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The following is a list of live jazz shows taking place in the central Connecticut valley, primarily the Hartford area, as well as western Massachusetts. The choice of shows listed here is not meant to be all-inclusive. Changes and mistakes can happen, so please use the contacts to verify information before venturing out to a show. HJS encourgages jazz enthusiasts everywhere to Support Live Jazz. Send new listings and comments about this calendar to JazzInCT@yahoo.com. February, 2010 Monday, February 8, 2010 - 8 pm - 11 pm - FREE HARTFORD JAZZ SOCIETY'S MONDAY NIGHT JAM - description - schedule Black-eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum Street - Downtown Hartford The primary purpose of this series is to give students (K-12 and college) a weekly opportunity to hone their artistry by performing onstage with experienced jazz musicians in an actual club setting. It is universally recognized that this kind of actual working experience is essential to the development of all jazz musicians. Scheduled musicians play an opening set beginning at approximately 8:00 pm. Following an opening set, students are invited to sit in for a hard-blowing jam session sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. This is an ideal opportunity for young musicians to challenge themselves and learn from the pros. Students are highly encouraged to attend both the opening set and the jam session. Please note that the jam sessions are not intended to be unstructured, "free for all" events but are carefully coordinated by a veteran musician to ensure the best learning experience. Most Mondays, parking is readily available within a block or two. After 6:00 pm, metered on-street spaces are FREE. Cancellation of a Monday Night Jam due to inclement weather or a major holiday is always possible. To confirm whether or not the Monday Night Jam will be held, please call Black-eyed Sally's at 860-278-7427. Friday, February 12, 2010 - 7:30 pm - $15 general public / $10 students A WORLD OF PIANO SERIES - WAYNE HORVITZ Northampton Center for the Arts - 17 New South Street, 3rd Floor - Northampton, MA Wayne Horvitz has written for theater, dance and film, and has participated--often concurrently -- in a number of ensembles that reflect his wide ranging fascination with disparate musical formats. From rhythm-and-blues to free jazz, from classical minimalism to urban noise, Horvitz has spent his career building bridges and exploring possibilities. "Horvitz' understanding of country, blues, folk and even singer-songwriter-type music is quite plain," writes Jazz Weekly. "Like Monk and Herbie Nichols, Horvitz is able to create memorable and distinctive melody lines from seemingly disparate, even mundane, motifs and phrases." Born in New York City in 1955, Wayne Horvitz came of musical age in the "NY Downtown" scene of the late 1970s and 80s, recording with Eugene Chadborne, Christian Marclay, Arto Lindsay, Denis Charles and John Zorn. He founded and co-led the New York Composers Orchestra, and over the years has directed The President, the Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet, Zony Mash, Pigpen, Mylab, and Sweeter Than the Day. His newest ensemble is The Gravitas Quartet. Horvitz has written for Seattle's ACT Theater, and choreographers Paul Taylor and Liz Lerman. The Center invites music lovers to support the Series by buying a "Piece of the Piano" in advance (two tickets per performance for $60) at their website: www.nohoarts.org. Friday, February 12, 2010 - 8 pm - $40 / $35 / $30 MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL - Video 1 - Video 2 The Kenny Barron Trio - Regina Carter - Kurt Elling - Russell Malone Quick Center for the Arts - Fairfield University - 1073 North Benson Rd. - Fairfield A celebration of one of the longest-running and most-important jazz festivals in the world, the Monterey Jazz Festival On Tour will include: Elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms inspired The Los Angeles Times to name Kenny Barron "one of the top jazz pianists in the world" and Jazz Weekly to call him "the most lyrical piano player of our time." Violinist Regina Carter "creates music that is wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent and, at times, breathtakingly daring - taking the listener into the future of jazz" wrote Time Magazine. With seven Grammy nominations and six consecutive years at the top of the Down Beat Critics' and Jazz Times Readers' polls, Kurt Elling has attained elite status in the jazz world before reaching the age of 40. Guitarist Russell Malone has toured internationally with Diana Krall, receiving critical acclaim in his role as Diana's right hand both in concert and on her recordings. Russell was a featured performer in Robert Altman's film Kansas City, and has toured or recorded with many noted performers. 877-278-7396 Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 7 pm - $20 KELLY MITTLEMAN First Congregational Church - Parish Hall - 111 Church Drive - Cheshire Hip. Sultry. Fresh. Original. Those are just some of the descriptions of jazz and pop artist Kelly Mittleman's singing since she released her debut CD two years ago. In February, she will bring her remarkable talent to First Congregational Church, Cheshire for a first-of-its-kind fundraising concert. Kelly, a finalist in the Today Show Superstar Contest (out of 5,000 entrants), recently appeared with jazz legend Maynard Ferguson, and at New York's famed Blue Note Cafe. She has just released her second CD of her original music. She lives in Redding, and recently received an award in the jazz category for the 2009 International Songwriting Competition. Here are what the critics have said about this remarkable singer: "I think it's safe to say singer-songwriter Kelly Mittleman has a Midas touch!" "She takes the standards and infuses them with overtones of soul and R&B with distinctive clarion vocals combined with a hip, sultry and sexy mix." "A fresh and original approach to pop, neo-jazz and soul. Great lyrics and groove." This evening of jazz will take place in the church's Parish Hall, which will be transformed into an intimate cabaret-style room. This is also an opportunity to enjoy Valentine's Day with a special someone! Tickets are available for purchase through the church office. 203.272.5323 Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 7 pm - $15 per person / $25 per couple EVENING OF AMORE - BLUE/NOT BLUE Artwell Gallery and Community Arts Center - 19 Water Street - Torrington Artwell presents its Second Annual Evening of Amore. Featured for the evening is Blue/Not Blue, classic jazz duo Priscilla Newcomb, soprano and Adrian Untermyer, keyboard, performing the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and others. In addition to listening and dancing to love songs of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, enjoy a sumptuous buffet, champagne, and chocolate. The evening also includes opportunities to win baskets of Valentine’s Day goodies donated by regional businesses. All proceeds benefit Artwell Gallery and Community Arts Center. Reservations recommended but not required. 860.482.5122 Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 7:30 pm performance - Five Courses $75 / Five Courses with Wine Pairings $105 (tax and service not included) Dinner Reservations from 6 pm / Reservations required 860-722-5161 MASS-CONN-FUSION Jazz Duo - Jim Healy on Bass / Liz Roberts on Sax The PolytechnicON20 - One State Street - Hartford Celebrate passion with our Chef Noel Jones and his Five-Course Sensuous Tasting Menu and the smooth, romantic sounds of the MASS-CONN-FUSION Jazz Duo. Parking available on site $6. At The PolytechnicON20, every experience is once in a lifetime! 860-722-5161 Saturday, February 13, 2010 - 8 pm - $20 general / $15 students with valid ID ANTONIO HART QUARTET The Vermont Jazz Center - 72 Cotton Mill Hill, #222 - Brattleboro, VT Antonio Hart, saxophones; David Berkman, piano; Lee Pearson, drums; bassist TBA "Antonio Hart “is a disciplined and committed musician with the courage to take the creative risks that allow him to freely explore his imagination; his standard of excellent is an example to all who work with him.” -- Dave Holland Reservations on-line at www.vtjazz.org, by phone at 802 254 9088, or tix in-person at In the Moment, 143 Main St., Brattleboro Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 3 pm - FREE ERI YAMAMOTO Baby Grand Jazz 2010 Hartford Public Library - 500 Main Street - Hartford Since moving to the United States in 1995, Eri Yamamoto has established herself as one of jazz's most original and compelling pianists and composers. The Eri Yamamoto Trio, with its unique sound and repertoire, has built a strong following in New York, and has made recent tours of the UK, Wales, Spain, Ireland, Germany and Japan, with appearances at such major festivals as Cheltenham, England; Terrassa, Spain; Bray/ Derry, Ireland; and Shiga, Japan. 860-695-6295 Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 6:30 pm Valentine Day Lobster Special Dinner Show NICKI MATHIS' AFRIKAN AMERIKAN JAZZ w/Bill Arnold, James Daggs Royal Seasons Restaurant - 339 Boston Road - Springfield, MA 413-783-4997 Sunday, February 14, 2010 - 7:30 pm - $51 TONY BENNETT Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville Tickets Monday, February 15, 2010 - 8 pm - 11 pm - FREE HARTFORD JAZZ SOCIETY'S MONDAY NIGHT JAM - description - schedule Black-eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum Street - Downtown Hartford The primary purpose of this series is to give students (K-12 and college) a weekly opportunity to hone their artistry by performing onstage with experienced jazz musicians in an actual club setting. It is universally recognized that this kind of actual working experience is essential to the development of all jazz musicians. Scheduled musicians play an opening set beginning at approximately 8:00 pm. Following an opening set, students are invited to sit in for a hard-blowing jam session sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. This is an ideal opportunity for young musicians to challenge themselves and learn from the pros. Students are highly encouraged to attend both the opening set and the jam session. Please note that the jam sessions are not intended to be unstructured, "free for all" events but are carefully coordinated by a veteran musician to ensure the best learning experience. Most Mondays, parking is readily available within a block or two. After 6:00 pm, metered on-street spaces are FREE. Cancellation of a Monday Night Jam due to inclement weather or a major holiday is always possible. To confirm whether or not the Monday Night Jam will be held, please call Black-eyed Sally's at 860-278-7427. Friday, February 19, 2010 - 7:30 pm - $15 general public / $10 students A WORLD OF PIANO SERIES - BURTON GREENE Northampton Center for the Arts - 17 New South Street, 3rd Floor - Northampton, MA Burton Greene figured prominently in New York's free jazz movement of the 1960s, performing with such major figures as Marion Brown, Sam Rivers, Albert Ayler and Gato Barbieri. Since then, he has criss-crossed the world playing music of all kinds. Born in Chicago in 1937, Greene studied classical music at the city's Fine Arts Academy, and jazz theory with Dick Marx. He began the Free Form Improvisation Ensemble with bassist Alan Silva in 1963 -- one of the first groups devoted to playing wholly improvised music. In 1964, he joined the musician-based, Jazz Composer's Guild, co-led by Bill Dixon and Cecil Taylor. During the mid-'60s, he made a series of startling recordings for Actuel, ESP-Disk and Columbia, and became one of the few free jazz musicians to experiment with synthesizers. Since moving to the Netherlands in 1970, Greene has performed all over Europe. Since 1989 he has led two jazz/klezmer/balkan bands: Klezmokum and Klez-Edge, both featuring his long-time collaborator, clarinetist Perry Robinson. His autobiography written over 20 years, Memoirs of A Musical Pesty-Mystic, was published in 2001 (Cadence Jazz Books). In the last 15 years, Greene has recorded extensively for the C.I.M.P., Tzadik, Drimala and Cadence labels, with improvisers Mark Dresser, Roy Campbell, Paul Smoker and George Schuller, among others. The Center invites music lovers to support the Series by buying a "Piece of the Piano" in advance (two tickets per performance for $60) at their website: www.nohoarts.org. Friday, February 19, 2010 - 8 pm - $45 - $50 7:30 pm: pre-performance discussion with members of the band about life for musicians post Katrina - moderated by Ira Joe Fisher and Morton Dean HOT 8 BRASS BAND Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield * a portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to benefit Haiti ’s Earthquake Relief Efforts. The Hot 8 Brass Band is a New Orleans based brass band that blends hip-hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans brass sounds. As the featured band in SAVE OUR BRASS!, a Hurricane Katrina relief project, Hot 8 Brass Band brought their unique, energetic New Orleans sound to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks and other disaster- stricken communities. Performing in festivals, parades and clubs up and down the Northeast and internationally, founding members Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones and Harry Cook have earned a reputation for unceasingly uplifting souls everywhere they play! Following Hurricane Katrina the Hot 8 Brass Band members, like most New Orleanians, were scattered throughout the country. On September 15th, 2005, two weeks after the storm, the band regrouped, helping to initiate SAVE OUR BRASS! a local grass-roots project that brought music to evacuee shelters, temporary trailer parks, and communities that have reached out to New Orleanians. The Hot 8 Brass Band continues their efforts to provide hope and healing for those impacted by the storm through the Finding Our Folk Tour, traveling to 8 cities in four consecutive weekends during January and February, 2006. The tour successfully connected young people and adults from around the country with the plight of people and families directly impacted by the storm. Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 8 pm - $10 / $8 students JEN ALLEN TRIO The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts and Cultural Center - 605 Main Street – Middletown Jen Allen is one of the most respected jazz pianists and composers working in New England today. A native of the Boston area, Jen has studied music at the Longy School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and Hartt School of Music, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2000. Since that time, her music has taken her around the world, as she has performed in Japan, Turkey, and many renowned American venues. Jen frequently performs in the solo setting, as the leader of her trio, and as a sideman with jazz luminaries such as Nat Reeves, Charles Flores and Kris Allen. She is also a founding member of the Waghenaer Artistic Collective. Jen has taught at the Artist’s Collective, the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and worked as a clinician for the Greater Hartford Arts Council and Litchfield Performing Arts. Currently residing in West Hartford, Jen is beginning work on her first solo album. Tickets for all shows available at the door. Door and Cafe/Bookstore open half hour before performance time. 860-347-4957 Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 8:30 pm - $150 KARRIN ALLYSON West Hartford Town Hall Auditorium - 50 S. Main Street - West Hartford Vocalist Karrin Allyson will perform 2 sets in a very intimate setting at Nancy and Steven Sussman's annual Jazz for Juvenile Diabetes concert. The event includes appetizers, dinner, wine and drinks as well as dessert and coffee. 860-236-8543 or susspeople@aol.com Sunday, February 21, 2010 - 3 pm - FREE DAN SCHEER Baby Grand Jazz 2010 Hartford Public Library - 500 Main Street - Hartford Pianist Dan Scheer, and alum of Peabody Institute (Baltimore) and Berklee College (Boston), has played piano and keyboards in many ensembles and venues all over the world. More recently, he performed with jazz quartets at the Greater Hartford Jazz Festival, Hartford International Jazz Festival and many venue around the world. 860-695-6295 Monday, February 22, 2010 - 8 pm - 11 pm - FREE HARTFORD JAZZ SOCIETY'S MONDAY NIGHT JAM - description - schedule Black-eyed Sally's - 350 Asylum Street - Downtown Hartford The primary purpose of this series is to give students (K-12 and college) a weekly opportunity to hone their artistry by performing onstage with experienced jazz musicians in an actual club setting. It is universally recognized that this kind of actual working experience is essential to the development of all jazz musicians. Scheduled musicians play an opening set beginning at approximately 8:00 pm. Following an opening set, students are invited to sit in for a hard-blowing jam session sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. This is an ideal opportunity for young musicians to challenge themselves and learn from the pros. Students are highly encouraged to attend both the opening set and the jam session. Please note that the jam sessions are not intended to be unstructured, "free for all" events but are carefully coordinated by a veteran musician to ensure the best learning experience. Most Mondays, parking is readily available within a block or two. After 6:00 pm, metered on-street spaces are FREE. Cancellation of a Monday Night Jam due to inclement weather or a major holiday is always possible. To confirm whether or not the Monday Night Jam will be held, please call Black-eyed Sally's at 860-278-7427. Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 7 pm - Adv: $17.50 - Door: $20 BUSTER WILLIAMS QUARTET Iron Horse Music Hall - 20 Center Street - Northampton, MA Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Illinois Jacquet, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, Ron Carter, Woody Shaw, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Mary Lou Williams, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Rowles, Hampton Hawes, Cedar Walton, Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Taylor, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, Errol Garner, Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dakota Staton, Kenny Dorham, and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few. The quartet features Lenny White on drums, Patrice Rushen on piano, and Steve Wilson on alto soprano sax. (413) 586-8686 Wednesday, 24 February 24, 2010 - 10 am NICKI MATHIS' AFRIKAN AMERIKAN JAZZ ON TV Better Connecticut TV Show, WFSB/CBS Channel 3 with Jr. Ortiz, Paulette, Lynn Tracey Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 8 pm - $12 General Public / $7 students WILLIAM PARKER AND HAMID DRAKE WITH CONNY BAUER Bezanson Recital Hall - University of Massachusetts - Amherst, MA William Parker, whom the Village Voice has called, "the most consistently brilliant free jazz bassist of all time," was born in the Bronx, and by age 20 was performing with Don Cherry, Bill Dixon, Milford Graves, Billy Higgins and Sunny Murray. In 1980 he became a member of the Cecil Taylor Unit, in which he played a prominent role for over a decade. “The creative heir of Jimmy Garrison and Paul Chambers,” concludes The Penguin Guide to Jazz, “Parker has emerged as one of the most inventive bassist/leaders since Mingus.” Time Out New York proclaimed William Parker one of "the 50 greatest New York musicians of all time." Since the late 1990s, Hamid Drake has been widely regarded as one of the best percussionists in improvised music. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African percussion instruments and influence, in addition to using the standard trap set, Drake has collaborated extensively with top free jazz improvisers Peter Brotzmann, Don Cherry and Pharoah Sanders, among others. Born in Monroe, LA, in 1955, Drake moved to Chicago, where he was mentored by Fred Anderson. Parker and Drake invite the reknown German trombonist Konrad "Conny" Bauer to perform in Amherst. "Bauer has mastered the wide range of techniques available to the contemporary trombonist," writes John Corbett, "as well as the web of genres in which the instrument is imbricated.” Konrad "Conny" Bauer was born in 1943 in Halle an der Saale, Germany. Since 1973 he has performed around the world with major improvisers such as Peter Brötzmann, Han Bennink, Butch Morris, Anthony Braxton and George Lewis. His big band experience includes stints with Globe Unity Orchestra, NDR Big Band and London Jazz Composers Orchestra. On Wednesday evening, February 24, Bauer will perform a short solo concert at the Amherst Cinema before a screening of “Lights From Afar”, the 1998 German film that he scored. For tickets, directions and more information: www.fineartscenter.com/magictriangle Friday, February 26, 2010 - 7:30 pm performance - $45 Prix Fixe Three Course Dinner and Jazz (tax and service not included) Dinner Reservations from 6 pm / Reservations required 860-722-5161 SHAWNN MONTEIRO / NAT REEVES The PolytechnicON20 - One State Street - Hartford "Exciting, captivating and completely distinctive with a pulsating lyric style", Shawnn’s rich voice and fluid scat blend with sweetness, sorrow and sassiness to give brilliant interpretation and depth to her music. Shawnn has delighted audiences throughout the world with her popular repertoire from the American Songbook and blues-oriented improvisations. Shawnn is earthy, wise and great fun! Parking available on site $6 860-722-5161 Friday, February 26, 2010 - 8 pm - $20 CONGA BOP Asylum Hill Congregational Church - 814 Asylum Avenue - Hartford Ed Fast, band leader/percussion; Jim Hunt, trumpet; Chris Herbert, tenor sax; Dan Campolieta, piano; Matt Dwonszyk, bass; Jorge Fuentes, congas Heat up a cold winter night with the hot sounds of Conga Bop. Featuring drummer Ed Fast and AHCC staff members Jorge Fuentes and Dan Campolieta, Conga Bop combines the harmony and sensibilities of hard-bop with the rhythms of the Caribbean, producing an original and vibrant sound that is Latin and jazz. 860-278-0785 Friday, February 26, 2010 - 8 pm - $80 / $75 BOBBY MCFERRIN Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield Bobby McFerrin is one of the natural wonders of the music world. A ten-time Grammy Award winner, he is one of the world's best-known vocal innovators and improvisers, a world-renowned classical conductor, the creator of "Don't Worry Be Happy", one of the most popular songs of the late 20th century, and a passionate spokesman for music education. His recordings have sold over 20 million copies, and his collaborations including those with with Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, the Vienna Philharmonic, and Herbie Hancock have established him as an ambassador of both the classical and jazz worlds. With a four-octave range and a vast array of vocal techniques, McFerrin is no mere singer; he is music's last true Renaissance man, a vocal explorer who has combined jazz, folk and a multitude of world music influences - choral, a cappella, and classical music - with his own ingredients.As a conductor, Bobby is able to convey his innate musicality in an entirely different context. He has worked with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic. 'Unconventional' is a good way to describe the career of Bobby McFerrin. Those familiar with McFerrin's shows, whether as a conductor or a vocalist, know that each one is a unique event that resonates with the unexpected. Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 3 pm - FREE EARL MACDONALD Baby Grand Jazz 2010 Hartford Public Library - 500 Main Street - Hartford Earl lives jazz, as a performer, composer and educator. Director of jazz studies at the University of Connecticut, Earl is dedicated to music education, participating as a clinician, guest conductor and teacher at summer camps, in addition to his teaching at the University of Connecticut. 860-695-6295 Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 3 pm - $25 / $10 student / $5 youth LOOKING AT MASTERS OF AMERICAN JAZZ Westport Arts Center - 51 Riverside Ave. - Westport In a jazz performance with commentary, the Brian Torff Quartet will describe, preform, and bring to life the photographs of renowned jazz musician and personal mentor, Milt Hinton. Torff will discuss some of the featured musicians in the Hinton photo exhibit, currently on display through the end of February, including Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, Aretha Franklin and Dizzy Gillespie. Musical compositions of some the great jazz masters who are portrayed in the exhibit will be featured. As a close personal friend of Milt Hinton’s, Torff will provide insights pertaining to the humanitarian perspective of a great man and musician. Performing will be Ken Gioffre, tenor sax, Nick Bariluk. keyboard, Brian Torff, bass, and Nate Barnes, drums. 203-222-7070 Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 5 pm - no cover NICKI MATHIS w/Lynn Tracey/Something Cool Band Distil - 270 Worthington, St - Springfield, MA 413.737-5557 March, 2010 Monday, March 8, 2010 - 7 pm - Adv: $25 - Door: $28 BILL FRISELL TRIO with Rudy Royston and Eyvind Kang Iron Horse Music Hall - 20 Center Street - Northampton, MA One of the most sought-after guitar voices in contemporary music, Frisell has collaborated with Elvis Costello, Ginger Baker, The L.A. Philharmonic, Van Dyke Parks, Rickie Lee Jones, John Scofield, Lyle Mays, David Sanborn, Bono, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and countless others. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, the Grammy winning Bill Frisell found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. Much has been made of the un-categorizable nature of his music and the seamlessness with which his bands have navigated such a variety of styles. (413) 586-8686 March 10, 2010 - 8 pm - $45 / $60 JANE MONHEIT Infinity Music Hall & Bistro - Route 44 - Norfolk It is a lifelong musical journey from the dreamy innocence of “Never Never Land” to the world-weary delusion of “Something Cool.” Yet, Jane Monheit, now firmly established as one of the post-millennial jazz world’s foremost vocalists, has managed to make the trip in just eight years. In 2000, Monheit chose the sweet, escapist Peter Pan lullaby as the title tune for her debut album. Now, with The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, her sophomore release for Concord (following 2006’s sumptuous Surrender), she is plumbing the gin-soaked escapism of the heartrending tune made famous by June Christy in 1953. But “Something Cool” is just one of several tracks on The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, Monheit’s widest-ranging and most accomplished album to date, that suggest the honey-voiced chanteuse is ushering in an artistic era of heightened sagacity and maturity. She also navigates the dark corners of Tommy Wolf and Fran Landesman’s poignant “The Ballad of the Sad Young Men,” delivers a superlative interpretation of Paul Simon’s bittersweet “I Do It for Your Love” and embraces such contemporary songwriters as Corrine Bailey Rae (“Like A Star”) and Fiona Apple (“Slow Like Honey”). “I was,” confesses Monheit, “obsessed with Fiona Apple’s first record when I was in college, and that’s the album that song is from. I thought it was interesting to do it and “Like A Star” because both are by female songwriters who are almost exactly my age, and they’re songs I really love. I’m always doing songs from the Great American Songbook by long-dead composers, mostly male. Standards are still where my heart is, but it’s great to go beyond that.” And, of course, The Lovers, the Dreamers and Me, produced by Matt Pierson, does include a rich assortment of jazz and pop classics, ranging from Cole Porter (“Get Out of Town”) and Jimmy Dorsey (“I’m Glad There Is You”) to Leonard Bernstein (“Lucky to Be Me”). Nor does Monheit ignore her deep adoration for Brazilian gems, adding Ivan Lins’ “Acaso” (“No Tomorrow”) and the effervescent samba “A Primeira Vez” to her recorded repertoire. The album’s powerful, glorious maturity can, Monheit agrees, be linked to the fact that the past year has been a significant one for her, with the celebration of her 30th birthday and the birth of her and husband Rick Montalbano’s first child, a son named Jack. “Because I’m a little older,” she explains, “I did something different with this record. In the past, I always chose tunes that were very truthful to me and would be believable coming from a woman of my age. But for this album, I decided to step out and play a few characters and sing some lyrics that aren’t necessarily from my own life experience, but that I’m now mature enough to understand.” http://janemonheitonline.com/ http://www.myspace.com/janemonheit 1-866-666-6306 Friday, March 19, 2010 - 8 pm - $15 general admission, $10 seniors, students, Charter Oak and Let*s Go Arts! Members. GABRIEL ALEGRIA AFRO-PERUVIAN JAZZ SEXTET Charter Oak Cultural Center - 21 Charter Oak Avenue - Hartford Trumpeter and composer Gabriel Alegria has developed a unique for of World Jazz that combines his distinctive approach to jazz trumpet with the rich heritage of Afro-Peruvian music. This concert will showcase music from Alegria’s lastest CD Pucusana, which features guest appearances by Grammy award winner Arturo O’Farrill. 860.249.1207 Thursday, March 25, 2010 - $12 General Public / $7 students PARKER AND DRAKE PRESENT THE RAINING ON THE MOON ENSEMBLE Bezanson Recital Hall - University of Massachusetts - Amherst, MA "What marks Raining on the Moon as unique in Parker's long list of projects is its raw accessibility," writes Nils Jacobson. "William Parker is one of those extremely rare musicians who seem to impart a warm glow to every musical group he joins." Lewis 'Flip' Barnes (trumpet), Rob Brown (alto saxophone), and special guests join Parker and Drake in the so-called Raining on the Moon Ensemble. For tickets, directions and more information: www.fineartscenter.com/magictriangle April, 2010 Friday, April 9, 2010 - 7 pm ONE FOR ALL - Video Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Aetna Theater - Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art - 600 Main Street - Hartford Steve Davis - trombone; Joe Farnsworth - drums; Jon Webber - bass; David Hazeltine - piano; Jim Rotundi - trumpet; Eric Alexander - tenor sax 860-242-6688 Friday, April 9, 2010 - 8 pm - $72.50 / $65 CHICK COREA: SOLO PIANO Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is a multiple Grammy Award winning American jazz pianist, keyboardist, drummer, and composer. He is known for his work during the 1970s in the genre of jazz fusion. He participated in the birth of the electric fusion movement as a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, and in the 1970s formed Return to Forever. He continued to pursue other collaborations and explore various musical styles. In 2008-9, the second version of Return to Forever (Corea, keyboards; Stanley Clarke, bass; Lenny White, drums; Al di Meola, guitar) reunited for a worldwide tour. He is performing his solo piano show here at the Playhouse. toward the end of the 1970's, Corea embarked on a series of concerts and two albums with Herbie Hancock. These concerts were presented in elegant settings with both pianists formally dressed, and performing on Yamaha concert grand pianos. The two jazz greats traded playing each other's compositions, as well as pieces by other composers such as Bela Bartok. In December 2007, Corea recorded a duet album, The Enchantment, with banjoist Bela Fleck [5]. Fleck and Corea toured extensively behind the album in 2007. Fleck was nominated in the Best Instrumental Composition category at the 49th Grammy Awards for the track "Spectacle." In 2008-9, the second version of Return to Forever (Corea, keyboards; Stanley Clarke, bass; Lenny White, drums; Al di Meola, guitar) reunited for a worldwide tour. The reunion received positive reviews from most jazz and mainstream publications. Most of the group's studio recordings were re-released on the compilation Return to Forever: The Anthology to coincide with the tour. A concert DVD recorded during their performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival was released in May 2009. He is currently working on a collaboration CD with the Grammy Award winning jazz vocal group The Manhattan Transfer. Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 8pm - $12 General Public / $7 students WILLIAM PARKER AND HAMID DRAKE WITH EVAN PARKER Bezanson Recital Hall - University of Massachusetts - Amherst, MA Parker and Drake invite the brilliant tenor and soprano saxophonist Evan Parker to join them. Among Europe's most innovative and intriguing saxophonists, Parker has worked with Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley, Alexander von Schlippenbach and virtually every other important European innovator of the last 45 years. "Evan Parker is that rare bird of contemporary playing: a thoroughly individual voice," writes AllAboutJazz. "Parker has developed a personal vocabulary that is simultaneously instantly recognizable and adaptable to the most varied of situations." For tickets, directions and more information: www.fineartscenter.com/magictriangle Friday, April 16, 2010 - 8 pm - $35/ $30/ $25 DAVE SAMUELS AND THE CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT WITH JOE LOVANO Quick Center for the Arts - Fairfield University - 1073 North Benson Rd. - Fairfield Grammy-award winner "Dave Samuels is regarded as one of the world's leaders in jazz vibes and marimba" - All About Jazz.com "The band cooks, no question about it, and Samuels' Latin-leaning arrangements are smart and steamy ... the quality of musicianship ... is superb ... exhilarating." - All Music Guide "A distinctly refreshing combination of sunny, sensuous and eminently danceable Latin jazz grooves." - The Washington Post 877-278-7396 Friday, April 23, 2010 - 8 pm - FREE ANTHONY BRAXTON SMALL ENSEMBLE Crowell Concert Hall - Wesleyan University - Middletown Saxophonist, composer and professor Anthony Braxton, known for his ground-breaking jazz and experimental music, performs in an intimate, small-ensemble setting. 860-685-3355 Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 8 pm - FREE ANTHONY BRAXTON LARGE ENSEMBLE Crowell Concert Hall - Wesleyan University - Middletown Professor Braxton's student ensemble performs his music. 860-685-3355 Friday, April 30, 2010 - 8 pm - FREE WESLEYAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONCERT Crowell Concert Hall - Wesleyan University - Middletown The Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra, directed by Adjunct Associate Professor Jay Hoggard, and The Wesleyan Jazz Ensemble, directed by Noah Baerman, perform an exciting program of classic jazz orchestra compositions, including works by Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson and others. 860-685-3355 May, 2010 Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 8 pm - $18 general / $16 senior 60+, Wesleyan Faculty/Staff, Non-Wesleyan Student/Child / $6 Wesleyan student BENNIE MAUPIN TRIO Crowell Concert Hall - Wesleyan University - Middletown Bennie Maupin is best known for his atmospheric bass clarinet playing on Miles Davis's classic Bitches Brew album, as well as other Miles Davis recordings, and as a founding member of Herbie Hancock's seminal band The Headhunters. Maupin has recorded and played with a wide variety of musical icons including Lee Morgan, McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes and Jack DeJohnette. As a creative musician Bennie has forged his own path and musical vision. He never stops listening, testing the waters, pushing the envelope and expanding the language. Performing with Bennie will be Buster Williams on bass and Billy Hart on drums. The Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra will open the concert. Co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Strategic Partnerships. This performance is part of the Wesleyan Jazz Orchestra Weekend. 860-685-3355 Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 4 pm - $25 / $10 student / $5 youth JAZZ-ROCK FUSION: THE INFLUENCE OF HORN BANDS Westport Arts Center - 51 Riverside Ave. - Westport Brian Torff and a seven piece band, the Westport Horns, will debut as a repertory jazz ensemble for the Westport Arts Center. Musical selections will include mixtures of jazz with funk, blues, zydeco, reggae and other world music styles. During the concert musicians will talk about the influence of Blood, Sweat, and Tears, Chicago, Tower of Power and other important bands of the late 1960’s and early 70’s. 203-222-7070 Friday, May 7, 2010 - 7 pm JEREMY PELT QUINTET Presented by the Hartford Jazz Society Jeremy Pelt - trumpet, flugelhorn; JD Allen - tenor sax; Danny Grissett - piano; Dwayne Burno - bass; Darrell Green - drums 860-242-6688 Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 3 pm - $19.50 / $29.50 / $39.50 - Group Discounts Available GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA Warner Theater - 68 Main Street - Torrington The World Famous, Glenn Miller Orchestra, is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today for both concert and swing dance engagements. With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. 860.489.7180 June, 2010 Tuesday, June 15, 2010 - 8 pm - $30 AMIR ELSAFFAR International Festival of Arts & Ideas - Yale Courtyard - New Haven Iraqi-American Amir ElSaffar is a jazz trumpeter and composer, as well as a santour (hammered dulcimer) player and singer. His “Two Rivers” sextet includes both Middle Eastern (Arabic lutes oud, buzuq; percussion) and Western instruments (saxophone, bass, and drumset).The hypnotic and arresting repertoire of the group is focused on joining the melodic and rhythmic structures of the maqam tradition of Iraq with contemporary improvised music. General info 888-278-4332 and tickets 888-736-2663 Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - 8 pm - $30 JOYCE MORENO International Festival of Arts & Ideas - Yale Courtyard - New Haven One of the most influential musical treasures of Brazil, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and guitarist Joyce Moreno mellifluously combines samba rhythms and jazz harmonies with sublime, intelligent lyrics. Described as “one of the greatest singers of all time” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, since the late 1960’s Moreno has written over 400 tunes that have reinvented the bossa nova genre. General info 888-278-4332 and tickets 888-736-2663 July, 2010 August, 2010 September, 2010 October, 2010 November, 2010 December, 2010 Not able to attend any of the above? Why not visit Louis Armstrong's house in Corona, Queens, New York? 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 the PF Jazz Scene Calendar for detailed listings in the Greater Hartford area Back to the Hartford Jazz Society Home Page |
