Rebecca Martin

TILLERY’s Martin, Parlato and Stevens Announce Songwriting Workshop at NYC’s The Jazz Gallery in May 2012.

rebeccamartin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:58:17 +0000

Photo Credit: John Rogers

TILLERY that features a collaboration between Rebecca Martin, Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens has organized an entire weekend of Songwriting Workshops in New York City at The Jazz Gallery on Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th 2012 from 10:00am – 4:00pm on both days. With only 30 available slots, participants are encouraged to enroll early.

30 participants will have a chance to discuss different songwriting approaches, share songs and stories in an intimate setting with the three renowned and accomplished musicians.

After a successful week at the Stanford Jazz Workshop in California in 2011 (which was led by Martin, with support from Parlato and Stevens) Tillery was inspired to teach. “The three of us all share the same desire to connect with musicians in this intimate setting – with students who are dedicated to their craft,” says Rebecca Martin. “Sharing ourselves in this manner is a very natural part of what we all do.”

Becca Stevens agrees. “Writing, learning, and composing is only half of the joy of music for me. Sharing these gifts makes up the other half. I consider teaching to be the most direct and meaningful way that I can share music. Performing is blissful, but the impression that can be made though teaching, both for the teacher and the student, has the potential to be far deeper.”

“Songwriting is a gift,” says Gretchen Parlato. “It’s a gift to ourselves and to those who listen. In our workshop, we want to open up, explore and share the process with other songwriters in our workshop, connecting and learning from each other on all levels technical, spiritual, and emotional.”

The cost for the weekend is $425.00 for early enrollment (to March 31st) and $500.00 after April 1st. The Songwriting Workshop with TILLERY will include a comprehensive itinerary from 10:00am – 4:00pm on both Saturday, May 26th and Sunday, May 27th, 2012. A catered lunch is included. Students will enjoy a group setting with one on one attention and interaction with the instructors. A special room rate at a local hotel is available to students needing accommodations. At The Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson Street in New York City. To enroll, visit: THE JAZZ GALLERY.

What
The Jazz Gallery presents TILLERY – A Songwriting Workshop

Where
The Jazz Gallery 290 Hudson Street, New York City 10013

When
Saturday, May 26th and Sunday, May 27th, 2012
From 10:00am – 4:00pm each day. Lunch provided.

Costs
Enroll early! Participants have until March 31st for $425.00 (+ handling fee of $17.60). After April 1st, the cost is $500.00 (+ handling fee of $20.00). If you wish to send in a check to waive the fee, contact tillerymusic1@gmail.com for more information.

How
Follow this link to sign up and to make a secure transaction
TILLERY SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

For more information
visit www.tillerygals.com

Media Contact
Regina Joskow at the Missing Piece Group
regina@missingpiecegroup.com
862-234-0801

Rebecca Martin New Recording ‘Twain’ in the Works

rebeccamartin — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:41 +0000

Rebecca Martin is heading back into the studio to make a new recording of originals (and a few covers) with Larry Grenadier in March/April. An October release on the Sunnyside Label has . . . → Read More: Rebecca Martin New Recording ‘Twain’ in the Works

Rebecca Martin Contributes to ‘My Life is Bold’ an Arts for Life Project

rebeccamartin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:53:44 +0000

Rebecca Martin along with Becca Stevens, Gretchen Parlato, Tillery, Aaron Parks, Kate McGarry, Taylor Eigsti, Harish Raghavan, Larry Grenadier and others contributed to the newly released album “My Life is Bold” an Arts for Life Project.

A release date will be scheduled soon, and all proceeds from the CD will be donated to ‘Arts for Life’.

“Music is an integral part of the vital support services the Arts for Life team offers to young patients and families. Arts for Life Music Fellow Colin Allured describes his job as “growing happy cell” where cancer cells used to be. In 2009, Becca Stevens sang at an AFL fundraiser and she and her father, William Stevens, had the idea to set some of the children’s poetry to music for the event. The response to those two songs was so strong that discussions of a CD began, including Becca’s brother Bill who is a composer and recording studio engineer.

Producer William Stevens says, “We were overwhelmed by how many composers and musicians were willing to give so much time and creative energy to this project. But it didn’t stop there. The CD was made possible by the generosity of patrons, by free time provided by recording studios in North Carolina and New York, with the encouragement and support of the AFL staff and board, and most of all by the children in Arts for Life and their families who showed us the power of art to inspire, to change, and to heal.”

Arts for Life is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people facing serious illnesses. By providing educational art programs, they enrich patients’ lives, nurture their minds and spirits, and encourage positive health care experiences for children and their families. Arts for Life helps children every day in four cities across North Carolina.

Michael’s Mind (Disaster, or Unknown)

12 Michael’s Mind

Poem by Michael, Age 11. Music by Rebecca Martin
Performed by: Rebecca Martin
Child’s Voice: Charlie Grenadier
Acoustic Bass: Larry Grenadier
Background Vocals: Becca Stevens

50% Bionicles. 1% School. 25% Pizzas. 4% Video Games. 20% Whales, dolphins and marine life.

Michael’s mind, what goes on in there? Constant Parties? Nonsense and bionicles.
I have a big mind, and it is split into lots of sections. That what I feel like sometimes.

It’s gonna end up in chaos and headaches.
Sometimes the people partying in my head fight which causes headaches.

Lately they’ve been doing this really good.

Then they settle the agreement and order a pizza which goes down my throat into my stomach.

(Michael had struggled with a brain tumor and has since past).

Tillery featuring Rebecca Martin, Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens performs on “The Checkout” Live at 92Y Tribeca

rebeccamartin — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:30:49 +0000

Watch Rebecca Martin and her group ‘Tillery’ that features Martin, Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens perform live with their recent performance on ‘The Checkout: Live from 92YTribeca” in New York City, and aired on NPR.

WATCH and LISTEN

Rebecca Reunites Songwriters from “The Independence Project” on Sunday, September 18th

rebeccamartin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:47:19 +0000

Sunday, September 18th – Live at the Falcon, Marlboro, NY. Showtime 7:30pm.

Back in the late 90′s, “The Independence Project” was a platform created by Rebecca Martin who had recently exited her group ‘Once Blue’, a band that she co-led with songwriter Jesse Harris. “I wanted to organize something that would bring together others to help develop their music and sound by way of live performance” says Martin. By creating several groups of three musicians, each would share their resources with one another while touring one region of the Country at a time. The goal was to build in a new region each year until the group was touring for up to half the year. “It was a great opportunity for all of us to perform more often in and out of New York City during our down time”. A little over ten years later, Rebecca reunites members for an unforgettable evening of songs and stories with renowned singer/songwriters Amy Correia, Jim Allen, Frank Tedesso, Timothy Hill, Jane Kelly Williams, Jen Clapp and Alice Biershorst.

Rebecca Martin Live in Paris with Larry Grenadier and Bill McHenry.

rebeccamartin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 02:38:10 +0000

Rebecca Martin, Larry Grenadier & Bill McHenry @… by ducdeslombards

Rebecca Martin is nominated best female Jazz singer by the Jazz Journalist Association.

rebeccamartin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:46:14 +0000

Rebecca Martin was nominated best female Jazz singer of the year by the Jazz Journalist Association. She shares the honor with singers Cassandra Wilson, Gretchen Parlato, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Roberta Gambarini. To see the complete list, click on this LINK.

Rebecca Martin Live Review

rebeccamartin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:11:35 +0000

A great review of Rebecca’s recent concert at the University of Maine at Augusta. Click on the photo for full text.

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March 9th was a homecoming of sorts for Rebecca Martin. As the acclaimed vocalist and Maine native recalled that night, the last time she performed at the University of Maine Augusta she was a student there, singing Blue Monk with her vocal ensemble. Some two decades — and a professional singing career, performances at the Vanguard and Carnegie Hall, collaborations with a litany of jazz greats, several albums, etc. — later, she returned to Maine to give a free masterclass and concert (thanks to UMA) at her alma matter, with husband Larry Grenadier on the bass and his brother Phil on trumpet. (She also played our local TV program “207″ on the 8th, and a benefit concert for the Hope Association in her hometown of Rumford on the 10th.) The group — which, as Martin delightedly pointed out, was a family band — played about a dozen or more tunes, a wide spectrum of originals and standards that stretched from as far back as her days with Once Blue all the way to unrecorded originals….(click on image for the entire review)

Stanford Jazz Workshop “Songwriter Program” Led By Rebecca Martin with Special Guests Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens.

rebeccamartin — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:26:41 +0000

Dear Friends,

Last year, I had the privilege to begin a song writing program at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. I’m happy to continue the program in 2011 which also happens to be the SJW’s 40th Anniversary. The Songwriting Program will take place on July 31st – August 5th.

To help celebrate, I’ve invited my good friends Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens to be guests for the week.

There is only room for 12-14 students, so sign up now.

It also appears as though Gretchen, Becca and I will be performing a concert at Stanford University opening for the wonderful pianist Taylor Eigsti. Dates TBA.

Below is the tentative schedule. It’s going to be a special week.

Happy spring.

Rebecca Martin

The Stanford Jazz Workshop’s “Songwriter Program” returns in 2011.

The Stanford Jazz Workshop presents a special songwriters program charged to inspire, instruct, facilitate and empower songwriters and musicians alike to craft meaningful songs through self exploration, collaborations and band performances led by critically acclaimed musician and songwriter Rebecca Martin.

This year, Rebecca will be joined by her special guests, acclaimed singers and songwriters Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens.

About the instructor: Rebecca Martin
With eight critically acclaimed recordings for both major and independent record labels, Rebecca Martin has performed and recorded her own original material and standards with Jesse Harris (as her partner in the 1990’s group ONCE BLUE), Paul Motian, Brian Blade, Larry Grenadier, Kurt Rosenwinkel, John Scofield, Chris Potter, Steve Cardenas, Bill McHenry, Jorge Rossy, Matt Penman, Ben Monder, Darren Beckett and others while gracing the stages of Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard and other notable venues all over the world. She is revered by the New York City jazz scene, and been praised countless times by the New York Times, showing up on their best of the year and critic pick lists for almost a decade. In 2010, Rebecca spearheaded the ‘Songwriters Track’ program for the Stanford Jazz Workshop and continues her effort in celebration of our 40th Anniversary in 2011. Rebecca currently records for the Sunnyside Label out of New York City.

“Songwriter Program” Special Guests 2011

Gretchen Parlato
One of the most widely respected young singers in jazz, Gretchen Parlato has an enchanting, sensual voice, a highly personal jazz style, and unlimited potential. Parlato won the coveted Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition in 2004 and released her self-titled debut the next year, followed by In A Dream (ObliqSound) which Billboard Magazine called “the most alluring jazz vocal album of 2009″. Her latest CD, The Lost and Found, has garnered early acclaim for her revealing and sensitive compositions about embracing the ebbs and flows of life. In addition to touring with her own group, she has collaborated with artists including Wayne Shorter, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Barron, Esperanza Spalding, Oscar Castro-Neves, Diane Reeves and others. Gretchen Parlato, to whom improvising seems as natural as breathing, has an immaculate sense of timing, nuanced phrasing, and the ability to make the impossible sound effortless.

Becca Stevens
The North Carolina-bred, New York-based singer/composer/guitarist’s status as a lifelong music-maker is more than apparent on the Becca Stevens Band’s Sunnyside debut Weightless. The sparkling 12-song set reveals the accomplished young songstress to be a startlingly original, refreshingly distinctive talent.
Since 2004, Becca has served as lead singer of Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, fronting a genre-bending 18-piece jazz orchestra interpreting the songs of Björk. She toured and recorded with, and written lyrics for, jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti, and will debut at Carnegie Hall as featured singer with pianist Brad Mehldau this Spring. Stevens’ work has already received copious praise from the likes of The New York Times, who described her as “a best-kept secret” and called her debut indie release Tea Bye Sea “impressively absorbing.” Weightless will be released by Sunnyside Records on April 19, 2011.

How to participate?
There are only 12-14 student slots available for the Stanford Jazz Workshop’s ‘Songwriter Program’, so you must act now!

* Although auditions are not necessary, all participants must be 17 or older and committed to the songwriting process. Songwriters and musicians are invited to attend.

Class Schedule (TENTATIVE: SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

MONDAY
9:00-10:00am: Music Theory “Turning Songs into Charts” (TBA)
10:15-11:45am: Master Class “On Songs: Listening”
1:00–2:20pm: Specials w/SJW Instructors
2:30-4:15pm: Introductions
4:30–6:00pm: Songwriter Groups are Formed

TUESDAY
9:00-10:00am: Music Theory “Turning Songs into Charts” (TBA)
10:15-11:45am: Master Class “On Writing Music and Lyrics”
1:00-2:20pm: Specials w/SJW Instructors
2:30-4:15pm: Group One and Two – Songwriting
4:30-6:00pm: Group One and Two – Songwriting

WEDNESDAY
9:00-10:00am: Music Theory “Turning Songs into Charts” (TBA)
10:15-11:45am: Master Class “On Performance & Leading a Band”
1:00-2:20pm: Specials w/SJW Instructors
2:30–4:15pm: Group One – Songwriting and Performing (Band Present)
2:30-4:15pm: Group Two – Dialogue with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens
4:30–6:00pm: Group Two – Songwriting and Performing (Band Present)
4:30–6:00pm: Group One – Dialogue with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens

THURSDAY
9:00-10:00am: Music Theory “Turning Songs into Charts” (TBA)
10:15-11:45am: Master Class “On Marketing your Music”
1:00-2:20pm: Specials w/SJW Instructors
2:30–4:15pm: Group Two – Songwriting and Performing (Band Present)
2:30–4:15pm: Group One – Dialogue with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens
4:30–6:00pm: Group One – Songwriting and Performing (Band Present)
4:30–6:00pm: Group Two – Dialogue with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens

FRIDAY
10:15-11:45am:         Master Class “Students Sharing Insight”
1:00-2:20pm:            Students prepare for concerts
2:30-4:00pm:           Coffee House Concert: Group One
4:30-6:00pm:            Coffee House Concert: Group Two

New York Times: “Spare Vocals Illuminate Emotions Underneath”

rebeccamartin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:54:21 +0000

Read this recent music review of Rebecca Martin by Nate Chinen in the New York Times. Here is an excerpt:

“As jazz singers go, Rebecca Martin exudes the plainest sort of poise, almost radical in its utter lack of flash. When she wasn’t cradling an acoustic guitar on Thursday night at the Cornelia Street Café, she held her arms clasped behind her back, as if to make sure they wouldn’t be a distraction. She sang quietly, favoring slow tempos.

Her embellishments registered on the granular level, in the placement of a phrase or a light catch in her throat. She was unerringly faithful to the melodies of the songs, both standards and originals, but at her best she made them seem less like songs than like articulations of her state of mind….”