LuluFest 2019

Jane Bunnett - Maqueque

MAQUEQUE

In July 2015, when President Barack Obama officially re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba, it ended a 54-year political stalemate and commenced a new era of cultural exchange between the island nation and the U.S.

But more than three decades before Obama’s historic rapprochement, Canadian soprano saxophonist, flutist and composer Jane Bunnett had begun working tirelessly to promote Cuban jazz worldwide, and to provide its practitioners with performance opportunities far beyond their borders— including gigs in the States. Bunnett’s Toronto home has also served as a hub for several generations of Cuban players, many spending weeks or months in her guest rooms.

Bunnett’s devotion to Cuban music and musicians began unexpectedly in 1982, when she and her longtime partner, trumpeter Larry Cramer, spotted an ad for a cheap vacation in Santiago de Cuba. Arriving at their hotel, the couple encountered a band that featured trumpeter Inaudis Paisan Mallet. Lugging their instruments, they took front-row seats, eventually sat in, ignited a deep friendship with Mallet that continued until his death in 2014, and were forever hooked on the Afro-Cuban sounds they’d discovered.

Bunnett has recorded more than a dozen albums featuring Cuban artists, including 1992’s landmark Spirits of Havana—a two-disc, 25th-anniversary edition was released last summer—and, subsequently, various Spirits of Havana configurations. Her latest Cuban project is Maqueque, an all- female outfit whose eponymous debut album, released in 2014, features Bunnett alongside vocalist Daymé Arocena, tres guitarist and bassist Yusa, pianist Danae Olano, bassist Celia Jimenez, batá/conga player Magdelys Savigne and drummer Yissy García, with all members also contributing to vocal choruses. Last year’s follow-up, Oddara (Linus), showcases the same lineup—minus Yusa and plus violinist Elizabeth Rodriguez—with Arocena and fellow vocalist Melvis Santa as featured guests.

“Maqueque entranced listeners with a clave-induced set of

Afro-Cuban, booty-shaking world jazzthat would have made

Dizzy smile.” – DownBeat Four-time JUNO Award winner, two-time Grammy Award nominee, and Officer of the Order of Canada, saxophonist and flutist Jane Bunnett has long been inspired by the music of Cuba.

http://www.janebunnett.com/press/monterey-jazz-extends- the-welcome-mat-to-more-women-musicians

https://www.npr.org/2018/03/23/596004201/jane-bunnett- and-maqueque-the-new-queens-of-afro-cuban-jazz

Carrie Rodriguez

Carrie, an Austin native, began playing violin at age five. Her training quickly became the passion and focus of her childhood, and by age 10, she had performed as part of a group at Carnegie Hall. She continued the classical track in her first year at Oberlin Conservatory, then shifted gears to pursue her true love affair with the fiddle—staying true to her Texas roots—at the Berklee College of Music.

Early in her career, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Chip Taylor resulted in four highly acclaimed duet albums. Her subsequent solo albums highlight the diversity of her musical identity, from her debut “Seven Angels on a Bicycle” to 2013’s “Give Me All You Got,” which reached no. 1 on the Americana Music Charts.

“A superb interpretive singer, not only milking melodies for all their pleasure but also revealing new implications in the lyrics." —The Washington Post
Carrie has toured, recorded and co-written songs with legendary artists such as Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Bill Frisell, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and Los Lonely Boys, among others. She has made numerous television and radio appearances, including Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show and A Prairie Home Companion. She has been profiled in many publications, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Times of London, The New Yorker, the Washington Post and many more.

“She’s the trifecta for me – beautiful singer, soulful songwriter, and kick-ass fiddler.” —author Brené Brown
Carrie lives in Austin with her partner and musical collaborator Luke Jacobs, a multi- instrumentalist/singer-songwriter from Minnesota, and their son, Cruz Calvin Jacobs.

“The outlier, Rodriguez... already so highly regarded that she’s not only captured the heart of Americana music aficionados but infused the Latino community with a singular dose of Ameri-Chicana pride.” --- TODO Magazine

www.carrierodriguez.com

Dawn Clement

Pianist/Vocalist/Composer Dawn Clement has established herself as one of the most sought after musicians working today. With her joyful presence, consummate technique and distinctive sound, Clement has gained the attention and respect of musicians, critics and fans through the US and abroad. “In all this world of jazz, there are very few individual voices, no matter what the instrument, but Dawn has come up with a voice that’s unique...” says legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester.

With 5 CD’s under her belt, not to mention appearing as side woman on Jane Ira Bloom’s latest release “Wild Lines” and Emi Meyer’s “Monochrome”, Dawn has been hailed as the “Wonder Woman of Seattle” by Paul DeBarros (Seattle Times). Downbeat says “The revelation is Dawn Clement’s piano, always ready with the lyricism or structure the moment needs. With her newest release, Tandem, she explores the magic of musical pairs with some of her closest musical cohorts.

Dawn has recently re-located from the Pacific Northwest to Denver, Colorado to take on the new role of Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of the Jazz and American Music Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Cornish College of the Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Vermont College of the Arts. When she is not playing, composing, touring, or teaching, Clement lives in Denver with her husband and three children, Noah, Elvin, and Adele.

www.dawnclement.com

Claire Daly

Claire Daly, NYC, 2016 Hothouse Jazz Award - Baritone Sax, 2018 and 2017 Jazz Journalist Award for Baritone Sax of the Year, has been a numerous time winner of the jazz award polls (Downbeat, Jazztimes, Jazziz, Hothouse Magazine, Jazz Journalist Association). She has been playing the baritone sax for over 3 decades, has written feature articles, conducts interviews, tours internationally as a jazz musician and is included in the Bill Clinton Presidential Library as a CD significant to him while in office. A New York native, Claire studied with Joe Viola at the Berklee College of Music and has made a living in music since then. Early on, her rock band "Dish" was produced by Elton John's guitarist, Davy Johnstone. Upon moving back to NYC, Claire has performed with jazz legends and has recorded as a leader. Her most recent release combines her roots - "2648 West Grand Blvd" - a jazz CD featuring tunes recorded at Motown in the Detroit years. It was in the Jazzweek Radio Charts top 20 for 9 weeks. "Baritone Monk" was top 10 as well. A pioneer, she was the first female baritone saxophonist to release a CD as a

leader.

Pamela York

PAMELA YORK

Canadian jazz musician Pamela York is a pianist, vocalist, and composer. A native of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Pamela graduated from The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and Berklee College of Music in Boston. Pamela uses vehicles for musical expression as varied as the blues, traditional hymns, and lesser known standards. In 2007, she won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. In addition to appearing on numerous recordings as a side artist, Pamela boasts three albums of her own as a leader. Her first two CDs Blue York (2001) and The Way of Time (2006) showcase several original tunes, as well as her interpretations of celebrated jazz standards. Her 2012 release, Lay Down This World: Hymns and Spirituals, was a 2013 Downbeat Magazine editor’s pick. She tours nationally as a performer, clinician, and guest artist. Among her performances with dozens of jazz greats, Pamela has shared the stage with Conte Candoli, Joe LaBarbera, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Lynn Seaton, Roseanna Vitro, Diane Schuur, and Andre Hayward. Based in Houston since 2001, Pamela plays regularly with the Houston Jazz Orchestra and leads her own trio. To hear Pamela live, visit her events page at www.pamelayork.com.

Jay Clayton

JAY CLAYTON is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, composer,and educator, whose work boldly spans the terrain between jazz andnew music. In 1963 she began her career performing the standards on the vibrant New York music scene. However, she quickly became a prominent part of the free jazz movement. Her work in these two worlds led to the development of a highly personal, wordless vocabulary later enhanced by her innovative use of electronics. With more than 40 recordings to her credit, Clayton has appeared alongside such formidable artists as Muhal Richard Abrams, Steve Reich, Kirk Nurock, Julian Priester, Jerry Granelli, Jane Ira Bloom, Gary Bartz, Jack Wilkins, George Cables, Fred Hersch, Gary Thomas, tap dancer Brenda Bufalino as well as fellow vocalists Jeanne Lee, Norma Winstone, Urszula Dudziak and Bobby McFerrin. She has taught extensively throughout the world and was on the jazz faculty of Cornish College of the Arts for 20 years, at Peabody Institute in Baltimore for 10 years and she is currently on the jazz faculty at Princeton University. Her book, Sing Your Story: A Practical Guide for Learning and Teaching the Art of Jazz Singing, was published by Advance Music in 2001. Her many accomplishments include grants from the National Endowment for the arts, Meet the Composer, CAPS, and in 2004 received the New Works: Creation and Performance grant from Chamber Music America. www.jayclayton.com

LuluFest 2019 - Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18