The Los Angeles Jazz Society is initiating an exciting new program “NEW NOTE” designed to support and promote the talents of young musicians in composing new works.  This project will add another component in the organization’s mission to help preserve the future of jazz by identifying and nurturing emerging young jazz musicians of tomorrow.

New Note enlarges the scope of the Jazz Society’s outreach by commissioning a select group of young emerging jazz composers to create new works which will be premiered at important jazz events or venues.  The new program will kickoff with a collaboration with the Angel City Jazz Festival to be held October 6th at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre beginning at 4pm.  Angel City Arts has agreed to provide a segment of the program to the Los Angeles Jazz Society for the purpose of premiering a new jazz composition.   The recipient of the commission for the new work is pianist/composer, Richard Sears who has had a close association with Angel City Arts.

“In fulfillment of a commission from the Los Angeles Jazz Society, I’ve composed a suite for sextet to honor and feature jazz drummer Albert “Tootie” Heath; one of the last living drummers to have played with John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Lester Young, Don Cherry, and many others.  With this piece I hope present a less-often heard side of Tootie’s playing to honor and continue the legacy of his work.”

For info:   http://angelcityjazz.com/artists/richard-sears-group-featuring-tootie-heath

Richard Sears received a scholarship in 2005 to attend the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he studied with Shelly Berg, John Clayton and Alan Pasqua.   In 2012 and 2013, Richard competed as one of five finalists in the international Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition.  In a review by NPR Drew Tewksbury, Richard was described as “a highly inventive pianist, possessing a bold and lyrical approach to improvisation and composition.  He performs with a captivating sense of grace and adventure.”

The Los Angeles Jazz Society is currently planning to extend the program into next year with commissioned jazz compositions to be premiered at the popular downtown jazz club, The Blue Whale.