Jazz CampWEST
June 21-28

Kellye is on the faculty,
You can attend as a student!

Jazz CampWEST is an eight-day jazz immersion program for instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers held in the beautiful redwoods of La Honda in Northern California. The combination of workshops, personalized instruction, student performances, faculty concerts, late night jams, and beautiful surroundings with new friends and mentors creates an inspiring and memorable week.

At Jazz Camp, 45 all-star faculty members and 250 participants of all ages, backgrounds and levels come together for a creative experience that is profoundly rewarding. The majestic setting mixed with musical immersion, inspiration, encouragement and support set the stage for magic at Jazz CampWEST.

Create a personal schedule from over 100 classes offered each day!
Instrumental, vocal, and dance classes are offered for the complete beginner or the seasoned professional.

For more information or to register online visit:
www.jazzcampwest.com

Voxygen Presents at The Voice Studio

The Art of Vocal Interpretation
A Workshop with Kellye Gray

4 hour vocal workshop on the Art of Interpretation using the Sploosh method developed by Kellye Gray.

Can you get control of your creative process?

Can you teach yourself to exercise control over the editor of the mind?

What does interpretation mean, how does it relate to me and how do I do it?

How can I put myself inside the lyric to deliver a truthful, meaningful performance?

The student will develop confidence as a creator, improviser and interpreter therefore improving their overall performance and writing skills.

You should come prepared with at least two songs and sheet music

Sunday, April 20th, 2008
Noon - 4 pm
$95

The Voice Studio
1399 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Register today at:
www.thevoicestudio.org

Bugle Boy fun facts

Most people don't realize that the recording of the Bugle Boy show was completely unplanned. I had decided to take an acoustic trio into that wooden army barracks. I had played the room several times before with piano and drums, but really thought it would be better without drums and with a guitar. So I called up a couple of old friends of mine who I hadn't played with in about 17 years. The guys showed up and read down the charts. There were some train wrecks, but we all laughed it off as a jazz date and went on our merry ways. A few months later I'm chatting with Erich (the guitar player) on the phone and he says, "Hey, have you listened to the recording off the board from the gig at the Bugle Boy?" I said, "No." He said you should really take another listen and that he thought there was something there. Well, I did take a listen and agreed. A phone call led to a conversation about the psycho-acoustic quality of the performances and why not edit and master and release? There you have it. No rehearsal, but really lovely acoustic jazz performances from all three of us. Lots of fun. Listen past the mistakes and you'll soon hear the quality in this little live disc.

Thanks for the great vibes folks. Also, happy everyone seems to like the new site.
My new discipline is to keep up with all these updates.

thanks for listening,
kellye

Live vs. Recorded

When it comes to jazz it's hard to deny that live performance is jazz at its best. The ability to feel and hear the music as it's actually being created is a one of a kind experience. I'm not saying that the passion you hear in recorded music is not genuine but there is a considerable difference when it comes to live improvisation. Everyone in the ensemble has to be on their toes when the improv begins. The players have to listen in a way that doesn't happen when tracking in the studio. And when the listener becomes a part of the process one not only hears the magic in the moment but they also feel it. I worry that we have created a listener that no longer cares to hear the passion of the music as it is being created. I fear that we have cultivated listeners who only care to digest their music in cleaned-up ways. At least hip-hop and rap are clinical interpretations of sampled music that imply energetic expressions of the poets that write rap lyrics over beats. But, we have come to a point in hip-hop where fresh beats are becoming harder and harder to create. I support the jazz improvisational experience because it is a unique event. A unique event that is quickly becoming history because even in the world of jazz music the passion of creation is being removed.It's becoming a formula. I hate to think that we may be moving to a place in our history where we no longer appreciate or support the live improvised moment in music making.

That being said....I've just released, "KG3 Live! at the Bugle Boy". Hope your season will be bright.