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MEDIA RELEASE |
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Jazz at The Banff Centre
TODAY'S DATE: November 12, 1999
WHO: Kenny Werner
WHAT: The Banff Arts Festival Jazz events at The Banff Centre for the
Arts
WHEN: May 17 to June 5, 1999
WHERE: Music & Sound at The Banff Centre for the Arts
Banff, Alberta, Canada -- Participants at the 1999 International Jazz Workshop at The Banff Centre flocked around New Jersey based jazz pianist, author and composer Kenny Werner after he completed a morning session on meditation and playing this past May.
"As we head toward the next millennium, it is time for musicians to abandon their limited concepts of what music is and who they are," says Werner. Werner was appointed the new artist-in-residence of the workshop for 1999 and 2000. He brings with him a world of jazz experience, believing in the importance of developing the complete jazz musician and integrating the skills of the contemporary improviser, the composer, the performer and the listener. This approach carries the program forward into the next century and provides a creative, wholistic education for the next generation of jazz musicians.
Taking concepts from Yoga, Tai Chi and other ancient disciplines, Werner helped the participants of the 1999 program get in touch with their bodies so as to allow for the most economical use of muscles, as well as clearing the mind for maximum effectiveness when they are playing.
Although his teaching schedule during this summer's workshop was jam packed from morning until evening, Werner enjoyed himself in what he says felt more like an artist colony than a teaching situation. Leading by example is what he said he and the other visiting guest artists were doing while in Banff, which means they played with the participants as much as possible.
"This was the highest quality of participants we've ever had in the program" he said. "Many are professionals already, and came to the program to have the opportunity to be around, and play with, the various personalities we assembled as our visiting guest artists this year."
The list of guest artists for the 1999 program reads like the who's who of jazz. As Werner pointed out, a variety of styles and qualities were contributed to the program by each of these guest artists: David Schroeder (saxophone), Dave Holland (bass), Mike Lent (double bass), Owen Howard (drums), Hugh Fraser (piano, trombone), Joe Lovano (saxophone), Dave Douglas (trumpet), Judi Silvano (vocal) and Ted Quinlan (guitar).
Other guest artists in this year's jazz program included some of the next generation of up and coming players such as Dave Pieto (saxophone), Dave Ballou (trumpet), Tony Malaby (saxophone) Christophe Schweizer (trombone), Ari Hoenig (drums), Johannes Wiedenmueller (bass) and Gordon Vernick (trumpet, composer) who were lured to the mountains by Werner.
"We had the top rung of players here with talents like Dave Holland and Joe Lovano," said Werner. "Then there is Dave Douglas who is the vanguard of the new music world, and Tony Malaby and Dave Ballou are of the next wave of inspired performers and are already recognized as such in places like New York," Werner continued.
Guest artist Christophe Schweizer found himself inspired by the program and noted that it is later in the professional life of a musician when they are most wistful about having time to learn - an opportunity that The Banff Centre for the Arts provides professional artists without the distractions of their daily lives.
Toronto bass player Rob Clutton, participant in the 1999 program, agreed that the balanced environment in this year's jazz program allowed for optimal learning.
"Morning meditation sessions helped you deal with stress and get in touch with your body. Afternoon sessions then challenged you with lots of information and interaction with the visiting guest artists," says Clutton.
Program coordinator Craig Day notes that the emphasis this year was switched from a strict class room environment to more active involvement between faculty and participants. This daily interaction with the guest artists made the workshop popular and successful.
Over 70 talented musicians from Canada, the United States, Germany and the Netherlands attended this year's workshop which translated into new explorations in jazz during the three week workshop.
Also on the jazz scene at The Banff Centre is the Vocal Jazz Workshop now entering it's four year of programming. For the week-long 1999 session this past May, over 30 talented jazz vocalists from across Canada and the United States came to the Centre to work with the internationally renowned jazz vocalists Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan.
Backed up by an outstanding rhythm section of Randy Halberstadt (piano), Miles Black (piano), Owen Howard (drums) and Michael Lent (bass), experienced and aspiring vocalists explored the singing of jazz standards, vocal improvisation, jazz vocal performance techniques and career development.
For the past 26 years, The Banff Centre has set a standard for jazz excellence through its annual International Jazz Workshop. The history of the program has represented the very best that the world of jazz education has to offer. Through the years the program has involved such artists as clarinetist/composer Phil Nimmons, bassist Dave Holland and jazz virtuoso Hugh Fraser. Contributions by these artists and others over the years have developed the Jazz Workshop into an internationally acclaimed program, which was celebrated last summer with the 25th anniversary of Jazz at Banff.
For more information
contact:
Lisa Ramsey, Music & Sound, Communications Coordinator
phone: 403.762.6237, fax: 403.762.6338
e-mail: Lisa_Ramsey@banffcentre.ab.ca