A ‘rewarding’ Chicago Jazz Quartet experience

"Rewarding " is how drummer Michael Raynor of the Chicago Jazz Quartet describes their stint here after only two days in the country. They conducted a master class at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music the day before the interview conducted at the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati and they were amazed at the enthusiasm with which the students received them. "It was the longest Master Class we had, five hours, and we enjoyed it very much. There was so much they wanted to learn. We were very happy to find out they will be implementing a jazz program next year."

This is Michael’s first time on tour for the Jazz Ambassadors Program and although he certainly enjoys performing, the jazz clinics they hold in the places they visit are proving to be more than enough compensation for what is really a goodwill tour. This means that they could be earning big bucks back home instead of performing for free in Asia. But they have been named Jazz Ambassadors and therefore, the CJQ is expected to provide other countries with a close look at what is distinctly an American form of music. The project is a joint effort between the US Department of State and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It sends selected professional American jazz musicians on concert tours in countries where there is limited exposure to American culture. The Program started in 1998 and has since then sent musicians to Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Central Europe, the Balkans, Africa and other places.

Michael and bassist Lorin Cohen were invited by Matt Lewis, the vocalist and trumpeter and Benjamin Lewis, the pianist, to form a group to try out for the Jazz Ambassadors Program. Despite their gigs with many big name artists and various famous groups, the twin brothers Lewis, who incidentally are not related to Ramsey but might one day become jazz legends too, so enjoyed their two-year stint as Jazz Ambassadors and wanted to do it again. Thus, the Chicago Jazz Quartet was born.

There are lots of Chicago this and Chicago that in the area of jazz but they still chose to call themselves the Chicago Jazz Quartet. "This is mainly because, we are all from Chicago," says Lorin who is no relation to the great songwriter Leonard Cohen. He has been asked so many times about Leonard though and might just call him one of these days to see if they are in any way related. Matt is also very glad about their choice for the name of the group. "Chicago Jazz Quartet has a definite image. It tells people what we play. If we had chosen some generic name then we would still have to explain the kind of music that we do. But Chicago Jazz says it all." Indeed just as Broadway is to New York, jazz is to Chicago."

Previous experience as Jazz Ambassadors does not guarantee acceptance to the program though. The CJQ, seasoned musicians all who have played with some of the best, still had to compete in auditions with other jazz acts from all over the US. "There were hundreds of them," says Benjamin. "Then they choose 30 and then eight, who all go to New York to perform at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage where the tours start." As the others went off to other places, the CJQ embarked for their assigned gigs in Asia. "We have already been to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and now the Philippines and everything has been great. There is not much time to go around but we are enjoying ourselves. We are going next to Pakistan and then to Bangladesh."

While learning about other cultures and imparting their love for jazz to other people is quite the big experience for them, discovering how great the CJQ was an even greater experience for the Filipinos. The next day, they wowed the audience at the Cineplex Cinema 1 of the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong with their take on what they call "straight ahead jazz." Must be because they eschew the unnecessary and only do what brings a jazz feel to the melody. My only complaint about the concert is that they did not get to play all those titles in their amazing repertoire. I love So Many Stars but still wanted Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. "But it would take hours to play everything," remarks Matt, who turned out to be the star of the concert with his expressive vocals and trumpet playing.

These guys formed the CJQ specifically to join the Jazz Ambassadors, and they do have successful individual careers as musicians. Still, they do not discount the possibility that they might stay the Chicago Jazz Quartet from now on. Then maybe we will get another chance to watch them perform live and perhaps we might be able to inveigle them to conduct more master classes here. "Just ask and we will be back," they promise.

The Chicago Jazz Quartet wishes to thank the sponsors who helped make their local tour free from hassle and most enjoyable. These are the Shangri-La Corporation, SM City Cebu, Ford Group Philippines, Philippine Airlines, Thai Airways, New World Renaissance Hotel Makati, Marriott Hotel Cebu, Arts Council of Cebu and all the radio partners who donated publicity announcements and aired the Shangri-La concert for free.