KATE CAMPBELL STRAUSS,
CARL DAVULIS,
& SCOTT KIEFNER

The PCM Jazz Trio pays homage to the storied history of this music, while extending its improvisational practices into an uncharted future. This program will deploy diverse musical strategies to respond to the current moment, and may include new takes on standards from the Great American Songbook, tunes by noted composers (Thelonious Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Wayne Shorter, or others), original compositions by band members, or free improvisation.

Kate Campbell Strauss is a saxophonist, composer/arranger, producer, and educator with roots in New England and New Orleans. They perform in a variety of settings, from parades and backyards to concert halls and festivals. Kate’s creative life centers on the power of music to build community, and their collaborations promote empathy and inclusivity. In January, Kate released Give Way, the debut album for their duo with Emily Mikesell. DownBeat Magazine praised the album as “enchanting” and “exquisite” in January’s Editors’ Picks, and Mojo remarked on its “irresistible soulfulness” in a four-star review.

Kate is an alum of OneBeat, a prestigious music exchange sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Found Sound Nation. During the program, 25 fellows from 19 countries spent two weeks at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, where they collaborated on a new body of work, which they then recorded and toured throughout New England. Kate has had new works commissioned by Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and Anna Laura Quinn, arrangements that feature voices such as Cyrille Aimée, Renee Neufville, John Boutté, and Irma Thomas. Additionally, Kate played tenor, bari, and mixed tracks on Anna Laura Quinn’s 2022 album, Open the Door. Kate studied music at Pomona College and the University of New Orleans, and informally with numerous mentors. They currently serve as the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Bowdoin College and on the Portland Conservatory of Music faculty.

In addition to teaching guitar and drums at Portland Conservatory, Carl Davulis leads PCM’s open jazz jam and adult jazz ensembles. Carl studied drums with Steve Grover and guitar with Tony Gaboury.

Scott Kiefner is a bassist currently living in Portland, ME. After graduating from McGill University he returned to New England, where he maintains a busy teaching and playing schedule. He performs regularly as a member of the Soggy Po Boys, Dharma Down, and OURBIGBAND, and many other ensembles.

Run Time: 45 minutes, no intermission.