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Hear it! Learn it! Play it! It’s all about the music!

Join us this coming Wednesday, March 4th. We are having a special open extended Jam Session for intermediate/pro levels. Please bring your Fake/Real Books. Instrumentalist and vocalists are welcome. Remind your friends that the workshop is FREE

The Bakersfield Jazz Workshop is a non-profit organization and would not exist without the generous donations of our supporters. Help us keep this unique jazz experience alive in our community. Ask any of our board members how YOU can become a friend of the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop.

The format for the workshop this week

6:30pm – 7:30pm Beginning Class

7:30pm – 10:00pm Open Extended Jam Session

FEATURED ARTISTS

FEBRUARY 2015

February 4 – Open Jam Session

February 11 – Never Too Late (debut of a new group)

February 18 – Bakersfield College Jazz Ensemble – Kris Tiner, director.

February 25 – Diego Garcia the El Twanguero, guitar virtuoso from Spain **Clinic/Concert**

WORKSHOP FORMAT & REQUIREMENTS

We have no minimum age limit and the workshop is free to all.

Bakersfield Jazz Workshop is divided into 3 segments:

6:30 – 7:30 pm : Beginning Workshop Class. Requirements - *Participants must be able to play all 12 major scales and chromatic scale, at least 2 octaves, by memory.

*Participants are expected to have basic to intermediate reading abilities. (Advanced middle school and high school students can usually meet this requirement.)

*While emphasis is on younger players, the beginning workshop is open to all, including musicians of other genres who want to expand their jazz vocabulary and chops. Advanced players often sit in and offer advice, much like the open jam session, creating a great low-pressure learning environment. *The focus of the class is to learn 6-8 Jazz Standards to performance readiness. When the instructor feels the class has reached this goal, the class will perform a concert as the Featured Artist in the 7:30-8:30 time slot. After this concert, the instructor will start a new set list, thereby repeating the process.

7:30 – 8:30 pm : Featured Artist. Requirements -*Ensembles / combos of any size or configuration may request a Wednesday date through Steve Eisen.

*Must be rehearsed and prepared to perform a one-hour set (6-10 tunes average) for a listening audience.

8:30 – 10:00 pm : Open Jam Session. Requirements – Intermediate to Professional level.

*Participants should be able to perform Jazz Standards by memory or be able to read out of the Real Book. (Workshop can provide Volumes 1 and 2 of these books for C, B-flat, E-flat, and Bass clef instruments.)

*Originals and arrangements are welcome as well. The workshop is a great venue for testing out new compositions and charts.

*SPECIAL NOTE TO VOCALISTS: Many tunes in the fake books are not always in an individual vocalist’s preferred keys. While this does not usually pose a problem for experienced players, we do not wish to put unnecessary pressure on anyone who is uncomfortable transposing without prior notice. Therefore, we kindly ask that if desiring to perform a tune not printed in the Real Book or arranged in a different key, charts should be provided prior to performance. If possible, 3-5 copies are preferred, and whenever practical, include transpositions for B-flat and E-flat instruments.

*There is a sign-up list available upon arrival. See session host or director if you would like to perform that evening.

After conclusion of workshop, volunteers are asked to please help break down and store all equipment.

For more questions please feel free to contact: CEO/Founder Steve Eisen @ 661-444-0853 or Beginning Class Instructor John Calo @ 858-382-3739

NEWS

We have been contacted by many professional jazz artists across the country as more and more people become aware of the BJW. Several of them have been asking us about open dates, particularly when they are traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco. We want to continue providing our friends and supporters with new and interesting artists but need your support to accomplish it. So, when you see our tip jar being circulated, we hope you can help us. And don’t forget to contact your employers – we’re always looking for corporate support from local businesses.

T-SHIRTS
They’re finally here! BJW T-shirts have arrived. We are selling them at every workshop for $20. Come out and pick yours up to show your support of local arts and talent.

UPDATES

Have an upcoming gig you want posted here? Want some free advertising? Care to give feedback on our webpage? Contact us at the link above or at bakjazzworkshop@yahoo.com and we will make our best effort to include you in our next newsletter! We know that sometimes gigs come up at the last minute, but if you can notify us at least a week in advance, we’ll fit you in.

VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS!!!

We’ve posted lots of videos from our benefit concerts, our weekly workshops, and other jazz gigs from around town. If you haven’t seen them yet, you can find many of them at the following link: BJW YouTube Playlist . When you get to that page, you’ll find several videos associated with the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop – our weekly events and annual benefit concerts. Additionally, the page has videos of jazz performances elsewhere in Bakersfield. Note that you can also access this page by clicking the YouTube icon on our website’s home page.

We also sometimes have video links from recent workshop appearances and elsewhere posted on our Facebook fan page. Check it out to see what you’re missing!

DONATIONS & SPONSORSHIPS

Just a reminder to you all: The BJW is a non-profit 501c corporation staffed entirely by volunteers. No one who helps run our normal, weekly workshops, including the performers, gets paid. To help us with our expenses, the purchase of equipment, to provide free clinics, pay the musicians (sometimes), and 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 adviser.)

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. For example, many corporations have programs by which they match donations made by its employees. For more information please visit our BJW Friends and Supporters page or call (661) 444-0853. You can also use the contact link above or send an email to us at bakjazzworkshop@yahoo.com

We have big plans for programs and activities for the workshop, but we need funding (and people – see below) 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. Then you can 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 help with our weekly workshop (setup / breakdown, front desk, and jam sessions). If you are interested in volunteering, here’s a chance for you. Just check with Steve, any other BJW volunteer, reply using the contact link above, or send an email to us at bakjazzworkshop@yahoo.com.

Thanks for all of your support!

SOCIAL NETWORKS

You can find us online at the following social networks and websites:

And, of course, the Bakersfield Jazz Workshop webpage: www.bakersfieldjazzworkshop.com

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:

Jazz Workshop Promo

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