BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m., at the Vermont Jazz Center (VJC), director Eugene Uman will present a newly tooled version of the quintet, the Convergence Project.
This quintet is a vehicle for Uman to change hats, to focus on performance and composing rather than the production and educational mission of VJC.
The formation of this version of the Convergence Project was inspired by an opportunity Uman had to perform with Francisco Mela a few years back at the Arts Block in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The Cuban drummer has what Uman calls “an encyclopedic vocabulary of Latin rhythms,” including an ease of playing 6/8 patterns which are considered essential ingredients in many styles of both Cuban and Colombian folkloric music.
“I am excited and honored to have Mela interpret my compositions,”says Uman, “especially those that were influenced by rhythms I learned while living in Colombia.”
Mela's approach to music is based on his expansive knowledge, but is nurtured by his capacity to “let go.” His most recent recording and performance projects blend this ability to groove hard while simultaneously expressing the freedom inherent in each moment, Uman says.
Mela has performed and recorded with a handful of Uman's favorite jazz pianists, including McCoy Tyner, Chucho Valdéz, Gerri Allen, Nduduzo Makhathini and Kenny Barron. “He also brings a warmth to the bandstand that elevates the spirit of the entire group as well as the audience.”
After Mela agreed to perform, Uman connected with other players in the Boston area where Mela now lives, as he teaches at Berklee School of Music.
Since Mela had replaced the late Bob Gullotti in George Garzone's free-jazz trio, The Fringe, performing since 1971, Uman reached out to the saxophonist leader and the bassist of that group and found them both available. Because much of the Convergence Project's repertoire is enhanced by the presence of two horns, the band's original trombonist, Jeff Galindo, will round out the quintet.
A good portion of this concert will be dedicated to newly composed or rearranged material tailored specifically for this new configuration and will highlight Uman's compositions.
In a news release, Uman said “composing is my favorite form of creative expression. I am often compelled to work toward the mechanics of running the Jazz Center, so composing serves as a welcome balance. It gives me permission to slow down, to take the time to study a variety of musical forms, learn different rhythms, and dwell on the sounds of combinations of notes and chord patterns.”
He says composing is a comfort; he enjoys the process of developing an idea over time and, “honing a form so that it evolves into a refined structure.” He likens it to writing a press release, in which he strives to “present the distilled essence of a concept while paying attention to how each word and comma affect rhythm and flow.”
Uman finds the potential to move listeners emotionally thrilling. He writes, “My goal is to compose and arrange music that transmits an energy that positively transforms and uplifts those involved.”
The leader of the Convergence Project, Uman, is a composer, pianist, and educator. He has been the executive artistic director of the Vermont Jazz Center since 1997 and has written over 200 jazz compositions, including three that appeared on Latin Jazz star Sammy Figueroa's 2005 Grammy-nominated CD, … And Sammy Walked In. He says he has worked tirelessly to connect music and the local community.
Uman says everyone in the Convergence Project is encouraged to add their own voice to the big picture, and that the band concept is founded on the synergy of each musician's personal style in combination with the harmonic and melodic structure of the compositions, but the rhythmical pulse is the glue that holds it all together.
“Each of these musicians brings vast knowledge and wisdom to a performance,” said Uman, “what you hear in a concert is a result of a lifetime of collective experiences.”
In-person tickets for the Convergence Project concert are offered on a sliding fee scale from $20 to $50 per person, and all seats are general admission. Mask wearing will be optional and light refreshments will be available. Tickets are available online at vtjazz.org and by emailing Ginger Morawski, ginger@vtjazz.org. She is also the contact for handicapped accessibility.
Online streaming of this concert will be offered by donation. Access can be found online at vtjazz.org and at facebook.com/VermontJazzCenter/live.