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Mikayla Gilbreath
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Arizona
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ALLABOUTJAZZ.COM: Jazz Musician of the Day: Enrico Pieranunzi
All About Jazz is celebrating Enrico Pieranunzi's birthday today! JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Enrico PieranunziHe was born in Rome on December 5, 1949. When he was only five and a half years old he began studying piano. At the same time his father, a guitarist, started introducing him to the wonders and challenges of jazz improvisation as well... more...GENERAL: Nokia to Get Royalty Payments from Rim
Nokia said on Thursday it would receive an up-front payment and royalties from Blackberry-maker Research In Motion for use of its wireless technology patents...PERFORMANCE/TOUR: Sathima Bea Benjamin Performs at Sweet Rhythm
The legendary South African vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin performs at New York's Sweet Rhythm Jazz Club on Wednesday, December 10 at 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Joining Sathima are pianist Stephen Scott, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer George Gray. Praised by Jazztimes as "South Africa's greatest living jazz singer," vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin has established herself as a highly respected composer and a master interpreter of American jazz standards. Her career includes collaborations with some of the most influential figures in jazz, including Duke Ellington; Billy Strayhorn; Kenny Barron; Buster Williams; her husband Abdullah Ibrahim; as well as her daughter, the underground hip-hop artist Jean Grae...PERFORMANCE/TOUR: John Beasley "All-Star" Quartet at the Jazz Bakery
Buster Williams, Bennie Maupin, Jeff "Tain" Watts and John Beasley play the Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles December 4-6, 2008 Bandleader JOHN BEASLEY assembles bassist Buster Williams and multi-reedist Bennie Maupin, two original members of Herbie Hancock's Sextet (Mwandishi and Sextant), along with drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, who has performed on every Grammy Award winning jazz record by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, to play music from Beasley's 2009 GRAMMY considered latest CD Letter to Herbie, a tribute album to Herbie Hancock...PERFORMANCE/TOUR: Elmo Hope Tribute at Jazz Standard Featuring Bertha Hope on Piano
Pianist Elmo Hope was one of the greatest composers of this music called Bop, along with Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. Seldom do we get to hear the genius of Elmo Hope's compositions in a live setting. With the gracious help of The Jazz Standard, these ambitious and dedicated musicians join forces with Don Sickler and Elmo's widow, Bertha Hope, on piano, to present two nights of Elmo's extraordinary music. Bertha's mission is to preserve, promote and play this music for wider audiences of musicians, teachers, students and fans...TV/FILM: Sundance 2009: Films in Competition
Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah is reeving up. Here is a list of this years films in competition. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION This year's 16 films were selected from 879 submissions. Each film is a world premiere. The films screening in Documentary Competition are: Art and Copy (Director: Doug Pray; Screenwriter: Timothy J. Sexton)Rare interviews with the most influential advertising creative minds of our age illustrate the wide-reaching effect advertising and creativity have on modern culture...EVENT: San Francisco Jazz Heritage Center Announces Its First Major Exhibition
Rare art and photographs from the Fillmore Jazz Era of the 1940s and 1950s highlight free exhibit. SAN FRANCISCO (Dec. 2)-- The Jazz Heritage Center, San Franciscos only permanent cultural and educational complex dedicated to jazz, announced that it will be holding its first exhibition, Harlem of the West Revisited...TV/FILM: Fantasia: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
If it wasn't for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", the feature Fantasia would never have been made. The fairy tale was made into a poem by Goethe and into a concert piece by Paul Dukas. Fantasia is a 1940 animated film produced by Walt Disney, an experiment in animation and music, consisting of classical music presented against the backdrop of animation and featuring no dialogue, only spoken introductions by Deems Taylor before each cartoon, as well as during the intermission segment...AWARD: John McLaughlin's "Floating Point" Receives Grammy Nomination
(Los Angeles, CA) - The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Organization has announced that guitarist John McLaughlin's Floating Point (2008 Abstract Logix Records) has been nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Winners will be announced on February 8, 2009. Floating Point was recorded in India for Abstract Logix Records and MediaStarz. McLaughlin used many of that country's finest young musicians on the recording. He likes to call them the "young lions of India." Contrary to what some people may think, Floating Point is not an album of Indian music. Instead, it is McLaughlin, a French bassist and Indian musicians playing western based fusion music. This is quite a revolutionary take on Indo-jazz. It comes from the opposite direction. For years western musicians have dabbled in Indian music. McLaughlin himself has done much more than that. He is now a musical icon in India and accepted into the tradition. This is an achievement very rare for a western musician. However, for Floating Point, McLaughlin turned the concept on its ears and recruited eastern based musicians to play western electric jazz-fusion music. The results are astounding...PERFORMANCE/TOUR: Piano for the Queen: Condi Rice Plays the Palace
Live from the palace Condi Rice on piano! U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice performed in a piano quintet Monday night for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Rice played Brahms' Op. 34 with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's wife, Louise, on violin, and three members of the London Symphony Orchestra. The queen gave Rice an audio recording of the performance as a gift. Rice is a classically trained pianist who had expressed a wish to play at the palace...Mikayla Gilbreath ► Jazz Saxophonist and Jazz Journalist
Mikayla Gilbreath's Photos
Profile Information
- Marital Status
- Later... maybe.
- Where are you located?
- Arizona, USA
- Tell us a little about you....
Jazz Saxophonist & Jazz JournalistIn May 2007, at age 14 and with just 20 months experience playing saxophone, Mikayla Gilbreath successfully auditioned for membership in the award-winning Deer Valley Performance Jazz Ensemble. Less than a year later she was named Lead Alto Saxophonist for the band. The music now playing was recorded at live performances by DV Performance Jazz Ensemble.
In August 2008, Mikayla was admitted to Glendale College where she presently studies Saxophone / Jazz Improvisation.Mikayla's first article on jazz was published in September 2007, in Jazz Notes, The Journal of the Jazz Journalists Association. Her column "Mikayla's Totally Jazzed" debuted on AllAboutJazz.com in January 2008.
READ MIKAYLA'S LATEST ARTICLE on AllAboutJazz.com.
- How did you hear about the Jazz Network?
- I was invited by my friend Evette Dorham.
- Website:
- http://MikaylaGilbreath.com/
More about Mikayla
Deer Valley Performance Jazz Ensemble
Mikayla Gilbreath is the fifteen-year-old Lead Alto Saxophonist for nationally-recognized Deer Valley Performance Jazz Ensemble. She also plays soprano sax, clarinet, and flute for the band. Although its members are rather young, DV Performance Jazz Ensemble is considered by many to be one of the best jazz big bands in America. So Mikayla is genuinely proud to perform with this group of talented musicians.
DV Performance Jazz Ensemble normally has 20 - 24 musicians on-stage at any one time. A typical configuration for the band is as follows: ♦ 5 to 7 saxophones
♦ 5 trombones
♦ 5 trumpets
♦ drums
♦ bass
♦ piano
♦ guitar
By merely showing an interest in Gilbreath and her music, this legendary jazz musician has created many opportunities for Mikayla and has instilled in her a genuine desire for personal achievement.
Since March 2007, Mikayla has been featured on SonnyRollins.com as part of "Meeting Sonny - The Sonny Rollins Podcast - Episode 3."
[ To see the podcast, click on the image above. After Sonny's Video Player loads, locate the video thumbnail image labeled "Meeting Sonny" and click on it. The podcast is also included in Mikayla's videos near the bottom of this page. ]
In April 2007, Mikayla was interviewed on National Public Radio as part of Jazz Journalists Association President Howard Mandel's interview with Sonny Rollins which is entitled "Saxophonist Sonny Rollins Still Swinging Strong." Gilbreath is particularly pleased to note that Mr. Rollins is referred to as her “mentor” in that piece. And in the September 2007 issue of JazzTimes Magazine, Mikayla was featured prominently in Nat Hentoff's article entitled "Bridging Generations," a piece which also deals with Sonny Rollins.
"Sonny Rollins - The Wit & Wisdom of a Master"
On September 18th, 2007, Mikayla and her sister Briana hosted a pre-concert reception in Carnegie Hall's Shorin Club Room, just prior to Sonny Rollins' 50th Anniversary Carnegie Hall concert. Their youngest sister, Sierra, also attended.
Pictured above attending the event are (left-to-right) Sierra Gilbreath, David Liebman, Briana Gilbreath, Jimmy Heath, Joe Lovano, Mikayla Gilbreath, Paquito D'Rivera, and Lou Donaldson. Other guests who also attended the reception included Dr. Lonnie Smith, Marion Meadows, Brenda Feliciano, and Jazz Journalists Association President Howard Mandel. Afterward, their guests joined the Gilbreath girls for the concert. And, at the conclusion of Sonny's remarkable performance, the group went backstage where they
Saxophonist Candy Dulfer has also played a crucial role in introducing Mikayla to jazz. Early on, Dulfer's music caught Gilbreath's attention and now Candy's influence is reflected in Mikayla's own playing style. But it is Dulfer's demonstrated success in a field dominated primarily by male performers that perhaps inspires Mikayla most, as she strives to reach her own goals. Candy's friendship and encouragement have given Mikayla the confidence to continue reaching higher.
In addition to playing jazz, Gilbreath is also very interested in writing about it. After high school, Mikayla plans to attend the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. In February 2007, Gilbreath had the distinct honor of meeting Mr. Cronkite, who is perhaps the most respected journalist of all time.
MIKAYLA'S EQUIPMENT:
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► 1962 Selmer-Paris Mark VI alto saxophone► Yamaha YTS-875 EXS Custom tenor saxophone► Cannonball SC5-HS curved soprano saxophone► Yamaha YCL-650 clarinet.► Yamaha YFL-574 flute. |
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COMMENTS ABOUT MIKAYLA
♦ SONNY ROLLINS applauded and exclaimed "ALRIGHT! Very good. Bravo! Very fine! ...Wow, that's good. She's got talent! She's got talent!"
♦ CANDY DULFER called Mikayla "supertalented" and told her "You're better than I was at your age!"
♦ BENNY GOLSON remarked "She just might be on the road to becoming famous. I wish her well as she sets out to vigorously ply the future. My compliments."
♦ JIMMY HEATH called Mikayla and her sister Briana "the future of jazz."
♦ DR. LONNIE SMITH also called Mikayla "the future of Jazz" and told her "I'll always be there for you!"
♦ DAVID SANBORN commented "Wow, this girl is on the inside. She really knows what she's talking about!"
♦ SLIDE HAMPTON said "It's an honor to see someone keeping the flame alive. Thank you, Mikayla! Keep up the fantastic work!"
♦ ALPHONSE MOUZON declared "You are awesome! You are extremely talented and intelligent beyond your age! " and "Bravo Mikayla on the impeccable interview article you did on me! You are THE BEST!"
♦ MARION MEADOWS remarked "That is fantastic!! Incredible for only playing 20 months!
♦ Tom Korkidis, JOE LOVANO's agent, said "Quite impressive for a young saxophonist to improvise at that level after only playing for less than two years!"
PRESS QUOTES:
♦ "'On sonnyrollins.com... you can see Mikayla Gilbreath, a 13-year-old saxophonist from Tempe, Arizona.' On one of the podcasts, Gilbreath, who first heard Sonny’s music in her grade school... is seen meeting Sonny backstage. ...And she tells how she became committed to the jazz life. ...'I heard Sonny Rollins, and I just loved it. I loved the way it sounded and I just -- I wanted to play jazz instead of just music.' [Jazz Journalists Association President, Howard] Mandel asked her if there was anything odd about having been 'drawn to the music of someone whose background is so different from hers.' ...Wisely, the 13-year-old answered, 'You know, I really don’t think it matters. It’s the music that kind of brought us together. It wasn’t the fact that I was white and he was black, or that he was old and I was young. It was just--it was the music that we both loved.'" Nat Hentoff, JazzTimes Magazine, "Bridging Generations," September, 2007.
♦ "It is remarkable to learn that such a young girl, only 14 years old, who plays the alto saxophone for only two years now, reached such a high level in playing. Only few kids from that age can refer to the great master in jazz, Sonny Rollins, who has said about hearing Mikayla playing... 'Bravo, very nice! She's got talent.'" Hans Koert, Keep Swinging Jazz Blog, The Netherlands, November 12, 2007. The article went on to label Gilbreath as the "young US 'Candy Dulfer.'" The article is available in both Dutch and English.
♦ "Mikayla's Totally Jazzed" is a new column that will feature artist interviews and thoughts on jazz by saxophonist/student Mikayla Gilbreath. Despite her young age, she's managed to connect with a surprising number of well-known musicians, hosting a pre-concert reception at Sonny Rollins' 50th Anniversary Carnegie Hall Concert in 2007 that was attended by artists including Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson, Paquito D' Rivera, Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Marion Meadows. At fourteen she's already a confirmed jazz lover and surprisingly accomplished musician, and while one goal of this column is to reach out to youth and help them connect with the music she loves, Mikayla's writing and fresh perspective will appeal to jazz fans of all ages." Managing Editor John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com, January 7, 2008.
♦ "Given such an open and welcoming environment, it's no surprise that The Jazz Nework has attracted such familiar names as David Benoit, Alex Bugnon, Onaje Allan Gumbs and Lenny White to its member roster, and earned accolades from the likes of fellow members Bill Cobham, Will Downing, Alphonse Mouzon and Buster Williams.
"Yet it's not only established artists who hang out together over this electronic backyard fence. There are plenty of tomorrow's aspiring stars as well, such as 15-year-old Mikayla Gilbreath. 'I heard Sonny Rollins,' she says, explaining her passion, 'and I just loved it. I loved the way it sounded, and I wanted to play jazz instead of just music.' Has anyone of any age ever put it better? Jazz instead of just music." Alan Kurtz, Jazz.com, June 29, 2008.
MORE VIDEOS:
 | Below you will find some more of Mikayla's videos, including a video of her first spontaneous improvisation (with her middle school band). There is also a Sonny Rollins video which features Mikayla. You can see more of Mikayla's videos on her YouTube channel.
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♫ Tribute to Sonny Rollins by Mikayla (13) ► "Blue Room" (Nov. 2006)
(This was recorded two days before Mikayla met Sonny Rollins. Mikayla had been playing sax for 14 months. She played Sonny's own rendition of the Rogers & Hart classic "Blue Room.")
You can also see Sonny Rollins watching the above video.
♫ Meeting Sonny - The Sonny Rollins Podcast - (Released March 2007)
(This podcast was created by Sonny Rollins' record company, Doxy Records. Portions of it were filmed during Mikayla's first meeting with Mr. Rollins and it also incorporates an interview about that first meeting. The podcast can also be viewed on sonnyrollins.com.)
♫ Mikayla (14) ► First Spontaneous Improvisation (8th grade) - May 2007.
(Mikayla had been playing sax for 20 months when this was recorded. She played "Song For My Father" by Horace Silver.)
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
Uncle Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum is my 80 year-old uncle who has FORGOTTEN more about jazz than I've even learned yet! He released his CD "Introducing Hugh 'Peanuts' Whalum" after gigging in the St. Louis scene for over 55 years! Needless to say his voice, his saxophone, his piano... like a fine, aged Merlot. His energy?! I dare not try and keep up. I'm on stage falling asleep by the time he gets going good – cut from a different cloth. Arnette, Coleman, Hamp, Hank... fine cloth.
Why do I bring them up? Because they represent something really important that we now get to enjoy, like they did back then, but now through technology on sites like this, that we've been missing.
The good news, since family – in this case JAZZ FAMILY – and relationships are much more important, more fulfilling... is that I feel RICHER knowing and following you guys music on THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Sincerely,
Kirk WHALUM
www.kirkwhalum.com
"Congratulations on your creativity, energy and dedication to Jazz, knowing and have worked with your Dad ~ its all in the genes".
~Clem De Rosa
Professional Musician, Educator, Arranger, Composer and Band Leader
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ADVERTISE YOUR ARTISTRY, BUSINESS OR EVENT HERE ON THE JAZZ NETWORK!
Give the gift of some of The Jazz Network Members music for the Holidays!!
Just click your favorite artist, its as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4!! :-)
Available on iTunes and www.fredricklevore.com
<"
The Jazz Network Holiday Promotion offers its members a spot on the front page to display your CD cover for immediate click-thru for purchase for holiday gifting! Feel free to contact Jaijai for details for now is a good time to start promoting Holiday sales!
If you have interest in having a featured spot, want to be spotlighted, promote a 'gig' or CD release party with a flyer or banner, stream your gigs live from a venue worldwide, give a shout-out for any reason ~ post a press release...have a business we should know about?... or even a "sneak peek" of your upcoming release? How about managers looking for artists, or indie labels looking for submissions...This is the place to do it!
Jaijai is also making herself available to help you promote your artistry with marketing tips that will take you to the next level.
If you are interested in becoming a client, please let her know.
If you want your page designed with your CD cover and special slideshows, or that 'extra special touch' Jaijai will also lend her design skills to those that want that 'extra splash' to their pages.
Contact her here on the site to discuss your creative thoughts!
Happy Networking!
:-)
Artwork courtesy of Jeff Laibson
SPOTLIGHTED ARTISTS
Finding THE JAZZ NETWORK has been an amazing experience for Musique Noire. The opportunity to not only gain exposure among the jazz community, but to also learn and network with others in the jazz world has been invaluable. It is a place where we are all treated equally, whether one is a major label act or an indie artist, whether one plays traditional jazz or any of the "branches" of the jazz Family "tree".
Musique Noire is honored to be spotlighted here and are deeply grateful to Jaijai for creating this wonderful world. We're here to stay!
~ Musique Noire
Jaijai, what a wonderful mission you've undertaken to create such a place for artistic minds to meet and share their hearts. A place to renew faded determinations, and revive lessened momentums. A place to display our wares and reconfirm to one another that we actually are on the right track.
I commend you, Jaijai, for caring so much that you created this castle of the heart for all of us. I want to share my praise for all of the new friends as well as old friends that I've met and will meet here in our castle. Here we can garnish the where-with-all, the strength, the conviction, and the selflessness through our symbiosis, to share our gift to the world with an unbiased agenda.
My mentor, Daisaku Ikeda says of art: "A beautiful flower delights and refreshes the hearts of all people equally, no matter what soil it grows in. That is the power of beauty. The same is true of great art. It is this spirit that the German poet Heinrich Heine sang of when he wrote that once the peapod bursts open, the sugar peas inside are for everyone to enjoy."
Let's be audacious, my friends!
Buster Williams
"It was a pleasure to be featured on the Jazz Network Main Page. This Network is a unique forward step for independence, contact and conversation between artist, promoters/agents and fans.
Thank you Jaijai for offering a professional meeting place. I've met new musicians and rediscovered old friends I haven't seen or heard from in years. May we all continue to expand this network.
~ Will Calhoun
"I think that what Jaijai Jackson has done with the Jazz Network shows how the eternal love for this music is passed down from generation to generation. The fire her father lit in her has burned brightly and has inspired her to pass this torch on to future generations. I'm very proud to be featured and I'm very happy that Jazz has a voice and spirit like Jaijai looking after it."
~ Ron Kearns
I am so honored to be on The Jazz Network with so many wonderful and dedicated musicians. Jazz is the truly American art form and as I travel to other countries I find that their appreciation for jazz is really uplifting. There are so many excellent jazz musicians around the world now and The Jazz Network is helping us to find each other. Thank goodness for people like Jaijai who have dedicated so much time and effort to keep the jazz community together and for opening doors to us that we may never have found.
Regarding education in jazz, having done Master Classes in many places I find students need to take time and learn from the Masters and LISTEN. They should go back in history to appreciate ALL styles of jazz and its development. They need to learn melodies and lyrics (yes, even instrumentalists need to know lyrics) and that jazz is not just a series of modes and riffs. I think The Jazz Network can be an excellent tool for that also.
Thank you Jaijai...you are awesome!
~ Lenore Raphael
"Thank you Jaijai for creating a space for the likes of me! I truly enjoy being featured here and really hope it can give me new contacts and opportunities.
Keep up the good work!"
~ Patrick Rydman
Sweden
"The Jazz Network has come into being at just the right time. I believe that we are forever in need of spiritual and artistic enrichment and the way I see it, music, particularly jazz music, is all about the spirit. The Jazz Network allows us to reach out to our fellow artists across the world, in a way that has not been seen before, enlightening us as to who's out there making hip and happening music and helping to shape the culture. Whether artists approach this music from traditional perspectives or attempt to create new and radical sub-genres of jazz, the Jazz Network
is providing exposure, performance and recording opportunities that we might never have found on our own.
The Jazz Network is an amazing resource for the Jazz community. I'm
honored and happy to be a part of it.
Jaijai, thanks for your faith and what you're doing for the jazz community"
Best,
Nicolas
It’s a rare occasion when you meet someone who you feel a real connection to … Someone who possesses a kind spirit, unyielding generosity and a dedication to the jazz community beyond expectations.
Jaijai, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic website for the jazz community. You’ve helped artists connect with each other around the world.
I’m proud to have The Jazz Network be the first site to promote my latest recording. Words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to the music and the artists.
With much love and gratitude,
Denise Donatelli
Hi Jaijai,
Stopping by to show you some love and tell you just how much I appreciate all you've been doing here, not just for me but for this incredible community of jazz musicians. I see that The Jazz Network is growing in leaps and bounds daily and want you to know that I recognize the importance of what's going on here, musicians having a place to connect with each other, young musicians having a place to meet and be mentored by musicians who have been around the block. You've created a beautiful space here and it's obvious that folks are feeling very much at home. Thanks for sharing your time, your heart, your soul. This is a huge commitment and you've taken it on with such determination. I wish you and The Jazz Network continued success and support you in all you're doing.
~ Marcus
© 2008 Created by Jaijai Jackson aka. "Woman of Jazz"
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Friends18.com Weekend Comments
Go on playing sax and so on; I think you're a young promise and a very talented girl ;-)
Cheers from Spain!
Lara
Thank you for the nice words. I greatly appreciate it. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Shunnae
Best of everything.
Ju~ana
thanks for the req, nice page!!!
see you
A
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