The great trumpeter/flugelhornist/flumpeter and NEA Jazz Master Art Farmer was celebrated in words and music on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at The Nash, in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Two sets were performed by the Dmitri Matheny Quintet: Dmitri Matheny (flugelhorn), Mary Petrich (tenor and soprano saxophones), Angelo Versace (piano), Dwight Kilian (bass) and Dom Moio (drums). The band was on fire and the near-capacity audience enthusiastic and appreciative.
Matheny was mentored by Farmer which added significance to the evening. All of the selections in the program were recorded by Farmer with exception of “First Class,” an original composed by Matheny in honor of his mentor.
Lynne Mueller and Noal Cohen discussed Farmer’s early history in Phoenix, the city where he was raised, and his legacy as one of most recognizable and respected jazz instrumentalists of the 20th century. Here is the complete program:
Set I
“Mox Nix” (Art Farmer)
“Stardust” (Hoagy Carmichael)
“Petite Belle” (traditional, Steve Swallow, Art Farmer)
About Art Farmer – by Lynne Mueller*
“Funk In Deep Freeze” (Hank Mobley)
“First Class” (Dmitri Matheny)
“Eclypso” (Tommy Flanagan)
Set II
“Just In Time” (Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green)
“Warm Valley” (Duke Ellington, Bob Russell)
“Passos” (Fritz Pauer)
About Art Farmer – by Noal Cohen**
“My Kinda Love” (Louis Alter, Jo Trent)
“My Little Suede Shoes” (Charlie Parker)
“I’m Beginning to See the Light” (Duke Ellington) (encore)
*Lynne Mueller covered Art Farmer’s Life in Phoenix:
- Family
- Schooling
- Early Musical Training
- Early Jazz Exposure
- Dance Band
- Off to Los Angeles and Beyond
- Interred in Phoenix
**Noal Cohen discussed aspects of Art Farmer’s 50-Year Career:
- Style
- Influences
- Collaborations
- Instruments: Trumpet to Flugelhorn to Flumpet
- USA, Europe and Beyond
- Legacy
Here are some additional photos from the evening:
We are very grateful to the staff at The Nash for their assistance and cooperation in making this event a great success. This is an ideal venue for jazz performances and one worthy of support.