Deanna Witkowski's "Wide Open Window"

Here's a glimpse of Deanna Witkowski - a composer, pianist and singer from the East Coast, who's also giggin' in an Episcopal Church...

Wonder if she's coming out West any time soon?

Christmas Eve Jazz

Did you know that we start out Christmas with an early evening Jazz Mass? It's at five o'clock in the evening, and is the first of three Christ Masses we'll be celebrating.

HERE's the url for the Christmas masses, which also contains links for information on the musicians who will be participating - Vicki McDermitt, Russ Schmidt, Rob Moore and Dwight Kilian... all associated with the non-profit Music Serving the Word ministry of Carefree, Arizona.

If you're a jazz afficionado, this may be "The Christmas Event" for you!

And be sure to scroll through the other two masses we'll be celebrating for Christmas, as they are also GREAT events, and, along with the jazz mass, promise to be "full" experiences!

Jessica Williams plays "Nice work if you can get it"

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Rob Moore, Drums

"Rob Moore grew up in Phoenix, AZ and began his musical career at nine, on the clarinet. He soon convinced his dad to take him down to the local drum store for lessons and before long Rob was driving everyone in the house crazy (including his grandma who would pretend like she was having seizures on her bed in order to get Rob to refrain from making so much noise) by practicing his drums all day long.

"During high school Rob continued to develop his musicianship by playing drums in the high school jazz band, in the Phoenix Musicians Union sponsored all-city jazz band "Young Sounds" and in the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks youth band, where he had a chance to bump elbows with then unknown singer/ songwriter Michelle Branch as well as many of prominent jazz artists such as Chick Corea, Branford Marsalis, Chuck Mangione and Billy Mitchell. A man of many musical fronts, Rob was in the high school vocal ensemble, he played a leading role in Sondheims musical "Into the Woods", and took advantage of the Advanced Placement Music Theory course.

"It was easy to see that by the end of high school Rob was beginning to emerge as the musical force he's respected as today. When he chose to attend Arizona State Univeristy Rob was awarded the Jazz-Bird scholarship and chosen--as a Freshman--to play in the University's top Concert Jazz Band. This accomplishent earned him the opportunity to work with legends such as Doc Severinson and Gunther Schuller. While at ASU Rob also performed in various jazz combos, latin bands and percussion ensembles and studied with percussion Professor Dr. J.B. Smith and Jazz drummer Dom Moio.

"Throughout his college career, Rob continued to develop his musicianship playing countless performances throughout the Phoenix area, closely studying the notes of musical greats spanning all genres, and spending hours upon hours in 'the lonely box' (aka 'the wood shed' aka the practice room) practicing piano, marimba, snare drum and drumset. while in college Rob's CD player spent many a day spinning the sides of Radio Head, Bjork, D Angelo, Eliott Smith and The Roots.

"Currently Rob lives in Scottsdale and works all around the Phoenix area with various musical ensembles (to find out where Rob is playing next just check out the schedule). Rob is well-known for putting the sound of the group above the sound of the drums and as one of the world's most musical drummers, audience members of a Rob Moore concert have been heard uttering words to themselves such as, 'graceful, sensitive, tasteful.' "

(The above is from Rob's internet site, as linked below)

ROB was with us for the October Inner Journeys Trio concert, and rejoined us for the Christmas Eve Jazz Mass, also.

Rob's official internet site is HERE, and his MySpace site is HERE.

Sedona Jazz at the Church - Today's Concert

4:00 pm Sunset Concert

Saturday, November 21 '09

That's right! Our next concert is today, with the Vicki McDermitt Trio. Great musicians and a great evening await us, to be sure! Click on the names to read about each of the musicians...

Vicki McDermitt, Vocals

Russell Schmidt, Piano

Dwight Kilian, Bass

Think about who you want to bring with you to this concert, and then buy your tickets ONLINE or at the door! We'll also be selling tickets at the church today during the noon hour, so...

General Admission: $10 ($15 at the door)

Reserved Seating: $15 ($20 at the door)

And don't forget your cameras, because this is a "Sunset Concert," and it looks as though we are probably going to have an absolutely magnificent sunset right about the time we take a break!

Great jazz, a heavenly setting, and all in this most holy place we call Saint Luke's Church! It can't get much better than that, eh???!!!!

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Dwight Kilian, Bass

Dwight Kilian of Phoenix, Arizona, is an extraordinary bassist and the Executive Director of Music Serving the Word ministries, located in Carefree, Arizona.

Dwight grew up in Kansas, the "heartland" of America. He started his musical journey by playing guitar, which led to tuba and finally to electric and acoustic bass.

He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University in 1986. From 1982 to 1988, Kilian was a "Kansas Jazz Artist in Residence" and a member of the "Kansas Touring Arts". He also taught jazz bass at WSU, Bethel College, and Hutchinson Community College. In 1988, he moved to Denver, freelancing with local and national artists.

Dwight has performed with many top jazz artists such as Sheila Jordan, Art Lande, Herbie Mann, Teddy Edwards, Mark Murphy, Ernie Watts, Richie Cole, Mose Allison, Myra Melford, Jerry Hahn, Milcho Leviev, Claudio Slon, Paul McCandless, Nick Brignola, Lee Konitz, Ken Peplowski, Bob Florence, Lennie Niehaus, and Marvin Stamm.

He has also performed at many of the major jazz festivals in the Midwest and also at the Holland Blues Festival. Kilian relocated to Phoenix in November of 1998, as bassist with the Discovery Jazz Trio at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, AZ for six years.

Currently freeelancing throughout the Valley performing with some of the area's top jazz musicians, his festival performances while living in Arizona include: 1999 Wichita Jazz Festival, Carefree Music Festival from 2003 to 2007, and the Prescott Jazz Summit from 2003 to 2006. While in the valley he's taught Jazz Bass at Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, and Arizona State University from 1999 to 2006.

In 2005, Kilian became Executive Director of Music Serving the Word Ministries and the bassist for The Inner Journeys Trio led by pianist Bob Ravenscroft. He also co-leads a concert series in Glendale at New Hope Covenant Church called Jazz For The Soul, held the second Sunday of each month.

Dwight was with us for the October Inner Journeys Trio concert, he rejoined us for both the Vicki McDermitt Concert on November 21st and the Christmas Eve Jazz Mass, also, both in 2009

Click for CD/MP3

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Russ Schmidt, Pianist

Coming to us for the first time through the Sunset Concert on November 21, 2009, Jazz pianist Russell Schmidt holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He formally served as the Artistic Director of the Toledo Jazz Orchestra.

As a jazz performer, Russ has worked with such artists as Carl Allen, Eddie Daniels, Tim Hagans, John Hollenbeck, Mark Murphy, Gerry Mulligan, Dick Oatts, Arturo Sandoval, and Clark Terry. He has recorded with Joe Lovano, Vicki McDermitt, Bob Sneider, the Birch Creek Jazz Band, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and the Paul Ferguson Jazz Orchestra, among others.

Season of Change, his critically acclaimed debut recording as a leader, was released last year on the Amp Recordings label. [click here for a review if the CD]

In addition to his performances in jazz settings, Schmidt has served as keyboard soloist with more than 30 professional orchestras, including performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and with the San Francisco Symphony.

Active as a jazz educator, he presently directs the Jazz String Quartet Program at the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He has previously served on the jazz faculties of Bowling Green State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Arizona State University, and the Eastman School of Music.

A talented composer and arranger, he has written for artists as wide-ranging as jazz saxophonists Bob Berg and Michael Brecker, the Ying String Quartet, and the chamber music group Rhythm & Brass.

Russ will also rejoin us for the Christmas Eve Jazz Mass, 2009 at 5pm at the Church.

Who Created Jazz?

This is the advertisement we had back in the late 1980's and then again in the 2008 Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival playbill. And it's true, you know!!

Below is the sermon that was referenced in the ad - although by the time we posted the video we had renamed it as "Just Do The Right Ones!"

In any event, enjoy it, and hang in there 'til the end of the video, as there's a GREAT piece played by Jack Sheldon that's the closer!

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Vicki McDermitt

Here's a bit about Vicki, taken from the Music Serving the Word website…

"Vicki McDermitt is a respected artist with a reputation for handling a broad variety of musical styles. Her career began at an early age, singing in church, and then moving early on into the jazz arena, where she has had the privilege of working with some of the country’s top musicians. Living in LA she worked as a session singer and was heavily involved in musical production work for television.

"In addition to her busy music and ministry schedule, Vicki also serves as staff vocalist at Mayo hospital where she offers “private in-room accapella” concerts to the most seriously ill. “I believe all musical sounds are created by God and should be performed in praise to Him”, says McDermitt. This belief and passion is evident wherever – and whenever – Vicki sings.

"Whether she is on a jazz concert stage, ministering at women’s conferences, singing in local church settings, or offering her voice to a patient who needs hope and assurance… people experience a quality of excellence that radiates warmth, love, joy and enthusiasm.

"'My calling is to use music to remind others of the relentless love of God,' Vicki says. 'The opening can be as subtle as a jazz ballad, or as direct as a hymn of the church. I’m always looking for an appropriate way to plant the reminder that no matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, God is seeking you out for relationship. Music is the gift that breaks down walls and opens the heart to hear the words. The result is indescribable joy.'

"As a member of Music Serving the Word Ministries team, Vicki often performs with one of our ensembles, as well as offering individual jazz and/or gospel concerts, and other ministry venues."

Vicki's album - "Vicki McDermitt: Jazz for the Soul" - is a great CD, and can be obtained through the Music Serving the Word website, as linked above. Vicki will rejoin us for the Christmas Eve Jazz Mass at the church, too, bringing with her Russ Schmidt on piano, Dwight Kilian on bass and Rob Moore on drums.

And, in fact, watch for her return in the future, as we love her and she loves us!!!