Amazing News!
I have been applying for grants for years for a number of different projects. There are many wonderful organizations out there willing to fund arts projects but many, many more artists applying for those grants. I’m always disappointed when I don’t get funded, but even more amazed at all the quality artists out there who do get the grants.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when you receive a letter-sized envelope from a grantor, it usually means there is a rejection letter inside. Most often if you are awarded a grant the letter comes with a packet including your contract, tax info, etc.
So today when I saw one small envelope from 4Culture in my mailbox, I said to my fiance, “Looks like I didn’t get the grant.” Imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope and the first words I saw were “It is our great pleasure to inform you that your 2009 Individual Artist Project to 4Culture has been recommended for an award”! Out of a record 391 applications, mine was one of 94 that was accepted. The letter went on to say:
The peer panel felt that each of the selected applicants demonstrated artistic merit, excellence or innovative quality of project; artistic excellence demonstrated in the work samples provided; feasibility and demonstrated ability to accomplish the project; and a plan to provide access and public benefit for King County residents.
What an honor to be included in this group! I feel humbled and proud to see my work being appreciated and valued, especially as a public benefit. It gives me great faith to see artists recognized in this fashion.
What this means is that between this grant money and the money I have been able to raise through my micropatronage program, I will be able to finish the new Jason Parker Quartet CD with no further money out of my own pocket. I can’t tell you what a relief this is, as I still have to finish the mixing and mastering, find someone to design the artwork, pay royalty fees and get the discs printed and replicated. I was prepared to find a way to do it myself, but this certainly takes the edge off.
Please check out the good folks at 4Culture, who’s mission is to “advance community through arts heritage preservation and public art.” And look for the release of the new JPQ CD sometime this summer!
Look What I Found!
I just did a search totally unrelated to me, and look what I found: Post-Bop.
I wasn’t Googling myself. Really, I wasn’t.
Anna & Alfredo’s Wedding
We had an absolutely wonderful time at Anna & Alfredo’s wedding this past Saturday at Top of the Market. It was one of those sunny Springtime days in Seattle where everything seems to be just right with the world. What a great day to be married!
I had the pleasure of playing with Darrius Willrich on piano and Evan Flory-Barnes on bass. Evan is the regular bassist in my Quartet and it’s always a treat to play with him. I’ve known Darrius for years and we’ve played together a bunch, but it had been a while. He’s an incredible piano player and the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. I was glad to have the chance to spend the evening with him. This is one smokin’ trio, if I do say so myself!
Anna and Alfredo came to our recent show at Tula’s and told me that they just wanted us to be ourselves and do what we do, which is always nice to hear. They did have a few requests, however, which turned out to be great ones! For their recessional, for instance, they had us play “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles. It’s always a challenge to take a well-know song from outside the jazz genre and do it justice. But it’s a challenge I love! And that song is so simple yet so beautiful that all we really had to do was play it straight and it worked out great. The bigger challenge was learning Jim Croce’s “Time In a Bottle”. Of course I’ve heard this song countless times, but I never paid too much attention to it until Anna asked if this could be their first dance. I take first dances very seriously, and wanted to create an arrangement that would be remembered by all in attendance. It took me a while, but the response was incredible, and I think we will add this song to our regular repertoire!
Top of the Market is a gorgeous place to have a wedding, with stunning views of Puget Sound. The staff took great care of us and was very complimentary about our music. The bartender told me she was thrilled to have such a great live band and not another cheesy DJ!
Thanks to Anna & Alfredo for including us in their big day.
Kathryn Krogstad was the photographer for the wedding and some of her beautiful shots:
Clave Nagila Debuts to a Packed House!
You know how sometimes you have an idea that you think is great, but you have no idea how others are going to react? Well, that’s how I’ve felt about Clave Nagila since the idea was born in Port Townsend four years ago. I had a suspicion that it was an idea who’s time had come, but you never know.
Nate Omdal and I have been working on the arrangements for over a year now. We started with this book of Jewish melodies and transformed them by adding different Latin rhythms to each piece. As each new arrangement was completed we grew ever more confident that we were on the right track.
Last Thursday the band made its debut at Egan’s. I arrived about an hour early to get warmed up and go over the parts one more time with the band. The first people to show up were folks I didn’t know, which I took as a good sign! By the time we took the stage the room was full! Family, friends and strangers all turned out to see what the fuss was all about. It was amazing to look out from the stage and see the anticipation on the faces. And all this for a band that hadn’t even played a note yet!
The show was a blast, and the response since has been truly amazing. This band may just become my most popular band!
I have to give huge thanks to Nate. Without his enthusiasm and dedication to the project it never would have seen the light of day. And I am honored and thrilled to have such a great band to make these songs come to life: Tobi Stone, Adrian Witherspoon, Brian Bermudez, Adam Kessler and Lalo Bello. Thanks to one and all!
I recorded the set, and as soon as I can find the time to go through it I will post a song or two. You really gotta hear this! Stay tuned for the further adventures of Clave Nagila!
Clave Nagila Debuts Tomorrow at Egan’s!
I’m very excited to announce the debut of my new project, Clave Nagila, tomorrow night at Egan’s. Almost 4 years in the making, this band combines my love of two distinct yet complimentary styles, Latin-jazz and traditional Jewish music. The concept grew out of an arrangement I did for my Quartet of a prayer called “Etz Chaim”, which I titled “Tree of Life”. That one is not in the Latin-Jazz vein, but it started me down the path toward arrangements of more Jewish music.
Over the last year my good friend Nate Omdal has helped me with the arrangements of such tunes as “Hava Nagila”, “Dayeinu”, “Adon Olam and more. I can’t wait to debut this amazing arrangements!
The band consists of 7 of the finest players in Seattle, including myself on trumpet, Nate on bass, Tobi Stone on clarinet, Brian Bermudez on bari-sax, Adrian Witherspoon on trombone, Adam Kessler on drums and Lalo Bello on percussion. These folks have dedicated much of their time and enthusiasm to rehearsing and getting ready, and I can’t thank them enough for their involvement and support.
Please come check us out tomorrow (Thursday) night at Egan’s. We play the early set, from 7:00-8:30pm, so you can join us for dinner and still get to bed at a reasonable hour!
Oyle!
Another Wonderful Night at Lucid
The Jason Parker Quartet had another great night at Lucid on Saturday night. I have to say, this is without a doubt my favorite room to play in. In just 6 months David has built his club into a hip, happening place. It feels like a true jazz club, and the energy is electric every time the JPQ plays there.
This time we were joined by our old friend Nate Omdal on bass and new friend Brad Gibson on drums. All who were in attendance agreed that they both sounded great and fit in real well, even though it was Brad’s first time playing with us. I asked Cynthia Mullis to join us for most of the evening. She’s been playing 2-3 songs with us at our recent shows, and she brings such great energy and playing to the band that I wanted her to play more and more! She absolutely tore it up on my tune “Bashert”. A few other guests sat in, including Katrina Wible, Jamie Baumgart and Bob Garrett, who played a double-trumpet throwdown with me on Nick Drake’s “Three Hours”.
If you haven’t been to Lucid yet you gotta check it out. We’ll be back there on June 19th, but don’t wait until then. They have great music 4 nights a week, and it’s always free.
Keepin’ Time with Jason Parker Music – May 2009
Each month I send out a newsletter to update folks on gigs I’m playing and news from the trenches. I use a great company called Constant Contact, who now gives each newsletter its own unique URL as well.
To view the May edition of Keepin’ Time with Jason Parker Music click here.
Click here to be added to the mailing list to receive future newsletters. On the second page check the box next to Jason Parker Music.
