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Jazz ensemble to perform in church concert series
Topics: entertainment, Music, Arts
Posted by marjoriebell Fri Aug 17, 2007 15:26:02 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Location: 5 Real Rd. (Stockdale Hwy. & Real Rd.), Bakersfield, CA 93309

Concert Series Story
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2009
Marjorie Bell (322-4891)

    The second season of the Dukes Memorial Concert Series begins Sept. 9  at First Congregational Church, 5 Read Rd., with a jazz concert  by Dr. Doug Davis of Cal State University Bakersfield and his Sanctuary ensemble. The event is offered free of charge to the public from an endowment left to the church by Fred and Beverly Dukes, who were Bakersfield educators and longtime local philanthropists.
    The group features five local talents, including Davis: Ernie Cervantes, principal percussionist for the Bakersfield Symphony for more than three decades;  Ken Bausano, who has played trumpet for jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Lanny Morgan; and Mike Raney, who has performed on alto and tenor saxophone with numerous groups at the Bakersfield Jazz Festival.  The youngest member of the group is bassist James Dethlefson, presently the music technician at CSUB.
    All members except Davis were involved in music in local schools, and several were Davis’ students at CSUB.
    Davis, who plays piano and composes most of the music for Sanctuary, came to Bakersfield from Harvard over 25 years ago to head the CSUB theory and jazz program.  His accomplishments include writing music for  jazz artists such as Chick Corea and Bennie Wallace, initiating the spring Jazz Festival at CSUB, and founding Sanctuary over 20 years ago.
    Regarding the group’s name, Davis said in a telephone interview that the original members chose “Sanctuary,”  because “we wanted a place where all of us could come together to express our creativity with the greatest amount of freedom.”
    Davis’ favored instrument is piano although he grew up playing the saxophone. He started composing music  when asked to write a score for play in his junior year of high school. 
    “In a good sense, with Doug’s music we are really pushing our ability level,” Cervantes said.  “This type of chamber  concert in a small ensemble is a real test of musicianship.  There’s an intimacy in the music that one doesn’t get in larger groups.”
    Cervantes said he is proud to work  with  Davis, Bausano, and others in the group.  “These are wonderful players I’ve known for years.  I’ve always looked forward to playing with them.” Cervantes’ favorite jazz artists include Milt Jackson (vibes), John Coltrane (tenor sax) Winton Marseles (trumpet), Tito Fuente (vibes and latin jazz) and Elvin Jones (drums). 
    Dethlefson, who played trombone in high school, picked up electric and string bass lin college with lessons from bassist Pete Scaffidi, the son of famed jazz guitarist Mary Osborne and Ralph Scaffidi.  
    “Doug’s music is very much a part of Bakersfield.” Dethlefson said.   “It has developed from the experiences of local composers who bring a certain style to the music.  This is what Bakersfield jazz sounds like.”
    Other upcoming concerts in the Dukes’ series are Jean Caughell, Jim Page and Guest (harp, piano and flute) on Oct. 28; Banshee in the Kitchen on Nov. 18; the Smith Brothers Piano Duo on Feb. 10; and the Kern River Trio with Gordon Mehling on violin, Judy Rummelsburg McCall on cello, and Helen Rummelsburg on piano on March 30. The concert series is sponsored in part by Valley Public Radio (KVPR FM.89).

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