quarantine diaries, v9

21 December 2020

In the monthly the MOJO Board Zoom meetings, we've been talking about ways to continue to bring jazz to our members and support local musicians. Brainstorming for a couple of months lead to "Homemade Jams". More below.

Hoping to restart Jazz Jambalayas in April - Jazz Appreciation Month. The only thing that's certain at this time is that Creola Ruffin will finally get her 2020 Jazzalea Award.

Because membership fees for 2021 were waived for 2020 members, we launched 20 for 21, a fundraising event with the chance for you to GIVE & GET! Give $20 or more to get in on receiving cash and prizes. Your contribution will pay the costs of our mission of presenting jazz performances, supporting local musicians and sharing jazz history. Plus, it is a tax-deductible gift. Click icon at bottom of page.

Carmen Brown
Muse

We need a lot of healing and reassurance these days. Music is a powerful balm and a way for channeling messages of inspiration and hope. It can be an agent of change and a source of information. This QD edition explores some of the ways we can facilitate access to jazz.


There are 115 holidays in December. Most familiar are Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Posadas Navidenas and Festivus. Today is Winter Solstice, the first day of winter.  Looking for jazz to accompany your celebration? Norman Vickers reviews a new release that celebrates the season. You may want to add to your collection. Tapping the CD cover leads to samples and checkout.

We lost a MOJO friend, Odessa Hughes, one of the waitresses at the Lodge. Details in her obituary.

Dr. F Norman Vickers
Jazz Society of Pensacola

Bah Humbug: An Absolutely Unnecessary Christmas Album
The Simeon Davis Group

Want some traditional Christmas music that’s somewhat jazzy and doesn’t sound like what you’ll hear when shopping at your favorite department store? Like the challenge of “ what jazz artist’s style is this?” Then you might just enjoy the new recording “Bah Humbug” by saxophonist Simeon Davis and his group.

Davis plays alto saxophone; Jake Chaffe, electric and upright bass; August Knobbe, piano and Joshua Parker, drum set. These performers play on all sets except one. Vocalist Rachel Azbell and percussionist Juan Gladamez perform on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".

“You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” was recorded earlier by different personnel which include electric keyboard, soprano and alto saxophones, flute, bass, vibraphone and vocals. Of course, listeners will recognize this as a “Dr. Seuss” composition with additional lyrics by Davis.

Likely all titles will be familiar to the listener. After all, this is traditional stuff-both old and newer. Sample titles: "Let It Snow", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "I’ll be Home For Christmas", "Deck The Halls" and others.

Sophisticated jazz listeners will have fun determining the jazz influences whether, Count Basie, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Horace Silver or James Brown. In my view, a fun mix of traditional Christmas music was a twist of jazz!

February 22nd was our last Jazz Jambalaya this year. It seems so long ago. Board meetings were sometimes dominated to answer that nagging question: "What can we do to give live jazz to our membership?" In October, TJ Singleton proposed creating "Quarantine Quartets", using local musicians to perform some of their personal favorites tunes exclusively for our members. The idea was to create a private viral space to showcase local jazz performers playing from their homes.

Using TJ's original idea, we contracted with Hosea London, Larry Carter and Rebecca Barry to create videos for the project and offered each a talent fee. Enjoy a seasonal favorite from Larry on flute, "Silent Night" on our members only "MOJO Homemade Jams" YouTube channel. Subscribe while you're there.


Debra Adams Lula Albert Tim Coffman Connie Guggenbiller Paul Maertens		Barbara Michelle Doris Morrow Sheila Ratliff Paul Shestak Beth Walmsley

KEEP YOUR MOJO WORKIN'!
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