MONDAY, OCT 26th@ Jimmy Maks
(221 NW 10th Ave. www.jimmymaks.com)
7pm, 21+ after 9:30pm, $25.00 Cover

ALL PROCEEDS INCLUDING ANY TICKET FEES WILL GO TO THE CUMPSTON FAMILY FUND

Over 40 local musicians join to celebrate the life of teacher/musician Jeff Cumpston and to raise college funds for his children Mary and Bryce.

On Aug 9th, 2009, Portland lost a hero to many.  Jeff Cumpston, the former band director at West Linn High School, died the day before his 53rd birthday, when a motorcycle collided with him as he rode his bicycle near his home in Harare, Zimbabwe. Cumpston moved to Africa, along with his wife, Theresa, and children, Mary, 12, and Bryce, 9, last summer.  During Jeff’s 20+ years as a top drummer and 13 years as band director at West Linn High School, he affected thousands of people with his positive and hard working attitude.

Oct 26th is a chance for the music community to thank him for his influence in Portland. The concert will feature four groups.  The Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra will begin the evening with featured WLHS alumni performing newly composed pieces dedicated to Cumpston by Charlie Gray and Dave Mills.  Dan Balmer, Tom Wakeling, Dave Leslie and Tim Rap will follow with set two.  Jeff played with these musicians in his formative years.

The Medler Septet takes set three.  Last Summer, Jeff recorded an a Latin-Jazz Infusion CD with the Medlers called “Of this time”.   Alan Jones, Tim Rap and Charlie Doggett will be on drums as well as musicians Dennis Caiazza, Farnell Newton, Brian Ward, Michelle Medler, Caton Lyles Ben Medler, Al Criado, Scott Hall, Bryant Allard, Warren Rand and Greg Garrett.   To finish the evening will be an impromptu Jam set with Warren Rand, Paul Mazzio, Steve Christopherson, Greg Van Winkle, Ronnie Lagrone, John Nastos, Gordon Lee, and others.

For more information about the Cumpston Benefit or to schedule an interview, please contact Ben Medler at 503-452-8685 or ben@medlerstudios.com.

Found at: http://www.melbrownjazzcamp.com/media_video/index.php

(Make sure to click on “Interview with Mel Brown” above to see a second Art Beat video focusing just on Mel Brown and his career)

The Mel Brown Summer Jazz Workshop takes place this year from August 2-8 at Western Oregon University.  The faculty is made of up some of Portland’s most in-demand jazz musicians including:

• Mel Brown, drums -- artistic director
• Gordon Lee, piano -- camp director
• Tim Gilson, bass
• Derek Sims, trumpet
• Warren Rand, alto saxophone
• Renato Caranto, tenor saxophone
• Robert Crowell, baritone saxophone
• Stan Bock, trombone
• Keller Coker, trombone
• Clay Giberson, piano
• Jof Lee, piano
• Christopher Woitach, guitar
• Michael Pardew, guitar
• Carlton Jackson, drums

Students of all ages (ages have ranged from 12 to 75 in the past) get the chance to spend an intensive week learning about their instrument, the jazz language, teamwork, and music in general.

More information including registration information can be found at the Mel Brown Jazz Workshop website.

Editorial:

Starting when I was in middle school, I attended the workshop for about eight years as either a student or a counselor.  When I started going, I was just beginning to play saxophone and knew barely anything about jazz.

One of my first memories of the camp is being led by one of the counselors to the saxophone auditions, which were being held in Rice Auditorium.  As we walked up to the auditorium, I heard (for the first time) Renato Caranto practicing.  Around that time in Portland, it was difficult and sometimes outright impossible for minors to hear jazz around town due to restrictions put in place by the OLCC.  I had managed to catch a few shows at the central library, the park blocks, and other free community concerts, but none of these had featured Renato.  I was totally blown away.  That year, I was placed in the small ensemble coached by Renato and got to hear him every day -- probably the most valuable thing a young saxophone player could have.

Each year, I kept coming back to the camp, never loosing that feeling of awe.  I can honestly say that I learned more at that workshop than I’ve learned from any other musical experience.  Not only was the time at the workshop always amazing, but it directed many of my life choices since then.  It was at the workshop that I met Robert Crowell, who was the driving force in my decision to attend his alma mater, the Manhattan School of Music.  Also, I met all of the players from the Mel Brown Septet at the workshop -- an ensemble that I’ve since subbed in probably close to 100 times now.  I can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing that going to the camp had a pretty profound effect on my choice to pursue music as a career as well.

I can’t recommend highly enough that anyone interested in learning more about jazz (regardless of age) should attend this workshop.

- John Nastos
Update:  This video was shot at the first year of the Mel Brown Jazz Workshop’s residency at Western Oregon University in 2000.  Check out Esperanza Spalding playing bass in the big bands as a teenager.

A new YouTube video featuring the Mel Brown Septet (Videographer, Kristina Quevedo).  Featuring:

• Mel Brown, drums
• Gordon Lee, piano
• Andre St. James, bass
• Stan Bock, trombone
• Warren Rand, saxophone
• Derek Sims, trumpet
• Farnell Newton, trumpet (guest -- sitting in)
• Renato Caranto, saxophone

Although they’ve given it a horrible title (you’ll have to click through to see), KGW has posted a video they shot at The Cave for the return of the Alan Jones Sextet.  The band (featuring Warren Rand on alto saxophone, John Gross on tenor saxophone, Randy Porter on piano, Paul Mazzio on trumpet, Tom Wakeling on bass, and of course Alan Jones on drums) played at The Cave for their return after a hiatus of a few years.  If you don’t own them already, do yourself a favor and go buy their albums: Unsafe, and the Leroy Vinnegar Suite

This week, The Cave presents:

• Tuesday, 2/17 – The Cave/PSU jam session
• Wednesday, 2/18 – Nancy King with Steve Christofferson
• Thursday, 2/19 – Nancy Curtin with Steve Christofferson
• Friday, 2/20 – From San Francisco: Wally Schnalle Band: Wally Schnalle drums composer, Jeff Massanari guitar, Charles McNeal saxophone, Jason Muscat bass, Murray Low, keyboards
• Saturday, 21 -The Alan Jones Sextet – Warren Rand (alto saxophone), John Gross (tenor saxophone), Randy Porter (piano), Tom Wakeling (bass), Paul Mazzio (trumpet), and Alan Jones (drums)

The Cave is located at 636 SW Jackson.  See their website for more details

Stop by Jimmy Mak’s on Tuesday to celebrate the inauguration of our new president by listening to one of America’s finest art forms: jazz music.

The Septet will feature Gordon Lee on piano, Andre St. James on bass, Derek Sims on trumpet, Warren Rand on alto sax, John Nastos on tenor sax, Stan Bock on trombone, and of course Mel Brown on drums.

As usual, the music starts at 8 PM for a $6 cover charge.

Check out this clip of the Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big Band that Oregon Art Beat ran back when Tom D’Antoni was their music critic.  Check the tags on the right for a list of musicians appearing in the clip.

Today JazzPDX brings you another video from Carlton Jackson’s collection on YouTube.  This particular video is of a group called LeBon that Carlton describes as:

a rollicking, wonderful noise was LeBon,

during their 10 year run in Portland, OR music circles.

Formed by music critic Rick Mitchell, this band set a standard for the alternative music crowd that went to see the band play.

The video features a few players you still see around Portland today including Carlton, Denny Bixby, Warren Rand, and Terry Robb.

Personally, I highly recommend Rand’s solo which starts at about 4:30.