Vocal Jazz Summit 2023

JUNE 23-25, 2023

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

Zeiders American Dream Theater is a professional, non-profit theater that introduces new works and emerging artists, presents unique artistic experiences, and inspires creative growth in the Hampton Roads Community.

The Z’s founding principles are that creativity drives the growth of individuals and communities; and that the imagination, passion, and discipline of creation are universal requirements for all successful endeavors, artistic and otherwise.

Our mission is accomplished through programming balanced between developing projects and artists, presenting regional, national and international artists, and community-driven events.

The Z is about ARTISTIC EXPERIENCES. The Z is about ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITY. The Z is about COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. The Arts start HERE.

DINNER & A SHOW! Get a discount at Cantina Laredo with your Festival Ticket or Badge!

Welcome to the third-annual Virginia Beach Vocal Jazz Summit, we’re so happy to see your faces! We are a vibrant and diverse community of vocalists who come together to learn, enjoy and create community. We believe in the power of the human voice, and self-expression. If there’s a song inside of us, it must come out.

When I lived in at Koinonia Farm, a christian/social justice intentional community in Georgia at age 20, I was part of an a cappella trio called the Blueberry Patch Singers - so called because we began singing together when we were out harvesting blueberries and discovered that though our voices were very different, they blended beautifully. This one song from our gospel repertoire always stays with me.

My life goes on in endless song above earth´s lamentations, I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation. Through all the tumult and the strife I hear its music ringing, It sounds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?

If there is a song inside of you, you must let it out. If that song comes from joy or sadness, peace or longing, you must sing it.

While though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it liveth. And though the darkness ‘round me close, songs in the night it giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I´m clinging. Since love is lord of heaven and earth how can I keep from singing?

No matter what the sound is that comes out of you, it is exactly as it should be. As a voice teacher, I make my living helping people sound better. But whatever is coming out of your mouth right now, if it comes from your heart, it’s a perfect expression.

I’m so over shame. I’ll never get enough time to practice, and I still go out there and do gigs. I’m forced to accept the chasm between the freedom I wish I had and what I can do. As a young singer, I attended a workshop with Kenny Werner, the jazz pianist who wrote the ground breaking book Effortless Mastery. He gave an analogy that has helped me a lot.

“Imagine you went to your refrigerator and you kicked it and it made a booming sound of say, crashing your hand on a cluster at the bottom of a piano. You’d be calling all your friends over, “Man, you got to come over and hear my refrigerator!”

Find this freshness in your music - it is amazing that we have sounds and tones and our voices can make pitches and have this musical expression at all. I invite you to free yourself from things needing to be perfect. Experience radical self-acceptance, and arrive in this present moment with the music that is happening, instead of living in the past (all the things you don’t know/can’t do) or fantasies of the future (the ineffable someday when you’ll be a musical god). Let’s get ourselves out of the way, and together, we’ll watch the magic that can happen!

ALEXIS COLE - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

JULY 8, 15, 22, 29

“Every woman deserves to be a Barbie”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2023

4:00PM REGISTRATION

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE LOBBY

7:00PM JANE MONHEIT PERFORMANCE (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL)

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

Featuring: Michael Kanan-piano, Luca Alemanno- bass, Rick Montalbano- drums

8:30PM LIZ TERRELL & ALEXIS COLE PERFORMANCE (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

Featuring: John Toomey- piano, Chris Brydge- bass, Brian Caputo- drums

9:00PM IN-PERSON JAM SESSION (IN PERSON ONLY) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

9:00PM VIRTUAL JAM SESSION - HOST: JOCELYN MEDINA (VIRTUAL ONLY)

SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023

10:00AM MASTERCLASS: THE POWERFUL PERFORMER WITH KERRI HARDWICK (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

The Powerful Performer Vocal Masterclass will cover a wide range of practices and THROGA techniques to avoid vocal damage and fatigue, sing with freedom and ease, improve your intonation, extend your range without strain, and overall improve your confidence.

12:00PM THE POWER OF AUTHENTIC PRESENCE WITH KATE MCGARRY (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

A Vocal Jazz Masterclass with Kate McGarry and guitarist Keith Ganz. The power of our authentic presence is what ignites audiences and makes our music a conduit for joy, community and healing. Together we’ll explore ways of becoming grounded, expanded and connected when we perform so we can access what is uniquely ours to give.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

3:00PM MASTERCLASS: JANE MONHEIT (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

Jane will provide insight into best practices and her own specific approach to vocal performance that has led her to success. Watch participants hone a song of their own choosing in this interactive masterclass

5:00PM WORKSHOP: NATURAL REPHRASING WITH GRETA MATASSA (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

Proper jazz etiquette directs that singers be true to the original melody as an act of respect for the tune and the composer. The real fun begins the second time through, when you get to sing it YOUR way! But … how does a singer compose onthe-fly without any knowledge of theory? You don’t need to READ music if you can HEAR it. In this workshop, we will remember and re-learn how to spontaneously create and sing melodies, as we did when we were children, using only our ears and our imagination. The ability to sing and listen — at the same time — allows us to easily write melodies with no need for theory or scales. Greta will share multiple levels of practice using simple tools and apps to help you hear, respond and write the music in the moment. Be ready to CLOSE the books and OPEN your ears!

7:30PM TEACHER SHOWCASE FEATURING GRETA MATASSA, KATE MCGARRY, AND BRIANNA THOMAS (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

Featuring: Justin Kauflin-piano, Keith Ganz- guitar, Chris Brydge- bass, Brian Caputo- drums

9:00PM JOHNNY O’NEAL TRIO

FEATURING DARALYN JAY (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

Featuring: Daralyn Jay- vocals, Luke Sellick- bass, Piero Alessi- drums

10:00PM IN-PERSON JAM SESSION (IN PERSON ONLY) LOCATION: STUDIO THEATER

10:00PM VIRTUAL JAM SESSION - HOST: JOCELYN MEDINA (VIRTUAL ONLY)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2023

11:00AM BRIANNA THOMAS VOCAL MASTERCLASS (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

Brianna will provide insight into best practices and her own specific approach to vocal performance that has led her to success. Watch participants hone a song of their own choosing in this interactive masterclass.

12:30PM PANEL: THE MUSICIAN’S PERSPECTIVE (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION:STUDIO THEATER

A panel of world-class musicians share their perspectives, experiences and insights on taking the bandstand alongside vocalists followed by a time of Q&A with the audience. Featuring Cameron Brown, Keith Ganz, Ken Avis, John Toomey and more!

3:00PM SHEILA’S SAGACITY: A CONVERSATION WITH SHEILA JORDAN (IN PERSON & VIRTUAL) LOCATION: MAIN STAGE THEATER

Sheila Jordan is an American jazz singer and songwriter. She is an early pioneer of vocalese with the vocal group Skeeter, Mitch, and Jean and has trademarked the bass and voice duo as her signature sound. She has studied, performed and recorded with the likes of Charlie Parker, Lennie Tristano, Charles Mingus, Steve Kuhn, Herbie Nichols, Harvey Schwartz, Lee Konitz, Cameron Brown and many, many more.

Today, she is 94 years old and continues to perform, teach and tell of her passion and love for jazz to all who will listen. Join us in The Z’s Main Stage Theater as Ms. Jordan recounts her decades long career sharing vibrant stories, personal anecdotes, and lessons learned.