Ticket Giveaway for 'Inside the Jazz Note' at SOPAC

The following is an edited press release submitted by Jazz House Kids, which is offering two free tickets to Patch readers to a June 3 evening performance at SOPAC ("Inside the Jazz Note") described below. If you're interested, send an e-mail to cotton@patch.com. I'll put names in a hat and pick a winner on Tuesday.

Jazz House Kids, a non-profit arts enrichment organization based in Montclair, presents its critically-acclaimed program, Jazz for Generations and Inside the Jazz Note, on Thursday, June 3, at SOPAC.

This year's guest is 25-year-old jazz bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding. Grammy-winning virtuoso of the electric and acoustic bass Christian McBride serves as host and master of ceremonies for both events. For close to two decades, McBride has been widely recognized as an accomplished composer, arranger and bandleader. 

Growing up in a multi-lingual single-parent home, Spalding taught herself the violin well enough to land a spot in the Chamber Society of Oregon, a community orchestra open to both children and adult musicians. The orchestra was also where Spalding discovered the bass and all the musical avenues that the instrument could open for her. At 16, she entered the Berklee College of Music; by 20, she had become the youngest instructor in the school's history. Since her move to the East Coast, Spalding has recorded two albums and worked with such artists as pianist Michel Camilo, bassist Stanley Clarke, guitarist Pat Metheny, singer Patti Austin and saxophonists Donald Harrison and Joe Lovano. In 2009, she performed three times for President Obama, including at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.

At 8 p.m., Jazz House Kids will present its third annual Inside the Jazz Note program at SOPAC, open to the general public. Spalding will be on the hot seat for an intimate jazz conversation with host Christian McBride. The evening will include video and audio recordings, a Spalding/McBride debut duet concert performance and an audience Q&A. Tickets are $100 VIP, $55 and $35. The VIP ticket includes premium seating and entrance to a post-event "Meet the Artist" reception. All proceeds benefit Jazz House Kids. For tickets, contact the SOPAC box office at 973-313-ARTS (2787) or www.SOPACnow.org.

Earlier in the day, a Jazz House Kids-led Master Class on Improvisation will be held for 200 to 300 high school students from across New Jersey from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Next, Spalding takes the stage with Christian McBride for the Guest Artist Master Class from 3 to 5 p.m. The Jazz for Generations program will close with Spalding working with one of the high school bands on stage. This year, the Camden High School Jazz Band will travel 98 miles up the Garden State Parkway to be honored as Jazz House Kid's featured school band. For more information about the student program, call Jazz House Kids at 973-744-2733 or visit www.jazzhousekids.org.