Open the Door to Jazz and Blues at Worhals
Saturday November 16, 2013- 8:00PM-2AM
2016 Main St 77002
The Texan-French Alliance for the Arts (TFAA) and Harambee Art Gallery invite you to an evening celebrating the past, present, and future of jazz and blues. Two renowned musicians from France, Aymeric Avice and Benjamin Sanz, and famed local Houstonians, including Milton Hopkins, Jewel Brown, Joe Carmouche and Woody Witt will perform in a musical encounter that promises to bring out jazz in all of its colors. The event will take place at Worhals, one of Midtown Houston’s trendiest hot spots.
The event is part of TFAA’s citywide “Open-The-Door” public art project that was launched earlier this year and includes 60 doors in 19 Houston neighborhoods. Amongst them is Charles Washington and Jesse Lott’s door in Emancipation Park that pays tribute to blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins and artist Bert Long.
Preceding the evening concert, there will be a symposium on the history of jazz and blues in Houston with a panel discussion led by Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown. The event will be held at the Harambee Art Gallery, 3903 Almeda St., from 2pm-4pm. Be sure to join us and learn why Houston played such a prominent role in the evolution of jazz.
Meet some of the Artists:
Aymeric Avice is a trumpet player, composer, and founding member of internationally renowned bands Jean Louis, BonyFish, OSSO, Catapulte, Radiation 10, and AVICE DE PROCEDURE. He has collaborated with prestigious musicians such as Christian Vander, Charlie Haden, John Betsch, Fantazio, Luc EX, Andre Minvielle, the HUSSAIN Brothers, Brice Wassy, Denis Charolles and more recently with American experimental rock group, Tortoise.
He received the best soloist “Selmer” award at the 2005 Saint-Germain-des-Pres Jazz Festival, Paris, France. He was also awarded the first prize of the jazz and improvised music department of the CNSMDP, France’s most prestigious music conservatory.
Benjamin Sanz is a drummer and composer who has lead several projects influenced by jazz and African musical forms, such as the Benjamin Sanz Quintet. For seven years he organized and presented a jazz and world music jam session at La Miroiterie (Paris, France), a venue for musical encounters and sharing of knowledge that was supported by great musicians such as David Murray, Bobby Few, Ernest Dawkins, Sabir Mateen and others.
His polyrhythmic styles focus on improvisation and spontaneous creativity, and leans towards strong time signatures and consistency of the overarching sound. His training was strongly shaped by his encounters with accomplished musicians and his travels. He has performed in Europe, Africa and the U.S with musicians such as David Murray, Byrd Lancaster, Roy Campbell, Lobi Traore, Safiata Conde, Oliver Lake and many others. He has just released a hip hop album with New York jazz funk collective Black Rock Coalition called Divine Pocket Bouncers. His extensive knowledge and practice of black music and improvisation have made Benjamin Sanz an increasingly sought-after “sideman”.
Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown two of Houston’s legendary blues artists. Milton Hopkins was the lead guitarist for B.B King from 1971-1980 and the linchpin of the local blues community for many years. Jewel Brown is a jazz and blues singer who was a part of Louis Armstrong’s ensemble for five years in the early 60’s. They released a joint album in May 2012 under the Austin based label Dialtone “Milton Hopkins with Jewel Brown”.
Joe Carmouche is one of Houston’s most in demand performers. He is a guitarist who has performed for President Obama’s 2013 inauguration day and has performed with Joe Sample, Ronnie Laws, Michael Henderson, Everette Harp and many other established jazz artists. He also teaches music theory and guitar at MacGregor Elementary School in Houston. He was twice nominated Best Jazz Artists at the Houston Press Music Awards and received a certificate of congressional recognition from congress woman Sheila Jackson Lee in honor of his musical accomplishments. He has released three CDs and received the best jazz album award for “A touch of Jazz”.
Woody Witt, saxophonist, is a composer, performer and educator. His fresh ideas and original approach to improvisation and composition have earned him a place to perform with some of the top names in the industry. Woody has established himself as a notable musician in the area and has performed with the Houston Symphony Exxon-Mobil Pops Series backing artists including Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers and Tony Bennett. He is also the manager/artistic director of one of the city’s only jazz clubs, Cezanne. Dr. Witt is a full time instructor at Houston Community College and is an affiliate artist at the University Of Houston Moores School Of Music. Woody holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the prestigious university of North Texas where he taught saxophone and jazz methods. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in 2000.
For ticket information, please contact TFAA at: 832 755 1470
Tickets may only be purchased through eventbrite.com:
https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8918580715