Three-day Spenard JazzFest gets under way tonight

By Rachael Fisher
rfisher@adn.com

Published: May 28th, 2009 12:14 PM
Last Modified: May 29th, 2009 07:40 AM

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One short year after it's inauguration, the Spenard JazzFest has morphed into a three-day event featuring 22 composers, 17 bands and more than 50 performers at Organic Oasis.

Local musicians' original work is showcased and no cover tunes are allowed. The festival is designed to be an outlet for local talent to stretch their wings and soar in a direction different than the music normally played for bar gigs.

The weekend of original Alaska jazz kicks off tonight with a best of the fest fundraiser featuring two 45-minute sets of festival musicians and composers mixing it up and playing each others work.

The suggested donation tonight is $25, but festival founder and director, Yngvil Vatn Guttu, said people won't be turned away if they can't pay the full amount.

On sale only at the fundraiser is a $20 festival pass good for the weekend. All-day tickets for Saturday or Sunday are also available at $15 a piece.

To honor the blood, sweat and tears the musicians put into their festival scores, the festival strongly encourages that the audience be quiet during the performances.

"We're an event that happens once a year. The composers and musicians have worked really hard to create and rehearse the tunes, and we're ready to show off our work. It's therefore in the audience's own interest to actually listen," Guttu said.

Motor mouths fear not, there will be about 20 minutes between sets where audience members can chat it up. Organic Oasis will also honor the quiet time by using a blender in the kitchen for smoothies, grinding coffee in advance and steaming lattes between songs.

New to the festival this year is poetry by Sandy Kleven. She will write throughout the festival and perform her poems with a band of festival musicians Sunday night.

"Sandy's poems are also very suited to music, and the fact that she will be writing most of it on the fly fits well into a festival that celebrates improvisational music," Guttu said. "We eventually want to branch out into including different art forms, visual arts, dance, et cetera."

A grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts helped the festival expand from one day to three. Another factor was the triumph of the first event, which was at capacity two hours into the music.

"There were so many new musicians who wanted to be part of this after last year's success," Guttu said.

And that isn't the only expansion being made for the festival. Steve Plante, owner of Organic Oasis, said there is also a new addition to the stage, and the kitchen will stay open later so attendees can eat and stay hydrated, caffeinated and perhaps slightly intoxicated throughout the festivities.

"This will be a party," Plante said.

The music stops after an open jam session Sunday which is open to everyone.

Spenard JazzFest is setting down roots to become an ongoing community event with high quality music. Tune in for jazz served up Alaska style.

Spenard JazzFest

Tickets available at Organic Oasis (2610 Spenard Road) For more information call 277-7882 or visit myspace.com/spenardjazzfest.

Today

Best of the Fest, 8-10 p.m.;

full menu available until 9:30 p.m.

Compositions by John Damberg, Kerry Maule, Liz Malys, Midnight Starlight, Yngvil VG, Elite 9 and Sandy Kleven played by various artists.

Saturday

Big Day of Jazz; full menu available until 11 p.m. 4 p.m.: UAA Student Combo; Phil Knowlton, saxophone; Carlos X, saxophone, flute; Tony Reed, trombone Alex Cruver, piano; Brenton Garrett, bass; and PJ Franco, drums; 5 p.m.: Erika Ninoyu, vocals, drums, percussion; Sofia Lagos, clarinet; Scott Fitzpatrick, guitar; Emilio Avila, keyboards; and Nathan Levine, bass; 6 p.m.: Elite 9, Daryl Hollingsworth, bass; Paul Hettwer, trombonel; Mark Techenbrock, guitar; Linnea Hollingsworth, vocals; and Marty Ingalls, drums 7 p.m.: Yngvil V.G., trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonic flute and vocals; Rick Zelinsky, saxophone; Nick Petumenos, guitar; John Damberg, percussion; Dirk Westfall, bass; and Cameron Cartland, drums 8 p.m.: Karl Pasch, clarinet; Nick Petumenos, guitar; and Cameron Cartland, drums. 9 p.m.: Liz Malys, vocals, piano; Yngvil VG, trumpet; Deborah Addie, cello; Nick Petumenos, guitar; Erroll Bressler, bass; and John Damberg, drums, percussion. 10 p.m.: Nick Petumenos, guitar, bass; Ira Sellers, guitar, bass and keyboard; Erroll Bressler, bass; and Cameron Cartland, drums.

Sunday

Brunch & Lunch Jazz; full menu available until 8 p.m. Noon: Brunch Jazz - Jam, poets, jazz videos 1 p.m.: Alaska Jazz Workshop Advanced Students Ensemble 2 p.m.: John Damberg, vibes, marimba and percussion; Laura Koenig, flute; Nick Petumenos, guitar; Bob Andrews, bass; and Cameron Cartland, drums. 3 p.m.: Cat Coward, vocals; Kevin Barnett, keyboards; Lee Pulliam, saxophone, flute; Dirk Westfall, bass; and Scott Weller, drums. 4 p.m.: Dan McElrath, piano; Rick Zelinsky, saxophone; Bob Andrews, bass; and Scott Weller, drums. 5 p.m.: Al Green ,-trumpet, tenor sax, piano; Phil Becket, guitar; Scott Green, trumpet; Anthony Reed, trombone; Ben X, bass; and Vinnie Pallazotto, drums. 6 p.m.: Rick Zelinsky, saxophone; Pat Owens, trumpet; Dan McElrath, piano; Bob Andrew, bass; and Cameron Cartland, drums. 7 p.m.: Sandy Kleven, words, voice; Rick Zelinsky, saxophone; Yngvil VG, trumpet; Liz Malys, piano; Delores Catherino, bass; and Cameron Cartland, drums. 8 p.m.: Open jam

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