‘SFJAZZ News — Wemen Jazz Arist Blossom in Briliak Concerts SFJAZZ is a non-profit organization that presents year round jazz concerts, festivals and educational programs at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, CA. sfjazz.or SFJAZZ is a non-profit organization that presents y CA. sfjazz.org ask me anything ar round jazz concerts, festivals and educational programs at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, iant Concerts 1963 Jlossom in Brilliant Concerts By Ken Vermes | Featured, National Scene | 26 March 2016 There is no question that there are great women players in jazz. And a recent series of shows in the Bay Area not only emphasized this fact, but left many yearning for more. Despite some progress in the scope of prominent women players active in the music, there still remains the situation of deep gaps in n and festival activity. That said, the following artists not only recently produced their numbers across the board in management, production, educat and participated in outstanding shows, but may hold the key to the future of women in the mus The also presented some of the greatest performances we have seen this year, including several from the SFJAZZ series honoring Women’s History Month. Melissa Aldana’s Crash Th (March 10, SFJAZZ) Melissa Aldana, 27, originally from Santiago, Chile, is a tenor saxophone player with a pedigree and a sterling resume. She won the Thelonious Monk Saxophone Competition in 2013 and completed a course of study at the Berkelce College of Music. She has a new CD, Back Home, on the Wommusic label. She performed at SFJAZZ on March 10, accompanied by Allan Mednard on drums and fellow Chilean Pablo Menares on bass (Jochem Rueckert plays drums on the new CD). The music is classic sax trio, a format that was made famous so many years ago by a couple of recordings by Sonny Rollins. ‘And Aldana certainly draws on that inspiration, but avoids copying or even referring to that angular style directly. Instead, she plays a fluid, churning and powerful rendition of originals and standards, such as Kurt Weill’s “My Ship” and the original “Eminem.” This is the kind of group that sets the standard for you jazz artists. There is a element of artistry that she already demonstrates that is very impressive and beguiling, She is in no rush to overwhelm audiences with flurries of notes, fireworks, or explosions of sound. There is a flute-like method and clarity to her playing. Natalie Cressman, Tribute to Melba Liston (March 3, SFJAZZ Joe Henderson Lab) In regards to Sandy Cressman, she is not only a titan of Latin music, but produced a wonderfully musical daughter, Natalie, who performed at the SFJAZZ Joe Henderson lab on March 3. Billed as a tribute to Melba Liston, trombonist Natalie's band included trumpeter Erik Jekabson, pianist Colin Hogan, bassist Tommy Folen, and drummer Eric Garland. This, like the Guinga tribute, was an overflowing presentation of the art and style of a great musician, Melba Liston. The band performed “Mischevious Lady,” “Melba’s Mood,” “Just Waiting,” “You Don’t Say,” “African Lady,” (from the Uhuru Africa album by Randy Weston), and the “Voleano Blues.” It was obvious from the first notes of this show that Natalie was thrilled to be featuring this music by one of the few women trombonists in jazz. In an interview by writer Andrew Gilbert, Cressman stated that, “Reading about Melba was like discovering a long lost sister. I loved her no-nonsense attitude. She walked into a room and blew them away with her writing and playing.” Natalie gave plenty of room for Jekabson to play on the tunes. And the whole band, which probably had only limited rehearsal time, sparkled with a swinging restraint of great maturity and styl That’s What She Said: Songs By and About Women (March 23, SFJAZZ Joe Henderson Lab) Lastly on March 23, again at the Joe Henderson Lab at SFJAZZ, we saw the last of four classes titled, “That’s What She Said: Songs By and About Women.” The class was hosted and produced by SFJAZZ Education Director Rebeca Mauleon. Geri Allen sat at the piano with an all-woman rhythm hip iisfazz tumble con/post'4184346 254)women-|azz-ariss-blossom-in-brilart-concets 1720% ‘SFJAZZ News — Women Jazz Artists Blossom in Brillant Concerts section including Ruth Davis on bass and Ruthie Price on drums. Allen performed a song for Alice Coltrane, a piece titled “When Music Is in the Air,” and “One-Handed Reach.” In between her compositions was a very interesting slide/video show that featured known and some little known women jazz performers. A number of the clips were truly incredible examples of artistry and performance. There was a brief question and answer period, and a moment to say hello to Geri. This was a perfect way to end our March “Women in Jazz Festival” of shows. The question becomes, what’s next? How can the existing and the new generation of women players expand their numbers and their engagement at all levels of the music and business of jazz? Only time will tell if this beginning of a new century is a beginning or more of the status quo. larch 28, 2016 (11:55 am) © 2013-2016 SFJAZZ News bp sfazz tumble con/post'4184346 254iwomor-azz-arsts-blossom-in-brillant-concerts