Author: Edie Okamoto

  • “Making America Great Again” interesting chapters: Secretary of State

    World Peace in the hands of Tillerson?
    World Peace in the hands of Tillerson?

    This video is a must watch!

  • UC Jazz Spring Concert at 7pm at Alumni House

    UC Jazz Performers

    UC Jazz will have its Spring Concert on Friday April 23 at 7 pm at the Alumni House and we will have an online auction April 20-30, 2010

    We need your donations for this silent auction. Please donate products, art work, DVDs, CDs, trips, restaurant coupons, cars, designer outfits, accessories or certificate to your retail outlet or a specific product. Your contributions will be valued and we will promote them to our loyal audience of about 6 000 readers. Please contact Carol Suveda about your donation and provide Edie Okamoto at eokamoto@riovida.net with your product photo and a press release.

    Additionally your donation is tax deductible. Your participation will assure that the UC Jazz Ensembles will continue to thrive. The UC Jazz Ensembles are a student run organization since the late sixties. Since it is a student run organization – meaning that it provides engineering, information systems students, any student that is NOT enrolled in the accredited music program a chance to enjoy music. Therefore, as UC Berkeley along with many other educational institutions is facing ever deeper budget cuts, the UC Jazz Ensembles program is particularly affected.

    Please contact Student Activities Director, Carole Suveda, to arrange pickup of your donations at (510) 643-2662.

    or I have enclosed or will deliver the donation to UC Jazz Ensembles to  72 Cesar Chavez Center # 4280 * Berkeley, CA  94720-4280 or FAX (510) 643-9463

    o I would like UC Jazz to create a gift certificate describing my donation.

    o I have enclosed a business card or brochure to give to the winning bidder.

    o I would like my donation picked up.  Best time to call: ______________________P

    The University of California is a non-profit organization; your donation is tax deductible. (Tax ID #94-6002123) 
    Click for a copy of this form for your records.

    Please reply by no later than April 5th. Your assistance and contribution is much appreciated.

    TED MOORE WATCH

    On March 12, Ted’s group, “Studio 104,” will perform in concert at the Jazz School in Berkeley. This concert will feature UC Jazz faculty members Dann Zinn and Frank Martin, as well as Kai Eckhardt (formerly with John McLaughlin) on bass

    Frank Martin Watch

    From intense high energy fusion to Indian influenced improvisations, from dense and heavy darkish atmospheres to lyrical moods, Claude Pauly’s new CD featuring bassist Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin, Garaj Mahal) , drummer Alan Hertz (Scott Henderson, Garaj Mahal) and keyboardist Frank Martin ( John McLaughlin, Richard Bona, Sting…) is a high density experience of the different landscapes of electric jazz fusion guitar playing and writing. But this isn’t just another guitar album. This CD is drenched in what it’s actually all about….music!. Fans of Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Scott Henderson, Greg Howe will absolutely dig this kick butt album . Much recommended.

    Claude Pauly (guitars); Kai Eckhardt (bass); Alan Hertz (drums); Frank Martin (piano,keyboards). Download Sampler

    Dann Zinn Watch

    Dann Zinn will perform on Monday, Mar 8th, 2010 with Joe DeRose CD Release Party. Yoshi’s Oakland, 8PM

    Born in San Jose, California, Joe has been playing the drums since the age of five. He was first taught at home by his older brother Gino. He later became active playing in school bands and is an alumni of the Alum Rock Jazz Band (88). At age 14, Joe began playing professionally around the San Francisco bay area. He has had the honor of studying with such greats as Louie Bellson, Joe Porcaro, Freddie Grubber, Wally Schnalle, Bryant Mills, Karl Carter, John Ramsay, Rick Considine, Lewis Nash, Kenwood Denard, Mike Mangini and many others. In 1994, Joe followed his dream and moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music. The Berklee experience was everything Joe could have imagined. He graduated in 1998, with a Bachelors in Performance, Magna Cum Laude. While living in Boston, Joe toured with R&B, Blues diva, Toni Lynn Washington. Now that Joe has moved back to San Jose he has most recently finished two European tours with Hip-Hop artist, Kofy Brown, and a northern California tour with Italian tenor, Pasquale Esposito. He also is a member of corporate party band Groove Nugget, Jazz trio, Jazzfunkshun, and leads his own Jazz-Fusion based group, Joe De Rose and Amici. Joe also in November 2006 had the honor of performing his debut drum clinic for San Jose Pro Drum opening for drum legend, Tommy Aldridge. Joe freelances all over the bay area with styles ranging from Funk, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Fusion, Rock, Latin to Jazz. In October of 2008, Joe completed a Japanese tour with jazz vocalist, Yoshiko Oda and The Hristo Vitchev quartet. They performed all over Japan including the Okazaki Jazz Festival.

    GLENN RICHMAN WATCH

    Jazzschool faculty member Glenn Richman will be appearing at Yoshi’s SF with Cedar Walton, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Hutcherson and Eddie Marshall March 12-14, 2010.

    Sign-up or stop UC Jazz Newsletter subscription by contacting us at info@riovida.net

  • Artist Highlight – Angela Bofill

    co-authors Junko Kawaii / Edie Okamoto

    Angela Bofill – Tonight I Give In (Soul Train 1983)

    Angela Bofill known as a R&B, Soul, and Jazz vocalist. Whenever she ventured into Jazz she enchanted audiences with her distinctive and clear voice. Angela no longer performs since she is now partially paralyzed. She was released from intensive care on January 15, 2009. She now is working hard on her speech and physical therapy. Ms. Bofill did not have health insurance and therefore thanks her fans, friends, and family who have helped her through this trying time. Learn how you can help on her website: www.angelabofill.com 

    Angela Bofill was born to a Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother. She performed with Ricardo Morrero & the Group and Dance Theater of Harlem. After completing her studies in California, Bofill was introduced by her friend, jazz flutist Dave Valentin, to Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen of GRP records, and they signed her for her 1978 debut, Angie. The album was a breakout smash on contemporary jazz radio and the tastefully arranged jazz vocal disc showed a gifted young artist with a rich voice beyond her years. 

    Featuring a number of great cuts, including most notably a cover of This Time I’ll Be Sweeter, Angie became one of the year’s biggest jazz albums. 

    1979 she followed her success with “Angel of the Night” like the fantastic “What I Wouldn’t Do” and softer tracks such as “I try.”

    Angela Bofill on the Johnny Carson Show

    She drew the attention of star producer Clive Davis. He convinced Arista Records to purchase her GRP contract. She was teamed with fabuluous writer/producer Narada Michael Walden for Something About You, which was a great success. 

    Angela Bofill stretched the boundaries for her jazz fans with this new album which provided her with some of the best material of her career, including the stepper “Holding Out For Love” and the wonderful ballads “Break It To Me Gently” and Earl Klugh’s “You Should Know By Now.” 

    Angela Bofill is a warm-hearted and lovely woman that inspires great passion from her listeners. One reviewer, Jazysol79, stated: “Angela Bofill’s voice is a true wonder. Exotic and exhilirating, sweet and soothing, picturesque and inviting. She conjures vivid imagery with her interpretations. I discovered “Angie” about five years ago not too long after I started college. I picked up a vinyl copy, and I have been in love with Angela ever since. This beautifully packaged reissue truly does the album justice. “Under the Moon and Over the Sky” is a jazz/fusion delight; it’s Afro-Cuban rhythms are intoxicating. The highs and lows Bofill hits will give you chills. It is that kind of drama that makes this record a compelling listen. Her definitive take on “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” is a joyous, moving masterpiece. Her pleas of “have faith in me” are almost palpable. But in my opinion, the best track is “The Only Thing I Would Wish For.” The jazzy vocal arrangement and flute work by Dave Valentin paint a real picture of what GRP was all about in its infancy. The liner notes and packaging are also great. So this CD is well worth the price… it is a moving experience.” 

  • UC Jazz Ensembles Fundraising Concert at Yoshi’s Monday, October 27, 2008

    Gary Johnson, Bassist, at UC Jazz Ensembles show great promise. He is fabulous.
    Gary Johnson – Bassist at the UC Jazz Ensembles


    The UC Jazz Fall 2008 Fundraiser will be held on Monday, October 27, 2008 at Yoshi’s Oakland. Please order tickets now – thank you for your support! 

    UC Jazz Ensembles to perform at
    Yoshi’s in Oakland
    Monday, October 27, 2008 

    A Fundraiser and Night of Jazz in honor of Robert Cole, Director of Cal Performances and Student Musical Activities with optional Pre-Concert Dinner and Silent Auction

    Enjoy a lovely dinner, silent auction and or a marvelous concert. 

    Please make your concert reservations now! 

    8 pm General Admission is $25
    8 pm Student is $10

    10 pm General Admission is $15
    10 pm Student is $10

    Let’s join and save the music program together. With your assistance we can keep this musical tradition alive despite the economic conditions and perhaps especially because of the economic condition. A thriving culture, celebration of music has long brought joy and a wonderful quality of life to our State. We need musicians of fine quality and people who enjoy and appreciate great music. Please support our effort to keep the UC Jazz Ensembles program going. Funding for this fine music program has been truly needed. 

    To RSVP for the Dinner and Shows package and for more information about opportunities for sponsorship, program ads, auction donations and contributions in honor of Robert Cole and UC Jazz in general, please go to ucjazz.berkeley.edu or call (510) 643-2662.

    Learn about last year’s fundraiser – Click 

    Join us to honor Robert Cole

    In his words: While every new season is a challenge and an opportunity, the 2008/09 Season takes on particular meaning for me as it is the last in my 23-year tenure as Director of Cal Performances. Therefore, I hope you’ll agree that it is a special one indeed, and unlike any other in our history! It is a season that has been specifically designed to please you in ways both large and small, including the return of many of the great artists that have been associated with Cal Performances over the years, the introduction of exciting new talents in their Bay Area debuts, and the inclusion of specially requested works on the programs of our Chamber Series and more. 

    Learn more about Robert Cole MORE 

    Ted Moore, Director of UC Jazz Ensembles

    Mr. Moore is Director of UC Jazz Ensembles at UC Berkeley. Aside from his administrative duties, he offers his skills as the Percussion Director of UC Jazz Ensembles Advanced Combo II and the Improv Workshop.

    A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Ted Moore has toured the world with Paul Winter, Marian McPartland, Stan Getz, Joe Williams, Eric Gale, Jack Wilkins, Gene Bertonzini, Joey DeFrancesco, and many others. For several years, he lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, performing timpani and percussion with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, as well as touring and recording with one of Brazil’s leading saxophonists, Victor Assis Brasil. Mr. Moore has composed original scores for several films and television series, including the NOVA science series on PBS. MORE 

    Thank you all for your support of UC Jazz Ensembles! 

    Event and Sponsorship Information 

    Member Support Services Find out about the UC Jazz Club membership benefits, and how you may wish to contribute and interact with other volunteer and member companies. 

    Event and Sponsorship Information 

    Edie Okamoto 

    eokamoto@riovida.net For more information about donations please contact

    Carol Suveda
    carols@sma.berkeley.edu For more information about UC Jazz please contact

    Ted Moore
    tmoore@ucjazz.berkeley.edu 

    Sign-up or stop UC Jazz Newsletter subscription by contacting us at info@riovida.net 

    About the UC Jazz Ensembes 

    The UC Jazz Club was founded by the students of UC Jazz Ensembles and its faculty. Our goal is to share our fine tradition of Jazz with our members and the community at large. 

    UC Jazz Ensembles have been teaching students since 1966. We hope our members will enjoy our monthly newsletter, our performances and most importantly we hope you will support our effort to expand our popular program. 

    We invite donors and volunteers to continue to support our growing program and to join us now. 

    The UC Jazz Club offers several unique sponsorship opportunities which will support us in our goal to remodel the UC Jazz studios. 

    With your support we will also maintain and grow our current resources in the studios. This includes the purchase and maintenance of our equipment, expanding and renovating our practice areas, adding to our jazz library and ultimately making recordings of our big band and ensembles live performances. 

    Our goal is to uphold the UC Jazz tradition which has enchanted the world. We have taught students how to carry on this wonderful musical tradition with great success. Jazz has become mainstream and is becoming increasingly popular. 

    Please contact Ted Moore, director of UC Jazz Ensembles to learn about the program. You may also contact RioVida Networks for assistance to set up interviews with the faculty, students and fund-raising committee.