The Jamie Baum Septet
The Jamie Baum Septet performs original jazz compositions and arrangements by Jamie Baum and includes the leader who plays flute and alto flute, Ralph Alessi on trumpet and flugelhorn, Doug Yates on alto sax and bass clarinet, Vincent Chancey on French horn, George Colligan on piano, Jeff Hirshfield on drums and Johannes Weidenmueller on bass.

The Septet was formed in 1999 and has had mostly the same band members since its inception. Performances over the years include regular opportunities at the Knitting Factory, Makor, Cornelia Street Café, 55Bar and Sweet Rhythm. This ongoing work lead to many higher profile performances including the The Jazz Standard, Joe's Pub at the Public Theater and the JVC Jazz Festival (NYC), Friehoffer's Jazz Festival (Saratoga), Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro and the Contemporary Art Center (New Orleans), the Flynn Theater (Burlington, VT), the Rochester Jazz Festival, An Die Music (Baltimore), Pizza Express (London), Braga Jazz Festival (Portugal), Jazz Terrassa Festival (Spain), the Painted Bride Arts Center (Philadelphia), Firehouse 12 (CT), The Walton Arts Center (AK), The Outpost (NM), Dazzle (CO), (“We Always Swing” (MO) and The Regattabar (Boston) to name a few.

While known as a seasoned jazz player, Baum's experiences with classical music and graduate work in composition (97 – '99) led her to look at ways in which those practices could expand the traditional jazz format. Her interest in creating a more integrated role for the flute in a jazz ensemble than is often found, was also a personal goal. Exploring the use of a “front line” made up of an unconventional jazz instrumentation, and approaching the traditional rhythm section in a less functional role, offered her a more varied palette with limitless opportunity. The versatility, spirit and high level of musicianship of her bandmates allowed, inspired and encouraged every new idea and concept to be realized.

Moving Forward, Standing Still (released 8/04 on the OmniTone label) was Ms. Baum's third CD as a leader on a label, but first with this Septet. Inspired by the music of Stravinsky and Bartok, she drew from these early influences, her extensive jazz background and trips to South Asia to create a very well received work that garnered highly-critical acclaim, four stars in DownBeat and several Critics Picks lists for “Best CDs of 2004”.

Solace, the second CD by the Septet, recently released on the Sunnyside Records includes Baum's commissioned work by the 2003 New Works: Creation and Presentation Award, (a component of the Doris Duke/Chamber Music America Jazz Ensembles Project) entitled Ives Suite; The Time Traveler. This work was influenced by the iconic American composer Charles Ives, in particular his 4th Symphony and The Unanswered Question. The Septet was just awarded a New Works: Encore grant by the same organization to perform this music on a tour of the mid-west in March and at Merkin Concert Hall in NYC on April 4th, '09

For a more complete promotional package, CDs, references and reviews or for information concerning booking of concerts and clinics contact lynnjam@earthlink.net or (212) 695-0205 and please visit www.myspace.com/jamiebaummusic.

The Jamie Baum Septet Biographies
JAMIE BAUM, New York flutist/composer/recording & touring artist/ clinician, has worked with several renowned musicians as a leader and/or sidewoman ranging from George Russell, Mick Goodrick, Randy Brecker, Donald Brown, Kenny Barron, Kenny Werner and Tom Harrell to Dave Douglas, Uri Caine, Paul Motian, V. M. Bhat and Karaikudi Mani. Receiving critical praise for three CDs as a leader, Sight Unheard on Gunther Schuller's GM Recordings, and Moving Forward, Standing Still (OmniTone) both received four stars from DownBeat. A winner in several DownBeat Critics Polls and many other grants and awards, Baum toured from '99 - '03 through the USSD/ Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador Program extensively in South America, Asia and South Asia. She received her BM degree from New England Conservatory and her MM from Manhattan School of Music in jazz performance and composition.

Ralph Alessi (trumpet) began studying the trumpet at the age of six with his father, Joseph Alessi. He attended California Institute of the Arts and received a BFA and MFA degree in jazz performance. In 1990, Ralph moved to New York and soon became an active New York sideman performing and recording with the likes of Sam Rivers, Don Byron, Michael Cain, Fred Hersch, Mark Helias, David Gilmore, Bobby Previte, Muhal Richard Abrams and Lonnie Plaxico. Since 1994 he has toured and recorded 6 CDs with Steve Coleman and is a member of Uri Caine's “Mahler Revisited” and “Goldberg Variations” bands as well as the Ravi Coltrane Quintet. As a leader, Ralph has released three recordings to much acclaim.

Douglas Yates (alto sax, bass clarinet) has recorded and performed with Medeski/Martin/Wood, Sam Rivers, Julius Hemphill, Either Orchestra, Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet, Perfumed Scorpion, Jon Ballantyne, and Thor Madsen. He has also recorded with Kenny Werner, Dewey Redman, and David Binney and also performed with Carla Bley, Stan Getz, David Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Jerome Harris, Gary Burton, Bob Moses, Mingus Orchestra, Mingus Big Band, Makoto Ozone, Cab Calloway, The Phil Woods Little Big Band, and The Fringe. He is currently an active member of the Mingus Orchestra, George Garzone Quintet, Jon Ballantyne Quartet, Thor Madsen Quartet, Freedom Art Quartet and Jamie Baum Septet.

French horn player, Vincent Chancey has after many years in New York has carved out an amazing career as both a sideman and a leader. Some of his accomplishments include collaborations with Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Lionel Hampton, Tom Harrell, Cassandra Wilson, Shirley Horn, in jazz; Aretha Franklin, Patty Labelle and Elvis Costello in the popular idiom, has toured extensively worldwide has two CD's released under his name.

George Colligan has been on the New York scene since moving to Brooklyn in 1995. He has toured, recorded, and performed as a sideman with Cassandra Wilson, Gary Bartz, Gary Thomas, Eddie Henderson, Buster Williams, Ralph Peterson, Vanessa Rubin, Steve Wilson, Jane Monheit, Michael Brecker, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Mingus Big Band, Rodney Holmes, Mark Turner, David Binney, Don Braden, Lee Konitz and Stefon Harris, among others. In addition to his work as a bandleader, George currently is first call pianist for the bands off Don Byron, Lonnie Plaxico, Jamie Baum, Robin Eubanks, David Gilmore, Ravi Coltrane and Greg Tardy. George Colligan is the winner of the 2001 jazzconnect.com competition and appears on at least 60 recordings, 11 of which he has released as a leader for the Steeplechase and Fresh Sound labels.

Jeff Hirshfield, A native New Yorker, credits include; Jim Hall, Toots Thielmans, Charlie Mariano, Joe Lovano, Red Rodney/ Ira Sullivan, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Dr. John, Toshiko Akiyoshi/ Lew Tabackin, John Taylor, Randy Brecker, John Zorn, Mose Allison, Bennie Wallace, Bob Brookmeyer, Paul Bley, Eliane Elias, Mike Mainieri, Gary Peacock, Woody Herman Orch., Tim Berne, Tom Harrell, Fred Hersch, Mike Stern, Lonnie Smith, Bob Belden, Joey Calderazzo, Jerry Bergonzi, Eddie Daniels, Bob Berg, James Moody, Harold Danko, Ray Anderson, Tal Farlow, Marc Copland, Dave Liebman, Ben Monder, Dave Binney, Chris Potter, John Lewis, Tim Hagans, Joe Henderson and many others. He has performed on over 250 recordings.

Born in Germany but a New York resident since 1991, bassist Johannes Weidenmueller has been a member of the Hank Jones trio, Ray Barretto's New World Spirit, the John Abercrombie Quartet, the Joe Lovano Trio and The Kenny Werner Trio, among others. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including The Young European Jazz Artist of the Year and the Hennessey Jazz Prize. As an educator, Johannes has been on the faculty of the New School's Jazz and Contemporary Music Program since 1997.

Yard Byard: The Jaki Byard Project

Kate Glicksberg for The New York Times

Yard Byard: The Jaki Byard Project has been an idea for several years, finally coming to fruition this past year when flutist Jamie Baum put the concept into play. Holding on to several charts given to her by the late, great pianist Jaki Byard since studying with him at New England Conservatory several years ago, she always new she would find the right time and the right musicians to explore this interesting and timeless music with.

Though she started the process, it is clearly a cooperative group with arrangements and input from all of the members. Made up of five of NYC most in-demand musicians, each has had some kind of association with Jaki Byard, either through working, playing or studying with him. The group may be new but everyone has played, toured and/or recorded together in different configurations for more than 20 years.

While perhaps the easiest and most obvious route would have been to include piano in the group, the ensemble's desire is not to recreate "The Jaki Byard sound", but to both explore the beauty and creativity of his compositions and approach to the piano, as well as to convey his serious and whimsical sides.

Yard Byard: The Jaki Byard Project
featuring
Jamie Baum - flutes
Adam Kolker - saxes and clarinets
Jerome Harris - guitar
Ugonna Okegwo - bass
George Schuller - drums

The Jamie Baum Quartet/Quintet
The Jamie Baum Quartet uses the traditional jazz format of horn player, piano, bass and drums with a slight twist in that the horn player is really a flute player! They tend to play mostly jazz standards and originals with the addition of the trumpet from time to time.