You step into the room and are immediately transported from small town Northern California to a big town high end night club. Large paintings of jazz musicians line the walls. The room is filled with tables for four where individuals converse and sip their drinks. Over the stage is more jazz themed art.

The house lighting dims. The stage lighting rises. Gary Vercelli introduces the performers and the evening’s show commences. The audience is about to treated to another evening of great jazz.

Gary Vercelli 

This is the experience created by the Capitol Radio Studio Jazz Series - a three show series now in its’ second year.

The room is the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre the smaller of the two performance halls at the Mondavi Center. Rob Tocalino, Director of Marketing at Mondavi was pleased to hear my impression of the venue. “This is exactly the feeling we are trying to create” he said.

The art work is by noted Grass Valley artist E. J Gould. He has created the works as part of his Jazzart project. Besides the six paintings along the walls Gould creates a new set of paintings above the stage relating to the performers for each show.

Tocalino works with Jeremy Ganter, Associate Executive Director & Director of Programming and Don Roth, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Mondavi and their staff to select artists for the series. All three are big fans of jazz with lots of expertise in the field. They look for excellence - artists they have been excited about listening to from recordings and some who they think needs to be seen in the market. Part of it is logistics - one group this year had never appeared in the US. They try to present a broad spectrum of jazz each season.

This season opened with Delfeayo Marsalis Octet, a nod to more traditional jazz.

From the program:

Like his equally virtuosic siblings Branford, Wynton, and Jason, Delfeayo Marsalis carries forward the musical tradition of jazz and the spirit of New Orleans with passion. Evoking trombone legends like J.J. Johnson, while at the same time asserting himself as one of the freshest modern voices on the instrument, this Grammy-winning producer and devoted educator displays a compelling talent for straight-ahead composition on his latest album, Minions’ Dominion. Click here to hear a sample of Delfeayo Marsalis’ music.

The second show of the season Tord Gustavsen and Solveig Slettahjell “Natt I Bethlehem” represented the globalization of jazz.

The program described them thus:  Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen has established himself as an heir to jazz legends like Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett. Solveig Slettahjell is a strikingly talented vocalist little known on this side of the Atlantic. The two collaborated with trumpeter Sjur Miljeteig on Natt I Bethlehem, a meditatively beautiful Christmas album recorded live in the Nativity church in Bethlehem.

While they were performing music that had been recorded, Trocalino stated that Gustavsen’s performance was different each night. Trocalino described him as an established young leader in jazz.

It was at one of these performances that I discovered the Capitol Radio Studio Jazz Series. My impression of the show: Tord Gustavsen dazzled the audience with his performance on the piano.  Solveig Slettahjell's ethereal voice was perfect.  Sjur Miljeteig's breathy trumpet was the crowning touch.  The fact that a lot of the words were in Norwegian and some Swedish did not detract but in fact increased the enjoyment of the music.  This jazz is very accessible. The carols sung in English were not only beautiful but performed in a way that it is unlikely you have ever heard before.  Click here to hear samples of their music.

There is one more chance to enjoy one of the Capitol Radio Studio Jazz Series performances this week. The last in the series is more of the pop side of jazz. Vijay Iyer Historicity Trio will be appearing Vanderhoef Studio Theatre jazz club February 2-5 at 8:00 pm.

From the Mondavi promotion: Vijay Iyer’s Grammy-nominated album Historicity was roundly praised as the top jazz recording of 2009 by The New York Times, Village Voice, and Los Angeles Times, among other publications. The New Yorker has called him one of “today’s most important pianists…extravagantly gifted.” His trio performances can feature an astonishing set of covers, including works by Leonard Bernstein, Stevie Wonder, and Andrew Hill transformed by his signature, percussive style.  

Click here for more information and to listen to a sample of Viajy Iyer's music.

Capitol Radio Studio Jazz Series

Vijay Iyer Historicity Trio

February 2-5 at 8:00 pm.

Tickets

Vercelli photo: Capitol Public Radio   E.J. Gould photo:  E.J. Gould website  Artists photos: Mondavi Center