SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA "NEW ORBIT" SEIRES OPENING CONCERT 09-10 Season

OPENING OF SERIES 09/10 October 18
Sunday Evening 7:30 PM 818 371 7735
Complimentary Admission
The Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz La Quartet will present their opening of the 09-10 "New Orbits" Concert Series on Sunday, October 18 at 7:30 PM at the South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall, 1115 El Centro, South Pasadena.
Suezenne Fordham , founder, Producer,Pianist and Leader of SFCJLA has long collaborated with The Littleton Brothhers, Don[Drums, Exotic Percussion]; and Jeff[ Contrabass. Rounding out the Quartet is Latin-Jazz Percussionist Rochelle Coatney. Ensemble plays Tibetan Percussion, for a totally unique sound. The group is acoustic . The sound is easily accessable, Muses being Monk, Messian, evans and Chouchan. It is Classical-Fusion _Jazz... Intimate virtuostic and passionate, at times delving into the Argentine Nuevo Tango as a source of inspiration.

The venues are hip,arty, comfortable and informal.
The group is in it's seventh year, and has a new CD available for sale. Reservations are suggested though admission is free. 818 371 7735. po

CLOSING OF FIELDS PIANOS POSING MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR THE SERIES "SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA "New Orbits"

A month or so ago I recieved an urgrnt email from our Musical home of three years, Fields Pianos in est LAhome of my favorite Pisno ths Steinway, esp the Concert Grands, and friends of many NewYork Steinway Artists for may years., They were closing their doors forever, but perhaps would be able to accomodate three more of SFCJLA's Concerts for the 08-09 season. [eight left in all.].. The next concert was a disaster, which was the next night. I turned my cell off for the first half of the concert, and there were only three people in the sudience...granted real music lovers, but I go to great expense to present these concerts free to the public...and when I turned in my cell at intermission there were many messages from poeple who couldn't find Steinway Hall in the Dark[ it is down three flights in the parking structure..... and so people either couldn't find it OR were frightened...

At first I thought I would go ahead with the Janusry 8th concert with my quartet, but have thought better about it and for the first time I am cancelling the remainder of my concerts there. I am very thankful for the friendship and courtesies that Field's Pianos afforded us, but I am faced with finding a new, attractive venue with superb Steinway Concert Grands... It is my understanding their Orange County store will still be open, and will still be home to Steinway there, but that is a very ong way from here..

I thank My Ida, the Steinway Artist's rep, and Sherree, AND the geniuses at the Steinway Factory in Queens NY for their devotion to the creation of these extraordinary concert Instruments and am eternally grateful to have been a part of their Family in West LA.
Sigh, it's tough being a leader.

As my friend Myrna Daniels says, "Hang in there." More later. I have yet to tell my players that I am cancelling the remainder of the Steinway Hall concerts and that our next concert is in South Pasadena on February 15th at the South Pasadena library at 7 30 PM in the Main Concert Hall 1115 El Centro. 818 371 7735

Interesting that Steinway will soon open a smaller store in Beverly Hills, of less than 8,000 Sq. ft. Very chic, very boutique.

EMERITUS MEMBERS
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA

TEDDY CHARLES {Theodire Cohen] Vibist, Deagan Artist
Longtime friend and legendary composer and collaboraror of Charles Mingus, and founder of the Avant Garde Movement in NY in the '50s,60's and 70s. Still doin'it in NY, with recordings, and appearances at such huge venues as the Vangard, and the Iridium. Still a sea faring man, of Schooners. AND a DOGIST!!!

NOAH GARABEDIAN, Contrabassist
Sent to me by the first Bassist with my LA group, Roberto Miranda, Noah arrived at the door of my studio begging for a chance to play with my Avant Garde Trio, Noah was a knock- kneed kid with a toothy grin, and chops that wouldn't quit.His first gig with the group was so difficult his fingers bled, as he was a student at UCLA, and wasn't prepared with adequate callouses to endure strenuous playing fo extended periods of time Of course he had BIG EARS, and a heart to match.. He was with my Trio for four years, wending his way into my psyche and being. A very intuitive player, he had the uncanny ability to read my mind musically and personally.He eventually left for the Jazz Life in New York.[Brooklyn.] I am hoping he will freeze his buns off, and return to LA,to rejoin SFCJLA....He was actually my Scotty La Faro...Awsome Dude.

RICHARD DAVIS, CONTRABASSIST
The one Bassist who literally changed the entire way of playing Jazz on the Contrabass, using the Bow with a scrupulous Classical tecnique, and Bowing genius. When he first arrived in NY at the Embers on E 64th Street, he was fresh out of Northwstern University in Chicago, and the more knowledgable musicians in town were knocked out, He had the ultimate career in NY, all the best Jazz gigs, sometimes playing with the NY Philharmonic when their Bass section couldn't get horrifically difficult passages together on compositions by Stockhausen, Varese, or Stravinsky. Richard was my FIRST Bassist in forming a duo and Trio in NY, At one point we even had a DUO with just Contrabass and Vibes.. I LOVED his Contrabass, which was a majestic instrument with a carved wood Lion's Head as the scroll. He now is the head of the String Dept at the University of Wisconson in Madison, and in very active in Human Rights movements... The Consumate Musician, Friend and Humanitarian.
Suezenne Fordham,SFCJLA

GRAND GALA PREMIERE CONCERT THIS SUNDAY OCTOBER 05,08.
SUEZENNE FORDHAM CHAMBER JAZZ LA ,
7 30 PM Admission Free

South Pasadena Main Library Concrt Hall
1115 El Centro South Pasadena
South Pasadena, Ca

Suezenne Fordham. Steinway, Gu Zheng
Cassidy Turbin, Drums and Clarinets
Rochelle Coatney, Latin Percussion and Drumset
Mike Alvidrez, Charlie Domingo, Contrabass
Don Littleton, Drums and exotic percussion
Bob Carr, Bassoon ans Saxes

Teddy Charles, Vibist Emeritus

Our music is fusion of Classical, Bop, Avant Garde with Tibetan inspiration, and Instruments, Our muses are Bill Evans, Bartok, Karlheinz Stockhausen played with fiery virtuosity.Concerts are complimentary. Donations accepted.

"Myrna Daniels LA JAZZ SCENE "Authentic Jazz sensibility thet's so understated- but oh so hip and knowing."
"Thw Jazz Experience with Jazz Passion.." Downbeat.

SFCJLA 2007/08 CONCERT SEASON continued
818 371 7735 info

Suezenne Fordham, Steinway Piano, Gu Zheng
Noah Garabedian, Contrabass
Darren Ross, Drumset and Percussion
Ensemble plays Tibetan Percussion
Complimentary Admission, Donations Accepted

Sunday October 7, 2:30 PM
Pasadena Main Library
Donald Wright Auditorium
285 East Walnut
Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday October 25, 7:30 PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Sunday, November 11, 7:30PM
South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall
1115 El Centro
South Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday, November 29, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Thursday, January 31, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Sunday, February 10, 7:30PM
South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall
1115 El Centro
South Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday, February 28, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Sunday, March 2, 2:30PM
Pasadena Main Library
Donald Wright Auditorium
285 East Walnut
Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday, March 27, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Sunday, April 20, 7:30PM
South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall
1115 El Centro
South Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday, May 29, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico Blvd at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Sunday, June 15, 7:30PM
South Pasadena Main Library Concert Hall
1115 El Centro
South Pasadena, Ca.

Thursday, June 26, 7:30PM
Steinway Hall at Fields Pianos
12121 West Pico at Bundy
West LA, Ca.

Al Young, California State Poet Laureate to Appear at the South Pasadena Library

The South Pasadena Public Library and the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library are proud to present California State Poet Laureate Al Young for a free, fun Author Night Program on April 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at 1115 El Centro Street. This will be Mr. Young's first appearance after his California State Library sponsored "Top to Bottom" tour of the of the Golden State's outlying rural areas. It will also be his only public reading during his trip to Southern California, although he will be a panelist at the Los Angeles Times Book Fair the next day. No tickets are necessary and during April, a display of many of Al Young's books can be seen at the Library.

Mr. Young's impressive literary record includes novels, poetry, essays, memoirs, and anthologies. He has been a poet, writer, teacher, and lecturer throughout his storied literary career. As a screenwriter Young has worked with Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, and Richard Pryor. His book Bodies and Soul: Musical Memoirs won the American Book Award in 1981. His latest is the recently published Coastal Nights and Inland Afternoons.

In March 2005, a panel of literary experts convened to review the 26 finalists for the position of California Poet Laureate. Three final names were forwarded to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who appointed Al Young as Poet Laureate. "He is an educator and a man with a passion for the Arts. His remarkable talent and sense of mission to bring poetry into the lives of Californians is an inspiration," said Governor Schwarzenegger. The California Poet Laureate's role is to publicize the art of poetry and encourage literacy and learning in the state.

Al Young of Berkeley is well known for his distinctive style and performances with jazz artists, so it should come as no surprise that a topnotch combo, the Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz Piano Trio, will be opening the show with their distinctive musical stylings. The group also includes Noah Garabedian, contrabass, and Darren Ross, drums and percussion, and will be backing Mr. Young's readings as well. All three musicians play Tibetan percussion instruments. Coincidentally, April is both National Poetry Month and National Jazz Month.

The program is also sponsored by Poets & Writers, Inc . with funding from the James Irvine Foundation. Special thanks to Artists' Inn and California Arts Council.

SUEZENNE FORDHAM FEATURED IN PASADENA NOW in the
NIGHTLIFE section under NOTEWORTHY concerts to see.
Sunday, February 25, 2007.

see article by Candice Merrill and pictures by Maurice Grants:

http://www.pasadenalivingmagazine.com/contentspages/nightlifelevel1contents.html

REMAINING CONCERTS THIS SEASON
[ through June 2007 ]

SUEZENNE FORDHAM, PIANO
NOAH GARABEDIAN, CONTRABASS
DARREN ROSS, DRUMS & PERCUSSION

WE ALL PLAY TIBETAN PERCUSSION

INFO: 818-371-7735

• June 10 Sunday 7 30 PM PIANO TRIO CONCERT
• South Pasadena Library Chamber Concert Hall

1115 El Centro, South Pasadena

• June 28 Thursday 7 30 PM PIANO TRIO CONCERT
• Steinway and Sons Concert Hall at FIELDS PIANOS
  

12121 W. Pico, West Los Angeles

EVENTS ARE FREE BUT RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED 818-371-7735