1-22 Jazz Datebook for west Michigan

[Lazaro Vega]

January 22, 2016

 

The Jazz Datebook: 

 

Regular Hits:

 

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea swings downtown Grand Rapids from the front window of The Republic, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids.  With bassist Warren Jones III and drummer Fred Knapp, John presents a wide variety of jazz and songbook standards. www.republicgrandrapids.com.

 

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 and Mondays hosts a jam session open to musicians and vocalists. See the full schedule here: www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68^th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

               

Tuesdays, 7:30 – 10:30, there’s an open mic jazz jam session at The Grand, 22 Washington, Grand Haven, MI. (616) 847 – 8944.

 

Tuesdays, vocalist Kathy Lamar performs with pianist Dutcher Snedeker and Mario Copeland, 7- 10 p.m., at Bar Divani, 15 Ionia Avenue S.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 774 – 9463.

 

Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther have been appearing at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28^th Street SE, Grand Rapids for more than 13 years, the longest continuous jazz hang in west Michigan. (616) 493 – 6686, or www.notosoldworld.com.

 

Wednesdays from 8 to 10, a new jazz concert series features the Robin Connell Trio and special guests. The Harris Building Jazz Series is held at 111 S. Division Avenue, Grand Rapids, www.theharrisbuilding.com. Here’s the schedule of guests: January 27^th, “Mambo Combo” with Latin percussionist Rob Mulligan and vocalist Kathy Lamar; February 3^rd, The Connell-Brewer Jazz Band CD Release Party with saxophonist Laurie Sears and trombonist Paul Brewer; 2-10, trombonists Earlie Braggs and Paul Brewer present a tribute to the J.J. Johnson/Kai Winding band; 2-17, Michigan State University Professor of Jazz, saxophonist Diego Rivera; 2-24, Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra soloist and renowned jazz educator, trumpeter James Sawyer.

 

Wednesdays, House of Music Entertainment at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 49503, occasionally features jazz and blues. More from www.thebob.com/houseofmusic .

 

Thursdays at 7 p.m. a variety of jazz bands rotate the schedule at The Book Nook and Java Shop, 8744 Ferry Street in Montague. Pianist Steve Talaga plays on 1-28. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com and click on the calendar for Thursday night.

 

Thursdays through May 2016, The Jeff Haas Quartet with saxophonist/flutist Laurie Sears, pianist Haas, bassist Jack Dryden and drummer Randy Marsh performs from 7 – 9:30 at West Bay Beach Resort, 615 E Front St, Traverse City. Phone (231) 947-3700.

 

Fridays, 7 p.m. the John Shea Trio plays at the J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

 

Saturdays at 7:30, pianist John Shea leads his trio at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28^th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493 – 6686.

 

Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. guitarist Greg Miller brings his 6-1-6 guitar concept to the J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

 

Sundays at 7 p.m. Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids (616) 458 – 2689.  A fun jam session celebrating a 3rd year anniversary Oct 18. Student jazz musicians under 21 with a parent or legal guardian have a chance to play from 8:15 until 9:00 p.m. Anyone under 21 has to leave at 9 pm.  The host trio plays from 7:00 - 8:00. www.speakezlounge.com.

 

First Sunday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W., downtown Grand Rapids. The GRJO is the region’s premier professional jazz orchestra. Information from www.grjo.com.

 

 

Timely Hits:

 

Saturday, January 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 23 at 3 p.m. the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Fox Motors Pops Concerts present a tribute to Louis Armstrong and the spirit of New Orleans with special guest trumpeter Byron Stripling and vocalist Marva Hicks in “What A Wonderful World.” Associate Conductor John Varineau is on the podium this weekend at DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. See www.grsymphony.org for more.

 

Saturday, January 23^rd from 7 to 10 p.m., transplanted Chicago saxophonist Mike Frost leads his band at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 235 Louis St. N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.mikefrostproject.com.

 

Saturday, January 23^rd from 3 to 5 p.m. vibraphonist/pianist Jim Cooper celebrates his 65^th birthday with an open house at The What Not Inn, 2405 68^th Street, Fennville, MI. Including live music and cake, and musicians are welcome to sit in and jam. See www.jimcooper.net or phone the What Not, (269) 543 – 3341.

 

Saturday, January 23^rd at 8 p.m. the Robin Connell Trio appears at Morat’s Bakery and Pub, 4747 1^st Street, New Era. See www.moratsbakeshop.com or (231) 259-0073.

 

Monday, January 25 at 7:30 the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, www.grjo.com, performs at Kretschmer Recital Hall in the Art and Music Center at Aquinas College, 1607 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids.

 

Tuesday, January 26^th at 8 p.m. vocalist Edye Evans Hyde commands the stage with husband Mike Hyde on guitar, the great Tim Froncek, drums, Terry Lower, piano, and Denis Shebukov on bass at the New Vintage Jazz Series at New Vintage Place, 889 Broadway Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. Cocktails at 7, music from 8-10. See www.wmichjazz.org or phone (616) 498-0855. Trumpeter Chris Lawrence returns from California to play there on February 9^th and guitarist Ed Stone is heard February 23^rd.

 

Friday and Saturday, February 5^th and 6^th pianist Wally Michaels and vocalist Tony Reynolds entertain at The Porto Bello, 41 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven. Music from 7 p.m.

 

Sunday, February 7^th the River Rogues traditional jazz band (see www.theriverrogues.org ) play the New Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233-9186, or on the web, www.harmonybeer.com. The band returns on Sunday, February 21^st.

 

Sunday, February 14^th at 3 p.m., the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Edye Evans Hyde plays a free concert at First United Methodist Church, 227 Fulton SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 451-2879.

 

Monday, February 15^th from 6:30 to 8:30 the West Michigan Jazz Society presents their Monday Night Jazz Series at The Guest House 634 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, with The Mike Frost Project. Frost, a Chicago born saxophonist and working musician for 30 plus years, recently relocated to Grand Rapids. For 22 years, Mike served as Director of Entertainment for Premier Yachts Inc. providing and creating all of the entertainment for their dinner cruise ships at Navy Pier in Chicago and the sister ships in Boston, Washington D.C. and New York. For this hit, he’s joined by Bill Boris on guitar, Dave Rosin, bass and David Hilliker, drums. See www.wmichjazz.org.

 

Saturday, February 20^th the Keith Hall Drum Choir Experience is held, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Byron Center High School, 8500 Burlingame Ave SW, Byron Center. Tuition for this day long workshop is $75. Bring your drum set. Sign up at www.keithhallmusic.com or phone (201) 406 – 5059.  

 

Sunday, February 21^st at 3 p.m. the Beer City Saxophone Ensemble plays a concert as part of the Underground Series presented by www.adventuremusic.org and curated by Blue Lake Public Radio’s own Lazaro Vega. The “Super Sax” style group includes saxophones by Gary MCourry, Jim Hayward, Mike Lutley, Tom Lockwood, Tom Stansell, Greg Marsden and Bob Nixon with a rhythm section of pianist Steve Talaga, bassist Joe Oprea and drummer Tim Froncek. The concerts are held in LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Drive S.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 451 – 9820.