Good things come in fours!
SCB here with a reminder that good things come in fours!
As the newest member of the Journey Arts staff, my time here so far has seemed to fly by to the tune of two seasons of incredible shows. Working as the social media coordinator for the organization, I use my insider lens to share out the stories and scenes from artists making harmonies in collaboration and development of the work that reaches the stage.
Coming to Journey Arts April 3-5, Eight Eight Time has captured my imagination from the very beginning.
Not one pianist, but a quartet of pianos in tandem. Not one woman, but four in the musical union of ensemble when it is still the most common to see, if not only men, a pronounced majority of men musicians on stage (word to jazz and gender justice!).
Outside of my work in communications, I am a professional bassist, touring and performing around the globe. Steeped in the traditions of Black American Music, I have a deep appreciation for Jazz music and Jazz people.
The piece emerging in Eight Eight Time reflects the perspective and stories of care work lived by each of these artists. The diversity of these stories enriches the music. They come into a particular relief observing the camaraderie, respect, admiration, and appreciation that these folks have cultivated in coming together to put forward this work.
The artists of course say it better than I ever could! Read their words of appreciation about one another:
Kendrah about Suzzette:
Suzzette is a phenomenal pianist, composer, choral director, and arranger who stuns with her smile and her robust spirit. Her beautiful, caring, nurturing and welcoming spirit permeates through not only her piano playing but through the vigorous and heartfelt music she composes. It is beyond an honor to work with her, create with her and share space with someone whose friendship, musicality, and overall musical genius I both admire and learn from. I can't wait for audiences to hear the amount of selfless care Suzzette demonstrated to her mother and both the tears, the laughter and love she experienced along the way. I look forward to the manifestation of Eight Eight Time with my musical shero Miriam Suzzette Ortiz!
-Kendrah
Terry about Kendrah:
Kendrah…the catalyst! She is a visionary, and the lodestar of our Eight Eight Time project. She gathered us together, and planted the seed. Always quick to laugh, and supportive of her fellow artists, Kendrah assembles her forces and lets the muse work its magic.
What impresses me most about Kendrah is the life she has created; a beautiful family, deeply grounded in faith and love, a wonderful career as an authentic artist. She does it all with grace. There is a theatrical element to Kendrah’s compositions for this project—an ever-present narrative; she grasps long-form structures. Her music is deep and earthy, steeped in the gospel tradition.
I am grateful for her friendship and excited to be a co-creator with Kendrah on this Eight Eight Time project!
- Terry
Sumi about Terry:
Terry struck me as being very REAL with no artifice, which I think is a rare and beautiful quality. Terry doesn’t seem to take herself too seriously which is refreshing because she is one serious musician with serious musicianship. I truly appreciate Terry’s sense of humor, she is funny and entertaining quite naturally so. I feel that there is a lot of depth to Terry: she is a warm, funny, gritty, real, no nonsense, no BS person.
Terry is a working professional classical and jazz musician and that is no easy feat! Her musicianship is first rate and I am discovering that she is a great composer as well. I love the fact that Terry is able to handle so many styles of music, she is open and curious and hard working! She can really PLAY!!! I am inspired by her as well as Kendrah and Suzzette.
We are still working on all of the music, but I will speak to a part of Terry’s piece called Grounding. There is a part where the harmonies are so, so beautiful and surprising, and I wish that I had to play that part - but she has Suzzette playing them, NO FAIR!!! LOL!!! I am really impressed by how strong the program is with our combined strengths and I am learning a lot from working with these amazing pianist/composers who are also my friends.
- Sumi
Suzzette about Sumi:
Sumi projects calmness. She is a grounded individual and it shows in her music. I’m drawn to her sense of humanity and compassion, her empathy, her humble spirit, and the extraordinary way she expresses herself through her music. She constantly exhibits mastery on the piano as well as her compositional skills and yet when she plays she does not think about impressing the listener but rather expressing her life’s stories through her playing. I cannot wait for the audience to experience Sumi’s inspirational playing!! I also am so excited for everyone to hear what she did with her piece, “We Will Not Let it Happen.”
- Suzzette
Left to Right: Kendrah Butler-Waters, Sumi Tonooka, Suzzette Ortiz, and Terry Klinefelter.
I can’t wait for you to experience these April performances! See you in the music!
-Sweet Corey-Bey
