8:00pm
The
Darren Johnston Trio
http://www.darrenjohnstonmusic.com/
9:00pm
The 8 Legged Monster
http://www.myspace.com/the8leggedmonster
Darren JohnstonOriginally from Ontario, Canada, composer and trumpeter
Darren Johnston moved to San Francisco, CA in 1997, where he has been living ever since. As a performer, Johnston has performed, and/or recorded with such innovative musicians and composers as guitarist Fred Frith, clarinetist Don Byron, bassist Marcus Shelby, bassist Herbie Lewis, the ROVA Saxophone Quartet, clarinetist Ben Goldberg, and others. He was recently listed last June by Downbeat Magazine as one of “25 Trumpeters of the Future.”
Johnston has received commissions to write for dance, most notably for the San Francisco based companies Robert Moses’s Kin, and Amy Seiwert's I'ij-re, but primarily he writes for his own various projects and those of others in which he participates, including two works in progress for the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra.
The 8 Legged Monster (Band Bios)
MIKE IRWIN (ARRANGER/GUITAR): Mike started out studying classical theory and composition at The San Francisco Conservatory of Music at the age of 13. His teachers at the Conservatory included the brilliant composer Laura Schwendinger and the master guitarists/teachers David Tannenbaum and Scott Camille. Mike started studying and playing Jazz in 1999 at the age of 19 while attending San Francisco State University. Since then he has shared the stage with such greats as Branford Marsalis, Jim Hall, John Handy, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Stephan Harris, Bill Frissel, Melvin Sparks and countless others.
Mike started The 8 Legged Monster in 2007 as a vehicle to explore his strong foundation in composition and arranging. The following band members are all greats in their own respect and have they have all played together in various projects throughout their many years in San Francisco.
ROB BARICS (CLARINET): With his style deeply rooted in the traditions of old New Orleans jazz, Barics brings a unique approach to the 8 Legged Monster. Fluid in jazz styles of all eras, Barics has performed with Wynton Marsalis, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. He's been a fixture on the San Francisco jazz scene for over 15 years.
GABE EATON (ALTO SAX): Gabe Eaton has been performing for 20 years. The alto saxophone has taken Eaton as far as Japan, where he played for 3 years under the Sony Records label with his band DiG, making numerous appearances at major jazz festivals. Eaton has shared the stage with a host of jazz greats, including Jimmy Smith, Tommy Flanagan and Reggae great Don Carlos. His recording credits include the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra’s "The Lights", Gravy’s "Live at Bruno’s" and DiG’s "Cool Flow".
SMITH DOBSON (DRUMS): Smith got his first shot on a major stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival at age 11. At age 15 he led his own band at the MJF, under the first year of director Tim Jackson, who said, "Not only does Smith have the musical expertise to play the MJF, he has the leadership qualities to make it work. His arrangements are outstanding and uniquely his own." Smith has had the honor of working with some of the great Jazz artists, locally and internationally, such as Bobby Hutcherson, Red Rodney, John Handy, Sheila Jordan, Red Holloway, Pete and Conte Condoli, Phillip Harper, Hal Stein, Noel Jewkes, Ben Goldberg, Graham Connahs' Sour Note Seven,
Darren Johnston, Will Bernard, and Kenny Brooks. In 2000, Smith was asked by percussionist William Wynant to join him and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players to perform works by composers Charles Mingus and Anthony Davis.
MIKE OLMOS (TRUMPET): Mike Olmos has become one the most in demand jazz trumpet players since his arrival to the San Francisco Bay Area 10 years ago. Over that time he has been performing with various bands such as the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Realistic Orchestra, Brass Mafia. His performing/recording credits include: Rosemary Clooney, Mary Stallings, Lavay Smith, Marcus Shelby, Cachao, John Calloway, Jesús Diaz y Su QBA, Pete Escovedo, Josh Jones, Thomas Dolby, Lyrics Born, Michael Feinstein, Realistic Orchestra, Brass Mafia, Akira Tana, Zigaboo Modeliste, Will Bernard, Andrew Speight, Jeff Chambers, Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band, The Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, Evan Francis, Howard Wiley, Dayna Stephens, Noel Jewkes, Mel Martin, Michael Brecker, Madeline Eastman, Howard Tate, The Björkestra, and The Glide Ensemble and coming soon The 8 Legged Monster.
DANNY GREWEN (TROMBONE): Danny is one of the Bay Areas most sought after Trombonists. He has worked with many great San Francisco bands including The Collective Jazz West Orchestra and he has been with the Marcus Shelby Orchestra from the band’s first conception.
NOEL JEWKES (TENOR SAX): Noel is one of the most accomplished musicians in California; in fact, we are lucky not to have lost him to New York or Europe. He is a living legend, one of the true modern Jazz pioneers and he is still spreading the gospel. At the age of 67 he is playing with as much fire and intensity as any 26 year old you can find…but with much more knowledge and maturity. Noel has recorded with John Hendricks, Wesla Whitfield, Mary Stallings, Paula West, Mike Greensill, Lavay Smith, Bill Bell, Mimi Fox, Graham Bruce, Bobbe Norris, Larry Dunlap, Larry Vuckovich, Pat Yankee and Jerry Hahn.
FIL LORENZ (BARITONE SAX): Fil brings up the bottom end on an orchestra like nobody else can. He is an accomplished arranger and composer. He founded the Collective Jazz West orchestra in 1998 and they have been a shinning icon of the jazz community in San Francisco ever since. His regular shows at Jazz at Pearls bring in huge crowds every week and his contribution to the integrity of our musical community in San Francisco has been enormous.
SETH FORD-YOUNG (STRING BASS): Seth has been an integral part of this tight knit Jazz community for many years. His recordings as a side man have included projects with such greats as Tom Waits, Ralph Carney, Eric McFadden, John Schott , Sasha Dobson, Mark Growden, Mia and Jonah, Myles Boisen's Past-Present-Future , Carneyball Johnson, The Hot Club of San Francisco , El Radio Fantastique, Vermillion Lies, Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, Graham Connah, Ben Marcato, Marcus Shelby Quartet (subbing for Marcus), Hal Stein, Ben Goldberg, , Radioactive (of Spearhead), Morris Acevedo, Lucky Seven, D.J. Quest (of live human), Gaucho, Jesse DeNatale, Donald "Duck" Bailey, Denise Perrier, Tommy Thomsen, EENOR, P.A.F and Spencer Day.
Cost: $7-$12 Sliding Scale