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WRTC's Jazz Weekly
Concert Collective and Regulars
Concert Collective
Today's Jazz Birthdays | Jazz News (JazzTimes) | Jazz News (AllAboutJazz.com) The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. - Thich Nhat Hanh June, 2013 Wednesday, June 19, 2013 – 7pm - FREE JAZZ JAM - THERESA WRIGHT Manchester Community College Arts & Education Center (MCC on Main) - 903 Main Street - Manchester MCC on Main will host the fourth Manchester monthly jazz jam featuring vocalist Theresa Wright. Bring your instruments and sign up at the door to perform with our house band; drop in to listen and meet local musicians. Thursday, June 20, 2013 – 6pm - FREE YUNIE MOJICA QUINTET FEATURING CAMILLE THURMAN JIMMY GREENE QUARTET The 2013 UMOJA Music Series Pump House Gallery - Bushnell Park - 60 Elm Street – Hartford Rain location: Charter Oak Cultural Center - 21 Charter Oak Avenue - Hartford Thursday, June 20, 2013- 6:30 pm - $10 2012–2013 WAC/HJS Freight House Jazz Series PEDRO GIRAUDO ORCHESTRA Windsor Art Center - 40 Mechanic Street – Windsor Thursday, June 20, 2013 - 8pm - $35 / $45 / Student, senior, and youth discounts available (more info) CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE & INSIDE STRAIGHT Morse Recital Hall - 470 College Street – New Haven Christian McBride is one of the premier bassists on today’s jazz and pop scene. In his 20-year career, he has established himself as a near-legendary player with an expansive musical curiosity, working with artists from all different genres of music and establishing himself as a master of jazz new and old. Inside Straight is McBride’s acoustic jazz quintet, comprised of friends old and new. Formed in June 2007, the group was created to focus on playing straight-ahead acoustic jazz. The ensemble will include a guest appearance from pianist Christian Sands, a New Haven native who grew up and trained locally before making it big. Pop Matters said of Inside Straight’s debut recording, Kind of Brown: “This music is unselfconsciously traditional: it’s fun; it swings. It’s not experimental, but it gives superb voice to several brilliant musicians...Christian McBride, the finest bassist of his generation, is on track. It’s his best record, and it puts a little jump in your step. It’s hot.” Friday, June 21 – Sunday, June 23, 2013 HOT STEAMED JAZZ FESTIVAL Essex Friday, June 21, 2013 – 7pm - $10 THERESA WRIGHT Manchester Community College Arts & Education Center (MCC on Main) - 903 Main Street - Manchester Theresa Wright was born in Utica, NY; a minister's daughter, she grew up singing in her father's church. Her repertoire consists of jazz, R&B, blues, gospel, and more. She has performed twice for the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival and has had the honor of working with Jaimoe from the Allman Brothers Band and J. Geils of the J. Geils Band. Wine & beer available from bin228. Friday, June 21, 2013 - 7:30 pm - $24 advance / $28 door - - Tickets through the Academy of Music box office DJANGO IN JUNE: ADRIEN MOIGNARD AND GONZALO BERGARA Academy of Music Theater - 274 Main St - Northampton, MA Django in June continues to bring the world’s most talented practitioners of Gypsy Jazz to the US. Adrien Moignard is one of the very best and most sought-after guitarists on the Parisian Gypsy jazz scene. He has been featured on all the acclaimed Selmer 607 releases and was a featured soloist with Ensemble Zaiti. Gonzalo Bergara, the Argentine Gypsy guitar virtuoso now living California. He has performed and recorded with hundreds of artists inlcuding Tim Hausser from Manhattan Transfer, Sylvie Vartan, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, John Jorgenson, Howard Alden and more. His new CD Porteña Soledad was editor’s Pick on Guitar Player Magazine, and Vintage Guitar Magazine called it a “Masterpiece.” Gonzalo has performed all over the world inlcuding Croatia, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, Argentina, Brazil, England, Scotland and at the Montreal Jazz Fest, Playboy Jazz Fest, Sweet and Hot Jazz fest, and the Django Reinhardt Fest in Germany. Gonzalo and Adrien recently released a new CD 'Django's Tiger' Friday, June 21, 2013 - 8 pm - $10 WARREN BYRD WITH THE AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE Workshop Performance of Their New Project, “Jazz Souls On Fire” A Benefit for The Buttonwood Tree Piano Fund The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center - 605 Main Street – Middletown Pianist / vocalist / composer Warren Byrd is a Hartford native with an international touring schedule after many fruitful years playing Jazz throughout Connecticut, Southern New England, and New York. Early Years: He’s youngest in a family of music lovers. Showing talent early on, he was encouraged to perform, singing in the Gospel choir at age 4. Also, he was nurtured to love big band jazz early. He pursued a Theatre career starting at age 14 and had amassed extensive performing credits throughout his teen years. He began composing music at about age 11. Grew into a passion for bebop jazz, especially the music of Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson. Studied Jazz Piano and Music Theory notably with Thomassina Neely, Music Director of Warburton Community Church and R. Leslie Childs Music Teacher at South Catholic High School. He was placed in the top 25 of the 1999 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition.Nominated for Advocate’s Best of Hartford in the Keyboard category 8 times in 1999, David Chevan and he expanded their duo to form the celebrated group the Afro-Semitic Experience and recorded their second CD, This Is the Afro- Semitic Experience (Reckless 2000). Also in 1999, he formed his band The Warren Byrd Group. They would appear in festivals and venues around Southern New England as well as accompanying visiting artists. They also appeared as a guest artist with New Haven Community Symphony conducted by Gordon Emerson in a rendition of Bach Meets Blues, a concerto for piano trio and orchestra. In February 2001, he works as a sideman for Saskia Laroo, jazz trumpet player from the Netherlands. Impressed by his playing, she requests his services as pianist/keyboardist for her next appearance in Connecticut in June of that year. This began their ten-year and current association. Current Period: By 2002, he had become a experienced special guest, all-star bandmember, sideman and freelance pianist with a long list of credits. 2002 would also mark the intensifying of Laroo and Byrd’s association. He has become her principal keyboardist and has accompanied her appearances on over 100 international tours in ten years. He continues to invest in the development of his artistry, compose new works, initiate own performance and recording projects, freelance with many Southern New England jazz and pop music acts as well as other international artists and acts, do educational and consulting work, accompanying dance at the Wesleyan University School of Dance in Middletown, Connecticut(since 2004). He now is promoting as a bandleader “The Byrdspeak Ensemble”, Trio Warren Byrd and Warren Byrd Solo, as a co-bandleader: Duo Laroo/Byrd and The Afro-Semitic Experience. He is preparing a new CD album: “Charms of the Fourth Dimension”. His deep respect for all arts, his experiences in the theatre as a youth, his work with Dance, his extensive touring schedule, all kinds of gigs and performances of diverse styles, his willingness to absorb old and new, his curiosity of all artifacts of the human spirit may be reflected inversely in his work motto: “… Music speaks free-spirit tongues unleashing grace on souls dancing toward daring peace…”. http://www.warrenbyrd.com/cms/index.php Afro-Semitic Experience - Warren Byrd, Alvin Carter, Jr., David Chevan, Will Bartlett, Stacy Phillips, and Abu Alvin Carter, Sr. With their highly accessible ethnic world music mix and their ability to get an audience on its feet, The Afro-Semitic Experience is emerging on the festival scene and redefining the jazz concert. This is a band beyond category—a mix of spiritual, world-beat, funk, jazz, cantorial, gospel, salsa, swing . . . soul-driven music. Their concerts are celebrations where they play great music, tell stories, and offer a positive and meaningful message: Unity in the Community. http://afrosemiticexperience.net/ Door and Cafe/Bookstore open half hour before performance time. 860-347-4957 Saturday, June 22 – Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 10am - 3pm - FREE NICKI MATHIS' AFRIKAN AMERIKAN JAZZ w/Lynn Tracey ROSE GARDEN FESTIVAL Elizabeth Park - 1555 Asylum Av. - West Hartford Performance info: 860.231-0184, 677-4038 Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 2 pm - FREE DAN LIPARINI QUARTET - Dan Liparini – Guitar; Andrew Renfroe – Guitar; Ian Haile – Bass; Mike Dick-Drums Integrity N Music - 506 Silas Deane Highway (Rear) – Wethersfield - 860-563-4005 Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 3:30pm DANNY MIXON QUARTET – Danny Mixon-piano, Curtis Fuller-trombone, Ray Drummond-bass, Charles Mcpherson III-drums Faith Congregational Church - 2030 Main St – Hartford Paul Brown will appear in a short set before the Danny Mixon Quartet along with Norman Gage-baritone sax, Damian Curtis-piano, Joe Palmer-drums. There will be a free will donation for the show and an additional donation for a meet-and-greet afterwards. In their collaboration, Rev Camp and Paul Brown have considered an ongoing concert series at the Church. Contact Attorney Hide Inga @ 860-550-3151. Saturday, June 22, 2013 – 7pm - FREE BILLY MARTIN'S WICKED KNEE PLAYS FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT Billy Martin-Drums; Curtis Fowlkes-Trombone; Marcus Rojas-Tuba; Steven Bernstein, Trumpet Real Art Ways - 56 Arbor Street – Hartford “I like to think of it as a juke joint band, if there is such a thing,” says Billy Martin about his new quartet, Wicked Knee. Well, if there wasn’t one, there is now. Martin, for the past two decades the drummer of the genre-busting trio Medeski Martin & Wood, wanted his new project to be something completely different from what his fans are accustomed to hearing from him. Martin calls Wicked Knee “ragtime funk,” and one listen to the band’s debut self-titled six-song (plus bonus track) EP confirms that his description is spot-on. “Wicked Knee,” says Martin, “is cathartic, heart-based and primarily intended for situations that invite people to let go, throw down, get down and have fun. And we add avant-garde interludes as release and tension.” Although the sound of Wicked Knee bears little in common with Medeski Martin & Wood, Martin has no doubt that fans of the older group will be able to feel the groove. “In relation to my work with MMW, it’s really about balancing out everything I have done,” Martin says. “Wicked Knee is the antidote to MMW. I am more of a leader in this band and I want my own pure vision to come out with the help of these incredible individuals." http://www.wickedknee.com/ Saturday, June 22, 2013 – - 7:30 pm - $24 advance / $28 door - Tickets through the Academy of Music box office DJANGO IN JUNE: TCHA LIMBERGER, WITH ROBIN NOLAN AND OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS Academy of Music Theater - 274 Main St - Northampton, MA Django in June, as an event, is wholly devoted to the Gypsy jazz tradition. Tcha Limberger’s professional career in music began as a clarinetist in the family orchestra that bore grandpa's name, The Piotto's. His father, Vivi Limberger, was a member of the now-legendary Gypsy jazz ensemble, Waso, with Fapy Lafertin and Koen De Cauter, and it was they who tutored Tcha on Django-style guitar. He's also a brilliant, if unconventional, swing violinist. Robin Nolan is considered one of the world's leading Gypsy Jazz guitarists in the tradition of Django Reinhardt. From his base in Amsterdam, he has circled the globe with performances at the Lincoln Center, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival, DjangoFest and numerous others. Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 7:30pm The Funky Monkey Cafe - 130 Elm St (Watch Factory Shoppes) – Cheshire (203) 439-9161 DANIEL BENNETT GROUP - CD RELEASE CONCERT! Daniel Bennett-Alto Saxophone/Flute; Assaf Kehati-Guitar; Tyson Stubelek-Drums Critically-acclaimed New York saxophonist Daniel Bennett has made waves as both a prolific composer and bandleader, and a very active woodwind doubler in the New York theater scene. Daniel Bennett recently composed and arranged the music for the stage adaptation of Frankenstein at the Hudson Guild Theater in Manhattan. The Daniel Bennett Group has recently shared concert billings with artists like Bill Frisell, Charlie Hunter, Greg Osby, James Carter, Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), Steve Kuhn, Jerry Bergonzi, and David Fiuczynski. The Village Voice raves, "saxophonist Daniel Bennett makes hay with an airy approach that's buoyant enough to conjure notions of East African guitar riffs and Steve Reich's pastoral repetition." The Boston Herald described Bennett's music as "exploratory folk-jazz hybrid." The Boston Phoenix calls it "provocative Folk-Jazz!" Daniel Bennett Group Documentary Saturday, June 22, 2013 – 8pm- $48 stage-side table seating / $28 general row seating, byob encouraged. MUSIC @ JAPANALIA – DIANNE MOWER-Jazzing Bonnie Raitt- with Norman Johnson- guitar, Chris Casey- piano, Don Wallace- bass, Arti Dixson- drums Japanalia Eiko - 11 Whitney Street- Hartford Reservations a must 860-232-4677 MC/Visa (leave a call back #) or cash, check, credit card at the store, Tue~Sat Hartford’s favorite jazz diva swings, jives, and scats her way through Blues super-star Bonnie Raitt’s songbook with her outstanding inimitable band! There are always surprises and glorious improvisation in a Dianne Mower show! www.diannemower.com Saturday, June 22, 2013 - 8 pm - $12 GAIL WADE TRIO - Gail Wade-vocals and guitar, Tim St. Jean-mandolin, Joe DeLillo-bass The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center - 605 Main Street – Middletown Gail has been performing publicly since the early 1980s. Her first musical experience came while living in Brunswick, ME. Gail worked on area horse farms and also on the Tall Ships out of Camden Harbor. She would work the galleys by day, then sing on the deck in the evening. Gail has appeared on stages both as a solo musician and as a member of the former CT-based band, “The Hot Flashes”. During the past twenty-plus years Gail has gained the respect of audiences throughout the USA, Ireland and several European countries. A strong guitarist and clawhammer banjo player with a rich and soulful voice, Gail brings forth fresh renditions of folk, blues, old-time, bluegrass and swing favorites. Though steeped in the roots of American music, her diverse array of influences enable Gail to handle the transition from one musical genre to the next, with a fluidity that will foster a true appreciation of her talent. Her beautifully crafted original songs such as “Anna’s Owl” and “Harder Every Day” are certain to touch your heart. Whether she performs solo, or with her band, Gail’s guitar work and wondrous voice combine to create an enchanting performance you’ll not soon forget. Gail tours with her band Turning Point, which includes well-known acoustic musicians from Connecticut. http://www.gailwademusic.com/index/ Door and Cafe/Bookstore open half hour before performance time. 860-347-4957 Saturday, June 22, 2013 – 8pm THE AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE The Spaceland Ballroom at the Outer Space - 295 Treadwell Street - Hamden We will be featuring old favorites along with music from our forthcoming CD, Jazz Souls on Fire. It's been a good long while since we played anywhere in the New Haven area and we are looking forward to the performance. Please help to spread the word about this concert and I hope you can make it too!! Sunday, June 23, 2013 – 7 pm - 8:30pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in concert Hubbard Park Green - Hubbard and Main Streets - Glastonbury A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Rain Date: August 11, 2013 See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Monday, June 24, 2013 - 8 pm - 11 pm - FREE JAZZ MONDAYS - presented by Charter Oak Cultural Center with The Hartford Jazz Society STEPHEN “KING” PORTER Black-eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum Street - Downtown Hartford For the aficionado, or the curious first-timer, Jazz Mondays is the best taste of live jazz in Hartford. Set in the southern juke joint atmosphere of Black-eyed Sally’s, Jazz Mondays will strike a chord as you hear what our local talent has to offer, with regular special appearances by big city jazz names. Experience the cool original music of the jam session while you enjoy the hot fierce cookin’ of Hartford’s favorite BBQ joint. Jam session begins after 1st set. No cover charge unless noted. Under 21s welcome. Wednesday, June 26, 2013 - 7:30pm - $15 THE MAKAYA MCCRAVEN QUARTET Community Music School of Springfield - 127 State Street - Springfield, MA The ensemble includes Makaya McCraven, drums, Greg Ward, alto saxophone, Justin Thomas, vibraphone and Junius Paul, bass. Born in Paris, in 1983, to drummer Stephen McCraven and Hungarian folk singer Agnes Zsigmondi, Makaya McCraven has internationally toured, performed and recorded with jazz greats such as Bobby Broom, Archie Shepp and Charles Neville. McCraven grew up in the Pioneer Valley, where he co-founded the band Cold Duck Complex. They released three records and toured the Northeast, opening for major national acts and gaining a loyal fan base. A University of Massachusetts alumnus, McCraven played in the University Jazz Orchestra and earned three Downbeat student awards. “The music on 'Split Decision' (the debut album by Makaya McCraven) shimmers with pop energy while retaining a resilient jazz core.” writes veteran critic Neil Tesser. “A fresh take on the age-old piano trio, catapulted by McCraven's propulsive percussion into an orbit that few first-time groups ever achieve. Other trios have attempted to fuse jazz roots with contemporary sounds, but McCraven has managed to do so in a way that should fully please listeners of both camps. The trio sounds as if it had worked together for years... It has that organic, lived-in quality that marks the most experienced bands. This kind of mutual trust doesn't come easily, and sometimes not at all; here it underlines every track.” Currently McCraven resides in Chicago where he has performed at some of the city's finest venues and festivals, including Millennium Park, the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, and the Velvet Lounge. Peter Margasak has called him, “one of Chicago’s most versatile and in-demand drummers.” Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares concerts are produced by a group of music lovers who have purchased jazz shares. Like farm shares, where stakeholders ensure the success of the farm by pre-paying for food, Pioneer Valley Jazz Share members purchase jazz shares to provide the capital needed to produce concerts with minimal institutional support. Operating under the fiscal sponsorship of The Northampton Center for the Arts, we are a grassroots, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the continued vitality of the music. Shares and single tickets ($15) are available at www.jazzshares.org and at the door. Thursday, June 27, 2013 – 6pm - FREE The 2013 UMOJA Music Series Kujichagulia | Self-Determination JEN ALLEN TRIO Ujima | Collective Work & Responsibility NAT REEVES QUINTET Pump House Gallery - Bushnell Park - 60 Elm Street – Hartford Rain location: Charter Oak Cultural Center - 21 Charter Oak Avenue - Hartford Thursday, June 27, 2013 - 7pm - 8:30pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Unionville Center Gazebo - Alice Clover Pinney Park - School Street - Unionville A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Rain Site: Farmington Senior and Community Center, 321 New Britain Avenue, Unionville. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Friday, June 28, 2013 - 6:30 pm – 8pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Enes South Windsor Senior/Community Center - 150 Nevers Road - South Windsor A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Friday, June 28, 2013 - 8 pm - $10 Suggested donation SEAN CLAPIS / NOAH BAERMAN WITH HENRY LUGO The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center - 605 Main Street – Middletown Jazz pianist, composer, educator and author Noah Baerman grew up in Connecticut, studying jazz at New Haven’s Educational Center for the Arts and at Jackie McLean’s Artists’ Collective in Hartford. In the 1990s, he earned B.M. and M.M. degrees in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, where his mentor was Kenny Barron. Aside from Barron, his instructors included Ted Dunbar, Joanne Brackeen, Bill Fielder, Ralph Bowen, Larry Ridley and Michael Mossman. He also discovered a broad range of music through studies in jazz history with Phil Schaap and Lewis Porter. While at Rutgers, he performed extensively in and around New York with jazz artists including Bowen, Charles Fambrough, Stefon Harris, Rufus Reid, Akira Tana, Mark Turner and many others. From 1994-1999, he co-led the quartet Positive Rhythmic Force, performing throughout the east coast and recording two CDs. http://www.noahjazz.com/ Sean Clapis is a young jazz guitarist from Hartford, Connecticut. While attending the Academy of the Performing Arts High School in Hartford, and the Artist’s Collective, founded by the late, great Jackie McLean, Sean studied with prominent jazz figures such as Paul Brown and Jimmy Greene. He graduated from the prestigious Hartt School of Music as a Jazz Studies Major. Under the intense tutelage of the illustrious Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Randy Johnston, Rich Goldstien, Rene McLean and The Great Andy LaVerne, Sean has made a name for himself on the Connecticut jazz scene. http://www.seanclapis.com/ Tickets for all shows available at the door. Door and Cafe/Bookstore open half hour before performance time. 860-347-4957 Saturday, June 29, 2013 - 2 pm - FREE SEAN CLAPIS Integrity N Music - 506 Silas Deane Highway (Rear) – Wethersfield - 860-563-4005 Saturday, June 29, 2013 – 8pm - $48 stage-side table seating / $28 general row seating, byob encouraged. MUSIC @ JAPANALIA – DEZRON DOUGLAS QUARTET: “HOMEGROWN” –with David Bryant-piano, Curtis Torian-drums, Lummie Spann-alto sax Japanalia Eiko - 11 Whitney Street- Hartford Reservations a must 860-232-4677 MC/Visa (leave a call back #) or cash, check, credit card at the store, Tue~Sat. Owen McNally (Hartford Courant) calls it “…high-swinging, high-flying pure jazz”, so fasten your seat belts when Hartford son, Dezron Douglas brings his quartet back to town for our Spring/Summer season’s final concert! www.dezrondouglas.com Friday, June 28 - Sunday, July 7, 2013 MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Downtown Montreal – Quebec, Canada Lineup Every year, North America’s French-speaking metropolis welcomes global music fans to 10 days of jazzcentric celebration, where fans of all types of jazz-related music rub shoulders with aficionados of the genre in its purest form. The Festival hosts some 30 countries, 3,000 musicians and public entertainers, 1,000 concerts and activities—two-thirds of them free – in 15 concert halls and on 8 outdoor stages, welcoming more than 2 million visitors to the city, from noon to midnight! And it all happens on a unique site designed to meet festivalgoers’ every need, in the heart of Montreal’s downtown core, in an area off-limits to car traffic! There’s no doubt – Montreal is the heartbeat of Planet Jazz! Sunday, June 30, 2013 - 7:30pm - $18 / $15 Connecticut Guitar Society Members RICH GOLDSTEIN TRIO Billings Forge – 539 Broad Street - Hartford Please come join us for a super grooving evening of soulful guitar music with the Rich Goldstein Trio featuring Akiko Tsuruga on the Hammond organ and Rudy Petschauer on drums. The trio will explore traditional organ group material of such artists as Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Brother Jack McDuff and Jimmy Smith as well as new arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions by group members. If you are a guitar fan or a jazz fan or just enjoy feel good music that comes from the soul you will love this concert; you won't hear organ trio music of this caliber right in Hartford anywhere else so don't miss this chance to see one of the hottest jazz organists in the country performing with Rich Goldstein in this dynamic trio. 860-249-1132 Monday, June 30, 2013 - 8 pm - 11 pm - FREE JAZZ MONDAYS - presented by Charter Oak Cultural Center with The Hartford Jazz Society Black-eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum Street - Downtown Hartford For the aficionado, or the curious first-timer, Jazz Mondays is the best taste of live jazz in Hartford. Set in the southern juke joint atmosphere of Black-eyed Sally’s, Jazz Mondays will strike a chord as you hear what our local talent has to offer, with regular special appearances by big city jazz names. Experience the cool original music of the jam session while you enjoy the hot fierce cookin’ of Hartford’s favorite BBQ joint. Jam session begins after 1st set. No cover charge unless noted. Under 21s welcome. July, 2013 Tuesday, July 2, 2013 - 6:30 pm – 8pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Norton Park - South Washington Street - Plainville A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Wednesday, July 4, 2013 - 7pm JHUNTER GROUP - Steve Marion-sax, Rufus Davis-piano, James Hunter-bass, Randy Cloutier-drums Steak Loft Mystic Restaurant - 27 Coogan Blvd #24 – Mystic (860) 536-2661 Friday, July 5, 20132 – 9pm - $12 in advance / $15 at the door MARIO PAVONE SEXTET - Mario Pavone-bass & compositions, Noah Preminger-tenor sax, Dave Ballou-trumpet and flugelhorn, Peter McEachern-trombone, Peter Madsen-piano and Steve Johns-drums Cafe Nine - 250 State St. - New Haven Saturday, July 6, 2013 SummerWind Performing Arts Center - 40 Griffin Road North - Windsor YELLOWJACKETS / JIMMY GREENE / MARION MEADOWS / JACKIE RYAN Monday, July 8, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: RAHSTET - a sextet led by saxophonist Richard McGhee III with vocalist Margaux Hayes 7:30-9:15 pm: MARIO PAVONE / ORANGE DOUBLE TENOR SEPTET with Jimmy Greene, tenor and soprano saxophones; Noah Preminger, tenor saxophone; Dave Ballou, trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet; Peter McEachern, trombone; Peter Madsen, piano; Steve Johns, drums; Mario Pavone, bass / compositions Monday, July 8, 2013 - 6:30 pm – 8pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Calendar House Pavillion - 388 Pleasant Street - Southington A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Rain or shine. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Wednesday, July 10, 2013 - 7 pm - 9 pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Darius Miller Band Shell - Walnut Hill Park - New Britain A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Bring a lawn chair or blanket (plenty of room for dancing). See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Thursday, July 11, 2013 – 6pm - FREE The 2013 UMOJA Music Series Ujamaa | Cooperative Economics JONATHAN BARBER GROUP Nia | Faith JOSH EVANS TRUMPET ENSEMBLE FEATURING BRIAN LYNCH Pump House Gallery - Bushnell Park - 60 Elm Street – Hartford Rain location: Charter Oak Cultural Center - 21 Charter Oak Avenue - Hartford Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 6:30 pm – 8pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Malerbo Recreation Complex - 27 George Washington Turnpike - Burlington A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain date: Thursday, July 12, 2013. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Monday, July 15, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: NITA ZARIF QUINTET - Nita Zarif, vocals; Saskia Laroo, trumpet; Warren Byrd, piano; Doug Long, bass; Alvin Carter Jr., drums 7:30-9:15 pm: STANLEY COWELL QUARTET - Stanley Cowell, piano; Vic Juris, guitar; Tom DiCarlo, bass, Victor Lewis, drums Tuesday, July 16, 2013 – 7pm - 8:30pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Southwest Senior Housing Portico - 124 Southwest Avenue - Windsor Locks A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain site: Windsor Locks Senior Center. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Thursday, July 18, 2013 – 6pm - FREE The 2013 UMOJA Music Series Kuumba | Creativity STEPHEN "KING" PORTER TRIO Imani | Faith NEW JAZZ WORKSHOP Pump House Gallery - Bushnell Park - 60 Elm Street – Hartford Rain location: Charter Oak Cultural Center - 21 Charter Oak Avenue - Hartford Thursday, July 18, 2013 - 6:30 pm – 8pm - FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Patriots Park - 124 Lake Street – Coventry A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain date: Thursday, August 15, 2013. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21, 2013 GREATER HARTFORD FESTIVAL OF JAZZ Bushnell Park - Hartford Friday, July 19th Friday July 19, 2013 - 8:30pm - $12 RECORD RELEASA: CARL TESTA’S IRIS FOR SOLO BASS AND INTERACTIVE ELECTRONICS Firehouse 12 - 45 Crown Street - New Haven LockStep Records announces record-release shows in New Haven and Brooklyn, NY to celebrate the July 16, 2013 release of bassist/composer Carl Testa’s IRIS. Iris contains four tracks of Testa’s live improvisations with a self-designed, generative computer program that samples the sounds of the bass and re-organizes them into an enveloping sonic environment. Each piece has its own tonal and textural identity, yet the suite conveys a unified sense of the composer’s electro-acoustic vision. Recorded at Firehouse 12 studios in New Haven, IRIS is the most recent example of Testa’s research into computer music and improvisation, following up on 2009’s Kalle for electronics and 2008’s Uncertainty for improvised trio, both released on Testa’s own Uncertainty Music label. In Testa’s own words: “The music on this recording was generated and recorded in real time, without overdubbing. All of the sounds are either from the bass or a result of live sampling and granular synthesis of the same acoustic material. Each time these pieces are played, a new configuration emerges based on the performance, the recorded sounds, and the unique unfolding of the electronic process.” Carl Testa is composer and instrumentalist based in New Haven most notable for his numerous performances with composer Anthony Braxton and his septet and 12+1tet. He is currently working on a new extended piece for a 9-piece ensemble in addition to his continued work for his clarinet trio and solo electronics project. Carl organizes a concert series called the Uncertainty Music Series on the second Saturday of every month in New Haven, CT. As part of this series, Carl has produced over 100 events featuring some of the biggest names in improvised and electronic music. Carl is originally from Chicago, IL where the influence of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) pushed him in the direction of improvised music. In 2002 he began studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown where he studied with composers Anthony Braxton, Alvin Lucier, Ron Kuivila and Neely Bruce. Since 2006 he has lived in New Haven with his wife vocalist Anne Rhodes. In addition to his work with Anthony Braxton, Carl also collaborates with Anne Rhodes, choreographer Rachel Bernsen, and composers Louis Guarino Jr., Brian Parks, Adam Matlock, Nathan Bontrager, and Christopher Riggs. Tickets can be purchased online at http://firehouse12.com or by phone at (203) 785-0468, or in person at the box office beginning at 7 pm. the night of the show (subject to availability). Monday, July 22, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: NORMAN GAGE-KENNY REED QUINTET – Norman Gage, baritone saxophone; Kenny Reed, trumpet; Warren Byrd, piano; Jay Williams, drums; Alex Tremblay, bass 7:30-9:15 pm: JAY HOGGARD QUINTET - Jay Hoggard, vibraphone; Yoron Israel, drums; Belden Bullock, bass; James Weidman, piano; sax/tba Saturday, July 27, 2013 -7pm - FREE NICK MATHIS HOSTS NZINGA'S DAUGHTER'S MUSIC OF THE DIASPORA Hartford Stage Company - 50 Church St – Hartford 860-229-8389 Monday, July 29, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: TROPIIJAZZ - Nelson Bello, congas/percussion; James "Mondongo" Messbauer and Hommy Ramos Vizcarrondo, trombones; David Gonzalez, piano; Matt Dwonszyk, bass; Enrique Chavez, timbales/percussion 7:30-9:15 pm: THE NEW CUBAN EXPRESS - leader Manuel Valera, piano; Joel Frahm, tenor sax; Tom Guarna, guitar; John Benitez, bass; Ludwig Afonso, drums; Mauricio Herrera, congas, percussion. Performing original compositions by Manuel Valera August, 2013 Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4, 2013 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino – Newport, RI (August 2) Fort Adams State Park – Newport, RI (August 3-4) The roster includes Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Natalie Cole, Esperanza Spalding and Gregory Porter. The festival is celebrating Shorter’s 80th birthday with an Aug. 3 performance from the Wayne Shorter Quartet featuring Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade along with special guest Herbie Hancock. The Saturday schedule also includes Spalding, Porter, Michel Camilo Sextet, Terence Blanchard Quintet, Robert Glasper Experiment and more. Chick Corea & The Vigil with Christian McBride, Tim Garland, Marcus Gilmore and Charles Altura perform Sunday, Aug. 4. The final day of the festival will also include sets from Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band under the direction of Paquito D’Rivera, Joshua Redman Quartet, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and more. Friday, August 4 – Sunday, August 11, 2013 MARTHA’S VINEYARD JAZZ FESTIVAL Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, MA Lineup Monday, August 5, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: ORICE JENKINS SEPTET - Orice Jenkins, piano; Shenel Johns and Erica Bryan, vocals; Alden Hellmuth, alto sax; Nathan Davis, trombone; Tom Sullivan, bass; Eric Hallenbeck, drums 7:30-9:15 pm: WILL CALHOUN TRIO - Will Calhoun, drums; Charnett Moffett, bass; and Marc Cary, piano/keyboards Thursday, August 8, 2013 – 6 pm - $25 lawn seating / $125 Includes access to VIP tent with Open Beer/Wine Bar & Heavy Hors d'oeuvres, Meet & Greet and a Reserved Seat at a Table DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA Harkness Memorial State Park – Waterford Music begins at 6:00pm with an opening performance by an area Youth(s). Duke Ellington Orchestra and his Orchestra is perhaps the greatest of all Jazz bands. The group stayed together for over fifty years and recorded and wrote some of America's greatest music. Artistically the era of "swing" and of the big bands was dominated by the orchestra of Edward "Duke" Ellington, the first great composer (and self-arranger and one of the most prolific in the entire history of music) of jazz music. Ellington's reputation has increased since his death, with thematic re-packagings of his signature music often becoming best-sellers. Posthumous recognition of his work includes a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board. For more information, please visit us at www.bringourmusicback.org or give us a call at 860.434.1882. Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11, 2013 LITCHFIELD JAZZ FESTIVAL Goshen Fairgrounds – Goshen Lineup Saturday August 10, 2013 - 8pm LES PAUL'S TRIO FEATURING NICKI PARROTT WITH SPECIAL GUEST BUCKY PIZZARELLI Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center - 300 Main Street - Old Saybrook A celebration of the legacy of the great Les Paul with Les Paul's Trio featuring Nicki Parrott (vocals/bass), Lou Pallo (guitar) and John Colianni (piano) with special guest the incomparable Bucky Pizzarelli. For tickets call 877-503-1286 or visit Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Monday, August 12 – Saturday, August 18, 2013 NEW HAVEN JAZZ FESTIVAL New Haven Green – New Haven Monday, August 12, 2013 – 6pm MONDAY NIGHT JAZZ IN BUSHNELL PARK Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Bushnell Park - Hartford 6-7 pm: SHENEL JOHNS QUINTET – Shenel Johns, vocals; 7:30-9:15 pm: BRANDEE YOUNGER QUINTET – Brandee Younger, harp; Dezron Douglas, bass Tuesday, August 13, 2013 – 7pm - 8:30pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Rockwell Park Amphitheatre - Dutton Avenue - Bristol A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain date: Wednesday, August 14, 2013. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Friday, August 16, 2013 – 7pm - 8:30pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Avon Senior Center - 635 West Avon Road - Avon A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain or shine. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Friday, August 16, 2013 - 7 pm - $30 AN EVENING WITH GIACOMO GATES Firehouse 12 - 45 Crown Street - New Haven Winner of 2012 Downbeat Critic's Poll for Rising Star Male Vocalist, Giacomo Gates will be singing songs off his two most recent CDs -- "Miles Tones: The Music of Miles Davis" and "The Revolution Will Be Jazz: The Songs of Gil Scott Heron" and more. Spend an evening with Giacomo as he sings, chats, scats and shares his stories. Tickets can be purchased online at http://firehouse12.com or by phone at (203) 785-0468, or in person at the box office beginning at 7 pm. the night of the show (subject to availability). Monday, August 19, 2013 - 6:30pm – 8pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Westmoor Park - 119 Flagg Road - West Hartford A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Thursday, August 22, 2013 – 6:30pm – 8pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Town Green, Main Street - East Hartford A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. Rain site: East Hartford Cultural Center. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. Sunday, August 25, 2013 - 7pm - $27 / $37 JAY GEILS JAZZ QUINTET: FEATURING GERRY BEAUDOIN & HARRY ALLEN Bridge Street Live - 41 Bridge Street – Collinsville - (860) 693-9762 The Jay Geils Jazz Quintet is an exciting trip through the history of the two uniquely American musical art forms, blues and jazz. It is interesting to note that Jay Geils, who made his mark on the music world playing rock and roll with the award winning J.GEILS BAND is such a consummate jazz and blues guitarist. From the opening strains of the Count Basie classic Broadway to Gerry’s vocal rendition of the T-Bone Walker standard Stormy Monday, the quartet evokes the classic sounds of a by-gone era with an original twist. Backed by double bassist Jesse Williams and drummer Mark Texiera the quintet has received rave reviews and entertained enthusiastic audiences across the USA and Canada. Take a trip down America’s musical highway with Jay Geils in the driver’s seat. Jay Geils needs no introduction to the legion of music fans that made the J. Geils Band one of the iconic acts in the history of rock and roll. After a twenty five year career with over 10 million records sold, a Grammy nomination, five gold records, one double platinum record, multiple television and movie appearances, and tours with the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones, the band decided to quit at the top of their game with the number one single and number one album on the charts. Free to pursue his first love, jazz and blues, Jay teamed up with award winning jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin. Together they have toured the USA and Canada and released five CD’s and a DVD together. Twice their music together has been placed on the prestigious Grammy Awards ballot. They have performed with many jazz and blues luminaries including guitarists John and Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Grammy nominated vocalist Karrin Allyson, saxophonists Scott Hamilton, Fred Lipsius and Harry Allen, members of the Roomful of Blues horn section and blues harmonica statesman Jerry Portnoy from the Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton bands. Take a trio down America’s musical highway with Jay Geils at the wheel. Jazz guitarist Gerry Beaudoin has carved out a career as a leader, arranger and guitarist. His first national success was in 1992 with the Boston Jazz Ensemble. Gerry then went on to make two critically acclaimed Gerry Beaudoin Trio recordings with mandolin titan, David Grisman. The award-winning guitarist, (1992 National Association of Independent Record Distributors Honorable Mention in the traditional jazz category, 1993 and 1995 Cadence Editors Choice Award, three appearances on the Grammy Awards ballot) has had a career that has spanned almost thirty years. A graduate of Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music Gerry quickly became a fixture on the New England jazz scene. Encouraged by jazz guitar legends Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell Gerry combined the chordal techniques and sensibilities of Bucky Pizzarelli with the easy, bluesy swing of Kenny Burrell to create a unique style all his own. Gerry has performed on over fifty CD’s and DVD’s in his career. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - 6:30pm -7:45pm – FREE SIMPLY SWING in Concert Prosser Public Library - 1 Tunxis Road - Bloomfield A 10-piece swing orchestra, Simply Swing features vocalist Vivian LaRosa, six swinging horns and a dynamic rhythm section performing favorites from the Big Band era and selections from their recently released “Dancing to Simply Swing” CD. See www.simplyswingmusic.com for more information. September, 2013 Saturday, September 7, 2013 - 11 am – 8 pm – FREE THIRD ANNUAL NORTHAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL Downtown Northampton, MA Saturday, September 7, 2013 - 8pm THE MANY COLORS OF A W*O*M*A*N XXXIII JAZZ FESTIVAL The Artists Collective - 1200 Albany Ave. - Hartford Sunday, September 8, 2013 - 7pm - $17 / $27 CHARLIE HUNTER & SCOTT AMENDOLA Bridge Street Live - 41 Bridge Street – Collinsville - (860) 693-9762 Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead, the renowned guitarist/composer Charlie Hunter's new duo recording with drummer Scott Amendola, is an album that's easy to get behind. A complete departure from last year's Public Domain -- a true solo album -- and the previous year's Gentlemen, I Neglected to Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid -- which incorporated two trombones and trumpet into Hunter's instrumental arsenal -- Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead (Release Date: October 2, 2012) is Hunter's first recording of original compositions in three years. It's also, perhaps, his most candid and forthright set of songs ever. "Our intention in making this record was to tell a bunch of stories around the central theme of the album's title,” says Hunter. "The new tunes are meant to evoke some of the things you might see in your travels through the USA these days. Scott and I wanted to think of each composition as a starting point for some kind of narrative." Recorded with Hunter and Amendola playing in the same room simultaneously -- an old-school recording method that has been virtually lost in today's cut-and-paste world -- Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead was written by Hunter while at home, inspired by his touring. "I love the nooks and crannies of the U.S., and this album is for the people living in these places." "One of the best elements of this new album is that we didn't use any headphones," adds Amendola. "We could hear everything naturally and acoustically. No mixing and no fixing, straight to 1/4-inch tape. It sounds incredible. My drums haven't sounded this good ever. Everything sounded just as you were naturally playing it." Lauded studio engineer Dave McNair comments, "Dynamic subtlety is not very common on most modern records, but I wanted to present that to the listener in a way that makes you feel like you are sitting in front of the musicians. I think we succeeded. All of the songs were recorded live to two track analog tape, no overdubs, no editing. Just 100% live groove and vibe, no added artificial ingredients, and no mixing. There are not a lot of musicians that can pull it off this way, but Charlie and Scott are not only up to it, they THRIVE it that environment!" Sunday, September 15, 2013 - 11:30am – 7pm HARTFORD JAZZ SOCIETY ANNUAL JAZZ CRUISE Connecticut State Pier - 152-198 Little Meadow Road - Haddam October, 2013 November, 2013 December, 2013 Other Regional Jazz Calendars Connecticut Massachusetts New York Jazz Festivals in CT Jazz Festivals Beyond CT Jazz Festivals Around the World - click HERE Ongoing Jazz Series in the Area - and check out WRTC's Jazz Weekly Concert Collective and Regulars Concert Collective for detailed listings in the Greater Hartford area. Back to the Hartford Jazz Society Home Page |
