The SFJAZZ Collective has just released a new album – Live From SFJAZZ Center 2021: New Works Reflecting The Moment. Representing what’s currently happening in jazz, the Collective has a mission to perform fresh arrangements of works by a modern master, as well as newly commissioned pieces by each member of the group.
The Collective, which – according to Downbeat “boasts as much or more collective talent, firepower and critical acclaim than any other jazz ensemble going” – was founded by SFJAZZ in 2004, the group embodying the SFJAZZ commitment to jazz as a living, always-relevant art form. This leaderless ensemble is probably best described as a democratic composer’s workshop, having created numerous original compositions and new arrangements since its inception, honoring the music of artists such as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Horace Silver, Stevie Wonder, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, António Carlos Jobim and Sly Stone.
The current Collective line-up features Chris Potter and David Sánchez on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Etienne Charles, Warren Wolf on vibraphone, pianist Edward Simon, Matt Brewer on bass, Kendrick Scott on drums, vocalist and guitarist Martin Luther McCoy, and vocalist Gretchen Parlato.
Each year, the Collective undertakes a four-night residency at the SFJAZZ Center, recording live their arrangements of that season’s tribute artist and an original composition by each member.
This new album was recorded onstage at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium in October 2021, reflecting issues such as racial injustices, the global pandemic and political polarization, as well as new approaches to a selection of classic songs associated with peace, freedom and social commentary. Included are Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, the classic anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing and Abbey Lincoln’s Throw it Away.
Each numbered, limited edition CD set includes a 24-page booklet with exclusive photographs, liner notes, an article by Marcus Crowder and interviews with the band members about their arrangements.
SFJAZZ Collective’s latest album, Live From SFJAZZ Center 2021: New Works Reflecting The Moment, is available to buy from the shop on the SFJAZZ website.
The SFJAZZ Collective’s Spring 2022 tour starts this week:
March 25, 2022 Arsht Center – Miami, FL
March 27, 2022 City Winery- Chicago, IL
March 28, 2022 Dakota – Minneapolis,MN
March 31, 2022 SFJAZZ (NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert) – San Francisco
April 2, 2022 Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild – Pittsburgh, PA
April 3, 2022 Annenberg Center – Philadelphia, PA
April 5, 2022 Sony Hall – New York, NY
April 6, 2022 Berks Jazz Festival – Reading, PA
April 7, 2022 South Orange PAC – South Orange, NJ
April 8, 2022 Berklee Performance Center – Boston, MA
To buy tickets for these US performances, follow this link.
The SFJAZZ Collective European Summer Tour 2022 starts in June:
June 24, 2022 Bela Bartok Hall – Budapest, Hungary
June 25, 2022 Barbican – London, UK
June 26, 2022 Elbphilharmonie – Hamburg, Germany
June 27-28, 2022 Cité de la musique – Paris, France
July 1-3, 2022 Canary Islands Jazz Festival
To buy tickets for these European performances, visit the website of the respective concert halls and/or venues.
Information sourced from SFJAZZ program notes