October 3, 2009--Seattle--Julius Watkins Jazz Horn Festival Hi Friends, Tom Varner here. I moved from NYC to Seattle in fall '05, after 26 years in NYC. Life is good out here, especially with 2 young kids. Good players, good food, easier life with kids. I still miss many NY friends, though. Still traveled quite a bit in 06 and 07--Vienna, Rotterdam (worked with hornists at the Conservatory) , Spain, Portugal, Vancouver BC, and even Moscow Idaho, Yakima, and Eugene OR (another workshop with L. Van Dreel's students one year ago). Less travel in 08 and 09, though with a 6 and 8-y-old, I'm not complaining!
After around a ten-year break after doing five festivals in the NYC area, I've decided to have another celebration of jazz on the horn. Wanted to let people know. So: The 6th Julius Watkins Jazz Horn Festival Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA, USA workshops/talks/concerts from 12:30 pm, and main concert at 8 pm. Vincent Chancey, John Clark, (both NYC), Fred Johanessen (Bergen Philhamonic, Norway, and a great jazz player), Stephen Morley (Sydney, Australia), Pat Smith (VCU, Richmond VA), Mike Simpson (Seattle area), Jeffrey Snedeker (CWU, Ellensburg WA), Adam Unsworth (U of M, Ann Arbor), David Kappy (U of WA, Seattle), Cara Sawyer, (free lance, Seattle/Chicago), Lydia Van Dreel (U of O, Eugene OR), myself, and more! Doug Hill might join us too. With Cornish's top jazz faculty trio joining us. Fred from Bergen Norway has recently informed me that he is bringing 3 Norwegian hornist friends with him--(!)--Eywind Andreassen (Oslo Radio Orch.), Rune Brodal, (solo horn, Oslo Opera), and Brit Johnsrud (Oslo free-lance, I believe). This will be a great party and celebration of Julius's legacy. Chancey studied with Julius in the 70's and I also took a few lessons with Julius in the mid-70s too. Hooray for Pat Smith and Jeff Snedeker for doing more some great work on Julius's life and music that we can all learn from. More info at www.JuliusWatkins.com , and at www.Cornish.edu/music/watkins , with links to many of the performers' sites. For those new to jazz horn history, Julius Watkins was the real pioneer of jazz improvisation on the horn, who, along with Graas, Schuller, Amram, Ruff, and others, led the way for the rest of us. Let your Northwest USA friends know! Feel free to ask me for more details--t-shirts are available too! best to all, Tom Varner _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
