Lazaro Vega

January 14, 2015 The Jazz Datebook: Regular Hits: 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. They have two good jazz shows coming up in. See the full schedule here: 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. pianist/vocalist John Shea swings downtown Grand Rapids with bassist Warren Jones III and drummer Fred Knapp from The Republic, 45 South Division. www.republicgrandrapids.com. Monday night at 8 p.m. Swingtooth hosts the open mic jam at the Rockford Brewing Company, 12 E Bridge St, Rockford, Michigan, (616) 951-4677. Swingtooth includes two acoustic hand-built guitars played by Lee and David Middleman, with Chris Cudworth on bass. Tuesdays at 7 p.m. it is diva time at Bar Divani, 15 Ionia Ave. N.W., Grand Rapids, as the finest female singers in the area step up and swing. For a full schedule: http://www.bar-divani.com/tastings-a-events/live-music Phone (616) 774 – 9463. 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. www.thegilmorecollection.com. 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. Among the bands on the rotation: Checker’s Morton, a jazz band loved by Unitarians and good listeners alike, features pianist/composer Bob VanStee; The Lakewinds Jazz Quartet with Dave Collee on trombone and bass, Vince Liefers at the piano, Tim Froncek, drums, and special guest Tom Stansell, saxophones play straight ahead; the Dave Collee Quartet with pianist Eric Thorne and vocalist Ginny Dusseau, drummer Tim Froncek, and saxophonist/flutist Bob Nixon bring a night club vibe; Multi-instrumentalist (bass and trombone) Dave Collee’s Quartet plays great jazz standards. The last Thursday of the month belongs to trumpeter Brad Fritcher and Trios. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com and click on the calendar for Thursday night. Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., pianist-vocalist Robin Connell plays in the Lumber Baron Bar at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.robinconnell.com. 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 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493 – 6686. On the Third Saturday of each month, Hope Church, 2010 Kalamazoo, SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, presents “Jazz and Justice” with jazz from 6 to 7:15 p.m. and a Justice conversation from 7:20 to 8 p.m. January 17th music by vocalist Edye Evans-Hyde, Justice topic, Racial Reconciliation. 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, Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, is a fun jam session. Information from (616) 458 – 2689. Student musicians under 21 with a parent or legal guardian will have a chance to play with Marsh from 7 to 9; the host trio plays from 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. 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: Friday, January 16th at 7:30 p.m. Danish violinist/violist Mads Tolling and Austrian pianist Markus Gottschlich play duets at the Hart Public Schools Auditorium, 308 W. Johnson Street, Hart, MI 49420: www.hartauditorium.org. The San Francisco-based Tolling is a founding member of the Turtle Island String Quartet and two-time Grammy award winner; the Miami –based Gottschlich grew up in what was once Beethoven’s apartment in Vienna. More information about the Hart Community Performing Arts Series available from Tom Kirk, (231) 873 – 6270. Friday, January 16th at 9:30 p.m. trumpeter Chris Lawrence brings his chord less quartet to the Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monore Ave. N.W., Grand Rapids, for improvised music influenced by “drum and bass,” “indie rock,” “electronica” and free jazz. Joining him are Traverse City area saxophonist Patrick Booth; East Lansing area bassist Sam Copperman; and Chicago area drummer Luke Angle. See www.speakezloung.com . Saturday, January 17th at 9:30, trumpeter/composer Chris Lawrence continues to explore original music with a specially assembled quartet at Our Brewing Company, 76 East 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423, (616) 994 – 8417. With saxophonist Patrick Booth (Traverse City); bassist Sam Copperman (East Lansing); and drummer Luke Angle (Chicago). www.ourbrewingcompany.com. Monday, January 19th at 12:30 p.m. Billy Strayhorn’s niece, Alyce Claerbaut, presents “Billy Strayhorn: Beyond the Peaceful Side” as part of Calvin College’s January Series. See www.calvin.edu/january/2015/claerbaut or phone (616) 526 – 7018. Monday, January 19th at 6:30 the West Michigan Jazz Society presents Randy Marsh’s Marshland, a jazz trio featuring pianist Terry Lower, Traverse City area bassist Jack Dryden and Randy on drums and harmonica, at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. Information from www.wmichjazz.org. Tuesdays, January 20th and February 17th at 7:30 p.m. the Truth in Jazz Orchestra returns to Watermark 920, 920 Washington Avenue, Muskegon, 49441. Fronted by drummer Tim Froncek, TIJO brings big band jazz excitement to the lakeshore. See www.tijo.org for more. Friday, January 23rd at 8 p.m. singer/songwriter Downie celebrates the release of her new album “I Will Lose Myself In You” with a concert at Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy S.E., Grand Rapids, 49503. Featuring Craig Avery on keyboards; Louis Rudner, bass and Kevin DeFree, drums, the concert touches on a variety of musical styles, including jazz. See www.wealthytheatre.org/downie or phone (616) 459 – 4788 x 130. Friday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Hart Community Performing Arts Series celebrates its 100th concert at Hart Public Schools Auditorium, 308 W. Johnson Street, Hart, MI 49420: www.hartauditorium.org. This special event features guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniola, accordionist Julien Labro, saxophonist Carl Cafagna, bassist Tom Knific and drummer Tim Froncek. More information about the Hart Community Performing Arts Series available from Tom Kirk, (231) 873 – 6270. Sunday, February 8th at 3 p.m. the new series of piano concerts in Grand Rapids features Xavier Davis with bassist Matt Brewer. “Jazz in the Sanctuary” is held at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids 49503Information from www.jazzinthesanctuary.eventbrite.com or (616) 459 – 8386. Sunday, February 15th at 3 p.m. The LaFontsee Galleries in conjunction with www.adventuremusic.org presents a new series of improvised music concerts, “The Underground Concert Series,” with Grand Rapids’ first poet Laureate Linda Nemec Foster accompanied by music from composer/pianist Steve Talaga’s Nonet. Together they’ll perform Linda Nemec Foster’s poem cycle “Contemplating the Heavens.” A string quartet plus jazz quintet join Linda Nemec Foster as she reads from her 2001 chapbook “Contemplating the Heavens” published by Ridgeway Press, in the unique surroundings of LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506; (616) 451-9820. Ticket are $20 in advance, $10 for students with a student I.D. and $25 at the door. Advance tickets available only from www.adventuremusic.org . Monday, February 16th at 6:30 p.m. the West Michigan Jazz Series, “Monday Night at The B.O.B.” presents the Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther. Tom Hagen’s musical vitae is rich with performing, arranging and recording experience. With wife Cherie Hagen on drums and voice, the group includes the versatile saxophonist Mike Lutley and special guest vocalist Rick Reuther. See www.wmichjazz.org for more information. Thursday, February 19th at 7:30 p.m., world renowned bassist Christian McBride leads his trio with Christian Sands, piano, and Ulysses Owens Jr., drums, in the Jazz Series at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, 49503. Information from www.scmc-online.org or by calling (616) 459 – 2224. Friday, February 20, 2015, the Kris Bowers Trio appears in “Dinner and a Show” presented by the Fontana Chamber Arts in Kalamazoo. 6:30 p.m. dinner and 8 p.m. performance at Cityscape at the City Centre, Kalamazoo. Information from www.fontanachamberarts.org or (269) 382-7774. Thursday, March 12th at 7:30 p.m. 2014 Grammy nominated vocalist Rene Marie visits the St. Cecilia Music Center to perform in the historic Royce Auditorium, 24 Ransom Ave. N.E., Grand Rapids, 49503. See www.scmc-online.org/rene-marie . Wednesday, March 25th The Bad Plus perform at The Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 East 8th Street, Holland, 49423. See www.hope.edu/arts/knick or phone (616) 395 – 7890. Sunday, March 22ndat 3 p.m. The LaFontsee Galleries in conjunction with www.adventuremusic.org presents “The Underground Concert Series” with Charlie Kohlhase's Chicago Explorers Club featuring the Boston/Cambridge area leader Charlie Kohlhase on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; James Falzone, clarinet; Aaron Darrell, bass; Tim Daisy, drums; and Russ Johnson, trumpet. Ticket are $20 in advance, $10 for students with a student I.D. and $25 at the door. Advance tickets available only from www.adventuremusic.org. The phone number at the LaFontsee Galleries is (616) 451 – 9820. The LaFontsee Galleries are wheel chair accessible.

Big band fans: last night Jazz From Blue Lake featured the Rob Parton Big Band and Jazz Tech Orchestra from Chicago in the first 20 minutes of each hour, then kept bringing Chicago to the house with recent releases. Here's the on-demand file from the broadcast, available today only: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150113.mp3

The Underground Concert Series debuts with “Contemplating the Heavens.” The LaFontsee Galleries in conjunction with Adventuremusic.org presents a new series of improvised music concerts, “The Underground Concert Series,” starting Sunday, February 15th at 3 p.m. with Grand Rapids first poet Laureate Linda Nemec Foster accompanied by music from composer/pianist Steve Talaga’s Nonet. Together they’ll perform Linda Nemec Foster’s poem cycle “Contemplating the Heavens.” A string quartet plus jazz quintet join Linda Nemec Foster as she reads from her 2001 chapbook “Contemplating the Heavens” published by Ridgeway Press, in the unique surroundings of LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506; (616) 451-9820. In collaboration with Adventuremusic.org -- “Dedicated to the exploration of unique live music” -- the LaFontsee Gallery recalls their halcyon days of presenting live music in the 1990’s at their former gallery, The Underground Studio. Roscoe Mitchell, Reggie Workman, Nels Cline, Regina Carter, Ken Vandermark and the late great Fred Anderson are some of the stellar improvising artists who appeared there. The “Underground Concert Series” will present a concert each October, then February, March and April. The second concert in this inaugural season takes place Sunday, March 22nd at 3 p.m. with Charlie Kohlhase's Chicago Explorers Club featuring the Boston/Cambridge area leader Charlie Kohlhase on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; James Falzone, clarinet; Aaron Darrell, bass; Tim Daisy, drums; and Russ Johnson, trumpet. Recorded in 2006, “Contemplating the Heavens” unites music and poetry in a spiritual reflection on our place in the cosmos and the cosmos place inside each of us. The original studio recording, however, did not include Linda Nemec Foster reading, making this concert event a unique opportunity to experience the highly creative fusion of poetry and music. Ticket are $20 in advance, $10 for students with a student I.D. and $25 at the door. Advance tickets available only from www.adventuremusic.org. The phone number at the LaFontsee Galleries is (616) 451 – 9820. The LaFontsee Galleries are wheel chair accessible. This concert series is curated, in part, by Lazaro Vega, Jazz Director, Blue Lake Public Radio. For more information about Linda Nemec Foster, www.lindanemecfoster.com For more about Steve Talaga, www.stevetalaga.com And to find LaFontsee Galleries please see, www.lafontsee.us/

His tone in appreciation of Miles is deep. His comments on Wynton insightful. His general discussion about jazz is welcoming.

Last night's program featuring jazz giant Max Roach in the first 20 minutes of the hour, and with Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp,and Anthony Braxton in the last hour. http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150109.mp3

've torn through it. Always been a fan. That whole jazz funk thing brought me in in the 70's. He's like a techy Zelig, too. Very easy to read. Spends a lot of time on Mawandishi.

Is there a thread here on Herbie's book? Enjoyed this interview when I caught it live on the air, though Herbie mis-understands the caller from Grand Rapids who's asking about "Chameleon," not "Cantaloupe Island." http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-12-31/herbie_hancock_possibilities_rebroadcast

Last night's Jazz From Blue Lake featuring drummer Kenny Clarke on demand today: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150108.mp3

I wanted to include that album with Ella and Ellington, but wasn't sure which pieces integrated Ella's rhythm section into the band. There's a version of "Imagine My Frustration" recorded live in Stockholm that features some Gus Johnson like kicks on the head, but then that Sam Woodyard doo-wop shuffle thing on the theme....glad you check it out!

Last evening' Jazz From Blue Lake, full of great music by Duke Ellington's Famous Orchestra featuring drummer Sam Woodyard, plus "Out on Blue Lake," two hours in, with music by Garrison Fewell and a new recording by Ornette Coleman available today on-demand:http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150107.mp3

Right. He made two organ records, I believe. This one came up on an E-Bay auction from a long time Grand Rapids area rock and roll disc jockey, Aris Hampers, and I picked it up, the original vinyl. Jim's description is right on the money. By the way, I've had several listeners comment on it, too; usually to the tune of, that was the shizznit.

Barry Altschul's recordings are featured in the first 20 minutes of each hour in this version of Jazz From Blue Lake, available today on-demand. We hear several versions of "Be Out S'Cool," as well as music he performed live on Blue Lake Public Radio with Gebhard Ullmann, Steve Swell and Hilliard Greene. We're also checking out new recordings by Akua Dixon Turre with John Blake Jr. and Regina Carter. http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20150106.mp3

Last evening's Jazz From Blue Lake featuring Myra Melford available on demand today: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20150105.mp3

http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20141230.mp3 Last evening's Jazz From Blue Lake broadcast featuring Barbara Morrison, available throughout today.

Though a bit up-cut, here's last evening's broadcast of Jazz From Blue Lake featuring Joe Lovano. The program begins with a discussion of his new band with trumpeter Dave Douglas. http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20141229.mp3

Last evening's Jazz From Blue Lake broadcast featuring the December 1938 and '39 "Sprituals to Swing" concerts, the first time blues, gospel and jazz (‪#‎BAM‬) were presented on the same concert stage; plus holiday music by everyone. Available here all day "on-demand," http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20141223.mp3

Should probably write the label via contact information to see about that check out issue..... So, if you buy a flac file you still need to convert it to wave files to burn to CD, right? Noticed they offer it in straight up wave files, too.

For those of you who missed it, or fell asleep, last night's Jazz From Blue Lake program featuring Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall Concert will be available today on demand from this link: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/18-1-20141222.mp3

http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20141217.mp3 Last evening's Jazz From Blue Lake featuring Sy Oliver and including "Out On Blue Lake" with Roger Arntzen and Ballrogg live from our studios in the Manistee National Forest.

Welcome back.

On December 5th, Ballrogg, a trio of improvising musicians from Norway, stopped by Blue Lake Public Radio’s Dave Myers Performance Studio and recorded a performance we’ll feature tonight at midnight, “Out On Blue Lake.” With Klaus Ellerhusen Holm’s clarinet, bass clarinet and book of compositions; Roger Arntzen’s bass, sometimes played with clothes pins attached to the strings; and Ivar Grydeland’s pedal steel guitar, banjo and loops, Ballrogg plays long tones rocking between comfortable intervals that fill in with ensemble textures or quiet, creative improvisations. Following this session, the band played Hugo Claudin's loft in Grand Rapids, then appeared at Constellation in Chicago. Hope you can join us, streaming live from www.bluelake.org/radio (Blurb): "Ballrogg is now working on new music for their fourth release which can be seen as a natural development from "Cabin Music" (on Hubro 2012). The music is as before, based in open compositions which serve as a framework and guidelines for improvisation. Ballrogg gathers inspiration from many divergent sources - Scandinavian and American folk music, elements from British free improvisation and fragments from European composed music." And here you can find press pictures:http://ballrogg.no/press.html

Last night Jazz From Blue Lake featured drummer Danny Richmond on "The Jazz Retrospective" element of our 5 hour program. Richmond was Charles Mingus's partner in time for over 20 years. We hear their music, as well as Richmond's sideman appearances with Zoot Sims, Herbie Nichols and others, plus Holiday tuneage (dolphin free). That program is available throughout today from our web site: http://199.176.235.218/ondemand/17-1-20141216.mp3