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John Coltrane Memorial Concert: For 30 Years This 'Trane's Been Rolling -- September 16-22, 2007

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Music (Jazz / a week of concerts, including one benefit, along with other community events)
August, 2007 (revised 8/17/2007)
Mary Curtin, JCMC media contact, 617-241-9664, 617-470-5867 (cell), [email protected]
Leonard Brown & Emmett Price, JCMC co-producers, 617-373-4128 or 617-373-4374, [email protected]

THE 30TH ANNUAL
JOHN COLTRANE MEMORIAL CONCERT

a full week of concerts, including a benefit concert for the JCMC Educational Outreach Program, and other community events

Featuring
Ravi Coltrane Quartet & Amiri Baraka
Bill Pierce Quartet with Mulgrew Miller
John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble
Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet
Rakalam Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, George Garzone & Jerry Bergonzi
Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (with guest artist Jerry Leake)

Officially declared
John Coltrane Memorial Concert Week
by both Boston and Cambridge

September 16-22

(Boston and Cambridge, MA) The John Coltrane Memorial Concert celebrates its 30th anniversary by expanding its annual programming to one full week of paying tribute to one of the most influential musicians of our time. From September 16-22, the 'Trane legacy will be granted the intense focus it very much deserves.

Both Boston and Cambridge have joined hands in declaring this week in September as the week to pay special attention to a man who long after his death continues to shape America's musical heritage, jazz and otherwise. Some may argue that his influence reaches far beyond the musical realm - since his works have more than once served as symbols for social causes and spiritual enlightenment, including the quest for world peace. No matter what the claim, John Coltrane, born on September 23, 1926 (only to die young on July 17, 1967), lives on in the hearts and minds of both musicians and listeners alike.

For its 30th year, the John Coltrane Memorial Concert has put together a week packed with programs, including 4 concerts (one a benefit for the JCMC Educational Outreach Program) and 3 other community events. For up-to-date information on the overall week call 617-373-4374. The week's events are as follows:

Sunday, September 16, 7:30 pm
Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
with guest artist Jerry Leake, tabla and percussion
“Coltrane Facets"
[Opening Event of the 30th John Coltrane Memorial Concert Celebration]
[Opening Event of the 35th Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Season]
The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
7 Cambridge Center, Kendall Square, Cambridge
[conveniently located near the Kendall T stop on the Red Line]
Tickets: $15 general admission, $10 students & seniors
For tickets and information: 617-452-3205

Monday, September 17, 8:00 pm
“NEC Tribute to the 30 year JCMC Legacy"
featuring Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet (with Tom Hall, Cercie Miller, Joel Springer, Allan Chase),
Rakalam Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, George Garzone & Jerry Bergonzi
New England Conservatory / Brown Hall
30 Gainsborough St., Boston
[conveniently located near the Mass. Ave. stop on the Orange Line]
Tickets: FREE
For information: 617-585-1122

Tuesday, September 18, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
“The Soul of Coltrane"
Bill Banfield and Armsted Christian will lead a discussion, followed by live performances by Berklee advanced students and faculty.
Berklee College of Music / Genko Uchida Bldg. / David Friend Recital Hall
921 Boylston St., Boston
[conveniently located near the Hynes Convention Center stop on the Green Line (B, C, D trains)]
Tickets: FREE
For information: 617-266-1400, x2957

Wednesday, September 19, 11:45am - 1:15pm
“History of the John Coltrane Memorial Concert"
Reflections on the creation and evolution of JCMC featuring key musicians including:
Stan Strickland, Bill Pierce, Armsted Christian, Frank Wilkins, Sa Davis, Syd Smart, Tim Ingles & Leonard Brown.
Northeastern University's John D. O'Bryant African American Institute 40 Leon St., Boston
[conveniently located near the Ruggles stop on the Orange Line]
Tickets: FREE
For information: 617-373-3143

Thursday September 20, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
“Listening to Trane"
Ingrid Monson will lead a panel of educators and musicians in listening to selected Coltrane recordings of significance and commenting on their importance and influence.
Harvard University, Music Building, Classroom 2
behind the Science Center, Cambridge
[conveniently located near the Harvard Square stop on the Red Line]
Tickets: FREE
For information: 617-496-6013

Friday, September 21, 8:00 pm
Bill Pierce Quartet featuring Mulgrew Miller
Fundraiser for John Coltrane Memorial Concert Educational Outreach Program
[30th anniversary JCMC concert #1]
Hosted by Steve Schwartz of WGBH's “Jazz from Studio Four"
Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall
360 Huntington Ave., Boston
[conveniently located near the Ruggles stop on the Orange Line or the Northeastern stop on the Green Line (E train)]
Ticket: $25 general admission; $20 non-NU students, seniors, NU Faculty/staff/WGBH Members; $10 NU students with ID
For tickets and information: 617-373-4700 (TTY 617-373-2184), www.jcmc.neu.edu

Saturday, September 22, 7:30 pm
John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble featuring
Ravi Coltrane Quartet & Amiri Baraka
[30th anniversary JCMC concert #2]
Hosted by Eric Jackson of WGBH's “Eric in the Evening"
Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall
360 Huntington Ave., Boston
[conveniently located near the Ruggles stop on the Orange Line or the Northeastern stop on the Green Line (E train)]
Ticket: $25 general admission; $20 non-NU students, seniors, NU Faculty/staff/WGBH Members; $10 NU students with ID
For tickets and information: 617-373-4700

Background information on several of the participants:

Ravi Coltrane (on September 22)
Ravi Coltrane (tenor & soprano sax) is considered one of the finest contemporary musicians of our time. The son of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, he, in his own right, is an accomplished composer, arranger and performer. His current touring band includes Luis Perdomo on piano, Drew Gress on bass, and drummer E. J. Strickland.

Amiri Baraka (on September 22)
Amiri Baraka, a poet icon and revolutionary political activist, will set the tone for the concert on September 22 with an introductory reflection on Coltrane's musical and spiritual legacy within the context of Black American culture, life, spirituality and the quest for freedom -- then and now.

Bill Pierce (on September 21, benefit concert)
Bill Pierce (tenor & soprano sax) is considered one of the greatest saxophonists of current and recent times. He serves as Woodwind Department Chair at Berklee College of Music and has performed with some of the indisputable masters of jazz -- Freddie Hubbard, Tony Williams, Art Farmer, Hank Jones, James Williams, and Art Blakey, to name a few.

Mulgrew Miller (on September 21, benefit concert)
Mulgrew Miller (piano) is a magnificent and gifted musician. One of the most sought-after contemporary pianists, he has “awesome technique and inventiveness coupled with an emotional core based in gospel and the blues. His playing is at once timeless and absolutely contemporary." (Downbeat Magazine)

John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble (on September 22)
The John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble is made up of some of the most distinguished musicians based in the Boston-area. This year's 30th anniversary Ensemble will include:
Vocalist: Armsted Christian
Keyboards: George W. Russell, Jr., Rollins Ross & Frank Wilkins
Saxophones and flutes: Carl Atkins, Leonard Brown, Bill Pierce, Stan Strickland & Billy Thompson
Trumpets: Jason Palmer & Michael Peipman
Trombones/tuba: Bill Lowe, Larry McClellan & Gary Valente
Bass: Tim Ingles, John Lockwood & Cecil McBee
Drums & Percussion: Sa Davis, Keith Gibson & Syd Smart


Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet (on September 17)
Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet, established in 1979, currently features Tom Hall (baritone), Cercie Miller (alto), Joel Springer (tenor), and Allan Chase (alto & soprano). They have toured the U.S. and Europe and have made five recordings.

Rakalam Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, George Garzone & Jerry Bergonzi (on September 17)
Four members of the NEC faculty, Jerry Bergonzi (tenor sax), George Garzone (tenor sax), Cecil McBee (bass), and Rakalam Bob Moses (drums) will each bring their personal take on Coltrane's music and legacy.

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (on September 16)
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, led by trumpeter Mark Harvey, opens its 35th season and kicks off the 30th John Coltrane Memorial Concert festival with a multi-dimensional program Coltrane Facets, including the classic 'Trane compositions “Resolution" and “Naima," fresh interpretations of lesser known Coltrane tunes, and original compositions inspired by the master artist, including Harvey's piece “The Seeker" (commissioned by and premiered at the 15th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert and featured on the Aardvark CD of the same name). Joining the band as guest artist will be noted tabla and percussion master Jerry Leake. The concert is sponsored by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Background information on the annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert and its Educational Outreach Program:

John Coltrane Memorial Concert The first John Coltrane Memorial Concert (JCMC) was performed in Boston in July of 1977, in the Friends of Great Black Music Loft, a performance space for creative arts established by master percussionist Syd Smart. The annual concert developed through the collective efforts of Syd Smart, bassist Hayes Burnet, and saxophonist Leonard Brown. From the beginning, JCMC's purpose has been to reflect on the rich musical and spiritual legacy of 'Trane through contemporary interpretations of his works, to inspire us all to work toward developing our full capacities as human beings, and to work for world peace. The JCMC is the world's oldest annual performance tribute to the musical and spiritual legacy of John Coltrane and draws a very diverse audience from throughout New England. Since its inception, over 20,000 people have attended the JCMC.

Established in 1994, the JCMC Educational Outreach Program (JCMCEOP), under the leadership of Dr. Leonard Brown and Dr. Emmett Price of Northeastern University's Departments of African American Studies and Music, has collaborated with Boston and Cambridge inner-city schools. The JCMCEOP has thus far impacted over 10,000 students. Their current collaborations are with the following elementary and secondary schools: Paige Academy (private) in Roxbury; Roland Hayes Division of Music at Madison Park (BPS); Health Careers Academy (BPS charter); Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School; Josiah Quincy Upper School (BPS); Conservatory Lab Charter School (Boston); South End Technology Center@Tent City (Boston); and Balfour Academy (Boston/NU). The goal of the JCMCEOP is to introduce the legacy of African-American creative improvisational music to diverse urban school populations in order to expose young people to the qualities that can help one lead a successful life. These qualities include pursuance, focus, positive self-image, willingness to learn, and commitment to excellence.

The John Coltrane Memorial Concert is proud to acknowledge this year's sponsors which at press time are Center for the Arts at Northeastern University, WGBH 89.7 FM, The Boston Phoenix, stuff@night, and WFNX 101.7 FM.

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