Support for FHMS Jazz Band
Jazz in the Hills supports jazz educational in local schools. This year we were able to make several donations to the Fountain Hills Middle School and will host a fundraiser concert in April. We hope to expand our reach to other schools in the area.
Evan Dixon, FHMS Band Director, accepts a donation from Richard Tews of Jazz in the Hills during the winter concert.
According to Mr Dixon, “FHMS Jazz Band club” rehearses twice a week at 7:00am. Jazz education while learning the instrument is extremely important. The kids get a better grasp on the concepts and learn to listen. At this age it is remarkable how quickly they learn. I teach the foundations and theory of jazz and improvisation through the Jazz Band.”
“We are excited to support the efforts of Mr Dixon in developing these young musicians. We understand that it takes money to pay for the proper equipment and the music. As public funding for arts programs vanishes, someone must fill the void. Our goal at Jazz in the Hills is to raise enough money to keep live jazz possible at all levels. Without that support the art simply withers and dies. We thank our members and donors for making this support possible.” said Richard Tews.
Student Ambassador for Jazz, Brittany, improvises a trumpet solo.
BJQ – Boatman Jazz Quartet
Join us for a special evening of music featuring some of the greatest jazz players in the Phoenix area.
Armand Boatman on piano and Dwight Kilian on bass welcoming Jazz in the Hills favorites, guitarist Jeff Libman and drummer Ryan Anthony. This dynamic quartet performs tunes from “The Great American Song Book” with a distinctive jazz flair.
Sherry Roberson
If you can imagine silk nestled amidst the desert cacti of Arizona, you will visualize Sherry. This sensational Jazz/Blues vocalist enriches the stark landscape of Arizona with the palette of musical, emotional, and tonal colors, creating a truly painted desert. When Sherry begins to sing, she takes control of the song and of your feelings, pouring her soul into the music.
Sherry’s music career has spanned over three decades. She entered our homes at the age of 13, with her first television appearance when she became the featured vocalist on a weekly television program. Since those early years, Ms. Roberson has entertained in a variety of venues. Sherry has expressed as one of her greatest moments her performance on the S.S. Norway, one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Just returning from Bangkok,Thailand in hand with a dynamite long awaited CD. This CD delivers to her fans smooth, sassy, and innovative styling to her new tunes- entitled ” My Shining Hour”
The Armand Boatman Trio features Tom Williams on bass, and Dan Tomlinson at the drums
Click to make your reservations!
Cleo Corcoran
Bossa Brazil is:
Cleo Corcoran vocals
Jose DePontes percussion
Simon Ames vocals and acoustic guitar
Frank Smith flute/sax
Singer Cleo Corcoran, originally from Rio de Janeiro, has a great love of bossa nova and the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Her influences include Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina, and Gal Costa. Cleo is backed by some of Phoenix’s finest bossa nova musicians with a repertoire that includes all the classic as well as some more obscure musical gems.
Bossa Brazil appears in the intimate setting of the wine bar at Alchemy. Click to make your reservations now!
Brett Reed / Cal Tjader Project with Joe Garcia
Latin Jazz at its finest! The Brett Reed/Cal Tjader Project with Joe Garcia
Have you ever wondered how the word “salsa” became used to describe Latin dance music?
In the summer of 1925 a touring vaudeville act stopped in St. Louis. On that stop a Swedish American husband-wife piano and tap dance act in the troupe, brought a child into the world. Naturally, this Swedish American born in the heartland of America would be credited for bringing “Vibes” to Latin jazz. His biggest hit was the album Soul Sauce (1964). The identifiable sound in the tune is a combination of call-outs “Salsa ahi na ma …sabor, sabor!” and crisp vibes work. The album sold over 100,000 copies and popularized the word “salsa” in describing Latin dance music.
He, of course, is Cal Tjader. As Paul Harvey would say, “and now you know the rest of the story” or more likely, “go figure.”
“A Tribute to Cal Tjader” the great Latin jazz pioneer vibraphonist – is the agenda for this week’s Jazz in the Hills concert. The mission of Jazz in the Hills is to preserve and sustain the art form of Jazz, accomplished through live performances. This exceptional show features vibraphonist Brett Reed with conguero/hand percussionist Joe Garcia and the rest of the quintet including Scott Zimmer -sax, John Lewis -drums, and Ted Sistrunk – bass.
Joe Corral with Armand Boatman Trio
Remember the music introduced in the 1960’s? It was an age of creativity. Even my kids love much of the timeless music of that era. The ‘Bossa Nova’ or ‘new thing’ craze in the ‘60’s spread quickly from Brazil introducing composers like Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Joao Gilberto. Bossa music is a blend of the samba with jazz. Its soft rhythm with rich and subtle harmonies makes it a favorite with jazz fans and musicians alike. The relaxed, subdued flow of Bossa makes it a perfect vehicle for the Flute.
When in the valley, there is no better performer on Flute than Joe Corral. Joe has been demonstrating his virtuosity on Flute since he joined the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra in 1967. His unusual gift is that he is equally talented in classical and jazz genres. Joe Corral is the featured guest artist for this week’s (October 26, 2012) Jazz in the Hills concert. He’ll undoubtedly play some Bossa for us and then dazzle us with BeBop licks, some Blues, Jazz standards and certainly some inspired ballads.
This is a special opportunity for the band kids in town to hear an amazing live flute performance. Joe Corral will perform with The Armand Boatman Trio.
Tony Vacca with Armand Boatman Trio
The Armand Boatman Trio with special guest, Tony Vacca on tenor saxophone and flute.
Over the course of his prestigious career, Tony has performed and recorded with such jazz legends as Lionel Hampton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Richie Cole, Conti Condoli, Irvin Mayfield, John Faddis, The Four Tops, Sam Moore, The Temptations, The Swingtips, Tony Bennett, Frank Foster, Marvin Stamn, and Doc Severinson to name just a few. Mr. Vacca holds a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University and is a voting member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was a featured soloist with both the Bob Stone and Rob Parton Big Bands and can be heard on Parton’s first release, Rob Parton’s Jazz Tech Big Band, on the Sea Breeze label.
Tony’s first book, Improv Made Easy, is published by Houston Publishing and distributed by Hal Leonard Publishing and is currently available in music stores worldwide. A busy clinician and educator, he has been a faculty member of the Jamey Aebersold summer jazz clinics, as well as the Sedona Jazz On The Rocks Youth Program and the Chandler Jazz Youth Program.
As an established artist, Tony’s latest CD release, Three Point Landing, co-produced by Grammy nominated, Irvin Mayfield, is receiving rave reviews around the globe as “thoughtful, demure, straightahead post-bop.” Released on Half Note Records, the official label for the world famous Blue Note Jazz Clubs, Three Point Landing is now available in stores everywhere.
Vicki McDermitt w/ Armand Boatman Trio
Vicki McDermitt has toured the United States as well as eight European countries, and been the opening act for entertainers such as Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams and Buddy Rich.
McDermitt worked in Los Angeles for many years for Corde productions on their show, Days Of Our Lives. She provided vocals for television specials, backing entertainers such as guitar giant Roy Clark and many others. In addition she worked as an independent sessions singer for most of the major recording companies. She has been featured in Los Angeles finest showrooms.
Coming in January: Armand Boatman with special guest vocalist, Vicki McDermitt: Dwight Killian on bass
