Healdsburg Freedom Jazz Choir

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Healdsburg Freedom Jazz Choir

The Healdsburg Festival Choir is free to the public, celebrating the Black musical art forms Do you like to sing? Do you like history?

Healdsburg Jazz and The Marcus Shelby Orchestra collaborated for the 2013 HJF Freedom Jazz Choir, and again this year, 2014 for our second successful series of concerts. Do you like swing, blues, gospel music, improvisation, hand clapping, foot stomping, freedom songs, and relish the opportunity to perform at this year’s Healdsburg Jazz Festival? Then the HJF Freedom Jazz Choir is for you! The cho

ir is a true community ensemble. Participation is open to all regardless of age, background or musical ability and will bring diverse communities together for a rich musical experience. Led by composer, bassist, educator, and activist Marcus Shelby, the goal of the choir is to create a group, building on the diverse demographics of Sonoma County, to come together in song, using music as a unifying force. The Freedom Jazz Choir will offer direct performance opportunities for participants to work alongside professional musicians, creating a profound cultural experience fostering cooperation and understanding while expanding awareness of and access to jazz and American culture. Joyous Noise Community Baptist Church Ensemble under Adam Ivey’s direction will also participate and contribute music from its gospel repertoire. In 2014, this project will showcase the music from “Harriet Tubman: Bound for the Promised Land," a musical suite for big band and choir The music and lyrics will include Shelby’s arrangements and orchestrations of spirituals and freedom songs, plus music from the Joyous Noise Community Baptist Church Ensemble,. Concerts are in Santa Rosa on Saturday, May 17, Saturday, May 24, and on Thursday, June 5 at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. More information online at http://www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org/wordpress/?p=11180, by email to [email protected] or by calling our office 707 433-4633.

09/26/2024

Hey y’all! If you have a teenager or know any interested in music and the arts, we at Healdsburg Jazz are having our annual Music and Performing Arts Camp for Teens on October 12, 2024 at the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa.

This is a FREE workshop led by some really amazing teaching artists including Victor Temple (dance), Aja Gianola (theater), Ian Shearer (music), Andi Wong (visual and media arts), Enid Pickett (poetry), Stella Heath (vocal), and yours truly Marcus Shelby (music). The workshop will focus on collaboration, performance, creativity, skills, learning new art forms, and a student and faculty performance to end the workshop.

We are honored to work with the Schulz Museum and will include a tour of the exhibitions, which will serve as creative inspiration for the students.

STUDENTS CAN SIGN UP TODAY ON OUR WEBSITE:

www.healdsburgjazz.org

Beginners are welcome. The workshop will run from 10 am-5 pm at the Schulz Museum and is FREE to all students. We only have 40 slots available. Thank you!

03/29/2024

Today Friday March 29, at 3:30 pm in Healdsburg we are honored to present our artist in residence Natalie Cressman at the Healdsburg Library where she will give a special presentation on the great composer and trombonist Melba Liston (3:30 pm-4:30 pm), followed by a workshop on Brazilian music (5 pm-6 pm). This event is free and open to all ages. Natalie is one of our great young musicians, composers, and vocalists on the national stage and we are thrilled to be working with her. She will be one of our featured artists at our upcoming Summer Festival as well. Please visit our website at www.healdsburgjazz.org for more information. Thank you!

03/02/2024

Looking forward to performing with the amazing young saxophonist Ayo Brame tonight at the San Jose Jazz Break Room! My boy Kev Choice on piano. I had the honor of meeting Ayo years ago when he was around 7 and his wonderful father brought him to one of my SFJAZZ Family Matinee concerts, BEFORE he started playing music. He’s 16 now and yes…we’ve been playing A LOT together lately. I love this young cat and know he’s gonna do great things in this music and for our community. He’s surrounded by cats like Howard Wiley and Kev Choice, so you know he gonna be alright!!

02/29/2024

Tomorrow Friday March 1 at 8 pm at the San Jose Jazz Break Room, I’m excited to perform with my Quintet for their new works series! You can go to their website for more information and tickets. Thank you SJZ for this opportunity and honor. I’ll have Phil Vieux on alto and flute, Greg Jacobs on piano and keyboard, Brian Fishler on drums, young prodigy Ayo Brame on tenor sax, and yours truly on bass. We’re playing new music y’all!! https://sanjosejazz.org photos by Bethanie Hines

02/16/2024

Next Saturday, February 24, 2024, 7 pm at the Raven Theater in Healdsburg, we have the maestro himself, John Santos and his Quartet featuring Marco Díaz (piano), Saul Sierra (bass), David Flores (drums), and John Santos (percussion) in collaboration with the prolific painter, poet, and dancer Adrian Arias. The program is titled “The Improvisational Nature of Love”, which will be an audiovisual excursion into the mystery that connects all human beings - Love.

John Santos writes:

“Throughout colonial history, and under the most difficult conditions, love has fueled Black artistic expression, giving birth to foundational rhythms, choreography, song and visual art”.

Artist extraordinaire Adrián Arías, will create a painting live on stage that will pay homage to the legacy of love as resistance in the Americas. Afro-Cuban, Afro-Peruvian, and Afro-Puerto Rican elements will be the vehicle. John is our Healdsburg Jazz 2023 Artist in Residence.

Please go to our website www.healdsburgjazz.org for tickets and more information. Earlier on that Saturday from 11 am-12 pm we will have the great guitarist Terrence Brewer and his quartet performing a free family matinee concert. Thank y’all for your continued support. Peace!

12/02/2023

Tonight in Healdsburg we will be getting the December off to a great start with my man Patrick Wolff and his Quintet featuring legendary reed master Noel Jewkes, performing for our annual Holiday Swing Party and Dance at the 222 (Paul Mahder Art Gallery) at 7:30 pm. Come early for a free swing dance lesson led by the wonderful dancer Jasmine Worrell from 6-7 pm. One of my first gigs when I moved to San Francisco was a Sunday brunch hit with Noel over at Scott’s in Jack London Square. Noel was incredible in every way. Gracious, kind, inspiring, and always swingin. Years later I had the great opportunity to record with Noel on a record date produced by drum master Akira Tana that featured Benny Green, Josh Workman, and the amazing Harold Jones. The band playing with Patrick and Noel tonight features some of my favorite cats including Adam Shulman, Eric Markowitz, and Jimmy Gallagher! Please go to our website at www.healdsburgjazz.org for info about tonight’s concert and dance. Peace!!!

11/08/2023

Looking forward to playing the Black Cat tomorrow with some great cats including my homies back from NYC for the weekend, my long time homie Phil Vieux, and the great young tenor man Ayo Brame! Wednesday November 8; 7 pm and 9:30 pm.

Marcus Shelby Quintet

Phil Vieux: alto sax/flute
Ayo Brame: tenor/soprano sax
Luis Peralta: piano
Ben Espocito: drums
Marcus Shelby: bass

10/11/2023

Tonight at 7:30 pm, Tuesday October 10, we’ll be celebrating the birthday of maestro Thelonious Monk at the SFJAZZ Center featuring legendary pianists Benny Green and Gerald Clayton—2 of my favorite cats in this art form. Please go to the SFJAZZ website for tickets. Here’s our program which will feature original arrangements by the young prodigy Skylar Tang, trumpet master Erik Jekabson, and yours truly.

1. Criss Cross
2. Ugly Beauty
3. Gerald Clayton solo
4. Well You Needn’t
5. Hornin’ in
6. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later)
7. Ruby My Dear
8. Nutty
9. Rhythm-n-ing

Featuring: Benny Green and Gerald Clayton

Phil Vieux (alto sax/flute)
Danny Brown (tenor sax)
Melecio Magdaluyo (baritone sax/flute)
Danny Lublin-Laden (trombone)
Rich Lee (tuba)
Mike Olmos (trumpet)
Darren Johnston (trumpet)
Skylar Tang (trumpet)
Dillon Vado (vibraphone)
Marcus Shelby (bass/conductor)
Sylvia Cuenca (drums)

Thelonious Monk program Slide Show created by Bella Basco

10/02/2023

Attended the People’s Garden yesterday with Bella hosted by San Francisco legend Martin Luther. It was a beautiful event celebrating black excellence, great food, games, and incredible music. Kev Choice Ensemble and the vocal quintet The Best Intentions performed. It was awesome! The People’s Garden will be going on for the next few Sundays 12-3 pm so make sure you get out to 3rd street and experience our culture. Ran into the always stunning Tyra Fennell, our wonderful Commissioner Jeanne McCoy, the young amazing saxophonist Ayo Brame, drummer extraordinaire Dame Drummer, queen Viveca Hawkins, and the super dope bassist Clark Simms. Martin Luther the Real McCoy is playing next weekend. Peace y’all

09/26/2023

Monterey Jazz Festival was amazing this year! It’s pretty much amazing every year, but this year was special. I only caught one day but it was a good day. Samara Joy, Charles Lloyd, Jamie Cullen, Sullivan Fortner, Thundercat with my homie Justin Brown, Billy Childs (super nice to catch him), and my homegirl Tammy Hall featuring Tiffany Austin, Ryan Nicole, Leberta Lorál, and the Texas Southern University Choir. Fun times at the festival with the talented Bella Basco and Shawny Leilani!!

09/24/2023

Had an awesome time with some amazing and magical artists the past 2 days performing for Afro Solo at the Potrero Stage. The one and only Valerie Troutt, poet Joyce Lee, dancer Algerion Bryant, and my main man Howard “Smiley” Wiley! Thank you to Preston Justice for moderating and to the king Thomas Simpson for producing and leading Afro Solo all these wonderful years. Happy to have run into my longtime brotha Alister Monroe. Peace y’all! Photo by Cristina Ibarra

09/21/2023

One of my favorite organizations is Afro Solo based in San Francisco. They have been committed to presenting Black Arts and Black Artists for over 2 decades. I have the great privilege to perform this Friday and Saturday September 22-23, at the Potrero Stage with some incredible artists including my brotha Howard Wiley, my sis Valerie Troutt, and several other outstanding artists. The Potrero Stage is located at 1695 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107. Much love to the executive director of Afro Solo Thomas Simpson (also an amazing writer and artist). Please visit the Afro solo website for more information. This event is FREE FREE FREE. Thank you!

Address

139 Piper St
Healdsburg, CA
95448

Website

https://healdsburgjazz.org/education/freedom-jazz-choir/

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