Nutmeg Ballet Might Be On To Something BIG
The conservatory and prominent artists collaborate on promising jazz ballet project
Torrington, CT-based Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory will premier El Colibri, a pioneering jazz ballet, this week. It involves musicians, dancers, and visual artists and is a new kind of project for everyone from the youngest dancer to the hippest jazz cat. (Illustration courtesy Danielle Mailer)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Two trombone players walk into a ballet school.
If you’re already giggling, that’s OK, but it’s not a joke. In fact, what began as a chance conversation between two of northwest Connecticut’s most accomplished musicians might someday join legendary entertainment franchises that got their starts right here in the 8495. What franchises, you ask? Well, how about Annie, Man of La Mancha, and Shenandoah, all of which premiered at Goodspeed Opera House on the banks of the Connecticut River? Or the colossus that is Hamilton, which began as a modest workshop project at the Powerhouse summer theater program at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.
What I’m talking about now, though – and if the cards fall right, what might join these legendary shows – is El Colibri, a pioneering jazz ballet being performed at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Torrington, CT. And the effort involves a range of artists from the school’s youngest ballerinas to musicians based here who have won Grammys – who will all be performing together and creating art in real time.
Victoria Mazzarelli, Nutmeg’s artistic director, is undertaking choreography and dance direction. Kim Scharnberg, the Colebrook, CT-based master of all musical trades (composer, arranger, orchestrator, and one of the trombone players mentioned above), wrote the story and music, which will be performed live by Peter McEachern, one of NW CT’s most accomplished jazz musicians (and trombone player #2 in our story) and his quintet. Renowned multi-disciplinary artist Danielle Mailer (who is also Peter’s wife) has created the visual art for it, and if it goes well, the folks at Nutmeg hope Danielle’s work will expand into more costumes and sets.
Set in the Amazon forest, the story follows a determined hummingbird whose small acts of courage inspire hope and community in the face of danger. And the whole endeavor started off as a serendipitous suggestion Peter made to Kim back in October.
“I met Peter 25 years ago and we were playing trombone gigs together,” Kim told 8495Jazz. “We hit it off immediately. I got to meet Danielle through that – and I’ve watched her career take off and all her incredible installations around the state and especially in Torrington.
“So when I saw that she was going to do an installation for Nutmeg, I told myself I should go down and talk about trombone stuff with Peter. I usually sit in my office and work and don’t talk to anybody about anything. We were just chatting and Peter said ‘Hey, you should write a jazz ballet for my quintet,’ and I said that sounded like fun.”
Then, to hear Kim tell it, Nutmeg’s academic program director, Donna Mattiello, happened upon the trombonists’ conclave.
“Peter said ‘Hey, Donna, this is my friend Kim. He’s a great composer. You should hire him to write a jazz ballet and then hire my quintet to perform it.’ And she said ‘That’s a fabulous idea. Let’s have a meeting’. And we had that meeting like six days later.”
And just like that, off they went.
The troupe will be testing the story out at a closed workshop Monday, then in graduation performances open to the public Tuesday through Friday at the Nutmeg. Yes, it’s been a whirlwind, and yes, everybody involved is incredibly excited. And a big part of the excitement is that El Colibri is going to stretch the artistic boundaries of everybody involved, from the youngest ballerina to the hippest veteran jazz cat.
For the dancers, it will mean both listening and reacting to improvised music in real time, a profound change of pace from how classical ballet is taught.
“Ballet dancers, when you’re kids, you’re always taught to stand up straight and it can be a little stiff in its way, because you’re strong and you’re holding,” Victoria said. “I told them they have to be super aware, you are creating as it’s playing – and feel those swells and all that in the body. It’s such a learning experience for them.
“I think once they get the reaction of people they will really take it to another level and let go. I just try to show them as much as I can that you have to get messy a little bit.”
As for Kim, who has scads of experience in just about any musical form you can name, the experience also promises to be novel. He’s never written for ballet, and though his jazz chops go back to digging legendary New England trombone player Roswell Rudd, he also doesn’t consider himself a jazz writer, either.
As for Peter’s quintet (Peter on trombone, Kris Jensen on saxes, Grammy winner Zaccai Curtis on piano, Dave Santoro on bass, and Ed Fast on drums and percussion) and narrator/singer Wanda Houston, Kim said even these veteran musicians, who will share the stage rather than being in an orchestra pit, are in for a new treat with the young dancers. Though the melodic “heads” of each piece remain the same, as is usual in jazz, all the solos will be improvised.
“The musicians don’t usually play for classical ballet,” he said. “Jazz musicians don’t, and even orchestral musicians are usually in the pit. I think with them seeing the dancers, they will play differently. They’ll react to that. So it’s going both ways. I’m excited because I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
What he’d like to see happen in the larger sense, though, is that El Colibri might just catch a little of the lightning in a bottle the legendary shows mentioned above have for Nutmeg.
“I want to bring this to the world. Not just the USA, not just Connecticut, not just Torrington, but to bring it everywhere. We are filming it, recording it, and we’re hoping to package it to say it originated right here.”
There is also a personal angle to Kim’s excitement about El Colibri. His young granddaughter is one of the show’s water droplets.
“It’s really sweet,” he said. “She didn’t know what to make of me being there – ‘what is he doing at the ballet?’”
Well, he, and everybody else involved, is taking it to a place it rarely goes, right here in the 8495. How great is that?
NHVJU Pays Tribute To Andy Kosiba
Tuesday night’s New Haven Jazz Underground jam at Cafe Nine will pay special tribute to one of the organization’s founding members. Pianist Andrew Kosiba died unexpectedly April 22.
Proceeds from the jam will be donated to his mother as she faces high costs of funeral expenses.
“Andy was a gentle giant both as a man and as a musician,” NHVJU founder Nick Di Maria said. “He could play the most tender melodies and rip the most hammering chords. He was the most open minded person I ever worked with. He and I bonded initially over Herbie Hancock and the Fender Rhodes. We were obsessed with the Mwandishi band. On every record we recorded together he’d ask to use tape delays and other kinds of gadgets and synths to capture that sound that eventually became his own. He was the pianist in my band for 20 years and my longest collaborator. I keep reflecting on Ellington’s words on Billy Strayhorn; Andy was my right arm.”
The tribute set starts at 7 with the jam session following.
Nick has created a GoFundMe link for those who are not able to make it to the jam but still wish to donate to Andy’s family.
Out and About with 8495Jazz
These listings are a curated sampling of shows in the region. As an independent resource for jazz news, 8495Jazz does not receive any consideration, free tickets, or affiliate fees for these listings. Please confirm events are still happening directly with the venue.
8495Jazz Wild Card Gig of the Week
Roslindale Square, Roslindale, MA
Roslindale Jazz Festival, Saturday, May 16, 1 – 6 pm. Free.
“The Roslindale Jazz Festival brings a full afternoon of free, live music to Roslindale Square, with performances on two stages: Adams Park and Birch Street Plaza. The eclectic lineup of bands—all led by Roslindale residents—includes AS3, Clear Audience, David Leach Collective, Bill Pierce Quartet, Manuel Kauffmann’s Manduca Sexta, Man On Land, and TickleJuice.”
8495Jazz Spur of the Moment Gig TODAY
Milton Congregational Church, Milton, CT
Litchfield Performing Arts and Milton Music Present Charlie Sigler Trio (guitar. combo), an Oscar Peterson Tribute. 3 pm. GA $29.
Other Upcoming Shows
Regattabar, Cambridge, MA
Keyon Harrold (trumpet, combo), Thursday, May 14, 7 pm. GA $35.97 - $47.61 including service fee.
Scullers, Boston, MA
Brandon “Swingman” Sanders record release feat. Warren Wolf and Gregory Groover, Jr., (drums, combo) Saturday, May 16, 7 pm. GA $42.45 - $59.75 including service fee.
Elicit Brewing Co., Manchester, CT
Hartford Jazz Orchestra (big band), Monday, May 11, 7:30 pm. Free.
VFW Post 399, Westport, CT
Mike Camacho and the Nutmeg Legacy Quintet (drums, combo), Thursday, May 14, 7:30 and 8:45 pm. $20.76 for 7:30 set, $10.76 for 8:45 set. Student/vets $15.76 for 7:30 set.
Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT
Jerome Sabbagh Quartet (sax, combo), Friday, May 15, 8:30 and 10 pm. 8:30 show tickets $20, 10 pm show tickets $15.
The Side Door, Old Lyme, CT
Rene McLean Sextet Music of the Spirit tribute to Jackie McLean, Saturday, May 16, 8 pm. GA $70.34 students $38.57 including service fee.
The Parlour, Providence, RI
The David Howard Initiative, today, 5 pm. GA $10.
MAC Downtown, Milford, CT
Helen Sung (piano), Friday, May 15, 7:30 pm. GA $43 including service fee (just three seats left at press time).
Jams
Cafe Nine, New Haven CT
New Haven Jazz Underground jam, usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month: free admission
Saturday jazz jam most Saturdays, 4 pm. Free.
Blackeyed Sally’s, Hartford, CT
Jazz Wednesdays, featured set 7 pm, jam session afterward.
Carmine’s, East Hartford, CT
Paisley’s All Star Memorial Jam, various Tuesdays, click link for dates, 7:30 pm. House band set followed by jam. Free.
Mahoney’s, Poughkeepsie, NY
Poughkeepsie Jazz Project, every Tuesday, 7 pm. Free.
Park City Music Hall, Bridgeport, CT
Scott Cushman and Friends followed by jam, first Wednesday of the month.
The Parlour, Providence, RI
First Sunday Jam (first Sunday of the month) with Ben Shaw Quartet followed by jam, music starts at 6. Jammers $5, audience $10.
Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA
Jams every second Tuesday of the month through June, 7 pm. $10 at the door, no advance sales.
Jazz Societies and Organizations (great info on events, festivals, and more)
Jazz Society of Fairfield County
Jazz Fridays at Three Sheets New Haven 1st/3rd Fridays from 6-9pm
Jazz Thursdays at The Cannon New Haven every other Thurs from 7-9pm.
8495Jazz takes its name from the two Interstate highways that cross our region, I-84 and I-95. Within short driving distances from either, you can find incredible entertainment, from local jams to world-famous festivals in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 8495Jazz: From Newburgh to Newport!
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