Program Notes: Birth of the Cool

JANUARY 14 BIRTH OF THE COOL: A WEST COAST JAZZ SALUTE SATURDAY January 14, 2017 – 8:00pm JAZZ @ THE JACOBS SERIES OUR AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

trumpet Gilbert Castellanos alto saxophone Keith Fiddmont baritone saxophone Adam Schroeder trombone Matt Hall guitar Graham Dechter piano Tamir Hendelman bass Chuck Berghofer vibraphone Charlie Shoemake drums Jeff Hamilton

Performance at the Jacobs Music Center's Copley Symphony Hall

PROGRAM Selections to be announced from the stage.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

GILBERT CASTELLANOS, TRUMPET AND SERIES CURATOR (JAZZ @ THE JACOBS)

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ILBERT CASTELLANOS is the leading top-call jazz musician, band leader, composer, producer, and educator on the local and international circuit. Zan Stewart of the Los Angeles Times says: "[Castellanos] plays with élan, evincing a more individual, ever-large sound offering hard swinging, often ear-grabbing solos... [proving] that music with deep roots in jazz's glorious '50s and '60s can sound completely contemporary today."

Recognized as a new American master by Downbeat magazine, Mr. Castellanos is also a strong advocate of promoting and educating various communities about Jazz:

“America’s classical music,” as he calls it. Mr. Castellanos takes pride in being a member of the prestigious Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, working with one of his mentors, the great John Clayton. He has recorded and performed with a multitude of worldrenowned musicians from Dizzy Gillespie to Michael Bublé to Willie Nelson (to name a few), and even doing a stint on American Idol for millions of listeners. On one memorable occasion, his “Star Spangled Banner” on solo trumpet opened a San Diego Symphony “Star Spangled Pops” concert. He was a 2012 San Diego Music Awards “Artist of the Year” honoree.

One of Mr. Castellanos’s newer projects is the curation of The Young Lions series, a program that showcases what young blooming jazz artists (ages 11-18) can do.

Other passionate ventures include being artistic director for the International Academy of Jazz, as well as presenting Jazz masterclasses and performances all over the world. Now, a new and exciting role for Gilbert Castellanos presents itself: series curator for the San Diego Symphony’s Jazz @ The Jacobs series. n

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ADAM SCHROEDER, BARITONE SAXOPHONE

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os Angeles based baritone saxophonist ADAM SCHROEDER the first call for a growing multitude of musical circumstances, has firmly established his influential voice as a major force in the global jazz community. Recognized as a “Rising Star" on the baritone saxophone in Down Beat Magazine’s 59th Annual Critic’s Poll as well as in the 76th, 79th and 80th Annual Reader’s Poll and the JazzEd Magazine 2014 Readers Poll, Mr. Schroeder is known equally for his hard-driving muscular swing, ferocious be-bopping, meticulous musicianship and leadership as well as his exquisite sound.

Continuing to receive rave reviews, Let’s, (CAPRI 2014) Mr. Schroeder’s second

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

BIRTH OF THE COOL: A WEST COAST JAZZ SALUTE - JANUARY 14 release as a leader, was recognized by the JazzWeek National Jazz Radio Chart as one of the “Top 100 Releases for 2014." His debut release, A Handful of Stars, (CAPRI 2010) reached #10 on the JazzWeek Radio Chart and was also recognized as one of the “Top 100 Releases for 2010."

Throughout his career, Mr. Schroeder has had the fortunate opportunity to play and record with a growing list of musical greats.

Highlights include contributions to many Grammy winning and nominated albums; working on NBC’s The Voice, X-Factor, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show; FOX’s American Idol; Disney Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur; playing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, Sting, SuperSax, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra and Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band amongst others.

Formerly an adjunct faculty member at Golden West College and Cerritos College in California, Mr. Schroeder now serves as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Adam Schroeder holds a BM in Jazz Studies from Texas State University, San Marcos and a MM in Jazz Studies from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University, Long Beach. He is a Yamaha Artist, a D’Addario Reeds Artist and a Capri Records Artist. n

an inherent bluesiness while carving out his own path with several affecting original compositions.

Traces of the Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis influences can be heard on Mr. Dechter’s debut as a leader, 2009’s soulfully swinging Right On Time (Capri), which featured the all-world rhythm section of the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra in pianist Tamir Hendelman, bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Those three stellar talents returned for the guitarist’s 2012 follow up, Takin’ It There (Capri).

Mr. Dechter was born into a musical family.

“My dad’s first passion was jazz,” Mr. Dechter recalls. “When I was a little kid he would play me all these great recordings by Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole.

So growing up, I became very accustomed to that sound and vibe." Originally a classical violinist and composer, Mr. Dechter had an eye-opening experience in high school, taking an improvisation class with bassist Marshall Hawkins at California’s Idyllwild Arts Academy.

In 2005, after completing his first year at the Eastman School of Music, Dechter was invited to join the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra at age 19. He subsequently returned to Los Angeles, where he began studying with Larry Koonse. Over the past eight years, Mr. Dechter has toured worldwide with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra appearing at major festivals in North America, Asia and Europe. In 2011, he played on Michael Bublé’s best-selling Christmas album and made follow-up television appearances backing the popular singer on The Today Show, Regis & Kelly, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and on Michael Buble’s NBC Christmas special.

Currently, he is the guitarist for Brazilian jazz pianist and vocal sensation, Eliane Elias. n

GRAHAM DECHTER, GUITAR

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n accomplished guitarist, composer and arranger, GRAHAM DECHTER plays with the kind of swinging authority and seasoned maturity that belies his young age. The 28-year-old Los Angeles native, a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra since he was 19, shows a deep reverence for the jazz guitar tradition in his warm-toned renditions of ballads, bossas, bebop and blues. A formidable soloist and consummate accompanist, he imbues standards with rare enthusiasm and

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ward-winning jazz pianist TAMIR HENDELMAN has performed with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harry Allen, Teddy Edwards, Warren Vache, Houston Person, Jeff Clayton, Nick Brignola, Phil Upchurch, Rickey Woodard, John Clayton and Barbara Morrison. He also leads his own trio and his debut CD Playground features him in this trio setting.

Beginning his keyboard studies at age 6 in Tel Aviv, Mr. Hendelman moved to the U.S.

TAMIR HENDELMAN, PIANO

at age 12 in 1984, winning Yamaha's national keyboard competition 2 years later at age 14.

Concerts in Japan and the Kennedy Center followed. Mr. Hendelman then studied at the Tanglewood Institute in 1988 and received a Bachelor of Music Composition degree from Eastman School of Music in 1993. He then became the youngest musical director for Lovewell Institute, a national arts education non-profit organization.

Since returning to LA in 1996, Mr. Hendelman has been in steady demand as pianist and arranger, touring the U.S., Europe and Asia, and receiving awards from ASCAP and the National Foundation For Advancement in the Arts. In 1999 Mr. Hendelman was a guest soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra.

Mr. Hendelman joined the Jeff Hamilton Trio in 2000, contributing arrangements, recording and touring Japan, Europe and the U.S. In 2001 he became a member of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, with whom he premiered John Clayton's new orchestration of Oscar Peterson's Canadiana Suite in the Hollywood Bowl in 2001. In 2002 he also toured Europe with Tierney Sutton and the Bill Holman Big Band. Mr. Hendelman musically directed Julia Migenes's Alter Ego and played/arranged on Roberta Gambarini's Easy To Love.

With the CHJO Mr. Hendelman has recorded for John Pizzarelli, Gladys Knight and Diana Krall. He is the pianist/arranger on Jackie Ryan's "You and the Night and the Music" and Janis Mann's "A Perfect Time."

He is also featured on the late Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable and Barbara Streisand's upcoming recording.

Tamir Hendelman’s musical travels have taken him from Alaska to New York and from Thailand to Israel. In his own trio he explores standards, Brazilian music, blues and his Israeli roots. Mr. Hendelman’s debut CD Playground (2008) was released in Japan on the Swing Bros. label and was released in the U.S. in December 2008 on CDBaby.com. He is a Resonance Records artist. n

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

BIRTH OF THE COOL: A WEST COAST JAZZ SALUTE - JANUARY 14 the Tanglewood Festival with John Williams.

He continues to be a featured artist at jazz festivals across the country and has represented West Coast Jazz at European venues.

CHUCK BERGHOFER, BASS

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ne of LA’s finest bass players, CHUCK BERGHOFER has enjoyed a multi-decade career as a jazz musician and studio artist (part of the legendary “Wrecking Crew” LA studio team).

From his early days with Skinnay Ennis and Bobby Troup, Mr. Berghofer went on to work with jazz legends such as Herb Ellis, Shelly Manne, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Rowles and Zoot Sims.

Always in demand by vocalists, Mr. Berghofer has recorded with Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Mel Torme, Sarah Vaughan and more recently with Christine Aguilera, Michael Feinstein, Steve Tyrell, Patti Austin and Barry Manilow. Two of his biggest “hits” were his famous bass lines on Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walking” and the Barney Miller TV theme.

Mr. Berghofer has performed on over 400 movie soundtracks (including Rocky I & II, On Golden Pond, The Matrix) and was featured on Jim Carrey’s movie The Majestic and Clint Eastwood’s Bird and True Crime. He has played on numerous successful TV shows, including Charlie’s Angels, The Carol Burnett Show, The Simpsons, Star Trek: Enterprise, the Grammys® and the Academy Awards®.

In the mid-1980s he received the NARAS award as the most valuable bass player for four consecutive years, nominated by his fellow studio musicians.

In 1991 he joined the rhythm section to work with Frank Sinatra, touring worldwide and recording the classic Duets 1 & II albums. In the late 1990s he recorded and toured with Joni Mitchell and performed on Barbara Streisand's Farewell Tour in Australia and the U.S. In recent years he has appeared on the concert platform with The Three Tenors, toured with Kevin Spacey and performed at

For over 40 years Chuck Berghofer was a member of the Pete Jolly Trio who performed and recorded in their own unique style until Pete's death in 2004. He remains a regular member of the Frank Capp Juggernaut Big Band, the Flying Pisanos Ensemble, the Shelly Berg Trio and his own group, the Midnight Jazz Band. His fine,big-toned sound, solid time keeping, extensive experience and passionate attitude contribute to his recognition as one of the most sought after bass players on the West Coast today. n

JEFF HAMILTON, PERCUSSION

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riginality is what versatile drummer JEFF HAMILTON brings to the groups he performs with and is one of the reasons why he is constantly in demand, whether he is recording or performing with his trio, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, the Clayton Brothers or co-leading the ClaytonHamilton Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Hamilton’s recording, It’s Hamilton Time (Lake Street Records), received enormous airplay while reaching #5 on the Gavin national jazz radio chart. His trio’s second release, Jeff Hamilton Trio-LIVE! (MONS) was nominated by critics for best jazz recording in Germany in 1997.

Mr. Hamilton has received rave reviews for his dynamic drumming. David Badham of Jazz Journal International stated in his review of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra’s release, Heart and Soul (Capri): “This is one of the finest modern big band issues I’ve heard…This is undoubtedly due to Jeff Hamilton, a most driving and technically accomplished drummer.” Leonard Feather of the Los Angeles Times described Jeff and his work with Oscar Peterson as “the Los Angeles-based drummer whose intelligent

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backing and spirited solo work met Peterson’s customarily high standards…”

Born in Richmond, Indiana, Mr. Hamilton grew up listening to his parent’s big band records and at the age of eight began playing drums along with Oscar Peterson records. He attended Indiana University and later studied with John Avon Ohlen. In 1974, he got his first big break playing with the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He then joined Lionel Hampton’s Band until 1975 when he, along with bassist John Clayton, became members of the Monty Alexander Trio. He attained a childhood goal in 1977 when he joined Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd, with whom he made several recordings. In 1978, he was offered the position vacated by Shelly Manne in the L.A.4 with Ray Brown, Bud Shank and Laurindo Almeida. From 1983 to 1987, Mr. Hamilton performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney and Monty Alexander.

Mr. Hamilton began his association with the Ray Brown Trio in 1988 and left in March 1995 to concentrate on his own trio.

In addition to his many recordings with Ray Brown, Jeff Hamilton has been on nearly 200 recordings with artists such as Diana Krall, Milt Jackson, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, Benny Carter, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing and Dr. John. He also appeared in the late Natalie Cole’s Great Performances PBS special, Unforgettable, and an Oscar Peterson documentary, Life in the Key of Oscar.

Jeff Hamilton is currently touring with his own Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Diana Krall. From 19992001, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra was named the in-residence ensemble for the Hollywood Bowl Jazz series. The Los Angeles Jazz Society named Jeff and his musical partner, John Clayton, musicians of the year for 2006. As well as recording and performing throughout the world, Mr. Hamilton also teaches, arranges and composes. n

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