July 24, 2012 Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

July 24 2012

The Jazz Datebook:

Regular Hits:

Mondays through August 13, 6:30 8:30 the West Michigan Jazz Society presents the series of free summer concerts, Jazz at the Zoo, at the John Ball Zoo Band Shell, Grand Rapids. July 30, Evidence and Orquesta Tradicion; August 6, The Family led by Nick Ayoub; August 13, drummer Tim Froncek and The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. Information from (616) 735 4744 or www.wmichjazz.org.

Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays 7 11 p.m. and Saturdays 6-10 p.m. The What Not Inn features a revolving cast of local musicians each weekend. Every Monday the What Not Inn jam session is open to musicians and vocalists featuring local, regional and international jazz musicians sitting in with the house band. No cover charge. For a full schedule see www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. the hardest working jazz musician in west Michigan, pianist/vocalist John Shea, swings The Republic, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids, with veteran Chicago drummer Greg Sergo. www.republicgrandrapids.com.

Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 493 6686, or www.notosoldworld.com.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday live piano jazz is heard from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mangiamo, 1033 Lake Drive S.E., Grand Rapids. Information from (616) 742 0600. Wednesday, 7-25, Bill Davidson; 7-26, Greg Miller, guitar; 7-27, Mark Kahny; 7-28, Bob Van Stee/ Kathy LaMar ; Wednesday, August 1st, Steve Talaga; 8-2, Greg Miller, guitar; 8-3, Bob VanStee and Kathy Lamar; 8-4, Stephanie Sallie; Wednesday, August 8, Mark Davidson; 8-9, Mark Kahny; 8-10, Steve Talaga; 8-11, Robin Connell; Wednesday, August 15, Chris Cory; 8-16, Greg Miller; 8-17 Rob Anteki; 8-18, Robin Connell; Wednesday, August 22, Bill Davidson; 8-23, Mark Kahny; 8-24, Robin Connell; 8-25, Bob VanStee and Kathy Lamar; Wednesday, August 29, Steve Talaga; 8-30, Mark Kahny; 8-31, Chris Cory; 9-1, Robin Connell. www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Wednesdays from 6:30 9:30 p.m. the Wally Michaels/Tony Reynolds duo at Gillys in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, (616) 356 2627.

Thursdays, 6 9 p.m. pianist John Shea leads his swinging trio at Gillys in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 356 2627.

Thursdays and Fridays, from 6 to 9 p.m. live jazz at The Viceroy, 53 Commerce Avenue S.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 774 VICE.

Thursdays from 7 to 10 and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11 live jazz at Shepards Grill and Tavern, 6246 28th Street S.E., Cascade. (616) 350 9604.

Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m. pianist John Shea plays the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. N.W. overlooking the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. (616) 242 1448.

Saturdays, 6:30 9:30 p.m. Pianist/vocalist/swing miester John Shea is outdoors at Restaurant Toulouse, 248 Culver Street, Saugatuck, swinging the fudgies. (269) 242 1448.

Sundays from 11 a.m. 2 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.jwgr.com or (616) 242 1448.

Sundays from 7 to 10:30 p.m. a jazz jam session under drummer/harmonica master Randy Marshs direction at Hop Cat, 25 Ionia, Grand Rapids. (616) 451-HOPS. Word has spread, and this opportunity for young musicians to gain playing experience with a professional level band is a hit. On July 29, a Wilton Machen Memorial Jam with Jon Gist, saxophones; Bob VanStee, keyboards; Charlie Hoats, bass.

Sundays 6:30 10 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea is heard at Zing Eat Drink, 310 Blue Star Highway, Douglas. www.zingeatdrink.com or (269) 857 3287.

The World Class Jazz Mini Tour continues until Labor Day weekend. See www.worldclassjazz.com. All concerts start at 7 p.m. The week of July 24th bassist Paul Keller with vocalist Sarah DAngelo: the week of July 31, vocalist Libby York with pianist Jeremy Kahn, saxophonist Eric Schneider and the Chicago All Stars; the week of August 7, blues by Root Doctor with Freddie Cunningham; the week of August 14, Jeannie Lambert and Russ Phillips with the Steve Sandner Band from Chicago; the week of August 21, Benny Reeves with Paul Careys Motown/Blues Express. Here are the venues for each week: Tuesday, First Street Beach Park Pavilion, Manistee; Wednesday, Gull Landing, 438 S. Hancock Street, Pentwater (231) 869-4215; Thursday, Rotary Park Pavilion, Cadillac; Friday, Rambadt Park Amphiteather, Reed City; Saturday, Wenger Pavilion, Baldwin; Sunday, Gull Landing, 438 S. Hancock Street, Pentwater (231) 869-4215.

Timely Hits:

Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m. trumpeters Allen Vizzutti and Bill Lucas play with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra in the finale concert of Grand Valley State Universitys Trumpet Seminar at The Louis Armstrong Theater, GVSU, Allendale. See www.gvsu.edu/trumpetseminar.com.

Saturday, July 28th at 7 p.m. drummer Randy Marsh leads his Big Organ Trio (Ralph Tope, guitar, Chris Moberly, organ) at The Vander Mill, 14921 Cleveland Street (M-104), Spring Lake. (616) 842 4337. http://vandermill.com/

Monday, July 30 at 8 p.m. guitarist Neil Jacobs appears at The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. (269) 857 2399 or www.sc4a.org.

Sundays August 5 and 19 (the first and third Sundays of each month) at 5:30 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays a broad spectrum of big band jazz at Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W. Grand Rapids. If you cant make it to the bar the performance is streamed (both audio and video with a live chat) via www.grjo.com.

Friday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. guitarist Neil Jacobs presents Guitar with a Sense of Humor at The Howmet Playhouse, Whitehall. See www.howmetplayhouse.org.

Tuesdays August 12 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. The Truth in Jazz Orchestra plays The West Side Inn, 1635 Beidler Street, Muskegon. Great big band jazz with drummer Tim Froncek, trombonist Dave Collee, saxophonist Tom Stansell and trumpeter Max Colley. See www.tijo.org.

Sunday, August 12 at 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bob Adams Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band returns with banjo in hand to play hot jazz for the West Shore Jazz Societys Jazz Party at The Oakridge Country Club, 513 West Pontaluna Road, Muskegon. See http://www.msdicontrols.com/cjs/. For tickets and information about the West Shore Jazz Society, a traditional jazz club, please phone Bill Blakeman at (231) 759 0071.

Thursday, August 16 at 8 p.m. the San Francisco based composer/lyricist/guitarist and vocalist George Cole and his band Eurocana appears in the Garden Theater, Frankfort. Information from (231) 352 7561. On Friday, August 17 the band is at Foundry Hall, South Haven, www.foundryhall.com; Sunday, August 19th, they appear in the Black Cat Concert series, 15794 Paddock Road, Charlevoix (with a farm dinner catered by American Spoon Foods) (231) 675 7768. Monday, August 20, Cole plays The Ramsdell Theater, 101 Maple Street, Manistee (231) 398 9717 or www.ramsdell-theater.org.

Saturday, August 18 from noon to 10 p.m. The inaugural The Grand Rapids Jazz Festival takes place at Rosa Parks Circle, downtown Grand Rapids. Information, and to volunteer, from www.grandjazzfest.com.

Tuesday, August 21st at 7 p.m. 12 string guitarist Neil Jacobs plays the Tuesday Summer Music Series at Salt of the Earth, Fenville, MI. See http://saltoftheearthfennville.com.

Friday, August 31st through Monday September 3rd, the 33rd Annual Detroit Jazz Festival, a Labor Day Weekend tradition, at Hart Plaza, downtown Detroit, this year featuring Sonny Rollins, Wynton Marsalis, The Pat Metheny Unity Band, The Wayne Shorter Quartet, the Marcus Belgrave Homecoming Band with Geri Allen and Marion Hayden, many others. See: www.detroitjazzfest.com.

Thursday, August 30th through Sunday, September 2nd, The Chicago Jazz Festival takes place at The Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Petrillo Music Shell and many venues in downtown Chicago with performances by Roy Haynes Fountain of Youth Band, Billy Hart, Dianne Reeves, Matt Wilsons Arts and Crafts, Pierre Dorge and the New Jungle Orchestra, Steve Coleman and Five Elements, many others. See http://jazzinchicago.org/jazzfest/.

Friday, October 5 at 8 p.m. The Lakeshore Big Band plays The Grand Haven American Legion Hall. Theyll return on November 2 and December 7. Information from www.lakeshorebigband.com.

Friday, October 26, bassist Ben Allisons band appears at 7:30 and 9:30 in the Wellspring Theater of the Epic Center, Kalamazoo. See www.fontanachamberarts.org for more information, or phone (269)382-7774. www.benallison.com.

Thursday, November 1, The St. Cecilia Music Centers Great Artist Gala features John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, called Hip with a wink by Town & Country, madly creative by the Los Angeles Times and the genial genius of the guitar by The Toronto Star. When he performs with his wife, singer/actress Jessica Molaskey, and his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, theyre labeled the First Family of Cool (by the San Francisco Chronicle) and the von Trapps on Martinis (by The New Yorker). According to The New York Times, the Pizzarelli-Molaskey duo are as good as it gets in any entertainment medium. Sponsorships are now available. Contact development director Ricki L. Levine at 616.459.2224 (ext 205) or ricki@scmc-online.org. St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. www.johnpizzarelli.com.

Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. vocalist Tierney Suttons Band opens the jazz series at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Thursday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. bassist Dave Holland leads his quintet in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:30 and 9:30 jazz saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappas Quartet presents performances in the Wellspring Theater of the Epic Center, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. Information from www.fontanachamberarts.org or (269)382-7774.

Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 pianist Bill Charlap leads his trio in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Saturday, April 20th at 8 p.m. Beyonces saxophonist, Tia Fuller, appears in a jazz concert at Western Michigan Universitys Dalton Recital Hall, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. Information from www.tiafuller.com or from www.fontanachamberarts.org and (269)382-7774.

Edited July 25, 2012 by Lazaro Vega