Ravenscroft concert opens jazz series

SCOTTSDALE - "A Celebration of Bill Evans" will be performed by pianist-composer Bob Ravenscroft and his Inner Journeys trio Oct. 5, launching the new Jazz in AZ-ASU Kerr Cultural Center jazz concert season.

Inner Journeys is Ravenscroft's newest group, an improvisational trio that takes jazz exploration into new levels, featuring Dwight Kilian on acoustic bass and Rob Moore on drums and percussion.

The work of videographer Mario Barnabe, a frequent fourth member of Inner Journeys, will enhance the concert. While the trio improvises the music with instruments, Barnabe will improvise video images, creating an exciting multimedia performance.

Piano devotees will hear "The Ravenscroft," a phenomenal new piano being brought in especially for this concert. Michael Spreeman, master piano craftsman behind Scottsdale-based Spreeman Piano Innovations, created the piano after being inspired by Ravenscroft and his uncompromising pursuit of sonic perfection.

The piano will be heard on Inner Journeys' upcoming CD Trilogia, to be released later this year by Ravenswave Recordings.

The 3 p.m. celebration kicks off the 2008-09 Jazz in Concert Series, co-produced by Jazz in AZ and the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Tickets are $20 general admission ($10 under 21), $25 reserved seating. Jazz in AZ members receive a $4 discount.

Tickets are available at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center box office, by phone at 480-596-2660, and online at www.asukerr.com.

Evans, legendary jazz pianist, inspired Ravenscroft, regarded as one of the finest interpreters of Evans' music, at a young age. Through Inner Journeys, he adds to his idol's legacy of totally spontaneous, impressionistic group interplay.

The musical dialogue among Ravenscroft, Kilian and Moore evokes memories of the interplay in Evans' trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian, where free jazz and beautiful melodies spontaneously intersected. The concert will feature both Evans classics and originals by Inner Journeys, including Ravenscroft's composition Re: A Person I Met.

Contributing sponsors of the concert are Ravenswave Recordings, Jazzbird Foundation and Spreeman Piano Innovations.

"I believe this is one of the most exciting and diverse seasons we've ever presented," said Stan Rader, president of Jazz in AZ.

Other performances:

• Nov. 12: , Khani Cole Band, with guest Marion Meadows.

• Nov. 30: The Reed Family Holiday Show.

• Jan. 7: Dennis Rowland, with Extreme Decibel Big Band.

• Feb. 4-5: The Jazz Divas (Delphine Cortez, Nancy Gee, Margo Reed, Sherry Roberson).

• March 4: Joey DeFrancesco.

• April 1: Guitar Summit (Stan Sorenson, Chris Champion, Bill Moio, Jack Petersen).

• May 6: Guys and Dolls PianoFest (Charles Lewis, Ioannis Goudelis, Judy Roberts and Rachel Eckroth).

Jazz in Arizona Inc. is a non-profit organization of a thousand-plus members. The mission of Jazz in AZ is to support the art of live jazz and to cultivate interest in jazz through youth education, scholarship opportunities and community outreach.

Benefits of membership include discounts on the organization's "Jazz in Concert Series" at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, free or discounted admission to monthly live-jazz parties, and the Jazz Notes newsletter with comprehensive listings of jazz events and venues.

For more information, visit www.jazzinaz.org, or call 480-994-0807.

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