Natalie's at 40th & Market Streets and see the past, present and future of the music in Philly!

Jazz Vespers with BJazz

Please join us
April 30th at 5:00 pm
for a very special
Jazz Vespers
featuring
The Barbara Montgomery Quartet

Barbara Montgomery, vocals
Dennis Fortune, keyboard
Lee Smith, acoustic bass
Lee-sa Robinson, drums

To celebrate the joy and new life of the Easter season
To uplift the spirit
To benefit the mission and ministry of

St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
101 East Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19120

Wenonah Brooks with Houston Person

Wenonah Brooks and Her Quartet
with special guest Tenor Saxophonist, Houston Person
performing

"Ease On Over The Rainbow"

(Songs from the movie "The Wizard of Oz" and the show "The Wiz")

Sunday April 23, 7:15pm

Off-Broadstreet Theatre (Dessert Theater)
5 South Greenwood Avenue Hopewell, NJ 08525

Tickets $25.00
(Includes dessert and coffee or tea. Bring your own beer or wine)

"Simply Natural" of Nina Bundy

Nina Bundy is a local treasure who made her entry onto the musical scene at the tender age of seventeen. Her initial engagement was with Tina Bradshaw's Big band at Town Hall in Philadelphia. Although raw and untested, it was evident that she would soon master all the intricacies involved in becoming an outstanding jazz vocalist. Nina's primary source of inspiration was her mother, Earselle Bundy, a blues singer(note:as tribute to Mrs.Bostic). Nina included two of her mother's favorite songs on this cd, Every Time We Say Goodbye and How Deep Is The Ocean. As Nina matured as a vocalist, her recognition and popularity escalated to the point where she was appearing in various jazz venues throughout the country and Japan as well. As a matter of fact,her captivation of Japanese audiences was so great that she had to return to Japan for a second series of concerts and night club performances. Check out her Jazz Pod for more details.

She has returned to performing after some time and has been mesmerizing local audiences with her robust vocal dynamics. At the recent "Jazz On Cecil B." event a man stated, "In some ways, she reminds me of Billie Holiday". Maybe the ghosts of some of the legends of Philly jazz really were walking the Avenue that night! :)

Check out her latest CD Simply Natural!

A Wonderful Celebration It Was!

The PJB event celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month was a blast! The music was inspired, the facility was first class, the Patterson's Palace food lived up to the legends and the jazz community of Philly was well represented. The pictured musicians include (l-r) Alfie Pollitt on keyboards, Leon Boykins on bass, Terrence Brown on sax, Butch Ballard on drums and a true high priestess of song, Ms. Mich`al Beckham. Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Aqueelah, kept the evening flowing and choreographed the diva summit which occured in the second set when "Songstresses" Valray, Ella Gahnt, Nina Bundy, Carol Harris, Pearl Williams, Mharlyn Merritt and Denise King joined Ms. Beckham onstage for a spontaneous outburst of vocal dexterity (sangin')! We were graced with the versitile playing of "Philly's oldest jazz musician" (his words), Mr. Butch Ballard. Terrence Brown is the "one to listen out for", according to several highly respected jazz community members. Young Lion, Leon Boykins held his own and promises a solid future in the music arena. I am excited about the possiblities for the continued growth and exposure to the music of Philadelphia's jazz family.

The recognition portion of the program was led by a prayer for "Cousin" Mary Alexander, then comments by Thelma Anderson of COJA Philadelphia, Valray Productions and Aqueelah representing WURD 900 AM. A plaque recognizing the Honoree as the "Queen Mother" of the Philly jazz community was presented by Philly Jazz Blog to Carla Washington, who accepted for Mary Alexander.

A videotape of personal messages to the Honoree was recorded by student interns Ashley and Nydrea Gause from the New Media Technology Charter School, to be presented, after editing, with the plaque to our "Queen Mother".

It was the right place and the right time!

POST YOUR LOVE!

Daily News Notes Jazz Appreciation Event

The Philadelphia Daily News featured our Jazz Appreciation Month event, "Jazz On Cecil B." in the TAKE FIVE section on music in today's issue (Friday, April 14th).

Join the celebration on the street where jazz grew up!

Mich`al Heads to "Jazz On Cecil B."

After a blazing four-alarm performance at the Clef Club during the "Songstresses" event, Philly's electrifying Ms. Mich`al Beckham will be joining the Alfie Pollitt AllStar Quartet featuring Terrence Brown, Leon Boykins, and the legendary Mr. Butch Ballard at "Jazz On Cecil B." to help us celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. We will be hosted by the very capable and well respected Jazz Personality and co-host of Jazz and Conversations on WURD 900 AM (Friday 10 PM - Midnight), Ms. Aqueelah. The Honoree of this joyous occasion is our beloved "Cousin" Mary Alexander. Philly Jazz Blog's event will be hosted at the new and luxurious Patterson's Palace (1621-27 Cecil B. Moore Avenue) in the Wilarie Room. The widely revered Patterson's will soon be adding to their culinary legends with a new facility in the shadow of Temple's new WRTI studios. The Patterson Family has added non-red options to their historic selections of healthy and professionally prepared and served foods. Our lite fare will be from their menu. You can choose to have your personal message to "Cousin" Mary videotaped and delivered by PJB. The street where jazz grew up will be alive again!

JOIN THE CELEBRATION!

267-970-8259

Post Your Thoughts!

"Songstresses" Rock The Clef Club!

Just as Mistresses of Ceremonies, Erma Holmes, predicted we would, those in attendance at the Valray Production's "Songstresses" event experienced an eargasim of immense proportions! They were serenaded by most of Philly's favorite Divas including (l-r) Lady Precious, Denise King, Mich`al Beckham, Honoree Ms. Trudy Pitts, Nina Bundy (behind Trudy), Producer, Ms. Valray, Barbara Walker, Pearl Williams, Sherry Butler and "First Lady" of Guitar, Monnette Sudler.

Post your Appreciation for "Songstresses"!