Jude Poorten is an 18-year-old jazz guitarist, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. A recent graduate of Paradise Valley High School and resident of North Phoenix, he began studying classical piano at age 5, and then switched to the guitar at age 7. As a young guitarist, he played in rock bands up until his high school years. Then, he discovered jazz and improvised music.
He participates in many ensembles and groups, including combos at Scottsdale Community College, ensembles at Phoenix Conservatory of Music as part of PCM’s College Prep Program, and The Nash Legacy Ensemble. He has performed at the Reno Jazz Festival and the Berklee 2015 City Music Summit in New York. Jude earned three full scholarships to attend the Berklee College of Music’s Five Week Summer Performance Program in Boston as a Berklee City Music Summer Scholar as part of Phoenix Conservatory of Music’s College Prep Program. He performs regularly at The Nash and venues all Around the valley. He has studied and received direction from Jeff Libman, Mike Kocour, Raul Yanez, Ben Hedquist, and Eric Rasmussen.
Although he earned a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Jude plans to attend Arizona State University for his first year of college.
This show is a huge opportunity for Jude. He has hand chosen his band, consisting of Vince Thiefain on Bass, Andrew Flores on Drums, and Chaz Martineau on Tenor Sax. Jude is currently taking his influences like The Beatles and Jimmy Hendrix and arranging using the styles of Jazz. In addition, they will be playing some favorite Jazz standards.
“This opportunity is one of the greatest opportunities that I’ve had in my life. It’s giving me the opportunity to establish myself in the Phoenix Jazz scene and share myself with the audience” says Jude.
The Nash Emerging Artists Series is a summer concert series features performances by young artists born in or based in Arizona. Curated by The Nash, the series provides a platform for these emerging artists to gain prominence in the jazz community. The Nash Emerging Artists Series is very much an educational program as well as a performance series. Those artists or groups selected to play in the series will be offered a free clinic by an experienced Arizona jazz educator in advance of their performance at The Nash.
The Emerging Artist series will be on July 20, 2018 @ 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM at The Nash, 110 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Ticket prices are $15, $5 Students (25 & Under w/ ID). For more information, please visit www.thenash.org or call 602-795-0464
About The Nash:
Recognized by Downbeat Magazine as one of the top jazz venues in the United States, The Nash is named for “the most valuable player” in jazz (Modern Drummer Magazine), Phoenix native Lewis Nash. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix on “Roosevelt Row, The Nash brings a full calendar of live performances and ensures the future of the iconic art of jazz through its educational and outreach programs. The Nash hosts classic jazz and new music concerts; performances by student musicians, local pros and touring artists; weekly jazz jam sessions; workshops; master classes; and clinics. Educational programs are offered ranging from one-on-one private lessons to combo labs, guided listening, jazz in film, jazz camps and more. The Nash serves the entire community based on the conviction that jazz is for everyone: children, adults, seniors and families; musicians and non-musicians; privileged and under-served youth. The Nash operates in collaboration with schools and other arts and culture organizations in our neighborhood, across the Valley, and throughout America.
About Phoenix Conservatory of Music:
Phoenix Conservatory of Music, a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award Winner, a 2015 Governor’s Arts Award Winner, and 2017 Mayor’s Arts Award Winner, provides a continuum of high quality music education and experiences to hundreds of students annually, with programs ranging from introductory level in-house education programs and after school programs to more advanced private lessons and the most prestigious College Prep Program for contemporary music education in the state: The Berklee College of Music’s City Music Network and P.U.L.S.E. programs. They are a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide quality music education that is affordable and accessible. They receive contributed income to make sure that all students have access to music education, regardless of their socio-economic status and were granted status as a Qualifying Charitable Organization for the Arizona State Tax Credit. Since the inception of PCM’s College Prep Program in 2010, the program is providing a pathway for students to achieve their dreams- one note at a time. With 3-10 hours per week of low to no cost engagement, the organization provides students 4-12 grades with private music lessons, music theory classes, enrichment classes and Popular Music Ensembles. They have a 95% graduation rate (compared to an 86% in the local community), 71% go on to college or university, 43% of those students are studying music or music related fields, and they have earned more than $1 Million Dollars in Scholarship Offers. To learn more, please visit www.PCMrocks.org or call 602.353.9900.
