To contact us:

Bakersfield Jazz Workshop

Steve Eisen, Director

Phone: 661-444-0853

Fax:  661-837-0339

Email:  info@

bakersfieldjazzworkshop.com

Looking for live jazz in Bakersfield? See what’s happening at

JAZZ ABOUT TOWN

 

Site last updated

2/2/2010 5:41 AM.

 

Webmaster Richard Noel (RichardNoel@bakersfield

jazzworkshop.com)

Watch a BJW Session in ACTION.

Click here for an mp4 file of the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop, courtesy of The Bakersfield Californian (John Harte, video & photography, Michael Fagans, Editing).

This is a LARGE file so you may encounter a delay while loading.

“The Bakersfield Jazz Orchestra Electrifies The Stars Dinner Theatre!”

“The Big Bands” concert Nov. 7th was a huge success.  Videos are posted on youtube.  Click the poster (below) for more information, including links to youtube videos and a concert review.

 We hope everyone has some time to join us this Wednesday, Feb. 3rd, for our next Bakersfield Jazz Workshop at Le Corusse Rouge. 

 

 

Returning to the BJW as our Featured Artist this week will be the funky sounds of The Masters of Malfunktion, featuring bassist Mike Bhone and friends. Mike is one of our area's first call bass players. He has a deep fat sound full of soul and groove. He will be joined by some of our area's top jazz musicians. Every time we've had the Masters at the BJW, we've had a fantastic show - this one should be no different! Be sure to get there early for a good seat!

 

Remember, our workshop format is:

 

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Beginning Jazz Improv class

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Featured Artist

8:30 PM - 10:00 PM - Open Jam Session

 

Be sure to bring your own Fake / Real book, charts in your own keys,  and music stand if you want to participate in either the improv class or the jam session. We now have a jam session sign up sheet at the front desk if you want to participate. Just let us know your intrument (or that you are a vocalist) and what tune(s) you want to play.

 

FEBRUARY FEATURED ARTISTS

 

Here is our line-up for the rest of the month:

 

 

Feb. 10th - Kris Tiner (trumpet), featuring music by Thelonious Monk, with Jim Scully (guitar), Glen Fong (bass), and Brian Palla (drums)

 

 

Feb. 17th - Johnny Blue (piano), Richie Perez (sax), and the Jazz All-Stars - Johnny Blue and Richie Perez have been playing hip jazz throughout our area for decades. When folks think jazz in Bakersfield they think of these two men. Pat Frase (drums) will be driving the group with his straight ahead swing.

 

Feb. 24th - Laura May Booker (vocals) - If you want to see / hear someone who personifies jazz, you don't want to miss Laura's first appearance as the BJW's Featured Artist.  A huge jazz voice from a tiny package!

 

 

NEWS

 

The BJW is now on Twitter. We're just getting off the ground on this, so bear with us. If you Tweet, follow us at:

 

http://twitter.com/BAKJAZZWORKSHOP

 

 

Also, many of you remember local sax player Josiah Boornazian, a frequent participant at the BJW when he isn't in school or touring with his sextet. Well, he just announced that he's a big hit internationally!!! (Well, sort of.) One of his recordings recently made the playlist of a jazz radio station in Europe, in Estonia of all places!! 

  

 

VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS!!!

 

 

No new videos to report. If you have some that you've uploaded, send us the link and we'll put it in the next newsletter!

 

 

In the meantime,  here are some recent videos of jazz performances at the BJW and elsewhere around town at this link:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/maccifj#p/u

 

 

DONATIONS

 

Just a reminder to you all. The BJW is a non-profit 501c corporation staffed entirely by volunteers. No one who helps run the weekly workshop, including the performers, gets paid. To help us with our expenses, the purchase of equipment, and to provide scholarships, we depend upon your donations. We sure would appreciate it if you can make a small donation to our tip jar before you leave the workshop. (Your donation may be tax deductible - check with your tax advisor.)

 

Additionally, you may want to check with your employer to see if they have a Corporate program to support the arts and if they might be interested in becoming a BJW sponsor.  Chevron Corporation is a corporate sponsor and, in addition,  some of its employees have made individual donations to the BJW that were also matched by Chevron.

 

We have big plans for programs and activities for the workshop, but, we need funding to get them off the ground! Please help!

 

VOLUNTEERS

 

We are always looking for new volunteers. If you have the time, energy, and willingness, let us know - we'll find something for you to do and you can then tell your friends how you get to hang out with all of these cool jazz musicians! We are particularly looking for volunteers who would like to work on our website, help with our weekly workshop (set-up/break down, front desk, and jam sessions), and our newsletters. Just check with Frank or Steve or reply to this e-mail. Thanks for all of your support! 

 

 

SOCIAL NETWORKS

 

Finally, in addition to Twitter, as mentioned above, the BJW is also on Facebook. Just log on to Facebook and do a search for "Bakersfield Jazz Workshop" to find our Fan page, where we hope to keep you informed of future BJW events and other information. So, sign up as a Facebook Fan or check the following link for more info:

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/BAKERSFIELD-JAZZ-WORKSHOP/72817826130

 

 

We still maintain our Myspace site and this website too:

 

www.myspace.com/bakersfieldjazzworkshop

 

 

MORE INFO

 

Want to learn more about the BJW? Watch Steve Eisen, founder/director/CEO of the BJW explain what it’s all about at this link:

 

 

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=29663792

 

For more information, call 661.444.0853.

 

For more information, email bakjazzworkshop@lightspeed.net or call 661.444.0853.