Monk, by Mark Ulriksen

Bonus Thursday greetings with a special shout out to the Bay Area. As close readers of this newsletter know, today's special edition is to benefit amazing arts organization SFJAZZ. In other West Coast news, Allison Arieff published a wonderful write-up about 20x200 on the Sunset magazine's blog. As a former writer about design, I have worshiped Ms. Arieff from afar for some time, so glowing accolades from her are especially flattering.

Today's edition Monk, is by jazz-loving artist Mark Ulriksen. If his distinctive style looks familiar to you, it's likely because his work has been featured on many covers of The New Yorker.

I have always had a strong affinity for jazz and was fortunate to have my taste shaped by some amazing jazz musicians; Thelonius Monk was always core to the canon, as he well should be. I had an amazing friendship with tenor great Joe Henderson who encouraged me to give the music business a try. I spent a while working at a jazz publishing house in the Flower District that also doubled as a rehearsal studio for folks like Ben Riley, The Manhattan Transfer and T.S. Monk who I came to know as Toot. Another highlight: holding the original copyright certificate of 'Round Midnight in my hands. My career there was short-lived but my love of jazz is a lifelong passion.

I carried that passion with me when I moved to San Francisco in 1996, and The San Francisco Jazz Festival kept that passion well tended to. One of my sweetest SF memories is seeing Sonny Rollins at Masonic Hall. As producers of the Festival, SFJAZZ is an organization that I have held in high-esteem for years. Combine that with the piece of my heart that I left in San Francisco, and you can see how doing an edition to benefit them is a no-brainer.

I am bringing this edition to you on the eve of their big 25th Anniversary Gala. The event, at the Fours Season in San Francisco tomorrow night, will honor yet another jazz great Wayne Shorter. While I can't be there for the main event, I am most honored to celebrate this fine organization from afar, and I'm very grateful to Mark Ulriksen for making the celebration such a sweet one.

So with a toast to Mr. Ulriksen, you fine collector people and SFJAZZ, I'll say so long till next week when I'll be back to serve up some more fine editions to you. See you then!

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About SFJAZZ

SFJAZZ is an international leader in jazz creation, presentation, and education. The San Francisco-based organization's 25th Anniversary Gala (May 16, 2008) honors legendary saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter in his 75th birthday year. This elegant evening, a benefit for the artistic and education programs of SFJAZZ, will feature performances by Shorter with members of the SFJAZZ Collective, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, and an after-party with the Tommy Castro Band. For more information on the Gala and SFJAZZ's many programs, visit sfjazz.org.