Press
Quotes
"'On
sonnyrollins.com,' [Jazz
Journalists Association President, Howard] Mandel continues, 'You can
see Mikayla Gilbreath, a 13-year-old saxophonist from Tempe, Arizona.'
On
one of the podcasts, Gilbreath, who first heard Sonny’s music
in her grade school... is seen
meeting Sonny backstage. ...And she tells how she became committed to
the jazz life. ...'I heard Sonny Rollins, and I
just loved it. I loved the way it sounded and I just -- I wanted to
play jazz instead of just music.' ...Mandel asked
her if there was anything odd about having been 'drawn to the music of
someone whose background is so different
from hers.' ...Wisely, the 13-year-old answered, 'You know, I really
don’t think it matters.
It’s
the music that kind of brought us together. It wasn’t the
fact that I was white and he was black, or that he was old and I
was young. It was just--it was the music that we both loved.'" Nat
Hentoff, JazzTimes Magazine, "Bridging Generations,"
September, 2007.
"It
is remarkable to learn that such a young girl, only 14 years old, who
plays the alto saxophone for only two years now, reached such a high
level in playing. Only few kids from that age
can refer to the great master in jazz, Sonny Rollins, who has said
about hearing Mikayla playing... 'Bravo, very
nice! She's got talent.'" Hans Koert, Keep Swinging
Jazz Blog, in The Netherlands, November 12, 2007. The article went on
to label Gilbreath as the "young US 'Candy Dulfer.'" The article is
available in both Dutch and
English.
"Mikayla's
Totally Jazzed" is a new column that will feature artist
interviews and thoughts on jazz by saxophonist/student Mikayla
Gilbreath. Despite her young age, she's managed to
connect with a surprising number of well-known musicians, hosting a
pre-concert reception at Sonny Rollins' 50th
Anniversary Carnegie Hall Concert in 2007 that was attended by artists
including Jimmy Heath, Lou Donaldson, Paquito D'
Rivera, Joe Lovano, David Liebman, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Marion Meadows.
At fourteen she's already a confirmed jazz
lover and surprisingly accomplished musician, and while one goal of
this column is to reach out to youth and help
them connect with the music she loves, Mikayla's writing and fresh
perspective will appeal to jazz fans of all ages."
Managing Editor John Kelman, AllAboutJazz.com,
January 7, 2008.
"Given
such an open and welcoming
environment, it's no surprise that The Jazz Network
has attracted such familiar names as David Benoit, Alex Bugnon, Onaje
Allan Gumbs and Lenny White
to its member roster, and earned accolades from the likes of fellow
members Billy Cobham, Will Downing,
Alphonse Mouzon and Buster Williams.
"Yet
it's not only established
artists who hang out together over this electronic backyard fence [The
Jazz Network]. There are plenty of tomorrow's aspiring stars
as well, such as
15-year-old jazz saxophonist and journalist Mikayla Gilbreath. 'I heard
Sonny Rollins,' she says, explaining her passion,
'and I just loved it. I loved the way it sounded, and I wanted to play
jazz instead of just music.' Has anyone of any age
ever put it better? Jazz instead of just music."
Alan Kurtz, Jazz.com, June
29, 2008.
"Mikayla
Gilbreath, a talented teenage jazz journalist, makes a strong case for
the power of mentoring in her profile, "Nick Colionne: Making a Difference for the
Future." ...Mikayla Gilbreath may only be
15 but she is already a very good writer and full of wisdom beyond her
years. Read her
heartwarming profile of Nick Colionne, and her own story, and I’m
sure you will agree the future of jazz depends on nurturing an interest
in jazz by young people." Madison Jazz,
November 29, 2008.
Featured
on other websites:
SONNYROLLINS.com
- "Meeting Sonny" - The Sonny Rollins Podcast Episode # 3
( Once page loads, locate and click on
thumbnail image labeled "Meeting
Sonny" on Sonny's Video
Player. )
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO -
"Saxophonist Sonny
Rollins Still Swinging Strong"
-
in
the audio portion of Howard Mandel's article.
( Click on "LISTEN"
once page loads. Mikayla's segment begins at about
the 7:15 mark. )
ALLABOUTJAZZ.com - "Mikayla's Totally Jazzed" -
Mikayla's recurring column features interviews
with established jazz artists, emerging jazz
musicians, and noted jazz educators. Also available is
Mikayla's AAJ Musician Profile.
JAZZJOURNALISTS.ORG
- Regarding the 2010 JJA Jazz Awards Satellite Event in
Scottsdale, Arizona, hosted by Mikayla. JAZZTIMES Magazine
(September, 2007) - in Nat Hentoff's article entitled
"Bridging
Generations."
JAZZ.com
- in Alan Kurtz's article "The Jazz Network
Takes Off"
KEEP SWINGING Jazz
Blog
in the Netherlands (11-12-07) - This article is available in both Dutch
and English.
