A Tribute to Carla Bley

Musician Composer Carla Bley was the founder of the Jazz Composers Guild in New York during the 60’s, whose members included Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Paul Bley and Archie Shepp, by the late 60’s Bley\’s music was featured on, “A Genuine Tong Funeral” by Gary Burton and her highly acclaimed “Escalator Over The Hill” won a Grand Prix du Disque, France’s most prestigious award for a musical recording.

In 1972, Bley received a Guggenheim Fellowship for composition.

Along with Michael Mantler, Carla formed the record label JCOA, later Watt Works. As a leader, she released over two dozen albums. Ms. Bley was recognized as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2015.

Bley\’s Biographer Amy C. Beal described Bley\’s music as “vernacular yet sophisticated, appealing yet cryptic, joyous and mournful, silly and serious at the same time.”

Carla Bley passed away on October 17, 2023.

Musicians featured in the upcoming tribute include

Carl Michel, guitar

Alex Coke, saxophone and flutes

Ken George, trombone

Carolyn Trowbridge, vibes

Tex Vortexx, bass

and

Masumi Jones, drums

BIOS

With a distinctive sound and an inclination toward experimentation, Alex Coke exemplifies the traditions pioneered by fellow Texas tenors and jazz flutists, while expanding the possibilities of extended technique. Coke\’s extensive discography includes his many projects and his work as a featured soloist with The Austin Jazz Workshop, Greezy Wheels, White Denim, Maryann Price, Accra Trane Station, KlezEdge, Reeds and Deeds, and many, many others.

Guitarist/composer/arranger Carl Michel was a co-leader of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra with the innovative vocalist, Tina Marsh. He has released several projects under the Play On Records label including “Food Of Love,” ”The Carl Michel Group,” “The Carl Michel Group (+),”  “Music In Motian: (The Compositions Of Paul Motian)” and with the Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet, “The Emissary” and “Emergence”

Trombone was always Ken George’s first love musically. (During and) After graduating from the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, Ken played with the greats ; Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Ray Price, and yes, Elvis. Ken was also active in the Dallas recording industry, playing hundreds of jingles and albums over many years.

Even though he had a career in the investment industry, and is today the owner of a digital marketing agency, Ken remains active in the jazz scene, playing with two bands in the DFW area, two more in Austin, and on call for other trombonists in both cities.

Carolyn Trowbridge is an Austin-based percussionist who specializes in vibraphone, marimba, steel pan, and world percussion. Carolyn is also an active recording artist and collaborator, performing with live DJs and bands such as Star Parks, Grammy-winning artist Adrian Quesada, Hard Proof, The Azmaris, Simon Says, The Baffles, KP and the Boom Boom, rrunnerrss and The Alex Coke/Carl Michel Sextet. She also leads her own project, Found Memories.

Masumi Jones moved to the US from Japan to study at Berklee College of Music in 1995. In 2008, she settled in Austin TX. Since then she has been playing with many Austin bands such as the Rich Harney Trio, Alex Coke Quartet, Mitch Watkins Trio, Jitterbug Vipers, Sarah Sharp, 35mm, Austin Jazz Workshop, Tapestry Tap Dance Company, and many others.

Masumi’s own group ‘Masumi and the Gentlemen’ had a weekly residency at Lamberts BBQ downtown from 2011 up until 2017 and had live streaming shows weekly at

Lunch with Masumi website.

Her Japanese piano trio G.G. (former Groovin’ Girls in 90’s in Boston) was featured in the short documentary film ‘Jazz Abroad’ in 2016, and on the NPR Live Sessions ‘Love Austin Music Profile’ on March 2020.