Baltimore Welcomes Three Brilliant Musical Collaborators “Women’s Intuition” Will Enhance the Conversation Among These Jazz Heroines

Tickets: $20

Two veteran jazz women and one young lioness will delve deep into musical conversation at An die Musik, Saturday March 3, 2012. Leader Peggy Stern, one of the most venerated pianists and composers working today, has playfully dubbed it the “Women’s Intuition Trio.” Innovative vocalist Jay Clayton and powerhouse bassist Amy Shook join Stern on the bandstand for two sets of thrilling collective improvisation and spontaneous fun.

A first lady of American jazz, Stern possesses a deep classical music education and long bandstand experience playing everything from standards to salsa. She has performed all over the world and collaborated with countless giants, including Lee Konitz, Emily Remler, George Mraz, and Diane Schuur. Stern’s engaging compositions reflect European, American, Brazilian, African, Jewish, Irish, and Cuban influences. Her tunes have been recorded by other artists and published in widely used jazz fake books. Jazz Times has praised her for the “Monk-like quirkiness in her playing; there is a sense of melancholia and wistfulness that opens windows to her soul.”

Jay Clayton is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, composer, and educator whose groundbreaking work boldly spans the terrain between jazz and new music. A fixture of the New York club scene in the 1960s, Clayton quickly moved past the standards repertoire to embrace the free jazz movement. She later developed a highly personal, wordless vocabulary and a flair for using electronics to manipulate and expand with her sound. Clayton continues to push the boundaries of her instrument.

“Jay and I have been in cahoots for thirty-five years,” says trio leader Stern. Having seen each other through children, grandchildren, divorces, and many cross-country moves, Stern and Clayton share a long personal history and a very relaxed, trusting musical interaction. At An die Musik, they will perform a song called “Opertune,” which Stern has recently written for Clayton, as well as other original compositions and arrangements.