Tag Archives: venezuela

Fairbanks’ Follow-ups, Fund-awards, ‘Formances, Photos (for February)

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Street Beat poses with the hosts of Televen TV network's
Dear Friends,

Jeff Fairbanks here, with a short, overdue newsletter hinting at some long stories – with new pics and videos to help tell them. Thanks for your continued interest in my music. You’ll notice a new letterhead above, “Street Beat/ Project Hansori/ Jeff Fairbanks”. This hopefully reflects my multiple (and very different) musical projects, while streamlining with reverbnation.com’s musician profile layout.

STREET BEAT BRASS VENEZUELA TOUR RECAP:
January 14-21, 2015 Street Beat Brass toured Venezuela at the invitation of the US Embassy to that country. I was joined by band mates Jason Wiseman, Mike Webster, James Rogers, and Vin Scialla. We gave performances including at Simon Bolivar University, El Hatillo town square, and live on the Televen network TV show “Vitrina” (we are pictured above posing with the show’s hosts). We also gave a masterclass with students of El Sistema, the internationally-renowned public music education program that groomed LA Philharmonic conductor prodigy Gustavo Dudamel. We interacted with the Jazz big band at Simon Bolivar University. Since our return, we got to reunite with the latter band and catch a couple concerts during its tour of NYC. Besides all this, we had much interaction with regular Venezuelan people, who proved to be very warm and welcoming. After some concerts, there were long lines of people waiting for autographs and photo ops, who would thank us in English. Needless to say the trip was very successful and rewarding.

NEW PICS AND VIDEOS:
Photos (from the tour):
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1539681736291860.1073741839.1458930071033694&type=3
Videos (from the tour):
http://youtu.be/AZ-SwZyNito?list=PLtkT1Y3rV866NOybLA9Lu1U4IbrIWlJYz. (More to come so check back in).
New videos (SBB live in NYC): http://youtu.be/G2xKay2smZo?list=PLtkT1Y3rV866NOybLA9Lu1U4IbrIWlJYz

UPCOMING PUBLIC SHOWS:
Street Beat – Sunday March 15 @8pm at The Penrose
1590 2nd Ave New York, NY
https://www.facebook.com/events/316604508538259/

Street Beat – Friday April 10 @11:59pm at Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
196 Allen St New York, NY
https://www.facebook.com/events/444635825683892/

JFUND AWARD
I am thrilled to have received a JFund (Jerome Fund for New Music) Award from the American Composers Forum. Over the next several years I will compose a piece for a combination of Korean instruments that will feature multi-instrumentalist Gamin (http://gamin-music.com/), with whom I’ve had the privilege of collaborating and of studying Korean wind instruments over several years. I anticipate the eventual premier to happen in South Korea at a venue TBD. Read the announcement from ACF here: http://composersforum.org/press/acf-announces-2014-jerome-fund-new-music-recipients

SHOWS SINCE LAST NEWSLETTER (October!):

Project Hansori, my Jazz big band gave a powerful performance at the 4th annual Sounds of Arts Festival presented by Multicultural Sonic Evolution (MuSE), on 11/19/14 (pictured above). All the other goings-on including Street Beat’s recent tour have prevented me from even posting pictures from that concert!

Street Beat Brass played at Choga restaurant/ night spot in Greenwich Village on 12/12/14 and 1/6/15. We also played a high-energy show for a packed house at Rockwood Music Hall on 1/2/15. I’m posting more videos as they come in. For now, check out the ones I’ve already posted (linked above as well): http://youtu.be/G2xKay2smZo?list=PLtkT1Y3rV866NOybLA9Lu1U4IbrIWlJYz. Also, SBB also had a last-minute appearance this past Friday at the LREI school in the Village. Sorry this newletter couldn’t get out in time!

I’m so glad to have your interest and support. Greater NYC residents, please do say Hi at an upcoming show if you’re free.

Thanks,

Jeff Fairbanks
Composer, Performer, Bandleader
Project Hansori, Street Beat Brass
www.fairbanksmusic.com
www.streetbeatbrass.com

Press Release for NYC Pre-tour Shows and Tour Announcement

Announcements,

November 24, 2014 – New York, NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Department Readies Queens Band to Tour Venezuela, Represent US Culture

The US Embassy in Venezuela has chosen Queens-based Street Beat Brass Band to represent American culture on a tour of that country in January. Sponsored by the US State Department, the tour transpires Jan 14-21 sending the band as musical ambassadors through Caracas and San Cristobal. Activities include both performances such as at the San Sebastian Cultural Festival, and masterclasses conducted by band members for students of El Sistema (the iconic low-income music education program that groomed LA Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel). Led by Sunnyside composer-trombonist Jeff Fairbanks, the 5-piece ensemble draws on world brass traditions from such places as New Orleans, Sinaloa (Mexico), the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and more. Most of the band hails from Western Queens, while others live in Washington Heights and Park Slope.

Local fans have three chances to send off Street Beat Brass at pre-tour shows in NYC:

Show details: www.facebook.com/streetbeatbrass

ABOUT STREET BEAT BRASS BAND
Street Beat Brass is a mobile 5-piece brass-and-drums band drawing on world brass traditions from NOLA, Gospel, Mexican, Caribbean, Klezmer, Polka, to Pop. Since 2012 it has played through greater NYC including events at iHeart Radio theater, Round Hill Music, and three appearances at the All Nite Soul festival.
www.streetbeatbrass.com

PRESS CLIPPINGS:
“Jazz needs more of this kind of music.”  Bob Bernotas, Just Jazz WNTI 91.9FM
“Fairbanks’ fluid lines and lyrical sensibilities on trombone”.  Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times“Magnificent!” Matthew Forss, Inside World Music

CONTACT:
Jeff Fairbanks 1-917-349-5966 info@streetbeatbrass.com
Leader, Street Beat Brass Band www.streetbeatbrass.com  www.fairbanksmusic.com

Venezuela Tour, Grammy Voting & More: Nov ’14 newsletter

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DSC_9247November 2014

Dear friends of Street Beat, Project Hansori and my other musical surfacings:

Below are two announcements of things where although local attendance isn’t possible, something major is happening. But first, I’ll start with something that folks around NYC certainly can attend.

BIG BAND CONCERT:
A long-awaited Project Hansori performance happens this month at the Sounds of Arts Festival presented by Multicultural Sonic Evolution (MuSE). Project Hansori’s program “Land Bridge” –connecting East Asia and North America in a Jazz setting– kicks off the festival which encompasses eight performances over six days in Queens. This festival usually sells out so it’s wise to buy tickets now (link below).

Wednesday Nov 19 @8pm
The Secret Theatre (in the Big Theatre)
4402 23rd Street, Long Island City, NY 11101
Tickets: General Admission $15 advance / $20 at the door, Seniors & Students with ID $12
Purchase tickets at http://musesoaf2014.brownpapertickets.com/
For more info about the festival visit http://musefriends.org/MuSE/Festival.html

GRAMMY VOTING:
My arrangement of John “Dizzy” Gillespie’s Manteca for Dave Chamberlain’s Band of Bones’ latest record Caravan has made an initial step in the Grammy awards process. NARAS members have until this Wednesday 11/5 to vote to include it on the ballot for potential Grammy nominations. Here’s the official listing:

Field: Composing/Arranging
Category: Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
MANTECA
Jeff Fairbanks, arranger (Dave Chamberlain’s Band Of Bones)

Parts of the album are also being considered in two other categories –  my friend Chris Rinaman’s arrangement of How Deep is the Ocean? (Best Arrangement Instruments and Vocals), and the album Caravan itself (Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album).

VENEZUELA TOUR:
What I hinted at last month is now official: Street Beat Brass will tour Venezuela this January, sponsored by the US State Department! Our tour runs Jan 14-21, and includes performances at the San Sebastian Cultural Festival and more, and teaching masterclasses for students including those of El Sistema (the iconic program that groomed LA Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel). I’m now working on setting up a NYC ‘send-off’ show (TBA) near the start of our tour. Links to our members:
Jason Wiseman www.facebook.com/jason.wiseman.9484?fref=ts
Mike Webster www.michaelwebstermusic.com
James Rogers www.facebook.com/james.rogers.79?fref=ts
Vin Scialla www.facebook.com/vin.scialla?fref=ts
Street Beat Brass Band www.streetbeatbrass.com

STREET BEAT OCTOBER RE-CAP:
It’s worth briefly re-capping Street Beat’s October schedule, which was jam-packed with a dozen gigs, including our third-in-a-row appearance the annual All Nite Soul festival. We also had not-so-private birthday parades around Manhattan streets, stormed offices, and entertained crowds at various Oktoberfest events. A slightly disturbing Halloween event we were potentially asked to do luckily fell through. The photo above, from Shawna Ryan at Big Personality Media, is from our gig at LIC Landing which provided a great backdrop of the NYC skyline.

Thank you for your interest in my music. See you on 11/19, or at our TBA pre-tour send-off show!

Jeff Fairbanks
Composer, Performer, Bandleader

Oceans of Outstanding October Outings (Fall ’14 newsletter)

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Street Beat riding the elevator to a recent Manhattan gig. October 2014

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Since my Summer newsletter I’ve had much brewing behind the scenes, but now have some very visible activities to share. Read on for upcoming shows from Project Hansori and Street Beat (two very different bands I lead), two new albums I’m on, and a potential international tour for Street Beat.  Pictured: the latter band catching an elevator up to a recent private gig at Round Hill Music.
First, Street Beat has three weekends of public appearances at some major NYC events, including the All Nite Soul Festival. Many of you have never seen this band live since to this point we’ve largely performed at various private events (—these running the gamut from flash mobs to funerals, parades to proposals).
This is not official yet, but an opportunity is now developing for Street Beat to perform on a US State Department-sponsored international tour this winter. I can’t make an announcement yet, but I’m excited about this prospect and want to share at least share this much.
See Street Beat’s brand new Facebook page and Like it to get updates on our activities as they are posted. www.facebook.com/streetbeatbrass This band’s full site is www.streetbeatbrass.com.

STREET BEAT SHOWS: Sunday Oct 5 @ LIC Flea & Food Oktoberfest **TOMORROW** https://www.facebook.com/events/290164301187243
Saturday Oct 11 @ LIC Landing https://www.facebook.com/events/1501620336783152/
Sunday Oct 12 @ All Nite Soul https://www.facebook.com/events/650337948406848/
Saturday Oct 18 @ LIC Flea & Food Oktoberfest https://www.facebook.com/events/270817176450981/

PROJECT HANSORI SHOW Wednesday Nov 19 @ Sound of Arts Festival https://www.facebook.com/events/1553846884844926/ Project Hansori’s first concert in ten months, since our performance at the Asian American Arts Festival at Manhattan’s Children’s Museum of the Arts.

SHOWS AS SPECIAL GUEST Guest appearances with Vin Scialla/ Eric Schugren Project’s WakeUp! CD release: Sun Oct 12 @ City Reliquary Museum (info link TBA) Sun Oct 19 @ Rockwood Music Hall www.facebook.com/events/583227775132845/ Here are some increasingly rare instances of mine as a sideman rather than a band leader.

RECORDING APPEARANCES
My arrangement of John “Dizzy” Gillespie’s Manteca appears on a new record just released by the Band of Bones, called Caravan. This band has eight trombones plus rhythm section. Trombonist Steve Turre and harmonica player Hendrick Meurkens appear elsewhere on the record. This track has recieved quite a but of airplay on the NYC area’s main Jazz radio station, WBGO. http://bandofbones.com/

Guest Appearance on Wake Up!, a new album the by Vin Scialla/Eric Schugren Project, out soon on Liftoff Records. I play trombone on several of the tracks with this fun, organ-backed band. www.facebook.com/wakeupjazz Here’s a sample (I’m not on this track): www.soundcloud.com/liftoffrecords/tc-blues-sciallaschugren

Thanks for your interest in my music. I’d love to see NYC-area fans at one of these upcoming shows – ‘Liking’ the Project Hansori and Street Beat Facebook pages is the best way to receive updates on these.

Thank you,
Jeff Fairbanks Composer, Performer, Band leader