Jazz on Sunday
Laura Caviani

Concert (2 sets): 3:30-5:30 pm
Improvisational Music Workshop: 6-7 pm

General public:
$12.00 advance,
$15.00 at the door
Students with ID, Members of Madison Music Collective and Madison Jazz Society: $8.00
advance, $10.00 at the door on day-of-show

Workshop Admission: Free

Laura Caviani on piano

"From Bach to Bop"

Pete Whitman, Tenor Saxophone
John Schaffer, Bass
Rand Moore, Drums

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012

The Brink Lounge


ABOUT THE PROGRAM

In “From Bach to Bop,” Twin Cities-based pianist Laura Caviani and her band-mates explored themes by famous classical composers using improvisation in a straight–ahead jazz format.  Initially a classically trained pianist, Ms. Caviani grew up studying the great works of Bach (J.S. and C.P.E.), Chopin, Schumann, Schubert, Debussy and Gershwin, among others.  Now, after more than 30 years of focusing on jazz, Caviani has returned to these works for inspiration, retooling them for her working trio into a subtle blending of both classical and jazz, where improvisation is the focus. Her trio debuted these new arrangements in January 2012 at one of the Twin Cities’ leading music clubs, the Artists' Quarter, to a highly appreciative audience.

For her Madison program, Ms. Caviani also included some compositions by her saxophonist partner, Pete Whitman, as well as a few selections from her acclaimed 2006 CD, “Going There.”

Following the concert, Ms. Caviani lead a workshop in which she discussed her approach to music-making, conducted an audience talk-back session, and invited musicians in the audience (both amateur and professional) to the stage to make music with her. 

 

ABOUT LAURA CAVIANI

Laura Caviani was born and raised in Minnesota, where she currently freelances and teaches at St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges in Northfield, MN.  Her 2006 CD release, “Going There,” enjoyed a long run on the JazzWeek national radio charts.  Music critic Bob Protzman described it as “piano trio jazz of the highest order.”  Caviani has released five CDs as leader, receiving notices such as “stunningly fresh” from JazzTimes magazine and “in a word, outstanding” from the MinneapolisStar Tribune. 

Ms. Caviani has extensively toured and recorded with Concord recording artist Karrin Allyson and has performed with many other jazz luminaries including Toots Thielemans, Stan Getz, Diane Schuur, Oleta Adams, Bob Mintzer and Dave Liebman.  In the Twin Cities, her numerous projects include the Pete Whitman X-tet and recordings with star vocalists Prudence Johnson and Lucia Newell, and Brazilian styled guitarist Joan Griffith.  She holds degrees from Lawrence University (BM–Theory/Composition) and The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. (MM–Improvisation).

Local music fans may still remember Ms. Caviani’s stirring 2010 performance in Madison as part of our community’s Mary Lou Williams Centennial Celebration.  Sample her touch with Ms. Williams’ music at www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGF_iZUYUlY.  For more information about her, please visit www.lauracaviani.com.

 

ABOUT PETE WHITMAN

One of the leading saxophonists on the Twin Cities jazz scene, Pete Whitman has performed with such varied and distinguished ensembles and musicians as Michael Feinstein, Debbie Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Jack McDuff, Barbara Dennerlein, Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Dave Stryker, Curtis Fuller, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, Andres Prado, the Hornheads (Prince’s saxophone section members), as well as Ms. Caviani.  Mr. Whitman has recorded extensively as a sideman and has three CDs as a leader including “Departure Point” and “The Sound of Water.”  Whitman’s latest CD, “Where’s When?,” features the X-tet, a 10-piece ensemble led by Whitman and received a four-star rating in Downbeat Magazine.  He has also composed numerous compositions, including an original score for the 2006 documentary “Been Rich All My Life” Toots Crackin’ Productions.

Whitman received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from North Texas State University, majoring in jazz studies and minoring in flute performance. A dedicated teacher, Whitman heads the Brass & Woodwinds Department at McNally Smith College in St. Paul, MN and is very active as an educator and clinician.

 

ABOUT JOHN SCHAFFER

At home in both classical and jazz realms, John Schaffer is Professor of Music Theory at UW – Madison, where he led the successful search for the School of Music’s new Director of Jazz Studies, Johannes Wallmann.  Professor Schaffer performs regularly in our area with the Rand Moore Quartet (including a set at the 2013 Isthmus Jazz Festival and frequent gigs at Liliana’s Restaurant), and with the Michael Hanson Trio (at Otto’s Restaurant).  A long-time member of the house jazz band at the annual Token Creek Chamber Music Festival, Schaffer is also among the team of bassists that perform in Madison Jazz Jam’s house band.

Professor Schaffer holds a Ph.D. in music theory from Indiana University and a BM in Classical Guitar from Wayne State University.  He is active in exploring advanced uses of technology for music theory research and pedagogy, and non-formal approaches to the study and cognition of atonal music.  Besides his UW teaching duties, Schaffer is the Founding Director of the Wisconsin Center for Music Technology, Emeritus Editor and founder of the international journal Computers in Music Research, and Member of the NASM Commission on Accreditation.

 

ABOUT RAND MOORE

Rand Moore has been a professional drummer for the past 36 years and a major force for decades in our community’s big band scene, having founded of the 23-piece Madison Mellophonium Jazz Orchestra (which performs the dance music of Stan Kenton’s Mellophonium Band of the early 1960s) and serving for many years as the Madison Jazz Orchestra’s drummer.  Mr. Moore is also a seasoned combo leader whose current quartet includes saxophonist Bill Grahn, pianist Paul Muench, and bassist John Schaffer.  The Rand Moore Quartet gave a well-received performance at the 2012 Isthmus Jazz Festival, and they gig frequently at Liliana’s Restaurant in Fitchburg.

Mr. Moore grew up in our community, performing with the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps and graduating from Oregon High School, went on to study at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston, and developed his drumming chops as a long-time member of the Jeff Peronto Jazz Orchestra.  Moore is a highly versatile drummer who performed with the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus and at Disney World en route to his stellar local career.  He also owns Drums ‘n’ Moore, a percussion specialty store in Monona that sells instruments and accessories and has its own in-house music school.

 

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