John Jensen Music - John Jensen - News

May 2011...

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700

May 12 2011

Lots to cover here....5AM, the roof is the domain of a lone morning dove pulling sentry duty. I detect the musk of fox and see clumps of feathers indicating something sinister occurred before sunrise. We miss a lot.

Next week the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra flies to Russia. We're covering a lot of ground...concerts and workshops. I'm looking forward to meeting and hearing Russian musicians. Think on this: Duke Ellington's music in a land that was once under Stalin.

We've a fine band with great charts to draw on. Singer Delores King Williams will be featured....two trombones, two trumpets, three reeds and rhythm section....and two dancers! Photos to be posted.

Mentors....

I'm still in debt to all the great musicians who continue to inspire and teach. Not a day goes by that I don't listen to Urbie Green and JJ Johnson, Clark Terry and Duke Ellington. Thanks.

The Latest Recording

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

So what's new?

Today marks the release of "Conversations" the new recording I did with good friend Robert Redd. Tune list is: Indian Summer * I Hadn't Anyone 'Til You * Don' t Get Around Much Anymore *
Cheek to Cheek * Star Dust * Sweet Lorraine * Sweet and Lovely *
Tea for Two * What am I Here For? * If I Had You
I Won't Dance * Things Ain't What They Used to Be

You can buy it here! Details to follow...watch this space.

flying into January

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Yes....January 2011 is already a quarter gone... the last three months have been a whirlwind. Most of this trombone player's time was spent in a school house. An incomplete school house. OK....a school house that was built at Arena Stage as part of the set for the show "Oklahoma". A hit performance of this classic musical presented by Molly Smith at the newly renovated Arena Stage in Washington DC. The show received terrific reviews and I gotta tell you....everybody involved with this production was world-class. Actors, wardrobe folks, all the fantastic stage crew, the orchestra, the volunteer ushers.. Arena Stage has some magic. It was a pleasure to work with a fine orchestra that made the music better and the experience deeper with every show. I will post some photos and links.

The show closed Dec 30th...New Year's Eve I led a band with Chris Kosky, Jim Moulder, Ed Crow and Ericka Ovette to an enthusiastic crowd of listeners and dancers...and one large mouse. Jan 1st was a Tommy Dorsey tribute concert with the trio at Greenspring....a terrific theatre space. We look forward to playing there again.

After that concert we enjoyed a three hour dinner to greet the New Year....great food, wine and conversation.

Later this month I look forward to a tour in Kansas and Iowa with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. We'll be performing and teaching. The music: the small group sounds of Johnny Hodges. Great sounds. Later this year I will be traveling to Russia with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

Tonight off to a job with saxophonist, writer, arranger and educator Leigh Pilzer. Will be a swinging band....Tommy Williams drums, Geoff Harper bass and Harry Appelman piano.

Next week...January 15th in Charlottesville there will be a celebration in honor of jazz pianist Hod O'Brien. Watch here for details. Not to be missed event!

End of this month release of a duo CD with pianist Robert Redd.

Later this year release of a CD from a long collaboration with Steve Treager. Details on both recordings to follow also!

coming: dates, pictures, retrospective on 2010 and things to look forward to in 2011. Huge thanks to Urbie Green. More later.....

Play on....

Iridium in NYC

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Chaise Lounge is gonna be in New York next week....The Iridium is a cool club. Really fine menu, great staff and a terrific place to hear music. Expect great music and high energy. See you next week in NYC!

Blues Alley followed by Tommy Dorsey

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Well, it happened again... fans came out in droves on a hot sticky night to groove to Chaise Lounge at Blues Alley. Lots of fun....band had a great time! Listeners had a great time! Bartender and waitstaff worked really hard and had a great time....and I hope they were tipped generously! CLounge will be at Iridium July 6th.

Next Wednesday at Oxon Hill Manor John will be performing in concert. Along with Robert Redd and James King he will present music associated with the legendary Tommy Dorsey. Expect to enjoy both fresh and traditional interpretations of great sounds from the Great American Songbook.

More to come....Thanks everyone!

Jack Teagarden Tribute concert

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

John and his Classic Tribute Jazz Band recently performed for the Potomac River Jazz Club. The focus was the music of immortal jazz trombonist Jack Teagarden. The band's performance was swinging and happy, Here's what some of the listeners had to say:

"According to all reports, the PRJC was greatly impressed by your Teagarden tribute concert yesterday at the Knights of Columbus. The trad music was very appropriate for our organization for both listening and dancing! The musical acumen of you and all your fellow musicians was superb! I especially liked Teagarden's favorites, I Got a Right to Sing the Blues and and your arrangement of Sentimental Over You. What an enjoyable afternoon of wonderful music! We hope to have you back again some day soon."

the latest from Chaise Lounge

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Check out the Chaise Lounge podcast on itunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cd-baby-top-sellers-podcast/id317220812

Lots going on with the band! We'll be at DC's Blues Alley June 16 and at the Iridium right off Times Square July 6.

Additionally, we are:

Completing our 3rd album (title and release date TBA)

Completing a LIVE CD of our concert with The Capital City Orchestra

Listen for our song “I Don't Want to” in the promotional spots for a new PBS show called My Generation. Looks like we we also be making our debut at the The Barns at Wolftrap in the fall so stay tuned for more!

More on Urbie

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

We enjoyed our visit with Urbie. He provided a window on American history and particularly jazz that is insightful and fascinating. Urbie contributed to the performances of hundreds of jazz artists including Benny Goodman, Bobby Hackett and Billy Holiday. He ran the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and succesfully led his own bands covering wide genres of music. He embraced contemporary jazz rock sounds with tunes like Aretha Franklin's "Spirit in the Dark" and Bobbie Gentry's "Ballad of Billie Joe" and experimented succesfully with electronic effects on the trombone.
He maintained a full recording calendar; highly sought out as a soloist and lead trombonist. Throughout his career Urbie maintained his musical integrity and the highest standards of trombone mastery. The oral history interview with Urbie will soon be posted at the this link:
http://smithsonianjazz.org/oral_histories/joh_start.asp
along with interviews already there with the likes of Benny Golson, David Baker, JJ Johnson, Quincy Jones and many others.
Thanks to Urbie and his wife Kathy, son Jesse (magnificent jazz pianist) and family for their gracious hospitality and friendship.

Urbie Green

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Uribe Green...I grew up listening to Jack Teagarden on a couple records my folks had and also Tommy Dorsey. When I was 18 or 19 yrs old I had the opportunity to hear and see Urbie Green. An electrifying experience. The sound, the energy and the pure music that came from his horn was life changing. Over the years whenever I've had the chance to hear him I've been inspired by his performance.
Next week Ken Kimery, executive producer and drummer with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and I will be sitting with Urbie and conducting an oral history of his fascinating life in music.
From Gene Krupa to Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Billy Holiday and Count Basie...Urbie has played with them. We're looking forward to visiting with this true gentleman and undisputed master of the trombone.
Check out UrbieGreen.com

Ellington at the Cotton Club

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Last week at the Lincoln Theatre the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra was featured performing the music of Duke's Cotton Club days.
Great music....Dicty Glide, The Mooche, Mood Indigo, Black and Tan Fantasy....
Listening deep to the Ellington band play that music makes you realize how string and mature the musicianship was on that stand. Remarkable artistry and unique voices. I'm once again amazed at the artistry....and the plunger work of the brass players sets the standard for everyone who follows.
Serious music.....