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THE
JAZZ POLICE (no relation to jazzpolice.com) has received numerous awards including Best Acoustic
Jazz Group and Best Jazz Concert from Earshot Jazz Magazine, and Best Jazz Recording
from the Northwest Area Music Association. The four Jazz Police compact
discs have been hailed by local and national reviews seen in JazzTimes
magazine and JazzIz magazine as well as local publications and
online reviewers. The consensus opinion lauds the originality of their
music, the tight and powerful ensemble playing and the high quality of
the many soloists in the group.
THE
MUSIC
The band's repertoire consists almost
exclusively of original compositions written for the group. Composers
include band members Daniel Barry, Greg Metcalf, Jim Cutler, Chris
Monroe, Greg Fulton, Jim DeJoie, James Rasmussen and Evan Beuhler, as
well as northwest composers including David Jones, Al Farlow, Jeff
Ogle, Doug Rasmussen, and Jeff Sizer. Music styles cover a very broad
range, including Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz, straight-head and
mainstream jazz, blues, fusion, rock, funk, and even classical opera.
Whatever the style, the energy, precision and musicianship shines
through to the listener.
THE MUSICIANS
All 18 members are professional level musicians dedicated to refining
their skills as artists, contributing to the local music scene and
enjoying the performance and recording of music. Members have studied
music at Cornish School of Fine Arts, Berklee School of Music, Central
Washington University, University of California Santa Barbara, Queens
College NY, University of Northern Colorado and the University of
Washington. Many are full time musicians and music educators while
others have such varied daytime occupations as software developer,
music publisher, record store proprietor and architect. Prior to the
Jazz Police, members performed with Stan Kenton Orchestra, Toshiko
Akioshi, The Four Tops, Cedar Walton, Buddy DeFranco, Diane Schuur,
Dizzy Gillespie, Urbie Green, Dee Daniels, Carl Fontana, The
Temptations, Carla Bley, Ron McCroby, Bill Holman, Carl Fontana, Jiggs
Wigham, Bernadette Peters, Bobby Shew, Linda Ronstadt, Buddy Rich,
Diva, Joe Williams, Dave Brubeck and James Brown.
BAND MEMBERS
Director: James Rasmussen
Saxophones: Greg Metcalf, Warren Pugh, Jim Cutler, Cynthia Mullis, Jim
DeJoie
Trumpets: Mike Mines, Dennis Haldane, Alan Keith, Daniel Barry
Trombones: Dan Haeck, Steve Kirk, Pat Moran, Dave Bentley
Vibraphone: Evan Beuhler
Guitar: Greg Fulton
Bass: David Pascal
Drums: Chris Monroe
RECORDINGS
Original compositions and arrangements by band members are featured on
all four of the Jazz Police compact discs. Their new CD, The Music
Of Daniel Barry on the Origin
label is receiving rave reviews and is available at local record
stores. The second and third CDs, Freedom of Music and Butterfly
are also available at local jazz record outlets including Bud's Jazz
Records and online at Marinamusic.com. Their first self titled CD on BBC
Prestige Records received the Northwest Area Music Association (NAMA)
Best Jazz Recording award (it is unfortunately is no longer in print).
The group is currently preparing to record their fifth CD later this
year.
PERFORMANCES
The group’s longstanding second Sunday of the month performance at
Tula’s in Seattle’s Belltown has become a tradition for area jazz fans.
The Jazz Police are also active in festivals and club appearances
throughout the northwest. Venues have included: Bumbershoot, The Bite
of Seattle, the Columbia Basin Jazz Festival, Port Gardner Jazz
Festival, Bellevue Jazz Festival, Gig Harbor Jazz Festival, Pike Place
Market Festival, Northwest Jazz & Blues Festival and Frontier Jazz
Festival, Tacoma Art Museum, Jazz Alley and other local clubs. While
typically performing as featured artists, they also have backed up
legendary musicians including: Eddie Daniels, Dave Weckl, Dee Daniels,
and Ernie Andrews. |