Tom Harrell

Worth Considering

Roman Nights CD

Remember the November 28th Concert, Jam Session

Sit-ins welcome, but no Wolves allowed!  For more information, click HERE

Jazz a la Brass Quintet in Rome!

A new recording by our friend Jim Martinez

Jim has recorded a new piece entitled "Your Name." Brandon Muchow is doing the vocal, and it's a great jazz version of a popular Christian song.  Enjoy! (and don't forget to turn off the mixpod before you listen)



Incidentally, we're working on getting Jim and Laura Didier back with us for the Jazz at the Church Concerts, maybe for a Jazz Concert and Jam Session AND the Doris Day Tribute concert... hopefully very soon!  That would be a great weekend, eh?  

Jim's MP3 music on Amazon.com

Sedona Jazz at the Church Update

What a great event last Sunday! Here are some pictures from the concert, which was filled with gifted musicians -  The trio of Steve Sandner, Denny Garr and Floyd Roberson, who were joined by sit-ins Lou Turano, Harley Gittleman, Vismayah, the Church Gardener and our dear friend and gifted Vicki McDermitt!

The next Jazz at the Church Concert and Jam Session will take place on Thanksgiving Day Weekend.  Specifically, from 1-3 pm, after the 10 am Morning Mass.  We’ll be having a special fellowship hour after the mass, with scrumptuous goodies AND time to be with one another socially.  

The church will be readied and the Jazz will begin anew, with November's version of the Steve Sandner Trio (Steve Sandner and Piano, Steve Douglas on Bass and Floyd Roberson on Drums) headlining the afternoon.  Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it!  

This will be the second concert with “Jam Session” attached to it, and if it’s half as good as the last one, it’ll be MORE than a smashing success!  So mark you calendars now, and bring those folk with you whom you know don’t have a spiritual home, and/or love Jazz!!  

Worth Considering

Re-Birth Of The Cool

Sedona Jazz at the Church is Fast Approaching...

Jazz Concert Poster

Our Jazz Concerts begin in less than two weeks, with a concert the weekend of Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival.  (Saturday, October 2).

Our gathering is the following afternoon - Sunday - with Soundscape Sedona Trio entertaining us.

  The trio consists of Susannah Martin, Vocals, our own jazz master AND church organist Steve Sandner on piano, and Steve Douglas on bass.

We've made a promotional flyer/poster (above) for the concert, which will be distributed hither and yon throughout Sedona and surrounding communities.  

If you would like some of the flyers to give to your friends, you can pick them up at the Church any day ('cept Saturdays), as they are on the Votive Candle stand table at the back of the Church.  (And if you want more information on the concerts, click the headline above!)

Help us help others find out about our parish church... the jazz, the holiness and the stunning beauty of both the courtyard setting and the building itself.  Bring them to one or both of the October concerts, and ask them to come to mass with you on Sundays... You - and they! - will be glad you did!  

We've expanded Jazz for October!

We've added another jazz concert at the church for October, so now we have two concerts - the first on October 3 (the weekend of "Sedona Jazz on the Rocks") and the second on October 17, our Patronal Feast weekend!

Both are at 3 o'clock in the afternoon on their particular Sunday.  For more information, click on the headline above, and be sure to make plans to attend...  mark your calendar now so as not to miss these great afternoons of Jazz in the prettiest venue imaginable!

We hope the two concerts will be the beginning of another great year of Jazz at the Church, and the price can't be beat anywhere in town - it's FREE!

Trio begins new season of Jazz @ the Church

Soundscape Sedona Trio

With their upcoming afternoon concert, Soundscape Sedona Trio begins the 2010 - 2011 Season of Sedona Jazz at the Church Concerts. 


    The trio consists of Susannah Martin, Vocals, Steve Douglas on Bass and Steve Sandner playing the piano. We'll be showcasing one musician each day for the next three days, and "first up" will be Susannah, who gets her spotlight tomorrow!
    The group brings with it a variety of styles, from Bossa Nova to beefy ballads, and if you want to hear them do Bossa Nova, CLICK HERE for a musical treat - Steve Sandner & Susannah Martin's rendition of Jobim's classic Corcovado, also known as  Quiet nights of quiet stars.
    For now, mark your calendars, so as not to miss this fun afternoon of cool Jazz at the Church. Admission is free; however, donations are encouraged, with the proceeds going directly and solely to the musicians!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

3 o'clock in the Afternoon

Judy Roberts @ the Monterey Jazz Festival

Pianist Judy Roberts

Our dear friend Judy Roberts is playing at the Monterey Jazz festival this weekend.    
      As Greg Fishman is giggin' there also, I assume they'll be playing together. 

      Judy is a master of all 88 keys of the piano, and although I don't know how many keys are on Greg's Saxophone, he rules them all, too!  

      Here's the link for some good info on both Judy and Greg, which is found on the Monterey Jazz Festival website. Have a great weekend, you two, and we'll hopefully see you up here for one of our concerts very soon!

Sedona's Jazz on the Rocks Festival

Sedona Jazz on the Rocks festival happens on Saturday, October 2, 2010, and it promises to be a GREAT event. We'll also be doing a concert at Saint Luke's church on the next day - Sunday, October 3. When we've finished the plans, we'll let everyone know the details. And yes, ours will be a free concert; however, donations are encouraged, with the proceeds going directly and solely to the musicians!

jazz returns to Saint Luke's Church, Sedona AZ!

Mark your calendar, 'cause our Sedona Jazz at the Church is coming back in October, on the day we celebrate our 23rd annual Patronal Feast!

More more information, go to the Jazz page, found by clicking the Jazz at the Church picture in the right column of the blog.

We're back... 'bout time, eh?

Well, so much for having to wait "'til the cows come home" to hear Jazz returning to Saint Luke's!

We're bringing back our Jazz at the Church concert series on the patronal feast of our parish, with Steve Sandner and Friends doing a 3pm concert on Sunday, October 17, 2010.

It's billed as a Sunday Jazz Jam, and that means that we'll have cats sittin' in during the concert!

As it always is when Steve's present, it promises to be a GREAT afternoon, and we are now in the process of getting the jazzers together, and will publish the "house band" members as soon as possible.

But please do remember, Steve is back in the Midwest now, so it'll take a bit of patience and time before we can publish the makeup of the group!

For now, put the date on your calendar, think about what friends of yours are jazz afficionados, and get ready for a great afternoon of gifted improvisation by talented musicians!

Enjoy the music "machine" to the right, and block out Sunday, October 17, 2010, so that you'll be with us!

Click the Sedona Jazz at the Church picture to the right, to go to the home page of our jazz gatherings at Saint Luke's.

Here's Sunday's "piano man!"

Sunday's Valentine's Day concert will include pianist Steve Sander, as he accompanies Renee Patrick and George Grant in their "Daughter and Dad Duo Plus One" concert.

Steve also "gigs" at Saint Luke's as the parish organist/pianist, to our delight!!

Here's a video of Steve playing the jazz standard by Saul Chaplin & Sammy Cahn, "Please Be Kind," with his quintet in Michigan last Summer...

Renee's coming to SJATC on Sunday!

Renee Patrick is coming back to Sedona Jazz at the Church on Sunday - Valentine's Day - with her Dad, George Grant!

It'll be quite an afternoon, with Steve Sandner rounding out a Valentine Trio of Love-ly Jazz music and ballads.

Click the "Next Concert" picture to the right for more information and tickets, and here's Renee giggin' over in Payson a few years ago with our friend Judy Roberts and her trio (Judy on Piano; the multi-talented Greg Fishman, this time on Bass; Gerry Reynolds, drums)...

Mal Waldron quintet 2 -Woody Shaw-solo-Reggie Workman

JOTFH - Jazz on the french horn: Part 2

Here's Giovanni again...

Nina Simone: "How it feels to be free"

I wonder... what Nina would have sung today?

JOTO - Jazz on the Oboe: Part 2

Indeed... listen to this frenchman, Jean-Luc Fillon...

Gee, Baby, ain't I good to you

Cool and understated Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie & Henry Johnson...

JOTO - Jazz on the Oboe!

This gal - Oboe tomoca - does something few dreamed of... she plays jazz on that "goofy" double-reed instrument which usually sits in the depths of an orchestra... right in the middle and almost unseen by most... the Oboe!

Tomorrow a post of the "grand master of oboe jazz" - Yusef Lateef ... no doubt an inspiration to Oboe tomoca's playing!!

JOTFH - Jazz on the french horn!!

Years ago there was a fellow named Julius Watkins who played Jazz french horn and was "The Man!"

Here's a fellow who's still tootin' jazz on the French Horn - his name is Giovanni Hoffer, and he's a real player, too!!!

He's playing the jazz standard, "Freddie the Freeloader."

Hey, Giovanni - Julius would be proud!!!!!

Billy Mitchell returns in May!

Yup, he's back with us in May 2010 for another "Sedona Jazz at the Church" concert!

We're still working on the particulars, but should have everything figured out within the month.

As many know, Mitch was here in September of last year, finishing off a weekend of two concerts (the first being with Renee Patrick & Steve Sandner) and it was a great time for everyone who attended.

The founder and director of the Scholarship Audition Performance Preparatory Academy (SAPPA), an advocate of World Music, and an absolutely fabulous man AND musician, Mitch's time with us promises to be another high point in our Jazz at the Church Concert series.

So check the jazz home page next week for the exact dates, and then mark your calendar... in ink!

Here's a video of Billy's group at a concert with saxophonist Carol Chaikin, at the "Tribute to World Music" concert in 2008 at the Levitt Pavilion Summer concert series in Pasadena, CA...

Not jazz... but it's really, really good!

Here's a once in a lifetime "find" for a fellow who taped this in the parking lot of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Kenny Vance is the fellow with the shades on...

Daughter & Dad Duo Plus One

You can now purchase your tickets for the Valentine's Day Concert, with Renee Patrick and George Grant doing the vocals and Steve Sandner on piano.

It's billed as "Daughter & Dad Duo Plus One" and promises to be a great, grand and glorious way to spend Valentine's Day with that someone special!!

This is a "return engagement" for both Renee and Steve, while George (of Castelles & Ink Spots fame) makes his Jazz at the Church debut.

What a fabulous afternoon it promises to be!!!

Within the week we'll have "spotlights" posted on all three of these marvelous musicians, so check back for more information AND our usual and great spotlight videos culled from YouTube of innumerable jazz artists!

Tickets are available at the church and online, so for ticket information, et al, click the picture which accompanies the upper right "Next Concerts" link.

Nina Simone & the "Backlash Blues"

Nothing need be said, eh?

Clark Terry on the Tonight Show

Clark Terry gets a "Lifetime Achievement Award" this month from the Grammys. Well deserved, to say the least!!! Here's a video of Clark on the Tonight Show... and watch for his circular breathing!

Yes, there's ALWAYS a Silver Lining

Yes, we had to cancel the concerts.

Yes, the parking lot was a sea of mud and goo.

Yes, we all were disappointed that Laura, Jim and Warren wouldn't be in our midst, entertaining and lifting us up musically with good vibes and great rhythm...

However, In the midst of life - when it's not all that "good" at first glance - there is always a silver lining to the cloudiness of our surroundings.

Such was the case with this weekend. Although the weather "pushed out" and precluded any concerts, there was a bit of beauty given.

The accompanying picture was taken yesterday, in the midst of the snow storm. It shows the gate to Saint Luke's Church, and the water streaming down the walkway towards the parking lot.

It is a kind of visible reminder of the "silver linings" of life, albeit this weekend's events are a bit of a mini life lesson: things don't happen on our timetable.

We may be "ready, willing and able," but circumstances can change what occurs.

Fear not! Things work out in time. And in reference to the postponed concerts, they will take place in March, and there's no doubt that they will be another high point in our Jazz Ministry and work for the Lord.

So let's thank God for the beauty of the earth, the changing winds of rain, sleet and snow, and then remember what is perhaps the most timely lesson of all... when events happen in life, look for the presence of God in it: that is, the good, the glorious.

He'll be there. He always is. Sometimes, however, we just "hang our head" and don't see Him.

Do you see Him in the picture? (click it with your cursor to make it larger.)

Weekend Concerts Postponed - really bad weather!

This weekend's scheduled concerts have been postponed due to the rain, flooding, and subsequent snowy weather in Sedona.

However, all is NOT lost, as we are in the process of rescheduling the concerts for the weekend of March 12 - 14.

That will be the weekend of the 4th Sunday in Lent, commonly called "Refreshment Sunday" - a day when the Lenten discipline is relaxed, both liturgically and personally.

So this particular "Refreshment" weekend will not only witness flowers returning to adorn the Altar on this Sunday (their absence throughout Lent is one of the "rigors"), but we'll even be refreshed musically...

How so? The two postponed concerts - "Tribute to the Music of Doris Day" and"Jazz Praise... Amazing Grace ala Take Five: Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together" - WILL return to both enliven our spirits and refresh our souls!!!

Now, THAT'S Refreshment!

The specific times and dates will be published within two weeks.

So what's the next regularly scheduled concert? Click the "Next Concerts" picture (above right) to find out about a really cool Valentine's Day concert!

This is a video from a few years ago, taken at a concert at Saint Peter's Church in New York City, which is affectionately called by many New Yorkers "The Jazz Church."

And then there's us - Sedona, AZ and the Jazz at the Church concert series.

Pick up your tickets for this weekend concerts, either at the church today and tomorrow from noon until 3pm, or online via the "Next Concerts" picture in the upper right hand corner of the blog, and see you at the concerts!

Woody Shaw & Friends

See you Saturday & Sunday?

A great weekend, with two distinct concerts: "A Tribute to the Music of Doris Day" and "Jazz Praise: Amazing Grace ala Take Five - Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together"

Get your tickets by clicking on the "Next Concerts" picture to the right, and for now...

enjoy the video below, of the late, great and cool struttin' Woody Shaw at the Mt Fuji Jazz Festival some years back... around two years or so before Woody died.

Get your tickets for this weekend

The trio of Jim Martinez (piano), Laura Didier (vocals) and Warren Jones (bass) are coming to Saint Luke's this weekend for two concerts, and it promises to be not only a fun event, but a joyous experience, also!

Here's the lineup for the weekend:

~ 3 pm Saturday ~

"Tribute to the Music of Doris Day"

~ 3 pm Sunday ~

"Jazz Praise Concert"

Amazing Grace ala Take Five:

Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together!

Click the "Next Concerts" picture (above & to the right) for tickets & info...

they're on their way!!

It's not quite the pony express, but Jim, Laura and Warren are moving our way (maybe THIS should be their theme song for the week?) ...

Yesterday they did the Doris Day Tribute at Historic First Presbyterian Church in Phoenix, tuesday and wednesday they will be at Faith Lutheran Church in Yuma, AZ, then back to Phoenix for a gig on thursday at the Steinway center, then "over and up" to Overgaard's Faith Lutheran Church for a friday night gig and then finally - voila! - they'll be with us on Saturday and Sunday!!!

Gadzooks, they're busy, aren't they!!!

Get your tickets today online - right HERE - and we'll see you at Church for two great afternoons of fabulous music by Jim Martinez on piano, Laura Didier doin' the singing, and Warren Jones on bass!

Jim Martinez plays Billville

Here's Jim doing a duo with himself...

And remember, he's going to be here at the Church next weekend (Jan. 23 & 24, 2010) for two concerts! Click the "Next Concerts" picture to the right for information and tickets...

Jim Martinez & Lionel Hampton

Lionel Hampton & Jim Martinez playin' in NYC in 2000... a great piece of history, to say the least!

And remember: Jim, Laura Didier and Warren Jones will be with us February 23 & 24, 2010, so get your tickets now!! Just click on the "next concerts" poster to the right....

Jim's posted "info" from the video is this:

"This was Hamp's 2nd to last recording session (12/00) at age 91. The session was for "Praise Him With Jazz" at Avatar Studios in NYC. www.jimmartinez.com for more info. Video credit to my good buddy in NY, Joe Covey."\

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Warren Jones III, Bassist

Warren Jones appears for the first time at our Jazz at the Church series with Laura Didier and Jim Martinez in January 2010.

Here's a GREAT bio on him, culled directly from his website....

"Warren L. Jones III has spent more than 30 years as a professional bassist, composer, clinician and teacher.

"He has performed and recorded with national and local musicians and entertainers in the Valley of the Sun since 1980.

"A Jazz Bass Performance graduate of the Arizona State University School of Music in 1986, he has taught in high schools, community colleges, and was an adjunct faculty member of the ASU Jazz department. Currently he is an adjunct faculty member at Mesa Community College.

"He appears with both local and national artists on more than 30 CDs and DVDs. Mr. Jones has composed over 30 pieces of music for various diverse ensembles. His compositions and arrangements have been performed locally and internationally.

"Warren was a founding member of the award winning Craig Render Quartet in the 1980's and has been mentioned in Downbeat magazine as a musician to be noticed in Arizona.

"Warren has performed as a sideman on many jazz recordings, including two releases by the Phoenix Jazz Quartet, several with the Keith Greko Trio, “Live at Inspirations” with Bob Kindred and Chuck Marohnic, "The Complete Phoenix Recordings" with the Carl Fontana/Conte Condoli Quintet, "A Cool Brassy Night at the North Pole" with Summit Brass, Fred Forney's "Into the Mist", and the critically acclaimed Bob Ravenscroft Trio's , “Live at Taliesen West”.

"Warren has been, and is a leader of several jazz ensembles, including the Trio 2000, the Quartetto del Sol, and the Phoenix Jazz Quartet with Armand Boatman and the Moio Brothers. His most recent group "BRIDGES" features Jacob Koller on piano and is a critical success."

For more information on Warren, and to purchase his CD go to his website, found HERE.

Finally, here's a video of Warren playing with guitarist Chris Champion on "All Blues.."

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Laura Didier, Vocals

Vocalist Laura Didier, together with pianist Jim Martinez, began our Jazz at the Church Concert series in February 2009.

The concert was billed as "Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together" and was a fitting beginning to what has turned out to be a very successful and joyous endeavor for our parish.

In 2010 Laura and Jim will present not only the above-mentioned Jazz Praise concert, but have expanded into a second concert entitled "A Tribute to the Music of Doris Day." (click HERE for the "A Tribute to Doris Day" website)

It's good to have the two of them back with us again, and we'll probably have them revisit us in 2011, too... they absolutely love Sedona!

Here's a biographical sketch on Laura, culled from her myspace website:

"Laura Didier was raised with an appreciation for music by her father, a classically trained pianist, and her mother, with whom she shares a love of musical theater. At an early age, she developed her ear for song and found herself being drawn toward the sweet, sentimental, and sultry sounds of the great American vocalists. She was, and continues to be, inspired by the music of Doris Day, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughn, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and many others.

"Didier has spent the past fifteen years supporting the Air Force career of her husband and raising their three sons, Alex, Sam, and Zach. While stationed from 1997-2004 in Goldsboro, NC, she joined the choir at her church. During that time, she continued to develop vocally and discovered that singing would always be her passion.

"Didier first began studying voice when she and her family moved to Carmel, CA in 2004. Two years later, she relocated to her hometown of Sacramento, CA, where she continued studying both classical and jazz singing. In August of 2008, Didier relocated back to Goldsboro, NC, where she and her family currently reside.

"Jam sessions are a great place to play and meet other musicians. While living in Sacramento, Didier had the fortune of meeting CA Jazz pianist Jim Martinez in February of 2007 at such an event. She has been performing with his group nationally ever since. Highlights have included the Sacramento, CA Jazz Festival, the Vacaville, CA Jazz Festival, and a Christmas concert in Davenport, IA. In February of 2008, she traveled with the Jim Martinez trio to Moscow, ID for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival where she participated in the "Jazz in the Schools" program and assisted with student workshops. Most recently, Didier returned from her first international appearance at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in New Brunswick, Canada.

"Didier continues to expand her musical skills by adding business and promotions. She co-headlined and co-produced the Spring 2008 "Sacramento/Seattle Jazz Divas" concert in Loomis, CA as well as a Christmas concert in Goldsboro, NC in November of 2008. Along with her pianist and musical director Jim Martinez, Didier has co-developed a "Tribute to the Music of Doris Day" show which premiered in Roseville, CA in February of 2009."

Laura can be found on the internet on MySpace and her new website, LauraDidier.com. Here's Laura singing at a concert in Carmel, California a while back...

"Jazz at the Church" Spotlight: Jim Martinez, piano

Jazz pianist Jim Martinez, together with vocalist Laura Didier, began our Jazz at the Church Concert series in February 2009.

The concert was billed as "Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together" and was a fitting beginning to what has turned out to be a very successful and joyous endeavor for our parish.

In 2010 Jim and Laura will present not only the above-mentioned Jazz Praise concert, but has also added a second concert entitled "A Tribute to the Music of Doris Day." (click HERE for the "A Tribute to Doris Day" website)

Here's the link for tickets for their appearances on January 23 & 24, 2010.

Jim presents a variety of live shows, including not only the above mentioned Jazz Praise and Doris Day concerts, but also tributes to Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton and Edvard Grieg, together with "The Jazz Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas" and a Diva Series concert.

Currently living in Sacramento, California, Jim, a classically-trained pianist, has performed or recorded with notables like Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Christian McBride, Benny Golson, Roy Hargrove, Russell Malone and Ed Thigpen, the first drummer with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Hampton was a guest on Jim's fifth CD titled "Praise Him With Jazz".

After a 2002 concert at Carmel Presbyterian Church, the legendary Clint Eastwood said in a Los Angeles newspaper interview, "Last night, we went to a church in Carmel where a guy named Jim Martinez was playing...they were great."

If you follow our meditation series on YouTube, you'll know that we use Jim's Jazz Praise music often, and if you would like more information on Jim and his music, it can be found via his website at www.JimMartinez.com

Here's one of several of Jim's videos on YouTube, ending with a very cool "They will know we are Christians...." :