Jazz titans to perform at Plattsburgh State Jazz Festival

By ROBIN CAUDELL
Staff Writer

May 01, 2008 04:00 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- The 32nd Annual Plattsburgh State Jazz Festival features monster jazz saxophonist Gregory Tardy and pianist Helen Sung.
The impetus for these artists coming to Plattsburgh State began with student Peter Fiore.
"He's a really good drummer and composer," said Dr. Rick Davies, Music Department chair. "Peter came here from Berklee (College of Music) to study with our drum teacher, Gabe Jarrett. Peter is a great fan of Greg's. I said, Why don't we bring him down?'"
MUSIC MINISTRY
Tardy studied classical clarinet with Russell Dagon and Jack Snavely. An introduction, as a teen, to legend John Coltrane made jazz and its articulation through the saxophone Tardy's passion. Since he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ in 1997, it has become a music ministry.
"John Coltrane is the greatest tenor jazz player of all time, but Wayne Shorter is a bigger influence, particularly composition wise," Tardy said. "Joe Henderson was a really big influence on me."
Some fans link everything Tardy composes to Coltrane, even one song to "A Love Supreme."
"It had nothing to do with A Love Supreme.' They read one thing, and they start plugging in what I do. Back in the '80s, I was influenced by a lot of people that I played with: Andrew Hill, Dave Douglas, Nicholas Payton."
Tardy also cites peers Mark Turner and Chris Potter as influences.
"And whole lot of other people that people don't necessarily know their names, but they are phenomenal musicians. My music is based off those experiences and also the music I studied, the jazz masters and some of my peers, once again."
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"Crazy Love" was his first solo project, released in 1992, the same year he joined Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. When Tardy relocated to New York City, he hooked up with Tom Harrell, Dave Douglas and Wynton Marsalis, to name a few. Joe Lovano, Chris Potter and Ravi Coltrane are among the noted saxophonists he has worked with. Tardy has been called a Wynton Marsalis disciple.
"I love his playing, but I've only played two gigs with him. I played with Andrew Hill seven years.
In 1998, Tardy released the critically acclaimed "Serendipity" (Impulse Records) for which he was nominated "Best Debut Artist" for the New York Jazz Awards.
His millennium release, "Abundance," (Palmetto Records) was also critically acclaimed. His 2005 "The Truth" (Steeplechase) featured special guests Marcus Printup (trumpet), Sean Conly (bass), Jaimeo Brown (drums) and Sung (piano).
JAZZ CONVERT
When Davies asked Tardy to appear at Plattsburgh State, his invitation was extended to include Sung at the sax player's suggestion.
"She's really hot right now," Davies said.
Sung recently appeared on Marian McPartland's National Public Radio show "Piano Jazz." Last year, she released a new CD, "Sungbird (after Albéniz)," on Sunnyside Records. She also won the Kennedy Center's 2007 Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition.
Like Tardy, who sidestepped from classical to jazz, Sung switched during her undergrad studies at the University of Texas at Austin. At the New England Conservatory of Music, she was accepted into the inaugural class of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.
She has appeared with Clark Terry, Wayne Shorter, Steve Turre, Regina Carter, Steve Wilson and T.S. Monk. Besides performing with the Mingus Big Band and Diva, she is a member of Clark Terry's Young Titans of Jazz Big Band.
Thursday's Faculty Concert features Tardy and Sung with Davies, Jarret, Herm Matlock and Vermonter John Rivers.
"The concert features four or five original pieces by Greg, one piece by Peter Fiore and one of my pieces, Campamento de Rumba,'" Davies said.
WORLD-CLASS'
Tardy welcomes the chance to work with young musicians.
"God has blessed me with a whole lot of experience, and I don't believe he gave it to me to sit around and keep it to myself. I have a responsibility to share the experience and the knowledge I have gained over the years."
When he was rising through the ranks, he didn't have the opportunity for formal study.
"I had to learn by speaking to a lot of older musicians and doing it that way," Tardy said. "So I really do appreciate the opportunity to share that with other people."
Friday's Jazz Concert features Tardy and Sung with the Contemporary Combo and the Jazz Ensemble directed by Matlock.
"They will do more student compositions and some of Greg's," Davies said. "It should be interesting. It will be some world-class music with these guys coming in. It's a good opportunity to present two of the top young jazz musicians in the world."
rcaudell@pressrepublican.com

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