Love, Music and Thoughts for a Better World

On Friday May 11, 2018 at 8pm, I presented my California Jazz Conservatory Senior Project in front of a live audience. Band members include: Helen Orzel on piano, Susanna Porte on cello, Max Brody on guitar, Ted Kamp on drums and me on double bass. All of the music performed are my arrangements. Most of the songs are my original compositions. The few "standards" that I arranged are "In Walked Bud" by Thelonious Monk, one of my all time favorite songwriters, "Caravan" by the legendary valve trombonist from Puerto Rico Juan Tizol (and Duke Ellington to some degree) and "Crystal Silence" by the great pianist Chick Corea. This live performance is a requirement for the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies degree at California Jazz Conservatory. Yes, I did finally graduate! I am now a legit academically trained musician and a member of the approximately 18% of US citizens who actually hold an undergraduate degree (BA or BS degree). Yes, I can now explai

 Jodi Durst has recorded with a number of groups over the years. Here are a few recordings she has done. Upright bass: Jodi Durst Quartet (Modern Jazz/Nu Jazz, recorded at Art Boutiki in San Jose, summer 2018) Green Ensemble "I Don't Think So" (cool jazz, composed by Jodi Durst, live at CJC Feb 27, 2018)   CJC Astor Piazzola Ensemble "Contrabajissimo" + "Escualo" (new tango, live at CJC Dec 2017) Continental Divide "Happiness" (dark folk/singer-songwriter)  Electric bass:  Compton SF "Walk Backwards" (punk rock from "Hurry Up and Die" EP, 2010) Distance From Shelter "Baby Boy" (post rock, 2007) Distance From Shelter "Tailspin" ( post rock, 2007)

After 4 years of full time enrollment at the California Jazz Conservatory, my hard work is finally coming to fruition. I will be graduating this spring 2018 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies degree. My senior project is the final step. I've put together a group of talented musicians—Helen Orzel on piano, Max Brody on guitar, Ted Kamp on drums, and guest Susanna Porte who will be playing cello on several tunes. I've written most of the compositions and arranged several jazz standards to round out the set. A mix of avante garde, contemporary and straight-ahead jazz. The concert is Friday, May 11, 2018 at 8pm. The talented Michael Echaniz will perform his set at 9:15pm. Where? California Jazz Conservatory, 2040 Addison St, downtown Berkeley. $10 cover. (Across the street from the original Jazzschool venue).  Photo by Dustin Vaughn-Luma . Design by Jodi Durst

Photo by Dustin Vaughn-Luma Jodi Durst is an upright & electric bassist in the SF Bay Area. She is an extremely diverse musician who has performed with a variety of groups that range from straight-ahead jazz to indie-rock to R&B to punk rock to avante-garde. She has also performed in pit orchestras for several small local musical productions such as "Grease," "Rent," and "How to Succeed in Business." She holds a Bachelor's Degree of Music in Jazz Studies from the California Jazz Conservatory. She started playing electric bass when she was 12. By the age of 15 she was performing with her indie rock band in the SF Bay Area. Since then she has recorded, performed and toured with a number of bands including Zelma Stone, Louiza, Adrian West, The Bonafides, Seventeen Evergreen, Tigerbeat, Clevergirl, Distance From Shelter, Compton SF, 187Calm, Time Traveling Assassins with Ralph Spight (Victim's Family and Jello Biafra's Guantanomo Sch