West Side Story

Well, First Jazz '05 was on the West Side of the Willamette, but the real reason for this month's title was the great Bill Charlap encore, capping an afternoon and evening of some of the best jazz ever!

For JSO members,  I'd like to offer a recap of this year's 21st annual event.  By all counts, a financial, musical, and often emotional, success.

First the financial report.  Tickets sales brought in $14,300; our expenses were about $9,400, for a total profit of about $4,900!   The auction brought in over $5,000, with about $500 in expenses.  One of our best ever, and THE best organized auction we've ever had, thanks to Margie Smith and all those who worked so hard to get donations. 

Many thanks (once again) to our corporate sponsors: Perkins Coie Law Firm, Judie Dunken Realty, and Wells Fargo Bank.  If you need an attorney, some real estate, or a new place for your checking account -- these are your friends!

Thanks, too, to the parents and supporters of the Whiskey Hill Jazz Club, for turning out in force in support of their kids, and for great jazz music.  We raised some money through a quick and fun auction and also from donations to Sally Shorr's Jazz Education Committee.   We'll do better next year!

Kudos, too, to Bill Tritt of the Hilton and his crew for being so responsive and helpful throughout the course of the event.  And we could not have had such a great production without Bill Royston and his crew from the Portland Jazz Festival, capably led by stage manager Matt Miner!

All of this is good news, but the best news was the music!!  Dee Daniels (accompanied by Portland stars Carlton Jackson, George Mitchell and the lyric Phil Baker on bass) had a wonderful blend of musicianship, creativity and talent, both as a singer with enormous range (vocally and emotionally), and pianist with great gospel roots.  Several standing ovations from the sold-out house testified to her ability to really connect with an audience. 

Dan Balmer was a gracious recipient of the Jazz Society Hall of Fame award for 2005, presented by last year's winner, the ever-loquacious Tom Grant.  We had a solid hour of great guitar jazz, with some superb solos by George Mitchell and Carlton Jackson. 

But the best was yet to come.  Bill Charlap's trio, including his permanent sidemen, Peter Washington and Kenny Washington, thrilled the audience with some of the finest improvisation imaginable.  And those who attended Bill's workshop the next morning, sponsored by the Portland Jazz Festival through the Bea Eidsness education fund, heard an outstandingly articulate seminar on jazz improvisation from one of the masters in the field.

Watch for the next CD from the Bill Charlap Septet -- I heard a preview copy, and it's outstanding music in the West Coast tradition -- featuring some great East Coast beboppers!

Well, we have quite a challenge for next year.  Planning begins this coming Tuesday, March 8, at Wilf's at 6:00 p.m.  It's an open membership/board meeting -- please join us!

Chuck Carpenter, JSO President