Monk Institute, Music Center Season in Tune With Women

The much-heralded association between the Thelonious Monk Institute and the Music Center begins its first season Sept. 12, with an event described as an “informance” (a combination between “information” and “performance”). The program will feature keyboardist-composer Patrice Rushen, bassist Nedra Wheeler and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington in a program at the Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center before an audience of more than 1,500 Los Angeles-area high school students.

According to Bob Brodhead, director of program development for the Monk Institute, the program is aimed at “discussing the role of women in music. We see it as an opportunity to reach out to young people who have not been part of previous institute programs.” The event also represents the start of the institute’s Jazz Sports L.A. schedule, and the kickoff for the third season of master classes.

Meanwhile, the 11th annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition will take place Oct. 23 and 24 in Washington. This year’s competition, which is sponsored by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, will be limited to trumpet players. The finals of the event will be held at the Smithsonian Institution as part of a weekend of festivities. The judging panel includes trumpeters Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Art Farmer, Randy Brecker and Arturo Sandoval.

Prizes total more than $60,000 in scholarships and cash. But the primary value for such past winners as Joshua Redman, Marcus Roberts, Ryan Kisor and Jacky Terrasson has been dramatically enhanced visibility and rapidly escalating careers.

The winner of the fifth annual Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and BMI Composers competition will also be announced at the trumpet competition finals. The winner of the composers contest will receive a $10,000 cash award and a performance of the winning original composition.

The Monk Institute also has announced that it will once again present “A Celebration of America’s Music” in an hourlong television special on ABC. Last year’s program was the first major prime-time special devoted to jazz in nearly 25 years. Bill Cosby will return as host for this year’s program. Among the artists already confirmed as participants are Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Wayne Shorter, Dave Brubeck, Nancy Wilson, David Sanborn and Clark Terry. The show will be taped at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 26 as part of the Monk Institute’s jazz competition, and will be broadcast on ABC Dec. 27.

* Educators interested in more information on the activities of the Monk Institute should call (310) 656-4500.

Big Sky Sounds: The third annual Vail Jazz party Labor Day weekend in Colorado will have a significant Los Angeles presence. The Vail Foundation’s 10-day jazz workshop for young musicians, which kicks off Saturday, will be directed by bassist-composer John Clayton, assisted by his brother, saxophonist Jeff Clayton. Included among the 12 talented young players from around the country who have been granted full scholarships to the workshop are three players from Los Angeles: pianist Randy Allison Jr., from Washington Prep; alto saxophonist Terrace J. Martin from Locke High School; and bassist Brandon Owens from L.A. County High School for the Arts.

The students will perform at the 20-hour Vail Jazz party, jamming and interacting with a lineup of artists that includes Art Farmer, Milt Jackson, Cyrus Chestnut, Les McCann, the Clayton Brothers and others. Information: (888) 824-5526.

Speaking of jazz education, the L.A. County High School for the Arts jazz department is still accepting applications from students currently in grades 10 to 12 for the 1997-98 school year. The school, which is located at Cal State L.A., is open, free of charge, to all high school students residing in Southern California. Deadline for filing applications is today. For information regarding auditions, contact Dr. Daniel Castro at (213) 343-2659.

On the Newsstands: Is an unusual story idea worthy of publication, even if it distorts the concept of what jazz criticism should be? Apparently Jazz Times, a heretofore respected publication, thinks so. The cover story of the current issue is titled, “Who’s Overrated? Who’s Underrated? The Critics Sound Off!” It’s the kind of idea that can surface in a story conference, achieve a momentary life, then immediately be shot down--once the consequences are thoroughly considered. But Jazz Times went forward with the idea, managing to persuade a covey of “jazz critics” to come up with their lists of performers who they believe to be “overrated” and “underrated.”

Among the names that appear in the various “overrated” lineups: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ron Carter, Keith Jarrett, Charlie Haden, Ornette Coleman, Oliver Nelson, Betty Carter and Diana Krall (curiously, in the same issue, Jazz Times includes a promotional ad for itself with a full page, color testimonial from Krall).

What’s wrong with this picture? Simply this. Good criticism always requires context. That is, every artist has good and bad days, and produces good and bad recordings. Criticizing an individual performance by an artist, while stating the reasons for the criticism, is appropriate. Describing an artist as “overrated” abandons criticism in favor of judgmental, ad hominem generalities. Not only is it wrong, it’s potentially harmful, and is particularly disturbing coming from a periodical that relies upon the jazz community for its existence.

The article obviously will generate attention, but at what cost to Jazz Times’ credibility?

Passing: Bassist Eric von Essen, who died of a possible heart attack on Aug. 14 in Sweden at the age of 43, was a talented, but sadly under-recognized artist. Although he was initially associated with Los Angeles avant-garde jazz players when he first began recording in the early ‘80s, Von Essen’s skills were extremely broad. In the ‘90s, he recorded or performed with musicians ranging from Bob Brookmeyer and Shorty Rogers to Tom Harrell and Frank Morgan. Earlier this year, Von Essen decided to establish dual citizenship and resettle in Sweden. Services will be held on Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Church at 18th Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica.

Free Music: The Vinnie Golia Quintet performs at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, today at 5:30 p.m. Information: (213) 857-6000. . . . The free festival finale of the Henry Mancini Institute’s Concert Series takes place Saturday at Cal State Long Beach, with special guest artists Billy Childs, Roy Hargrove and the Turtle Island String Quartet, 3 p.m. Information: (562) 985-7000. . . . Also Saturday, singer Ernie Andrews appears at Pedrini Music’s free afternoon jazz concert, 1:30 p.m. Information: (818) 289-0241. . . . On Thursday, pianist Ark Sano (of Black/Note) brings his trio to the California Plaza for a free “Summer Nights at MOCA” program, 5 p.m. Information: (213) 621-1749. . . . Also on Thursday, Ronnie Gutierrez’s Latin jazz ensemble performs a free program at the Marketplace in Long Beach, at 2nd Street and Westminster Avenue, 6:30 p.m.

Heckman can be reached on the World Wide Web at [email protected]