Final Week and Performance

Thanks everyone for a great Jazz Colony this summer. Our final class is on Tuesday and our culminating performance is on Wednesday 8/27 at Anthony's in Edmonds (outside behind the restaurant) from 5:00 to 8:00.

Since I don't have time to hear everyone individually in class, I would like everyone to email me the following assignments. You can record yourself on your computer, phone, or mp3 recorder and send me the files.

- Record yourself playing the Chet Baker solo unaccompanied
- Record one of your blues compositions

email to stevetres <at> gmail.com

See you Tuesday

Week 7

Assignments:

• Be ready to sing the entire Chet Baker solo next week

• Compose two twelve-bar blues melodies (bring one next week, and one the following week)

Blues 1: AB riff
Compose a four measure riff with a two-measure question and two-measure response

Example:

Blues 2: AAB
Compose a four bar statement, variation on the statement, then a four bar response

Example:

Mr. Bergevin emailed audition information yesterday. Bring your Ellington book so we can work on a few of those tunes. Thanks!

-ST

Week 5

**If you are reading this, please leave a comment with your name so I know who is actually reading this!**

Great performance at Romeo's on Wednesday! It was a fun session. Shout out to Brady and Benson for holding it down all night!

I would like everyone to bring in a recording of a "sound model," a player on your instrument who you think has the perfect tone. Bring a recording with you on your ipod or a CD and we will play a few in class every week. If you don't have a recording in mind, actively search your record collection, and streaming recordings on line. If you already have a sound model, keep searching and try to find an even better one!

Continue to work on the Chet Baker solo

I'll be out of town this week teaching at the CWU jazz camp so Dugdale and Taylor will run the show. See you all next month.

-ST

Sea Jazz Gig -- Moved due to Rain -- to Romeo's (by EWHS) Tonight - 7-23-2014 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Setup at 6:30.

Due the rain in the forecast, we have cancelled the Sea Jazz today, 7-23-2014,  from 5-8.

However, we just moved the gig to Romeo's by EWHS and will play from 7p-9p tonight!

See you all there!   We are setting up at 6:30 at Romeo's.  We will be there to help this Gig happen and Steve Treseler, Alex Dugdale, Peter Bennett, Max Bennett and Nathan James will all be there see it all goes well!

Call Peter Bennett if you have any questions:  425-299-1340.

Week 4

Reminder: we have our first Jazz Colony Performance next Wednesday
Wednesday 7/23 from 5:00-8:00 in the Plaza Behind Anthony’s Home Port in downtown Edmonds (456 Admiral Way)

Assignments:

• Learn to play the trumpet introduction and vocal melody to Chet Baker's "But Not For Me" on your instrument. Work on singing the trumpet solo.

• Get together with one other musician from jazz colony and work on the following improvisation and listening exersices:

     - One musician begins to improvise, and the second musician:
             a) Imitates how the other is playing
             b) Provides drastic contrast
             c) Accompanies the other player
     - Alternate who leads and who responds
     - Experiment, take chances, and try new things
     - Record some of your improvisations if possible

Check out these recordings of "But Not For Me":

Judy Garland from the original musical Girl Crazy 

John Coltrane

Lyrics for "But Not For Me."

Lyrics to But Not For Me

They're writing songs of love, but not for me.
A lucky star's above, but not for me.
With love to lead the way
I've found more clouds of grey
Than any Russian play could guarantee.

I was a fool to fall and get that way.
Heigh-ho! Alas! And also, lack-a-day!
Although I can't dismiss the memory of her kiss,
I guess she's not for me.

I was a fool to fall and get that way.
Heigh-ho! Alas! And also, lack-a-day!
Although I can't dismiss the memory of her kiss,
I guess she's not for me.

Provided by Man on the Street -- Peter Bennett

Memorize the words so you can sing it....

Week 2

Assignments:

- Learn to sing along with the trumpet intro and vocal melody of Chet Baker's "But Not For Me"
- Additional listening questions:
       - What is the form of Chet Baker's version of "But Not for Me?"
       - How does Russ Freeman's piano comping differ from the accompaniment from the bass and drums?
       - Can you figure out the rhythmic arrangement when Chet's voice enters after the piano solo?

- Practice melodies around the circle of fifths (counter-clockwise) 
1, 2, 1
1, 2, 3, 1
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 
1, 3, 5, 3, 1

Steve's beginning improv lab:

Here are the drum groove practice tracks:
Shuffle
Medium Swing

Week 1

Great session yesterday--thanks for having a great attitude and keeping your focus throughout the class.

Assignments for next week:

- Review "One for Daddy-O" and experiment with your own rhythmic and melodic variations of the melody

- Choose three melodies that you know really well and can sing (you can choose simple melodies--"Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Happy Birthday") and teach them to yourself by ear without writing anything down. Be prepared to play your melodies for the class next week. Follow steps 1-3 of the five-step process in the packet.

- Spend time listening deeply and actively to "But Not For Me" by Chet Baker. Your assignment is to learn to sing and play the trumpet intro, vocal melody, and trumpet solo by the end of the summer.

Additional listening questions for discussion next week:

- What is the form of Chet Baker's version of "But Not for Me?"
- What is the highest note of the melody?
- How does Russ Freeman's piano comping differ from the accompaniment from the bass and drums?
- How many "breaks" are there? When do they occur?
- Can you figure out the rhythmic arrangement when Chet's voice enters after the piano solo?


All the horn players new to jazz colony this year will participate in my "improvisation lab" for the second hour of the workshop. We would like to form combos this summer with the rhythm section players and the horns who have participated in jazz colony in the past. Think about who you would like to play with and start assembling ensembles. Be willing to be flexible with your instrumentation; we need to make sure everyone has a group to play with.

See you next Tuesday--arrive early so we can hit at 6:00!

-ST

Welcome to the 2014 Jazz Colony

Welcome to the EWHS Jazz Colony! I'm looking forward to our first session tonight. Check this blog every week—I will regularly post recap of the sessions, assignments,  additional material, videos, and resources. 

You can download the packet here: Jazz Colony 2014 Packet

This summer you will have the opportunity to develop your skills as an improvisor and ensemble player and develop a greater appreciation for this great American art form. In the process of making great music, you will help build lasting relationships with your classmates.

Weekly Meetings

    Every Tuesday from 6/24 to 8/26 in the EWHS Band Room

    5:00 - 6:00 Rooms open for rehearsals and jamming
    6:00 - 8:00 Workshop and ensemble coaching with Steve and Alex
    8:00 - 8:15 Break
    8:15 - 9:00 Rooms open for rehearsals and jamming / special presentations

Sea-Jazz Performances
   
    Wednesday 7-23 and Wednesday 8-27
    5:00 - 8:00
    Plaza Behind Anthony’s Home Port in downtown Edmonds
    456 Admiral Way

-ST

Welcome EWHS Jazz Colony 2014! Starts tonight, June 24,2014 -- EWHS Band Room from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Here is the 2014 EWHS Jazz Colony Schedule for this summer:

EWHS 2014 JAZZ COLONY - NEW AND REVISED SUMMER SCHEDULE AND EVENTS:

Day:     Date:    Place:                           Time:               Event:

Tues:    6-24     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Thurs:  6-26     Romeo's - EWHS Assigned Combos (Optional) - 7:00 - 9:00 (10 optional)

Tues:    7-1       EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    7-8       EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    7-15     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    7-22     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Wed:    7-23     GIG-Sea Jazz Port Edm 5:00 - 8:00p      Port of Edmonds, Behind Anthony's HPort

Tues:    7-29     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Wed:    7-30     Romeo's - EWHS Assigned Combos (Optional) - 7:00 - 9:00 (10 optional)

Tues:    8-5       EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    8-12     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    8-19     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session -

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Tues:    8-26     EWHS Band Room -     6:00p - 8:00p -- Regular Jazz Colony Session - LAST ONE

                        (5:00 - 5:45 Optional Practice Sessions) (8:15 - 9:00 Optional Practice Sessions)

Wed:    8-27     GIG-Sea Jazz Port Edm 5:00 - 8:00p      Port of Edmonds, Behind Anthony's HPort

                        Final Jazz Colony Group Gig...

Wed:    8-28     Romeo's - EWHS Assigned Combos (Optional) - 7:00 - 9:00 (10 optional)

                        Summer Over -- Jazz Colony Members are Crazy good going back to School!

Notes:

1.  The Green dates are regular Jazz Colony Sessions in the EWHS Band Room every Tuesday from 6-24- thru 8-26.

2.  The Purple dates are Sea Jazz Gigs for the whole Jazz Colony at the Port of Edmonds on the two Wednesdays on July 23 and August 27, from 5p - 8p.  Everybody who is here will play.

3.  The Blue dates are Romeo's gigs for preassigned EWHS Combos for the Summer on those dates.  Jazz Colony members do not have to attend, but they are good events to attend to see your comrades playing and perhaps there could be jamming opportunities for others in the later parts of the gigs.

That's it for now.

For the Prize at the first Jazz Colony Session, remember to tell the Man on the Street, Peter W. Bennett, who his featured Jazz player is on Spotify -- Brian Bromberg - and playing "Chameleon."  

See you tonight.  Check this site frequently for updates from me and more importantly from our head Clinician, Steve Treseler.

Peter Bennett -- Jazz Colony Coordinator