History
Munyungo Jackson – one of the performers at Clazzical Notes 2006
In 2004, Clazzical Notes debuted at the Fuller Seminary Travis Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. The program concept was the dream of Jerri Price-Gaines, who was the long-time director of Education and Community Engagement at the Pasadena Symphony/POPS. Jerri designed the program to showcase the talents of the Pasadena Symphony musicians. The program name was coined by Dr. Shafeeq Shamsid-Deen, MD.
The early concerts featured some of the best orchestral and classical musicians in Los Angeles along with well-known jazz performers from the Greater Pasadena jazz community.
The Clazzical Notes first guest artist was the multi-talented, Grammy winning Jazz and Classical musician, Billy Childs. Mr. Childs is an awarded musician in jazz and classical music, with recognitions for his jazz ensembles and classical compositions. On that same stage representing classical piano was internationally recognized classical pianist and video game composer Paul Romero. Mr. Romero attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, The Paris Conservatoire, and London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Romero is known for his scores or the Heroes of Might and Magic Video Games. He won the Paris International Piano Competition.
Over the next five years, Clazzical Notes featured other phenomenal performers like jazz singer Sandra Booker, Nedra Wheeler, classical vocalist Susana Guzman and Gerald Clayton, to name a few. The final performance of the the original program ended in 2009 with the outstanding performance of Soprano Angel Blue and Sherry Williams.
In late 2014, Jerri Price Gaines, the original producer of Clazzical Notes, looked through notes and she received from performers and fans of the program and it became a passion to bring back the program with more diverse genres and an expanded program culturally.
Jerri Price-Gaines
The early concerts featured some of the best orchestral and classical musicians in Los Angeles along with well-known jazz performers from the Greater Pasadena jazz community.
The Clazzical Notes first guest artist was the multi-talented, Grammy winning Jazz and Classical musician, Billy Childs. Mr. Childs is an awarded musician in jazz and classical music, with recognitions for his jazz ensembles and classical compositions. On that same stage representing classical piano was internationally recognized classical pianist and video game composer Paul Romero. Mr. Romero attended the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, The Paris Conservatoire, and London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Romero is known for his scores or the Heroes of Might and Magic Video Games. He won the Paris International Piano Competition.
Over the next five years, Clazzical Notes featured other phenomenal performers like jazz singer Sandra Booker, Nedra Wheeler, classical vocalist Susana Guzman and Gerald Clayton, to name a few. The final performance of the the original program ended in 2009 with the outstanding performance of Soprano Angel Blue and Sherry Williams.
In late 2014, Jerri Price Gaines, the original producer of Clazzical Notes, looked through notes and she received from performers and fans of the program and it became a passion to bring back the program with more diverse genres and an expanded program culturally.
Jerri Price-Gaines
Clazzical Notes is rising quickly in the Los Angeles area as a powerful reminder of the joy of seeing live music. Under indefatigable guidance of its founder Jerri Price - Gaines, the audience at Pasadena City College was offered multiple musical genres - all spotlighting the talents of very gifted female performers.
Gail Deadrick (One time musical director for the late Natalie Cole) introduced each act with graceful, understatement.
Mexican born, international recording artist, Stephanie Amaro led off the evening with Latin flavored pop. Her sweet, melodic vocals backed beautifully by a 3 piece combo. Percussionist Euro Zembrano subtly illuminated every vocal intonation thegifted Ms. Amaro expressed. The audience couldn't help but start moving to the infectious rhythm. (Ms. Amaro is quite an accomplished acoustic guitarist as well. One could feel the lifetime of commitment to her music through her playing and singing.
The program promised some no-nonsense jazz. Enter the charismatic Rita Edmond. Putting her own spin on classic songs associated with Billie Holiday and Shirley Horn, Ms. Edmond made these jazz chestnuts entirely her own. Effortlessly scatting when lyrics can no longer express a true jazz singer's soul - the audience could feel the a kin-ship to Ella Fitzgerald's playful side; as well as the soulful, dark longing of Sarah Vaughn in Ms. Edmond's phrasing. (Pianist Gary Matsumoto offered heartfelt solos that showed us the no matter how complex jazz can get, it is always accessible to its audience. The combo backing Ms. Edmond proved a perfect complement to Rita Edmond and her shifting tones and mastery of a great lyric.)
Fraternal twins, Madeleine & Melina Adragna, filled the auditorium with crystal clear opera. Foregoing any need for a microphone, the sisters were technical marvels. Transitioning from their initial a cappella offering, the sisters brought heartbreaking nuance to a modern Broadway classic, Henry Krieger's act one show stopper from Sideshow called "Who's Going To Love Me As I Am?", (a close cousin to Mr. Krieger's "You're Gonna Love Me" from Dreamgirls.) Elaine Ono's piano accompaniment was delightful.
The four singers graciously participated in a question and answer session with Host/ Moderator, Gail Deadrick. We heard tales of life on the road (and in the air - our headliners having performed throughout the world.) Many of the growing teenage and early twenty somethings in the audience were held in rapt attention by tales of what it takes to be a professional singer. Talent alone is not enough. Passion by itself won't make it either. All four singers emphasized having a real work ethic and finding organic ways of rediscovering material they may have performed dozens of times.
The evening concluded with all the musicians on stage backing the four diverse singers in a spontaneous jam to the classic Summertime. Stephanie Amaro adding impromptu Spanish translation, Rita Edmond spinning an uptempo bit of r n' b, while Madeleine & Melina Adragna reached inside for some belting surprises..
As the audience stood in an extended ovation, I heard a college student say to her friend, "Let's come back and bring all of our friends."
What more could Jerri Price-Gaines ask for! Reviewed by Larry Gold,. September 2017
Gail Deadrick (One time musical director for the late Natalie Cole) introduced each act with graceful, understatement.
Mexican born, international recording artist, Stephanie Amaro led off the evening with Latin flavored pop. Her sweet, melodic vocals backed beautifully by a 3 piece combo. Percussionist Euro Zembrano subtly illuminated every vocal intonation thegifted Ms. Amaro expressed. The audience couldn't help but start moving to the infectious rhythm. (Ms. Amaro is quite an accomplished acoustic guitarist as well. One could feel the lifetime of commitment to her music through her playing and singing.
The program promised some no-nonsense jazz. Enter the charismatic Rita Edmond. Putting her own spin on classic songs associated with Billie Holiday and Shirley Horn, Ms. Edmond made these jazz chestnuts entirely her own. Effortlessly scatting when lyrics can no longer express a true jazz singer's soul - the audience could feel the a kin-ship to Ella Fitzgerald's playful side; as well as the soulful, dark longing of Sarah Vaughn in Ms. Edmond's phrasing. (Pianist Gary Matsumoto offered heartfelt solos that showed us the no matter how complex jazz can get, it is always accessible to its audience. The combo backing Ms. Edmond proved a perfect complement to Rita Edmond and her shifting tones and mastery of a great lyric.)
Fraternal twins, Madeleine & Melina Adragna, filled the auditorium with crystal clear opera. Foregoing any need for a microphone, the sisters were technical marvels. Transitioning from their initial a cappella offering, the sisters brought heartbreaking nuance to a modern Broadway classic, Henry Krieger's act one show stopper from Sideshow called "Who's Going To Love Me As I Am?", (a close cousin to Mr. Krieger's "You're Gonna Love Me" from Dreamgirls.) Elaine Ono's piano accompaniment was delightful.
The four singers graciously participated in a question and answer session with Host/ Moderator, Gail Deadrick. We heard tales of life on the road (and in the air - our headliners having performed throughout the world.) Many of the growing teenage and early twenty somethings in the audience were held in rapt attention by tales of what it takes to be a professional singer. Talent alone is not enough. Passion by itself won't make it either. All four singers emphasized having a real work ethic and finding organic ways of rediscovering material they may have performed dozens of times.
The evening concluded with all the musicians on stage backing the four diverse singers in a spontaneous jam to the classic Summertime. Stephanie Amaro adding impromptu Spanish translation, Rita Edmond spinning an uptempo bit of r n' b, while Madeleine & Melina Adragna reached inside for some belting surprises..
As the audience stood in an extended ovation, I heard a college student say to her friend, "Let's come back and bring all of our friends."
What more could Jerri Price-Gaines ask for! Reviewed by Larry Gold,. September 2017