Performing tonight in support of Project Safety Net:
(searchable as austinjazzsociety@gmail.com)
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Thank you to the sponsors of #projectsafetynet for tonights concert:
Daniel Augustine
Maggie Jane Ellis
Michael Hammett and Annie Weiss of Emerald 80
Denny Malloy
Maurine McLean
Peter Pope
Forrest Preece
Clay Robinson
David Skarjune
Patricia Lewellyn
Fred Newton
New School Of Music
Austin Jazz Society
Peggy Stern is as well-known as a composer as she is known for her fine piano playing. She arrived at jazz via classical music, R&B, and salsa. In addition to European and American classical music, Peggy’s music draws from Brazilian, African, Jewish, Irish, Cuban, and traditional jazz influences.
Peggy has composed, recorded, and toured in a wide variety of situations: from solo shows, to arranging for octets and jazz choruses. Her compositions range from highly original pieces to reharmonized jazz standards. “Everything she writes wants to dance, ” says Ken Dais of Jazziz.
Peggy began playing classical piano at an early age, continuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music, and earning a master’s degree in classical music at the New England Conservatory. While living in San Francisco, she played in salsa bands, notably Azteca and Supercombo with Benny Vallarde. She served a stint in an R&B band (called Cat’s Cradle) with singer Linda Tillery, and with Paul Jackson (bass) and Mike Clark (drums) of Herbie Hancock’s Headhunter band.
Subsequently, Peggy moved to New York, absorbing the piano stylings of jazz greats such as Jimmy Rowles and Tommy Flanagan. Peggy has worked and toured with many wonderful musicians: Lee Konitz, Diane Schuur, David “Fathead” Newman, Jay Clayton, Gary Peacock, Gene Bertoncini, Bud Shank, Red Holloway, Thomas Chapin, Machito, Puck Fair, Bobby Shew, Stanley Turrentine, Gerry Mulligan, Eddie Henderson, Emily Remler, to name a few. She has recorded a dozen albums.
Peggy has toured throughout Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In addition, Peggy has worked as an educator for the past 20 years, at colleges in the US. She has given workshops throughout Europe (Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy), and the US.
Peggy created the Wall Street Jazz Festival in Kingston, NY (2004 – present), a yearly festival featuring women-led jazz ensembles. Presented outdoors on a quiet store & tree-lined street, this festival draws thousands from NYC, Albany, and all the counties in between.
Since September 2013, Peggy has lived in Austin, Texas, to be near her family. Her eclectic tastes have led her into the world of Western Swing music, which she considers a welcoming gift, for moving to Texas. Joining the vibrant music scene here, she has released two CD’s in Austin: Z Octet (chamber jazz) and Shine On (western swing). In 2016, she created LuluFest (“…where the traditions meet the progressives, and all the leaders are women”), currently entering its 5th year – to be live- streamed from Lulu-Fest.com on May 14th-16th, 2021.
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Live from East Austin Piano Shop
One Set – 7:30pm
Peggy Stern – Piano
Joey Colarusso – Tenor Saxophone
Glenn Schuetz – Double Bass
Masumi Jones – Drums
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We invite viewers to donate; contributions ensure performers get paid, with surplus funds going into Austin Jazz Society’s “Project Safety Net” – a project initiated in late March to assist Austin-area jazz musicians whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic. To date, the fundraising project has raised $79,000+ and benefitted 100+ individual musicians.
