Alameda Elementary Presents an Evening of Jazz with Tom Grant, Valerie Day, Tom Cheek and Dave Captein

Event date: January 12th, 2010 6:30 PM

Event location: Alameda Elementary School, 2732 NE Fremont Street

Alameda Elementary School presents an Evening of Jazz with Tom Grant, Valerie Day, Tom Cheek and Dave Captein at Alameda Elementary School to benefit the general music program.

On January 12th, 2010 Alameda alumnus Tom Grant (piano) will join Valerie Day (vocals), Dave Captein (bass) and Tom Cheek (saxophone) to perform a concert at Alameda Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the general music program at Alameda, which is run by Tom Cheek. Tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Limited seating is available for this special event.

Tom Grant, master instrumentalist, talented singer and natural entertainer nimbly walks the line between jazz tradition and modern pop. This soft-spoken Oregon native's inspired songwriting produces propulsive R&B grooves, infectious melodic hooks, and stylish ballads with equal ease. He plays jazz piano with the harmonic sophistication and deep sense of swing that only comes from more than three decades on the bandstand. At the same time, his recordings have consistently landed at the top of the Smooth Jazz charts, a genre of music Tom helped pioneer in the mid-80s.

Dynamic and self assured, Valerie Day has a voice that is evocative of another time, yet refreshingly modern. Gifted singer, skilled percussionist, in-demand session player and passionate advocate for arts education, Valerie is an artist of rare talent and dedication. First appearing on the world's stage in the 80's with the Pop/R&B band NU SHOOZ, she has since performed and recorded with a wide spectrum of artists ranging from the Oregon Symphony Pops to pianist Tom Grant, guitarist Dan Balmer, pianist Darrell Grant, celebrated jazz artist David Frishberg, and many others.

Tom Cheek is a veteran saxophonist, flutist, and clarinetist and is comfortable playing many different genres including Jazz, R&B, Latin, African and Classical. He has performed and/or recorded with many top national and local acts including the Temptations, the Four Tops, Lou Rawls, David Sandborn, NuShooz, Billy Rancher, Calvin Walker, Oregon Symphony, Manhattan Transfer and many others.

Dave Captein is a first call bass player in Portland with flawless technique and superior musicianship. Dave has played with Tom Grant for many years and is experienced at playing most any style of music. He has appeared with Wynton Marsalis, Mose Allison, Richie Cole, Tal Farlow, Ernestine Anderson, Jack Sheldon, Nu Shooz, Marlena Shaw, Frankie Avalon, Paul McCandless, Larry Coryell, Andy Narell, Jerry Hahn, Dave Frishberg, Randy Brecker, Jessica Williams (appearing on 10 of her CD's), Joey De Francesco, Eric Alexander, Pete Christlieb, Bud Shank, Jeff Lorber, Benny Green and local luminaries such as Ron Steen, Mel Brown, Dan Balmer, Gary Hobbs and Rebecca Kilgore.

photo: Owen Carey