What a fantastic event on Sunday at Catalina Bar and Grill, Los Angeles! I enjoyed sharing the stage with Antonia Bennett, Kiki Ebsen, Mark Winkler, Cheryl Bentyne of the Manhattan Transfer and many other fantastic performers in a fundraiser for weSPARK Cancer Support Center. weSPARK is an organization offering free integrative therapies, support groups and creative/educational workshops to all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Kudos to Jackie Gibson, Cathy Segal-Garcia and Gary Brumburgh along with Jazz del Corazon and Human Connection for a stellar event! There was hardly anyone in attendance whose life hadn’t been touched by cancer in some way and there was a palpable atmosphere of support and love along with a general feeling of celebrating life.
Meet Yäger, weSPARK mascot! Sure hope there was enough in the budget for an extra treat for this special little guy!
A particular highlight was a visit to the weSPARK facilities the following day for a firsthand look at the facility and the incredible services they provide.
Another treat was having a chance to duet with organizer Gary Brumburgh, a good friend and past recipient of weSPARK services. He tells the funny story of how we met and why this was the song we had to sing!
Excited to be featured in the January issue of Earshot Jazz Magazine. Had a wonderful time sitting down with staffer Edan Krolewicz to discuss music, creativity and life. Which may all be the same thing. Read more at: http://www.earshot.org/project/jan2016-gail-pettis-cultivating-creative-freedom/
Very happy to start 2016 with some of my favorite musicians on the planet!
What a great time with guest drummer Brad Boal. Great to experience a fantastic response to our new material! Speaking of new things, recent and upcoming changes to Pearl Django have been announced. I’ve enjoyed being able to work with guitarists Ryan Hoffman and Troy Chapman but am excited about the chance to work with returning founding member Neil Andersson and Tim Lerch.
Come join us on Jan 30 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts as the group wishes Troy a fond farewell at his last official concert and extends a welcome and welcome back to Tim and Neil.
Congratulations to producer Martin Lund for a very successful and well-received three days of exciting and diverse music! Also many thanks to Orcas Open Arts and the sponsors and volunteers, stage, lighting and sound crew who went “above and beyond” in every way. Besides the joy of being made to feel so welcome, the thing that made this festival so much fun for me was the variety of music. A huge thrill to share the stage with Martin, Brazilian vocalist Paula Santoro, guitarist Gene Nery, the excellent Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto and everyone’s favorite (mine for sure!) Hot Club style group, Pearl Django! But I also really enjoyed the quiet contrast of the small groups Martin put together on the spot throughout the festival. Here we are enjoying a tune with bassist Rick Leppanen.
June 18 Private event, St. Petersburg
June 21 Esse Jazz, Moscow
June 25 Live studio appearance
June 26 St. Petersburg Jazz Fest: Jazz Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg
June 27 St. Petersburg Jazz Fest: Jazz Cruise, St. Petersburg (daytime)
June 27 TBA (evening)
June 27 St. Petersburg Jazz Fest: Russian Museum
Check out more tour photos on the Gallery Page!
No better way to celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month than to spend two weeks performing in Russia! Looking forward to an exciting time of sharing music and making friends. See you soon, Moscow, Ufa, Ivanova, Perm, Novosibirsk and St.Petersburg!!!
So honored to be part of a benefit for arts education in my own community! Mercer Island Fine Arts Showcase, a 2-day fundraiser celebrating art education is put on by the Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Committee in conjunction with the School District and has been a tradition for over 30 years. Tuesday evenings “Spotlight of Visual Arts” will showcase an extensive art display along with an art scavenger hunt and other participatory activities. Music will be provided by MIHS Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Choir and other groups. On Wednesday evening I will be narrating the “Spotlight on Performing Arts” program. See website for a list of all artists and music groups for both nights and for ticket purchase.
Enjoyed contributing to a new project by producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, Martin Lund. Martin’s “Sentimental Journeys” is a collection of songs about all types of transportation. (Martin Lund, I think you’re going places!!!) Had fun with this inspirational R.Kelly song.
Pacific Jazz Institure at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents gypsy jazz artists Pearl Django and special guest
vocalist Gail Pettis. Band members: Troy Chapman (guitar), Ryan Hoffman (guitar), Rick Leppanen (bass),
Michael Gray (violin), and David Lange (accordion). Show times Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm.
Show time Sunday at 7:30pm. Doors open at 5:30pm.
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