Read a review from "ALL ABOUT JAZZ"
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review.php?id=11604
In November 2001, a local Sacramento jazz group that I perform with called Capital Jazz Project presented a concert of all Dave Brubeck music. The director of the Brubeck Institute, JB Dyas, was in attendance and asked if the group would repeat the performance at the Brubeck festival the following year. In the meantime, JB asked me if I would teach at the Brubeck Colony (a Summer camp for outstanding highschool jazz musicians). He also asked if I would come in and teach Dave's music to the Institute students for a week in December 2002.
After teaching Dave's music to the students there, I submitted a report to JB as to my endeavors. JB copied the letter to Dave Brubeck. Dave was impressed, and sent me all of his published music because I thought there might be some other compositions I might like to share with the students. I thought it was such a nice gesture from Dave and I took many of the tunes over to the Institute to play with Joe and Justin (the bassist and drummer at the Institute). As we read thru the tunes, they instantly sounded modern and fresh because of the approach of the rhythm section. I rearranged the tunes to fit both Dave's ideals and the talents of the band. I thought the least I could do was record what we had done and send it to Dave. He then was very excited about the project.
It is a great honor and pleasure to play Dave's music. He is such a humble man, and so inspirational, especially since at the age of 83 he still performs and composes constantly. My first jazz album was Time Out. That was the musical catalyst that helped to then break into understanding the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane et.al.. I don't know where I'd be today if it weren't for that album.
JOE GILMAN hails from Northern California where he is an active musician and educator. He is a four time finalist (1997, 1998, 2000, 2002) in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and has twice been a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador to 12 countries on the African continent (1998, 2000). Joe has performed professionally with Woody Shaw, Slide Hampton, Bobby Hutcherson, Dave Liebman, Eddie Harris, Marlena Shaw, Randy Brecker, John Fedchock, Bob Mintzer, Chris Botti, Bobby Shew, Charles McPherson, George Duke, Jessica Williams, and many others. He has several recordings as a leader, including "Joe Gilman" and "Here, There, and Everywhere" for the Artful Balance label and "Treasure Chest" featuring Joe Henderson and Jeff Watts for the Timeless label. Joe's jazz repertory ensemble, Capital Jazz Project, has recorded 3 CDs for the Nefertiti label and has presented over 25 thematic concerts in Northern California.
Joe has earned music degrees from Indiana University (under the tutelage of David Baker) and the Eastman School of Music (primary studies with Bill Dobbins), and a doctorate in education from the University of Sarasota. He is currently a clinician and adjudicator in demand, and is a regular instructor at the Brubeck Institute, Jazz Camp West and American River College.
As a member of the Milwaukee High School of the Arts Jazz Combo, bassist JOE SANDERS performed twice at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York City as well as at some of the top European summer jazz festivals - Vienna; North Sea (The Hague); Montreaux (Switzerland); and Vienne (France). He was also a member of the National 2002 GRAMMY High School Jazz Band. Sanders began his musical training with bassist Catherine McGinn of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Symphony's Youth Orchestra for five years. One of the finest young bassists in the country, he continues to study both classical music and jazz, currently studying with Christian McBride and Jeff Chambers.
JUSTIN BROWN, a graduate of Berkeley High School in California, started playing the drums when he was two years old. He participated in the full-scholarship UC Berkeley Young Musicians Summer Program for five years before high school. Brown has performed at several jazz festivals around the world -- as a member of the National 2002 GRAMMY High School Jazz Combo; the 1999 Monterey and 2002 San Francisco Jazz Festival all-star high school bands; and with Berkeley High's award-winning jazz ensemble and combo. Justin's personal statement clearly explains where he sees his life going: "My career objective includes becoming an educated professional drummer with the ability to play all styles of music, and to become a teacher, clinician, composer, and to do world tours".
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