Special Engagement: Celebrating Women In Jazz – Claudia Bloom, Mary Petrich and special guest Mayu Saeki

About This Event

Mayu Saeki-flutes | Mary Petrich-saxes | Claudia Bloom-piano | Vincent Thiefain-bass | Connor Sample-drums

ALL SEATS RESERVED: $40 VIP, $36 Premium, $31 Preferred, $26 General, $11 Students (25 & under w/ ID, general seating only)
Plus processing costs

Claudia Bloom and saxophonist Mary Petrich have put together a show featuring the compositions and arrangements of a wide range of female pioneers in the jazz idiom – including Renee Rosnes, Melissa Aldana, Terri Lynn Carrington, Mary Lou Williams, Ingrid Jensen, Geri Allen and guest artist Mayu Saeki. An article in the August 2019 issue of Vanity Fair provides valuable context for this show. Sisters of Swing addresses the reality that, “For a century, jazz was a men’s club. Now a vanguard of women virtuosi…are reshaping this most American of art forms.” Read the article HERE.

Claudia Bloom has been a musician of many hats throughout her life. Classically trained at a major university, she went on to play in bands that specialized in Jazz fusion, rock, pop, smooth jazz and salsa. Overseas tours courtesy of the Department of Defense, hotel gigs, and a short stint on a cruise ship cured the travel bug and were followed up by a permanent home in the Phoenix, Arizona. She is currently the pianist/organist at Desert Palm United Church of Christ, whose members embrace her modern arrangements and re-harmonizations of hymns, spirituals, and pop and jazz standards. Note: Bloom has been awarded a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to research and perform music by contemporary women musicians and engage the community with classes and workshops for younger women musicians. In collaboration with Mary Petrich, their work includes a new educational program at The Nash, “Phoenix Jazz Girls Rising”, which provides girls 10-17 with an entry point into jazz performance. (Click HERE for details).

Mary Petrich has been developing her own creative vision for the past 20 years. Her desire to push the boundaries has led her to many projects and collaborations, the latest being the album “Murmuration” with her quartet “OpenHand”. With an abiding love for free style improvisation and the intimate collaboration of small group settings, she is equally at home playing standards and working in larger group formats. Large group work includes the Phoenix Symphony, the Grammy award-winning Phoenix Chorale, the Az. Music Festival Orchestra, and the Nash Composers Coalition.

Mayu Saeki is a Japan-born flutist, composer, bandleader, educator, Trevor James Flutes artist, Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records artist, and global citizen. Although classically trained in Japan, Saeki developed a fervent passion for jazz. In 2009, Saeki moved to New York City from Tokyo, determined against all odds to establish herself as a serious jazz flautist. Three months later, Saeki was invited to join legendary bandleader Chico Hamilton’s group! She recorded three albums with the NEA Jazz Master, including “Revelation” and “Euphoric” and continued to work with Hamilton until his passing in 2013. His last recording, “The Inquiring Mind” features Saeki’s composition, “HOPE.” Saeki performs frequently with her own group at Kitano in NYC. Additional credits include two years with the all-female Irish music group, Four Celtic Voices, and touring with Latin Grammy award-winning artist Arturo O’farrill. Saeki’s debut album, released in 2018, includes several original compositions previously recorded with Chico Hamilton, including “Dilemma,” “Do You Know…?,” and the title song, “Hope”. Making her third appearance at The Nash, Saeki subbed out her current chair in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway to participate in this special show celebrating the spirit, determination and accomplishments of women in jazz!