Master drummer Jaz Sawyer united with some of the best and most hardworking talents in the Bay Area to showcase a night of music at Yoshi’s in Oakland last week.
In celebration of the release of their live recording from 2009 with his longtime peers the Bay Area All Stars, Sawyer’s artistry, versatility and ingenuity illuminated the stage.
“Bassist Marcus Shelby is one of the world’s preeminent talented composers,” said Julian Carroll, jazz poet and musicologist. “Matt Clark is a great talent on piano, Howard Wiley, saxophones, and Geechi Taylor, trumpets, have been playing together for years as a unit and they are flat out awesome musicians.”
The All Stars were joined by special guest vocalists Valerie Troutt, Ryan “Solas” Burke and Adrian Areas—who once played in Carlos Santana’s band.
“Jaz Sawyer is my birth name,” said Sawyer. “My parents were inspired by the music and decided to name me that.”
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sawyer learned to play the trumpet and bass in addition to studying at the preparatory division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
As a teenager, he participated in the Stanford Jazz Workshop programs for several years and was a member of the San Francisco Youth Orchestra for two years before graduating from the San Francisco School of the Arts.
He has performed at many of the world’s premier venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York City, New Morning in Paris, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat, Israel.
Sawyer gives back to the community as a teacher at Oakland School of the Arts and Oakland Public Conservatory of Music.
“Jaz is great teacher of young people and role model for all musicians in Bay Area,” said Carroll.
According to Sawyer, performing with his peers from high school and for the next generation to join him was like going full circle.
“Wondering where the music would take me and knowing that the next generation is ready to push the music forward,” said Sawyer.
Sawyer had Jasim Peralas, 13, on trombone and his older teen students on drums, trumpets, and tenor and soprano saxophones.
“Jaz has influenced me from a very young age,” said student Ayinde Webb, 17. “I find elements of his persona reflected in me every day. It’s always great to be around him whether I’m playing or not, but last night was a beautiful experience and I got to stretch out with great musicians.”
Periodically stalking the perimeter of the stage with cool finger snaps, Sawyer elevated the audience in full participation of the improvisational art.
The praise that he showered on his band members and guests expressed to the crowd that he didn’t get there by himself. It was a team effort.