Billie and Dolly ... and Jacqui

Here's what's happening on the Houston jazz scene this week from KUHF's Eric Ladau:

Innovative singer Jacqui Sutton brings her freshly minted "Frontier Jazz" to The Front Row Thursday, December 9.

Jacqui Sutton grew up inspired by Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson Five, among many others. She was acutely sensitive to music. Even schmaltzy "elevator" music could catch her attention and send her into a state of reverie. As a young lady she learned her musical basics studying the flute.

Although she had little singing experience, she joined Jazzmouth, a San Francisco-based jazz vocal ensemble in the 1980's. Jazzmouth's vocal director Molly Holm taught her the discipline and focus required to excel as a vocalist -- soloist or ensemble. The following years were spent in Portland, Oregon; New York City; and finally Houston. Along the way Jacqui dabbled in dance theater, Shakespeare, break dancing and Bluegrass music. Always eager to learn more and to refine her style, Jacqui studied with University of Houston Moores School Professor Cynthia Clayton, who "helped her love singing for the first time in her life."

Inspired directly by banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck, Jacqui formed The Frontier Jazz Orchestra to perform and record a fascinating amalgam of Bluegrass- and Jazz- influenced tunes. He new CD, Billie and Dolly, is dedicated to Billie Holiday and Dolly Parton, Jacqui's favorite singers. The Frontier Jazz Orchestra consists of pianist and arranger Henry Darragh, trumpeter Dennis Dotson, cellist Max Dyer, flutist Aralee Dorough, bassist Anthony Sapp, percussionist Ilya Janos and a special bluegrass touch added by Paul Chester on banjo.

The CD release party for Billie and Dolly will take place Friday evening, December 10 at 8pm in Duncan Recital Hall of Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. A CD signing and reception will follow the concert.

Clarinetwork

The Front Row's Eric Ladau reports the latest jazz news:

One of the hottest young reed players on the jazz scene today will be making her Houston debut this Saturday evening, December 4, at the Cullen Theater of the Wortham Center. Clarinetist Anat Cohen and her trio will perform A Salute To Benny Goodman - "The King of Swing." We will share some of her thoughts and music on The Front Row this Friday, December 3.

Anat Cohen was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and grew up playing primarily the tenor and soprano saxophone -- heavily influenced by John Coltrane. While attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, she was encouraged to return to her clarinet roots. In 1999 she moved to New York City and quickly established herself as a major clarinet voice, performing not only Dixieland Jazz but also Brazilian Choro as well as Colombian and Venezuelan folk music.

In 2005 Anat Cohen released her first CD as a leader, titled Place and Time, which was awarded one of All About Jazz New York's "Best Debut of Album of the Year" award. She has gone on to receive several major awards, including Downbeat Magazine's Rising Star - Clarinet Award (2007 and 2008) and Clarinetist of the Year (2007 and 2008) from the Jazz Journalists Association. In July of 2007 she led her ensemble at the legendary Village Vanguard Jazz Club in New York City -- the first female reed player and first Israeli to do so.

In 2009 (Benny Goodman Bicentennial Year) the owner of the Village Vanguard asked Anat Cohen to be the featured artist in a weeklong tribute to "The Clarinet." The result is shared with everyone on her latest CD, Anat Cohen: Clarinetwork Live at the Village Vanguard. Accompanying her on this high energy session (and this Saturday here in Houston) are pianist Benny Green, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash.

We are super excited about speaking with Anat Cohen this Friday on The Front Row.

*Anat Cohen's Houston debut concert (Saturday, December 4, 8pm, Wortham Center) is presented by Da Camera of Houston, in collaboration with the Jewish Community Center of Houston.*