Jazz Appreciation Concerts

Beginning in the Summer of 2008 the Viaduct Octet will perform a series of concerts in the Seattle area. Each concert will showcase the life and work of one famous jazz artist of the last half of the twentieth century - the Modern Jazz era. The first concert will tell the story of Miles Davis, the most influential and popular jazzman of this era.

We'll talk about the artist's family background, musical background, how he entered the jazz scene, who he played with, what records and tours he did. This will be mixed with stories, some funny, others tragic, some apocryphal, others sworn to be true. We'll explain the artist's musical vision and how it changed jazz and influenced other musicians.

Every few minutes of talk will be followed by a musical selection played by the Octet. The selection will be something the artist recorded at the time of his life that was just discussed. In the case of Miles, for example, you'll hear us play something from his bebop period playing with Charlie Parker, something from each of his first small groups, something from Miles Ahead and Sketches of Spain, his two orchestral albums, and selections from the more avant-garde work of later years.

After a brief intermission, you'll have an opportunity to ask questions of the band. Then we'll play a second set of original works by myself, band members, or other Northwest composers.