Friday, April 25, 7pm
The Royal Room
After establishing a highly successful career as a vocalist and educator, Johnaye Kendrick now steps into the light as a composer with her new CD Here, a mellifluous reflection on love in all its gradations. She will celebrate the release with an April 25th performance at the Royal Room. Joining her will be Dawn Clement on piano, Chris Symer on bass and Byron Vannoy on drums, all of whom are featured on the recording.
The title track “Here” is a hopeful anthem to the present moment and was written as a “love song to everyone.” The rest of the compositions deal more specifically with romantic love, from the rush and wonder to the ache and inherent vulnerability.
Through the masterful weave of lyric and melody, Kendrick creates stories that are deeply personal yet speak to universal themes. She also draws from a range of influences that include jazz, classical and pop. Variations in instrumentation, groove and harmonies evoke specific moods for each song.
“Your Flowers,” with the soft cascade of vocals and the gentle arco bass, reflects the delicate promise of new love. The pensive assuredness of “I Am Not Afraid” is accentuated by the harmonium, which Kendrick refers to as “an instrument of prayer.” The sprightly samba “I Will Wait Forever” is a spirited declaration of optimism and patience.
Throughout the recording, Kendrick’s voice brings each song to full fruition. Whether phrasing a lyric or soaring unfettered over a scat solo, Kendrick possesses a stunning range, an impeccable tone and an almost transcendental command of her instrument.
Although Kendrick has been songwriting for several years, she has only been performing her original music for the past five. While studying at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Kendrick says that she wrote “tons” of compositions but quickly put them away, uncomfortable with sharing. But artistic director Terence Blanchard recognized her artistry and encouraged her to embrace her musical voice.
Here is a testament to that process. “I could have done an album with several jazz standards and an original or two,” she says, “But I figured this is my first CD. I love performing my original music. I really want to show what I love to do.”
The recording process was bolstered by the unique synergy of the musicians on the album, which also includes contributions from D’Vonne Lewis on drums. Pianist Clement credits Kendrick for the collaborative cohesion: “The way she interacts with the band reflects a great musician. There were a lot of vehicles for each musician to really play and be themselves. It’s some of the most fun I’ve had musically in a long time. I can’t wait to play this music for people.”
A native of San Diego, Kendrick grew up playing piano and violin. She received her BA in music from Western Michigan University. In 2007, she was accepted into the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute, where she worked and studied with some of the greatest artists in contemporary jazz, including Terence Blanchard, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Danilo Perez, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Brian Blade. She received an artist diploma from the Institute. Concurrent with her studies there, she also attended Loyola University and received a master’s in jazz studies. Since graduation, Kendrick has performed and traveled extensively with the Nicholas Payton SEXTET. She has also been the featured vocalist with the Ellis Marsalis Quartet and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Kendrick recently toured Russia with pianist Alexey Podymkin. In addition to performing and recording, Kendrick teaches at Cornish College for the Arts, where she is an assistant professor of jazz voice. To make reservations for the April 25th performance, go to www.royalroomseattle.com or call 206-906-9920. For more information about Kendrick, please visit her website at www.johnayekendrick.com.
JAM at The Royal
Monday, April 14, 8pm
Kelly Ash Band w/ Dawn Clement & Johnaye Kendrick / Clement & Kendrick Duo
A Seattle transplant, vocalist Kelly Ash now lives in NYC and leads a quintet blend of jazz, folk, soul and pop, featuring a special chance to experience fresh duo developments by Johnaye Kendrick & Dawn Clement.
Tuesday, April 15, 8pm
Chris Speed Trio with Dave King and Chris Tordini
Seattle born, Brooklyn-based saxophonist and clarinetist Speed has been a formidable presence on the front line of progressive jazz in NYC for over two decades (Claudia Quintet, AlasNoAxis, Human Feel, Bloodcount, Pachora, Endangered Blood). This trio with Minneapolan Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple) and bassist extraordinaire Chris Tordini digs into the revered tenor trio tradition.
Wednesday, April 16, 8pm
Piano Starts Here: Hoagy Carmichael & George Gershwin
Two of the greatest American composers and songwriters of the 20th century, Gershwin and Carmichael were also superb pianists. The Piano Starts Here series brings together Seattle’s finest pianists to perform works by some of the most prolific and talented composers and pianists to have ever tackled the instrument. Curated by Wayne Horvitz and Tim Kennedy
Tickets are $10 advance/$12 at the door/$5 students, available now at strangertickets.com.
Saturday, April 19, 6pm
“Dependent Origination”: Cline/Sewelson/Kuhn/Horvitz/Walton
Five musicians, representing several generations of free/experimental jazz come together to present a night a music drawing from their rich history and past collaborations, notably, that of keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, clarinetist Peter Kuhn and saxophonist Dave Sewelson, who connected through the New York experimental music scene in the early 1980s. Together, they’ve had numerous collaborations on Black Saint and Soul Note records and other labels with experimental jazz greats such as William Parker, Phillip Wilson, John Zorn, Bobby Previte and more. Bassist and pianist Scott Walton, another contributor to Black Saint and Soul Note, reunites with Horvitz after formally working with him on Horvitz’s brother’s, guitarist Bill Horvitz’s, projects. Alex Cline completes the lineup on drums, having worked with Scott Walton, as well as a Bill Frisell, Peggy Lee and of course, his twin brother Nels Cline.
Monday, April 28, 8pm
Frankly Monday: MetriLodic & Beth Fleenor’s Workshop Ensemble
MetriLodic is Eric Barber (saxophone/electronics), PK (bass) and Byron Vannoy (drums) creating original improvised music in multi-metric grooves.
Hailed as “alternately buoyant and ponderous, transfixing and exceptional” (City Arts Magazine), Beth Fleenor’s Workshop Ensemble is a 12-piece modular project that performs her chamber works.
No cover. The musicians are compensated by your donations.
