November 2014
Resonance Jazz Comes to the SF Jazz Center
23/11/14 12:11
Resonance Jazz Ensemble, the Bay Area’s one-of-a-kind jazz octet premieres new works pushing the jazz envelope in their “Fearless Force” concert at the SF Jazz Center’s Robert A. Miner Auditorium this Saturday night at 8:00 pm. The band will introduce new compositions by band members with arrangements of jazz and rock standards by Pianist and Bandleader, Steve McQuarry. Acknowledged by jazz reviewers for “offering a rich fusion of orchestral and big band sounds, with emotional character blending textures and colors of jazz that creates a harmonic canvas of pure delight,” Resonance Jazz Ensemble breaks ground adding strings to the traditional jazz sound.
Unusual Instrumentation
With an unusual blend of instrumentation that includes violin, viola, cello, sax, flute, piano, bass and drums, the band melds classical with jazz artists and styles into new compositions as well as works from their CD “Introductions”. Reviewers describe this unusual texture of sound explaining: “RESONANCE collectively pushes the jazz envelope with a fearlessness that forces uncharted space for exhilarating musical exploration. . . offering an enlightened landscape of musical shades.” Audiences will experience the force and breadth of McQuarry’s arrangements weaving textured layers into compositions by familiar jazz greats including Dave Brubeck, Chick Correa, Billie Holliday, Fats Waller, Carole King, Fleetwood Mac, and Sting.
Impressive Musical Pedigree with Women up Front
This Bay Area group hails members with a collectively mature history of performing with legendary artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Jethro Tull, Joe Lovano, Clare Fischer, Dave Anderson Quartet, Mingus Amungus, Gloria Estefan, as well as symphonies and the California Pops Orchestra. Five of the musicians are women playing up front – unusual for jazz where primarily singers, rather than instrumentalists, perform on the front line. This is also the first performance by a local jazz group at the SF Jazz Center, the largest facility dedicated to jazz in the US. In addition to Resonance’s debut, McQuarry is slated to bring several more projects to SF Jazz, including a concert featuring the works of pianist Carla Bley.
Resonance Jazz Ensemble
SF Jazz Center
201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA
Saturday, October 18th at 8 pm. Tickets are $25.