Jazz On Edge 2010 was the first Central Florida appearance of the Tiptons Sax Quartet – in fact, it was the first jazz show presented at the Garden Theatre, and the only time internationally renowned pianist Edward Simon, a resident of nearby Orange City, had performed in the Orlando area, with his family in the audience. The “after hours” jam with critically acclaimed New York trumpeter Brian Groder brought acclaimed sax player Tamara Danielsson and pianist Per Danielsson to the stage to play with Brian and Sam Rivers' bassist Doug Mathews. The weekend started with a free "Fridays on the Plaza" concert with the Fellsway Trio on Feb 5, and a free preshow performance by the Lakeview Middle School Jazz Band outside the theater on Saturday.

Featured in the Orlando Sentinel:
Improvisation at the heart of Jazz On Edge
By Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel Music Critic

Jazz is one of those things that's hard to define. The legendary Louis Armstrong took a shot at it, famously saying that if you had to ask what it was, "you'll never know." Not too much help there, Satch! In the case of what falls under the jazz umbrella hereabout, it can be anything from the innocuous Smooth Jazz (not too much different from adult pop) to the more purist-friendly Sunday jam sessions once a month at the Altamonte Chapel on State Road 436. There's room for more in this realm, and a promising prospect takes another step forward this weekend in Winter Garden.

"Jazz On Edge" is a concert series that is the brainchild of Orlando freelance writer and promoter Joseph Hayes, who put together the inaugural show in 2008 at Taste in College Park. The follow-up is moving on Saturday to the larger Garden Theatre in the emerging business center in downtown Winter Garden. The theater will accommodate a bigger audience and also offer a setting that is conducive to listening, although Hayes is incorporating some potential audience participation in a "jazz loft" jam session that will close the evening. He's calling the show "International Flavors and the Sound of Sax," and the headliners are designed for jazz fans who appreciate challenging music that leans on skilled musicians equipped to solo. The latter quality is at the heart of Hayes' own definition of jazz: "The image of jazz is either of being in a concert to sit down and watch it, or of someone playing it as background music in some restaurant," Hayes says. "Rather than it being an act of creation in front of you, which is really the definition of jazz, isn't it?" The headliners at Saturday's show are well-equipped for improvisation: Pianist Edward Simon, who will be playing with his trio, is fresh from two nights earlier this week at The Jazz Standard in New York. A sideman for the likes of trumpeter Terence Blanchard, Simon and his work have twice been honored as one of the Ten Jazz Records of the Year by The New York Times, for Edward Simon (1995) and Simplicitas (2008). Simon's penchant for Latin and Caribbean music is exemplified in compositions such as 2005's Venezuelan Suite, which melds jazz, chamber music and Venezuelan folk music. His performance in Orlando actually will be a homecoming, of sorts, because he lives in Orange City. Who knew?
"He's been so supportive and, frankly, he wanted an opportunity to play locally," Hayes says. "There aren't many venues in town that will focus on original music, rather than covers of the same five standards while people are eating shrimp scampi."

Also on the bill is the Tiptons Saxophone Quartet, an ensemble of four saxophones and drums that combines New Orleans' Second Line style with Balkan and gypsy influences, Bebop and Swing. The Tiptons set will be followed by a short intermission, in which tables will be moved on to the stage to create a "jazz loft" atmosphere for the closing third-set jam session led by New York trumpeter Brian Groder. "The things we're trying to accomplish with this series is, first, to have musicians play their own music," Hayes says. "Second, we want to expose people to the astounding variety of music that is still classified as jazz. Everything is listenable and rhythmic and from the heart," he says. "I don't think there will be a lot of real 'out-there' stuff until we get to the jam, and then all bets are off." Besides, when it comes to the music, Hayes isn't hung-up on definitions. "When someone says they don't really like jazz, it's like saying they don't really like reading. It doesn't really say anything, because there's so many different kinds of it."

Edward Simon
"an important presence on the jazz and world music scenes"

Lovers of the tender elegance and power of jazz piano and Latin-flavored music will find all this and more in Edward Simon. Venezuelan-born, and currently living in Orange City, Simon has been quietly but profoundly making an impact for a number of years.

Edward's Jazz On Edge videos:

Performing with Edward Simon:

Adam Cruz - drums
Adam gained early recognition in New York Latin and Jazz circles while only 20. Cruz has recorded and toured with the Mingus Dynasty Big Band, Chick Corea, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Mann and Eddie Palmieri.

Joe Martin - bass
An integral member of Kurt Rosenwinkel’s group, Joe has performed with Brad Mehldau, Mingus Big Band, Jane Monheit, Maria Schneider, Andy Bey, Art Farmer, Ethan Iverson, and many others.
 

The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet
"a worldly and soulful touch that cannot be described; it must be heard"

With a repertoire that ranges from New Orleans second-line to Jazz, Afro-Cuban to Balkan, klezmer and beyond, the Tiptons create some of the wildest sounds ever to come out of a sax quartet. An all-women sax quartet (who sing!) from Seattle, New York and points Midwest, with 10 CDs under their belt, touring and playing festivals in Europe and the US for more than 15 years. Each member is a solo artist in her own right. Their dynamic, playful concerts feature high-energy interaction between artists, and a repertoire that touches on soulful music from around the world.

The Tipton's Jazz On Edge videos:

The Tiptons are:

Amy Denio, alto sax, clarinet, voice
Denio (rhymes with ‘Ohio’) is the hardest working musician in the world. "A one-of-a-kind performer, this creative-music goddess with the four-octave vocal range mesmerizes as both a versatile composer of offbeat pop tunes, symphonic works, and dance soundtracks, and a one-woman orchestra playing guitar, bass, sax, and accordion." Sam Prestianni, San Francisco Weekly

Jessica Lurie, alto & tenor sax, voice
"Jessica Lurie can be considered a multi-multi-musician: someone who can proficiently play a wide variety of instruments and a wide variety of musical styles. Lurie liberally mixes in folk, rock, avant garde, Eastern European and New Orleans stylings. Somehow it makes for a coherent, compelling experience." somethingelsereviews.com

Sue Orfield, tenor sax, voice
Sue Orfield has been playing the tenor saxophone for close to 30 years, playing in the blues, jazz, rock, and original music scene. A multi-year "best horn" from the Washington Blues Society, Sue has shared the stage with some musical greats over the years, including Jo Dee Messina, the Indigo Girls, Bo Diddley, Ann Wilson of Heart, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, and Bobby McFerrin.

Tina Richerson, baritone sax, voice
“Tina plays like she has angels and devils whispering to her simultaneously." Tina is the Overall Instrumental Soloist Winner from the 1997 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho, and was the first female to perform and record live with the Seattle Jazz Repertory Orchestra.  

Lee Frisari , drums & percussion
Playing with the bands LITO, Circus Amok, Lesser Panda, Larune, Inner Princess and Electric Junkyard Gamelan, Lee Frisari's passion for the drums comes through in every performance. Her diverse vocabulary of heavy hits and gentle touches creates the scene for a thrilling ride.

Brian Groder
with Doug Mathews and special guests

We throw the doors open as the stage of the Garden Theatre becomes a New York jazz loft. Buy a glass of wine at the bar, and join Brian, Doug and guests onstage for a free-form after-hours soiree.

Brian's Jazz On Edge videos: