Ponderay Jazz: New Year - New Night
December 22, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Music Performance - Jazz
PONDERAY JAZZ: NEW YEAR - NEW NIGHT
Mark Lewis is performing Thursday nights in Bremerton, each week with a different pianist.
Where: Ponderay Cafe & Lounge, 610 N. Callow, Bremerton, phone (360) 479-4487
When: Thursday nights, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
SCHEDULE:
Every Week: Mark Lewis on Alto Sax and Flute
January 4 - Bud Schultz on Piano
January 11 - Norm Bellas on Piano
January 18 - Ray Ohls on Piano
January 25 - Overton Berry on Piano
Northwest native Mark Lewis is master of the alto sax, baritone sax, flute and piano; author of over 1000 compositions; and has recorded and produced more than twenty albums on various labels. Rotterdam, Holland was Mark's home base for many years. He toured and played in most of the better clubs throughout Europe, and taught jazz theory and improvised music classes in several music conservatories. Mark lived and performed for several years in San Francisco and Victoria, BC as well. Mark often subbed for Stan Getz during his time in San Francisco. Mark's CD "In The Spirit," recorded at Music Annex in Menlo Park, CA, made the Top 40 on Billboard Magazine's Jazz Albums chart. Other pianists Mark has performed and/or recorded with include Mark Levine (author of "The Jazz Piano Book"), Ted Gioia, Archie Shepp, Smith Dobson, Art Lande, and Willem Kühne.
Bud Schultz (Jan 4) holds a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Puget Sound. Bud plays both piano and vibraphone, and combined with the rich acoustics in the Ponderay, Bud's vibraphone is not to be missed. Bud is the former accompanist for Patti Suzuki, and has accompanied such jazz notables as Mel Torme, Johnny Desmond, Dorothy Dandridge, and Helen O'Connell.
Norm Bellas (Jan 11) holds a Master of Music degree in composition. He won the Washington State Blues Society "BB" for Best Keyboard and was nominated for best songwriter. Norm's eclectic style is a synthesis of jazz and blues with bursts of funk, R&B, Latin, and country. Norm has played with jazz artists such as Tutti Heath, Don Lanphere, Jessica Williams, Frank Wess, and Art Lande, and has played and/or recorded with many blues and R&B legends including Big Momma Thorton, Buddy Miles, Carlos Santana, and the Temptations.
Ray Ohls (Jan 18) served a distinguished career with the US Navy Band. He was Chief Protocol Piano Player for Navy Band Washington DC and first call pianist for the vice-president under two administrations. Now retired from the Navy, Ray performs extensively in the Bremerton and Seattle area as well as in Canada, and teaches jazz piano at Olympic College. Jazz artists Ray has performed with include Marcus Belgrave, Wendell Harrison, Bobby Shew, and Andy Martin.
Overton Berry, (Jan 25) a Northwest jazz legend, has played piano extensively in venues around the world including Japan, China, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Egypt. Overton is a voting member for the Grammy's, music director for the TOBE School of Music, and regular performer at major Northwest jazz festivals. Overton has worked with such jazz greats as Carmen McRae, Joe Pass, Dave Brubeck, Vonne Griffin, and Peggy Lee.
For more information contact Rhonda Stewart at (360) 692-2540 or Rhonda@MarkLewisMusic.com www.marklewismusic.com