“Modernity is the mantra of the SFJAZZ Collective,” an all-star jazz ensemble comprising some of the finest performer/composers at work in jazz today—including DownBeat Critics Poll “Artist of the Year” honorees Dave Douglas (2006) and Joe Lovano (2001). Launched in 2004 by SFJAZZ—the West Coast’s largest nonprofit jazz institution and the presenter of the annual San Francisco Jazz Festival—the Collective has quickly become one of the most exciting and acclaimed groups on the American and international jazz scenes—including honors as “Rising Star Jazz Group of the Year” in the 2006 DownBeat Critics Poll. As The New York Times hailed the Collective upon its debut: “A serious jazz band rises in San Francisco.”

In addition to its stellar line-up (see below), the SFJAZZ Collective has been praised for its innovative approach to repertoire. Each year, the ensemble performs an entirely new list of works, consisting of compositions by a modern jazz master (in new arrangements commissioned by SFJAZZ) and one new piece by each of the Collective members (also commissioned by SFJAZZ). Through this pioneering approach, simultaneously honoring jazz’s recent history while championing the music’s up-to-the-minute directions, the Collective embodies SFJAZZ’s organizational commitment to jazz as a living, ever-changing, and ever-relevant art form.

To cultivate its distinctive sound, the SFJAZZ Collective convenes in San Francisco each spring for a three-week residency. Throughout this extended rehearsal period—a rarity in today’s jazz—the ensemble workshops the season’s new repertoire and interacts with the Bay Area community through SFJAZZ’s education programs. The Collective then takes to the performance stage, including home season concerts under the auspices of the SFJAZZ Spring Season and a national and international tour, with stops in a number of the world’s most prominent concert halls.

Following each year’s season, SFJAZZ Records releases a deluxe, limited-edition multi-CD set (available only from SFJAZZ) representing the Collective’s full annual repertoire in concert. The Collective’s music is also available in wide distribution on the prestigious Nonesuch label, which will release its third annual disc of tour highlights in the fall of 2007.

In 2008, in addition to eight new original compositions, the Collective will perform works by legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

BAND MEMBERS:

Joe Lovano - saxophones
Dave Douglas - trumpet
Stefon Harris - vibraphone, marimba
Miguel Zenón - alto saxophone, flute
Robin Eubanks - trombone
Renee Rosnes - piano
Matt Penman - bass
Eric Harland - drums

QUOTES:

“Sheer, out-of-the-box musicality… revealed the joys and complexities of free improvising.” — The Los Angeles Times

“The group was roaring with the kind of chemistry that could truly be deemed collective.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“The best overall live jazz set this writer has heard in the NewMillennium.” — All About Jazz

“These musicians are among the most in-demand out there.”
— The New York Times

“An international jazz dream team convenes in SF to compose original works and remix classics.” — 7x7 (San Francisco)

“An extraordinarily high level of musicianship throughout.”
— Boston Globe


http://www.sfjazz.org