2009 Austin Jazz Festival October 10, 2009

The Austin Jazz Society is pleased to present the 2009 Austin Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at Zilker Hillside Theatre from 5:00-10:00pm.

Featured performers include Kat Edmonson with Ephraim Owens, the Tony Campise Big Band, the Gabriel Santiago Quintet, and Blaze.

The Austin Jazz Fest is a FREE event for all ages. Concessions provided by ZEN.

Line-up:

5:00pm-6:00pm Tony Campise Big Band
6:20pm-7:20pm BLAZE
7:40pm-8:40pm Gabriel Santiago Quintet
9:00pm-10:00pm Kat Edmonson with Ephraim Owens

About the musicians:

Tony Campise
Campise’s first professional breakthrough occurred in the mid-70’s, when he was invited to play lead alto in the Stan Kenton band. After years of constant touring, Campise returned to Texas and backed a number of world class artists. A who’s who list of disparate names includes: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Lyle Lovett, Arnett Cobb, Sarah Vaughan, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Joe Henderson, and Lee Konitz. Clint Eastwood, upon recommendation from Lennie Niehaus (who wrote sound tracks for “Bird” and “Unforgiven”), became a Campise fan while in Austin filming “A Perfect World”. Campise continues to lead his own band and a big band on a regular basis, plays jazz fests, does saxophone clinics currently representing Boosey & Hawkes Keilwerth saxophones and selectively records as a sideman.

Kat Edmonson
Kat Edmonson is the best new jazz singer I have heard in years, and I know she will be around for years to come. You have to hear her.”- Al Schmitt

“memorable and contagious.”-NPR

“Edmonson might be the most promising American jazz singer to come along since Cassandra Wilson.” -The Boston Globe

“Ms. Edmonson, from Austin, Tex., is a promising young jazz singer with a kittenish voice and an amiably relaxed style…” -The New York Times

“Equal parts Billie Holiday and Bjork, it is Edmonson’s distinctive coyness that marks her as a vocalist of 2009, not merely a re-do of the 1930s.” -All About Jazz

Ephraim Owens
In the twelve years since calling Austin home, Ephraim has become more than a staple in the local music scene—he is truly the cornerstone of the intimate community of jazz artists. A native of Dallas, Ephraim began playing classical trumpet at the age of 8 later attending Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. While continuing his education on music scholarships at Weatherford Junior College and Southwest Texas State University, Ephraim gained international exposure for solo ensemble and composition. During this time he took a hands-on approach to breaking into the Austin club scene by cruising town with his horn in hand and sitting in with fellow musicians of all styles and genres. This quickly earned him a reputation as one of the hottest horn players in town. He is a master in the jazz arena, especially well known for his signature solos and ability to improvise. He has an uncanny ability to imagine his music laid on top of anything else he hears, and his adaptability makes him a welcome addition to almost any lineup. The Austin Chronicle ranks Ephraim as “Best Horn” in Austin and has named Blaze, a group that features Ephraim on trumpet, as “Best Jazz Band.”

Gabriel Santiago Sextet
Born in Brazil, on September 25th, 1980 (Ilhéus, Bahia State), Gabriel Santiago is a Composer/Arranger/Acoustic and Electric Guitar Player. His music is fresh and carries all of his influences that goes from Brazilian Music to Jazz and Classical Music. His musical background is solid, and includes a master’s degree in Musicology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State (Unirio) in 2006, and both a bachelor’s degree in Arrangement (2004) and a Music Education Degree (2002) also at Unirio. Gabriel Santiago is currently living in Austin - Texas - USA, attending a Doctoral Program in Composition at the prestigious University of Texas at Austin; with a full scholarship from FULBRIGHT and CAPES BRAZILIAN AGENCY, where he has been composing music for the UT Jazz Orchestra (which he is a member, playing guitar) as well as music for chamber groups. The Gabriel Santiago Quintet has been performing extensively in the United States and in Brazil. They recently released a live album recorded at one of downbeat magazine’s top 10 jazz venues, The Elephant Room. They will be recording a studio album as well as filming a live DVD in Spring 2010.

Blaze
Music for listening. Music for bangin’ loud. Music for Funkin’. Music for head bobbin’ and happy footz!! BLAZE creates instrumental jamz to help you through your life. These musicians have worked with Chaka Khan, Patrice Rushen, Me’shell NDegeOcello, Horace Silver, Eddie Palmieri, Jody Watley, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Eric B. and Rakim, and so many others. BLAZE has toured in parts of the US as well as tour dates in Canada, Taiwan, Germany and Spain bringing there infectious blend of Jazz, Funk, R&B, Soul, Electronica and HipHop to all of these audiences. For 8 consecutive years Austin, Tx music lovers and Austin Chronicle readers have voted this band “Best Jazz Band” in the Austin Music Awards poll. (2000-2008) NIGHT SANGIN’ is their 4th cd release since the band’s conception in 2000. And this cd brings all of the above mentioned elements together in this super funky cd!

About Austin Jazz Society:

The Austin Jazz Society, Inc, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, was established in 2003. The purpose of Austin Jazz Society is to memorialize professional jazz musicians who, at some point in their career, performed in Austin and the surrounding areas. It is also our aim to celebrate current performing jazz artists and encourage and educate future jazz musicians. Our purpose is achieved through concerts, educational workshops, and performance opportunities.

Official Website: http://www.austinjazzsociety.org