Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble photo courtesy of Michael Owcharuk
Friday, December 6, 8pm
Chapel Performance Space
The currently ten-piece Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble – Beth Fleenor (clarinet), Kate Olson, Brian Bermudez, Jim DeJoie (woodwinds), Al Keith, Tom Marriott (trumpets), David Marriott (trombone), Michael Owcharuk (piano), Nate Omdal (bass) and Adam Kessler (drums) – premieres eight new works by Wayne Horvitz, Samantha Boshnack, Beth Fleenor, David Marriott, Michael Owcharuk, Andy Clausen, Thomas Marriott and Nate Omdal, at the Chapel.
Each composer currently works with a variety large-ensembles – from alt big band to spontaneous conduction ensembles to cinematic chamber jazz ensembles. The incredible mix of approaches and experiences, however characteristic of each composer, shines with this band, many of them also contributing compositions.
First conceived by co-directors Michael Owcharuk and Nate Omdal in 2007, the SJCE has produced several homegrown projects and large collaborative events. They’ve partnered with the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), Seattle Composers Alliance and the Moisture Festival to create new scores for silent films, the Bushwick Book Club of Seattle and Seattle Men’s & Women’s Chorus to present work inspired by the Bible, and, in 2012, SJCE premiered Confluence/Influence: A Composer/Choreographer Pairing with Karin Stevens Dance. They’ve also performed new arrangements of video game music and new arrangements of compositions by Italian improviser and spaghetti Western composer Ennio Morricone.
An organization of intrepid composers and musicians, the SJCE seeks to create opportunities for Seattle’s verdant arena of generative, creative composers, musicians and artists. The pool of about 40 area musicians re-organizes from quintets to 18-piece ensembles for different projects. They have commissioned new works from over 20 composers, featuring more than 30 different local musicians, from ostensibly disparate scenes. Their self-released SJCE Composers Vol. I (2012) is seven works from diverse voices, traversing the straight-ahead and avant-garde.
With some institutional seed money from Shunpike three years ago, the SJCE has done a lot, and continues to fund-raise individual community support and seek grant funding. “Everyone’s in the band,” co-director Owcharuk says, in celebration of and in seeking new collaborative projects for Seattle composers.
Admission is $5-$15, suggested donation. This concert of new works is supported in part by 4Culture. More information at www.seattlejazzcomposersensemble.com.
