Maureen Girard welcomes friends for a night of jazz

Maureen Girard knew instinctively from the age of 6 that she would be a professional musician.

Lucky for us, she was right. Because through the course of her successful career as a classical and jazz pianist and singer, Girard has made a lot of very talented friends.

Girard joins those friends and some of her most talented students for an evening of jazz performance next weekend. The show, which is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, is the Third Annual Fall Concert at the South Whidbey High School Auditorium.

Performing along with Girard will be two-time Grammy nominee Jessica Williams, an engaging performer who has been called by many jazz reviewers and colleagues one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.

Also performing are Overton Berry, another legendary jazz pianist, innovative composer and guitarist Andre Feriante, the popular and diversely talented drummer Brian Kirk, and Clipper Anderson, one of the best-loved bassists of the Northwest.

The concert will open with a student showcase from “Blue Matter,” the high school jazz combo which includes Grant Neubauer on piano, Ian Marsanyi on drums, Landon Moore on sax, Jasper Hayes on guitar and special guest Anderson sitting in for regular bassist Keegan Harshman.

The concert is presented by the South Whidbey Association of Jazz Educators. The association was founded by Girard in 2005; it is now a nonprofit that works to enhance music education and performance opportunities in the community.

Indeed, opportunities abound on Whidbey Island for young, up-and-coming musicians of all styles and Girard is at the forefront of creating the mentorships that keep these students on the track toward their musical goals.

In 2003, Girard opened her 88 Keys Piano Studio and Performing Space in Langley where she teaches classical and jazz piano full-time and hosts house concerts featuring musicians from around the world.

The place is cozy and charming, housing a stage built by her husband, Johnny Blackwood, that is dominated by two beautiful sounding grand pianos. Several cafe tables sit under some artfully placed lighting, creating an intimate venue for music.

The warmth of the place speaks to Girard’s own personality which reveals the former New Yorker as a welcoming and unpretentious person who’s seems always ready for a good laugh. It’s fitting that Girard would build a place for musicians to perform as she comes from a very old show business family with roots in vaudeville. An uncle made history when he introduced the first burlesque shows to Las Vegas, though Girard’s talents reach far beyond the realm of the variety shows of old.

Girard’s passion is evident when she speaks about teaching; as if she tries to infuse her students with the drive she had for music even as a child.

“I never had a piano growing up and always befriended other musicians whenever I could to get a hold of a piano,” Girard said.

“So I was basically trained by all these other musicians, knowing that this is what I had to do.”

As a young woman, Girard said she still hadn’t learned to read music but got a break when she was discovered stealing into the practice rooms of Willamette University in Salem, Ore. where she was living again without a piano at home. A professor of music heard her playing and asked Girard if she would like to audition for a place in the university orchestra.

Girard sat down to the piano for the audition, despite the huge bandage on one hand from almost cutting off a finger the day before. Despite excruciating pain, she played her way into a full scholarship in the university’s music program.

She later finished her studies at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, eventually making her way to Whidbey Island after establishing a career as a reputable jazz pianist and singer in the Northwest.

“There were many years when I was ashamed of my background, of not having had the formal training in reading music. But, the bottom line is I’m doing well and learning from all those musicians the way I did has helped me,” Girard said.

She calls the persistence and determination she had the “theme of her life” and strives to pass it on to her students.

“It’s important to me that they appreciate the opportunity to play with someone like Jessica Williams and that they are hungry for it,” Girard added.

The life of a musician is not easy and Girard talked about the struggles that are still present especially for women in a male-dominated field.

“Jessica Williams told me that sometimes she’s often the only woman at these big performances that are full of men. There still exists that idea that women may not ever be as good men in jazz music. She’s paved the way for all of us,” she said.

Girard said she is looking forward to having one of her female students perform in the annual concert one day.

She is also intent on bridging the gap between classical and jazz music and opening the minds of classical music educators to the idea that there is room in classical music for improvisation; that it is important to the progress of classical training.

It is great musicians like Feriante, she said, who see that bridge already as he uses his classical music training and his mastery of the classical guitar to create new and innovative compositions.

“It’s great for me to have this network of good friends who see the value of mentorship and will perform at places like Langley,” Girard said.

For Girard, the pieces of her journey have all fallen into place as she passes on what she knows to young people and gathers friends to play music for the community.

“I’ve always followed my intuition,” Girard said.

“And I’ve always been a musician. Always.”

Tickets for the Third Annual Fall Concert are $15 for adults and $10 for students, seniors and teachers. Tickets are available at Joe’s Island Music in Langley or at the door. The box office and general seating house will open at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.maureengirard.com or call 221-0362.

88 Keys Performing Space will welcome Williams back for a house concert on Nov. 17. Call 221-0362 for more info.

Patricia Duff can be reached at 221-5300 or pduff@southwhidbeyrecord.com.