Fresh from the 40th Annual San Francisco Jazz Festival, organist, vocalist, producer Sundra Manning recently accompanied the Jazz Education Ensemble at an outdoor performance in conjunction with the Belvedere Tiburon Library Foundation. SF Opera “Omar” cast member, Joanna Lynn-Jacobs debuted with the group, and she and Michael Brown were featured vocalists in this treat of “A Brief History of Jazz” by way of “jazz in nineteen songs.”
Zelinsky Park was abuzz with activity on a very cold, foggy Tiburon morning during 10am set-up, but by the start of the presentation at 2:00pm, some cloud cover had burned off and a blue sky and warm sun attempted to smile down through parts of the three-hour performance. The sun’s persistent attempts to shine fittingly mirrored, in this reporter’s opinion, the entirety of the Jazz movement: accomplished African American musicians and singers longing to share their musical gifts and constantly struggling to find venues and audiences that would welcome them with proper dignity and appreciation of their talent and unique artistic offerings. At this recent event, several hundred appreciative- and lucky- audience members were treated to some fine Jazz vocal and musical stylings, pointers and anecdotes from Jazz Education Ensemble Director Robert (Bob) Jacobs, AND a scoop of some of the most delicious chocolate chip mint gelato, ever, courtesy of Tiburon’s local Cafe Accri.
Sundra Manning was mentored by Carl Wheeler and Andre Crouche organist Chuck Webb, and she’s described as having “cut her (musical) teeth performing in church.” Since then, she has been a well-known Bay Area performer and, over the course of her career, has enjoyed creating a star-studded musical CV while also playing a role in nurturing the careers of many, including of rising and now Super-Star vocalist Ledisi. She has toured with Gospel legend James Cleveland (at age 17!), gone on global tour with MC Hammer, and won a GRAMMY with Lalah Hathaway. None of these is a small thing… and she is a champion for the Jazz Education Ensemble, a blessing to so many.
Joanna Lynn-Jacobs, being introduced at this event, has many facets to her musical talents, too, and she is described on her web site as “a diverse vocal artist and performer with training in opera and classical repertoire, as well as experience in pop, musical theater, and jazz” who “continues to foster a lifelong love of movement, reflected in years of swing, salsa, tango, and improvisational dancing.”
The Jazz Education Ensemble consists of Director, flute and saxophone player Robert Jacobs and (in alphabetical order) Michael Brown (vocals), Nikolai Bryant (alto sax, piano), Lucy Cavagnolo (piano, flute), Madison Hung Haas (bass), Liam Jacobs (trombone), John Kainlauri (trumpet), Dahlia Leffert Koltz (trombone), Jack Psomas (alto sax, piano), Zoe Psomas (MC), Michael Rogers (drums), and Danielle Sutro (vocals).
Performances on trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass, and drums beautifully brought to life, as described in pre-event materials, seven movements across Jazz via nineteen songs: “the soulful beginnings of blues and ragtime; the infectious swing of the Jazz Age; Bebop’s revolutionary complexity; Cool Jazz’s smooth sophistication; the bold experiments of Free Jazz; Fusion’s electrifying Jazz-Rock blend; and Contemporary Jazz’s global influences.
Jazz Education Ensemble Director Robert Jacobs shared anecdotes from his own life as a touring musician while also masterfully guiding the audience through the visit with jazz over the decades, and vocalists Joanna Lynn-Jacobs (thrilling the audience with 1945 “Autumn Leaves”) and Michael Brown (jazzing things up with Duke Ellington’s “C Jam Blues” (1942) – complete with scatting) were spotlighted. Trumpet player John Kainlauri was coaxed into singing lead spots (much enjoyed by the audience), in addition to performing trumpet solos, in the sweet 1943 jazz standard “Let’s Get Lost” featured in the 1943 film “Happy Go Lucky.” Audience “faves” also included American Bebopper and major hard Bop Jazz player Benny Golson’s 1960 “Killer Joe” (made famous by Quincy Jones) and Freddie Hubbard’s 1966 “Little Sunflower” featuring Bob Jacob’s gorgeous flute playing.
As if hearing outstanding music by dedicated professionals nurturing newcomers in a delightful outdoor venue was not enough, the library staff provided each audience member with not only Program Notes containing a “play list” and jazz period timelines (complete with images and back story on many of the numbers), but also with an extensive glossary of jazz words and phrases. Talk about rounding out the day with Community, Entertainment, Fun AND Education…
For more information about the Jazz Education Ensemble, please visit their web site here: jazzeducationensemble.org.
MORE FROM PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS:
More about Sundra Manning: This Oakland-born pianist, Hammond B3 organ specilaist, composr and producer, has been a major force in Bay Area music for over three decades – winning a GRAMMY with R&B diva Lalah Hathaway. A graduate of San Francisco State University, she has tourd around the world sharing her gift of music; and she has receivd additional Grammy nominations and Gospel Academy Awards for her work. Sundra has performed with and produced recordings for some of the world’s legendary musical greats including Princ, Cindy Lauper, The Monkees, Larry Graham, Jennifr Holiday, Raphael Saadiq, Rachelle Ferrell, Ledisi, The Roots, MC Hammer, En Vogue, Gill Scott Herron, India Are, Maco Parker, Michelle Shocked, The Braxton Brothers, Sheila E, Joan Osborne, Walter Hawkins Choir, 5 Blind Boys of Alabama, James Cleveland, Peabo Bryson, Will Downing, Lelah Hathaway, Shelby J., Michael Franti, MeShell Ndgeocello, Brenda Vaughn, Martin Luther and Pete Escovedo. She has also produced or performed for HBO films, Sony Pictures, Bose Corp, Pottery Barn, Lane Bryant, Williams Sonoma, Kohls, Sharper Image, Pottery Barn Kids, Oracle Corp., KPIX-CBS 5, Warner Pictures, KTVU-Fox 2, and the Young and the Restless (CBS Soap Opera), PBS and many more.
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