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| a nonprofit presenter of
jazz artistic and education programs |
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| Artistic Director
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Artistic Director's Statement 2007
The SFJAZZ Collective is a rare undertaking in jazz circles in this day and age. For one thing, there is the personnel, with every member of this eight-person group being not only an accomplished and established jazz instrumentalist, but also a band leader and composer in his or her own right. Then, there is the musical focus, with all of our repertoire devoted to a conception of jazz as a living, contemporary, forward-moving art—including new pieces by the Collective members themselves and new arrangements of works by modern jazz masters. But perhaps the most distinguishing aspect of this ensemble, at least from a professional musician’s point of view, is the opportunity each season, thanks to non-profit institutional support, to rehearse for an extended period of time, away from the pressures of touring and recording. During our residency in San Francisco each spring, we enjoy the chance to experiment with and fine-tune our own new materials and to devote a good amount of time to learning the new arrangements of modern classic compositions. For me personally, it is also a rare treat just to spend focused time in one place in the company of so many exceptional musicians, getting to know them as people as well as artists. Our line-up for 2007, the fourth annual season of the SFJAZZ Collective, features most of the extraordinary musicians from last year’s edition of the group: legendary vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón, trombonist Andre Hayward, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland. The addition of trumpeter Dave Douglas, “Trumpeter of the Year” in DownBeat’s 2006 Critics Poll, completes a lineup that will tackle the music of a true jazz icon.
Thelonious Monk’s importance as a jazz innovator—as both pianist and composer—cannot be overstated. Though he is the earliest of the jazz masters we’ve explored, stretching back to the bop era, Monk’s music seems somehow above rigid definition or classification. Like the man who created it, Monk’s music is sui generis. There is such an innate sense of modernism in Monk’s works, something invariably fresh and compelling—melodies that are deceptively simple on first hearing, framed by harmonies that are so rich and complex, and driven by rhythms that are so compelling and infectious. To rehearse and premiere our own originals in the context of Monk’s music is sure to inspire exciting new directions in the Collective’s sound. |
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