ROHNERT PARK - A gifted and talented group of musicians takes the Warren Auditorium stage at Sonoma State University at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 9 to pay tribute to one of their own, Mel Graves. A composer, a jazz musician and educator, Graves will play a new role, honoree.
Likely Mel would be much more comfortable grabbing his bass, or scribbling charts or making valuable suggestions, but on this special night, it is a time for Mel Graves to sit back and watch as his friends, colleagues, students and musicians, take the time to thank him for all that he has given them.
Graves is being honored for his many years of service to the University heading up the Jazz studies department, and to offer him loving support as he battles pancreatic cancer. The title of the evening's concert is aptly titled "Movin' On." Mel came up with the title, and in some respects gives us insight into his creative and poetic mind.
Mel knows the score (no pun intended) of this battle, and even through the day to day difficulty, he has played a major role in crafting and producing this event. He wouldn't have had it any other way. This will be a night filled with hot jazz for a cool guy.
With the musical line-up expected, the night could well drift into Monday morning. The evening starts with selections from an All-Star group of alumni from the 80's to the present. Featured artists include Mel Martin, Randy Vincent, George Marsh, and Peter Barshay. Special guests include Art Lande and Denny Zeitlin.
Proceeds from the event will go toward establishing a Jazz Scholarship Fund to assist talented young jazz student musicians with their education. There is a suggested donation of $15. This Tribute Concert will be held in the 200-seat Warren Auditorium and is likely to sell out. Purchasing tickets in advance through the Center For Performing Arts Box Office at (707) 664-2353 is suggested.
ALL ABOUT MEL
Mel began his career at Sonoma State University in the Fall of 1982. Previously, he had teaching gigs at U.C. Santa Cruz, Reed College in Portland, Oregon, Portland State University, and U.C. San Diego.
Mel holds an M.A in Music Composition and Performance from U.C. San Diego, a B.M. in Music Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and did his undergraduate work at Ohio State University.
Throughout his career he has had the joy and pleasure of performing with an unbelievable group of musicians. A sampling includes Larry Coryell, Mose Allison, Joe Henderson, Odean Pope, Dewey Redman, Kenny Werner, Kenny Wheeler, Bobby Shew, Larry Vuckovich, Dave Liebman, Herb Pomeroy, Mark Levine and too many more to mention. He has also performed with the Turtle Island String Quartet, the Orpheus Ensemble out of New York City, the San Francisco Contemporary Players, the San Diego Symphony and the La Jolla Chamber Orchestra. It has been a rich and exciting performance career.
In recent years, Mel has spent much of his time composing. His 1999 composition "Spirit Changes" was a commission for the new millennium. It premiered at the Evert B. Person Theatre to a sold out house. In 2001 he wrote eleven compositions for his CD "Earshot." In 2006 his five movement suite for ten jazz musicians "From The Past To The New" was an amazing musical journey. Mel's writing career dates back to the early seventies.
Mel's writing and performing have given him instant credibility with his students, and he demanded of them their very best in return. He got their best many, many times witnessed by all the contest awards his ensembles won when in major competitions. Usually the competition was against schools three times the size of Sonoma State University.
Mel Graves, in his career, has been a top notch musician, a brilliant composer, a respected educator, a mentor to his students, and a friend to many. Sunday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. is a time for all of those associates to thank him for his influence and inspiration
It promises to be an inspiring evening filled with fabulous music honoring a terrific guy. You won't want to miss this. A reception is planned for after the concert.
SUGGESTED DONATION: $15
Your donation will establish a Jazz Scholarship Fund
CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS BOX OFFICE: 707-664-2353
The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from Noon to 5pm
Parking at the University is FREE on the weekend and $2.50 during the week. Warren Auditorium is accessible to the disabled.
6 comments:
"Mel has been an inspiration, a mentor and sometimes a taskmaster, to so many students here." - Will Johnson, a longtime colleague
See you on the 9th, Mel.
Kevin A. Madden, a former, and terrible student
I just found out about this event, and of course, it is sold out. A testament to how many lives Mel has touched through the years. I'll be there anyway, Mel, and hope I will get to see you. I have always loved playing music with you! Love and prayers, elaine lucia
Spending the evening at Mel's tribute last night marks the end of an era.
Mel Graves had a major impact on so many of us who had the the opportunity to study and learn the ropes!
I had the privilege of being one of his many Bass students over the years thus having endured his intense tutoring.
One conversation that I had with Mel will never leave me...
During one of my first lessons early on with him he stated:
"If you are for real and want to study with me, you will be able to work and have a job, for what I do seems to work because all of my bassists are working!"
Mel was correct; for today I do work in my field, still play bass and I am able to make a living at it!
Thank you Mel, you will
(and are already)
very much missed...
Jeff Martin
Goodbye, and Thank You Mel.
Stuart Sperring
Goodbye and Thank You Mel
Stuart Sperring
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