“My people…Now which of my people…I mean, uh, you know I’m in several groups, I’m in, uh, let’s see, I’m in the group of the piano players, the music of the people… THE people, now that’s the better word, because THE people are my people.” Duke Ellington
Welcome to BackYard Jazz in Santa Rosa
Showcasing Bay Area Jazz Artists…
October 16, 2011:
Azar Lawrence Quintet
Reserve Seats!
Welcome to our second – 2011 – season of BackYard Jazz. The goal of BackYard Jazz House Concerts is to showcase the talents of the many jazz musicians living right here in our own Bay Area “Backyard,” playing before appreciative audiences in intimate settings. The House Concert experience is a wonderful opportunity for jazz artists to share the music they love the way they love to play it, to play with and to communicate with an audience that wants to hear live jazz for it’s own sake, not as ambient background music – Jazz for the sake of jazz. Yes!
2011 Concerts:
May: Ernie Shelton, vocals: Bebop, Bossa, Ballads & Blues June: Dick Conte, piano, with Steve Heckman, saxes July: Richard Howell Quintet, August: bummer – no concert this month September: Andrew Speight – Alto – rescheduled for 2012 October: Azar Lawrence , Tenor and SopranoClick here to see previous performers. Click here or Reserve for the next concert. The concert location is disclosed when you reserve seats; until then, to maintain our privacy, we leave it off the website. In general terms, concerts are held in the Brush Creek area of Rincon Valley in Santa Rosa. Thanks for understanding.
If you haven’t already subscribed to our emails, previewing upcoming concerts, please click Subscribe. Join the BackYard audience for superb jazz artistry here in Santa Rosa in addition to the very fine programs sponsored by the Healdsburg Jazz Festival just up the road? Click here to let us know who you want to hear live. Our Next concert:
Azar Lawrence Quintet - Azar on Soprano and Tenor Saxes
featuring Gilbert Castellanos, Trumpet; Frank Martin, Keyboard; Geoff Brennan, Bass; Lorca Hart, Drums
Azar appeared with Miles Davis when he was just 19, played on Dark Magus, recorded live in Carnegie Hall, then joined the McCoy Tyner group. He has also played with Earth Wind and Fire and worked behind the scenes in LA as a composer/arranger. A few years ago, he decided to focus on playing again and we are so lucky he did. Be sure to read the interview Azar did with Bruce Anderson, house concert host in Missoula Montana for insight into this wonderful musician and at his website, read the reviews in his Press kit. Azar has often been compared to John Coltrane; while there will never be another John Coltrane, Azar has grown up in that tradition, playing inside and outside the changes as he pursues his own musical/spiritual journey.
We can seat approximately 100 or more guests at each concert, depending on parking needs; Wheelchair-accessible, too! Contact us for details.…
Bringing Jazz to Our Backyard
All Outdoor concerts are scheduled between 2:00-4:30 on Sunday afternoons in Santa Rosa. The Azar Lawrence concert begins one hour earlier. Gate Guests welcome at 12:30 for potluck lunch and Swing Set. Azar’s group performs two sets beginning at 2 PM. If you are reading this announcement you are invited! But attendance is by reservation; the suggested minimum donation for each concert is only $20/person. That’s how the artists are paid for performing here. Guests typically bring a dish or beverage to share to help create an afternoon “potluck” for all - think late lunch. All but cost of chair rental ($100-$150) of the donated proceeds will go to the artists, $150 to the youth band, the rest to our headliners. There are plenty of umbrellas and shady spots and guests are welcome to dip in the pool on hot days to keep their natural ”cool.” Read our FAQ page for complete details. To receive invitations/address/directions you must reserve a seat separately for each concert.
Click Reserve to reserve a seat at the next concert. Reservations are only available for the very next concert. In case you have not already subscribed to our announcements, please click Subscribe so you’ll be alerted to any changes in the schedule, etc. See more about this on the FAQ screen.
And Providing an Opportunity for Young Artists As Well
Part of our vision is to create a setting that also inspires young or young at heart student musicians to pursue their interest in Jazz, so the BackYard Jazz series will also feature opening sets performed by outstanding college and high school musicians as well as some less well-known local groups.
Opening for Azar Lwrence on October 16 will be Swing Set
Swing Set opened May 1 for Ernie Shelton and we are happy to have them back. The audience adored this fine young group of musicians. |
