Jazz legends and hot newcomers pair up at U of I festival
February 16th, 2008, 4:54 am Hobbies And Interests
Jazz tells a story, vocalist Dee Daniels says. The melody is the setting, the notes are the narrative that illuminate and illustrate. For the singer, the word, in nuance and intonation, is the key that unlocks it all. “To me, the most important reason for singing is to share, communicate and connect,” Daniels says. “I am a storyteller. From my intellectual, spiritual and emotional point of view, that idea puts you in a different mindset than as someone who is just memorizing lyrics. Everything you do, even scatting, is part of further expressing the story.” That idea forms the heart of Daniels’ jazz philosophy, which she generously passes on to the next musical generation. The Vancouver, B.C.-based singer will have plenty of opportunity to pass on her ideas next week at the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in Moscow. Her friend and admirer, vocalist Sara Gazarek, also will be there to soak up that vibe, as well as to pass on her own philosophy.
The two share a dedication to the lyric and the spell cast by good storytelling. They also will share the stage Feb. 22 at the “Masters and Mentors” concert, featuring pairings of jazz legends and today’s hot young performers. The festival started in 1967 with a strong educational component. Lionel Hampton forged his relationship with the festival in the 1980s, drawn by the opportunity to connect with and nurture the next generation of jazz artists.The concert Feb. 22 is in many ways the fulcrum of this year’s festival, which celebrates Hampton’s 100th birthday. It defines what the festival seeks to do, says John Clayton, a multi-Grammy winning bassist and arranger and the festival’s artistic director. “This is, for my money, what the festival is all about. That’s one of the things that have kept professional musicians coming back for Hamp’s festival, even after his death,” Clayton said. Dedication to that mission also earned the Idaho festival national attention in November when it received the National Medal of the Arts. The award cited the festival’s support of jazz education. Jazz is and always has been about the legacy, said Clayton, who credits bass legend Ray Brown’s support for making his career successful.”It was made clear to me as I was coming up that Ray helped me because someone helped him, and he knew I would help someone else,” Clayton said. “Every musician of worth I’ve met preaches the same message.” One of those someones is jazz violinist Regina Carter, who will play in the concert Thursday night. Another one is Gazarek, who has benefited often from Clayton’s advice, even though they come at jazz from different instruments. Gazarek, 25, grew up in Seattle and has been attending the U of I jazz festival since high school. She met Clayton when she attended the University of Southern California where he teaches bass. She worked in a group with Clayton’s son, Gerald, who is a jazz pianist. “John is great. I always go to him for advice and when it came time to produce my first record, I knew I wanted him to do it,” Gazarek said. She also calls Daniels often to seek advice about the business, talk about vocalizing and life. “I love Dee. She’s like my auntie in the jazz world,” Gazarek said. Their jazz is as different as the cities they live in: Daniels in Vancouver and Gazarek in Los Angeles. They share similar jazz influences, including Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, appreciate good lyrics and intension of words, but beyond that, what shapes their musical language is very different, Gazarek said. Gazarek’s voice carries a clear Broadway-pop tone and on some songs, an almost folk quality. Daniels sings with the earthy swoon of hearty and rich blues and rock ‘n’ roll.”We’re very different. We grew up listening to different radio. She’s more R%26B, I’m more singer-songwriter,” Gazarek said. Their performance - and those of the other duos - will offer a snapshot of where jazz is going today: closer to a call back to the classic traditions than a push forward, Gazarek said. Other pairings on the bill Feb. 22 include the Dean of Jazz Piano Hank Jones and 20-something Grammy nominated Taylor Eigsti, trombone master Chris Fuller and prodigy Ryan Porter, and vibraphone innovator Bobby Hutcherson and newcomer Warren Wolf. In addition to performing together, Daniels and Gazarek will teach several student clinics, something that Gazarek is excited about. “I remember sitting on the other side of them and learning so much. It (the festival) has had a big impact on my life. That’s why I’m so excited about the teaching clinics this year because I know lives will change.”
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