Lazaro Vega

Randy Brecker appears at St. Cecilia Music Center's newly remodeled Royce Auditorium on Friday, October 7th as part of a Jazz Showcase presented by Western Michigan University. The Grammy-award winning trumpeter performs with the Western Jazz Quartet, the vocal ensemble Gold Company, and the University Jazz Orchestra. Blue Lake Public Radio's interviewed Brecker about the concert, and how his ties to WMU led to a Grammy award with Poland's Wlodek Pawlik. Listen here:www.bluelake.org/ondemand

He opened a concert for the Manhattan Transfer that I covered for the Grand Rapids Press -- big show, DeVos Hall. After his set he was introducing the band, finished, then someone in the crowd shouted, "Who are you?" He seemed a bit surprised, recovered, said his name and played the band off. With Hope College's Jazz Program now offering an Organ Major -- a degree in jazz organ -- I'm betting Joey D's going to be coming around.

September 14, 2016 The Jazz Datebook: Timely Hits: Friday and Saturday, September 16th and 17thfrom 7 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist Robin Connell leads her trio in the Garden Court Bar at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 774-2000. Sunday, September 18th at 3 p.m., Grand Rapids area saxophonist Johnny Gist plays a mix of jazz, Soul, and R&B at Spring Lake District Library, 123 E Exchange St, Spring Lake. Phone: (616) 846-5770. Sunday, September 18th at 7 p.m., the Mark Kahny Trio, with Kahny’s piano and voice, Mark Weymouth, drums, and Mike Lutely saxophones and flutes, plays the Unity Center For Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Grand Rapids. Monday, September 19th at 6:30 p.m. The West Michigan Jazz Society presents their Jazz Gumbo Showcase Monday Night Concert Series with vocalist Amy Williams Quintet, including Mark Kahny, keys; Freddy DeGennaro, guitar; Rob Jewett, bass and Bob Thompson on drums. This Monday night series is held at The Guest House, 634 Stocking Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. Doors open at 5:30 for those with accessibility issues, all other sat 6. See www.wmichjazz.org. Wednesday, September 21st at 7:30, bassist John Hebert joins the Western Jazz Quartet for “Live and Interactive!” at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. Hebert’s played with Andrew Hill, Mary Halvorson and Fred Hersch. Tickets through the Miller Auditorium box office at (800) 228-9858. Wednesday, September 21st from 8 to 11 p.m., young jazz trumpeter Brad Fritcher opens a west Michigan tour with special guest Olin Clark, at the Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue, Grand Rapids. See www.speakezlounge.com. Thursday, September 22nd at 7 p.m. Swingtooth, featuring guitarists Lee and David Middleman, bassist Chris Cudworth, keyboardist Rick Stephens, and percussionist Pat Eickenroth, percussion. At Vander Mill, 14921 Cleveland St, Spring Lake. Phone: (616) 842-4337. Friday, September 23rd at 9 p.m., trumpeter Brad Fritcher brings his improvisational flair to Mexicains Sans Frontieres, 120 Division Ave S, Apt 226., Grand Rapids. Fritcher’s band Moods will record their new album from the 22nd to the 25th, and to hone their music to a new level, they’re touring our area during the recording project. (616) 427-5432. Saturday, September 24th, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. pianist Brad Mehldau and saxophonist Joshua Redman play the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Music Society’s Jazz Series. See www.fontanamusic.org. $5 rush seats available to students and anyone age 25 and under with a valid ID. (269) 382-7774. Saturday, September 24th from 7-10 p.m. Brad Fritcher’s Moods appears at Vander Mill, 14921 Cleveland St, Spring Lake. With Patrick Booth on saxophones, Moods includes guitarist Travis Swanson, bassist Joe Vasquez and drummer Jonathan Taylor. Information from 616-842-4337. Saturday, September 24th at 7 p.m., pianist/vocalist Robin Connell leads her Jazz Connection Ensemble, specializing in the compositions of Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis and Horace Silver, at New Harmony Hall, at New Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233-9186, or on the web, www.harmonybeer.com . Joining Robin are saxophonist Mike Frost, guitarist Neil Gordon, bassist Chris Kjorness and drummer Eddie Eicher. Saturday, October 1stat 7 p.m. Brad Fritcher’s Moods debuts new original music with Olin Clark, Nicholas Bracewell and Joe Vasquez at New Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233-9186, or on the web, www.harmonybeer.com . Thursday, October 6that 7 p.m. Chicago area bassist/bandleader Matt Ulery leads his trio with special opening act The Underground Circus at Rockford Brewing Company, 12 E. Bridge St., Rockford. Matt’s pianist Rob Clearfield recently appeared on Blue Lake Public Radio (see www.bluelake.org/ondemand under “Studio Performances”). The Underground Circus, a local music collective featuring pianist Dutcher Snedeker, saxophonist Caleb Elzinga, trumpeter Brad Fritcher, guitarist Justin Wierenga, bassist Justin Avdek and drummer Mario Copeland, is releasing their first recording at this event. More from http://rockfordbrewing.com/ or (616) 951-4677. Friday, October 7th at 8 p.m. the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University presents Grammy award-winning jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker with the Western Michigan University Jazz Quartet, WMU's vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company, as well as the University Jazz Orchestra for a jazz showcase at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids. Information and tickets from wmich.edu/jazz. Monday, October 17th the Chet Baker inspired cool jazz vocals of Libby York with the Terry Lower Quartet in the Jazz Gumbo Showcase at The Guest House, 634 Stocking Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. Information from the West Michigan Jazz Society, www.wmichjazz.org, and more from www.libbyyork.com Thursday, October 20th at AZIZA, a jazz super band including bassist Dave Holland, saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke and drummer Eric Harland at The Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan State University, East Lansing. See www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/aziza. Sunday, October 23rd at 3 p.m., The Adventure Music Series returns to the LaFontsee Galleries with John Lindberg and Wadada Leo Smith: Celestial Weather Midwest Duets. LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Drive SE Grand Rapids. This concert is supported by New Music USA, through a generous contribution from Joseph A. and Nancy Meli Walker. See https://www.newmusicusa.org/projects/john-lindberg-wadada-leo-smith-celestial-weather- midwest-duets/. For tickets www.adventuremusic.org . The phone number at the LaFontsee Galleries is (616) 451 – 9820. The LaFontsee Galleries are wheel chair accessible. To find LaFontsee Galleries please see, www.lafontsee.us/. Friday, October 28th at 7:30 p.m. bassist/educator and jazz great Rodney Whitaker plays The Block with his quartet. The Block is an intimate 120 seat theater/bar above Unruly Brewing Company, 360 W. Western Ave, 2nd Floor, Muskegon, MI. (231) 726-3231 or www.theblockwestmichigan.org. For more on Rodney Whitaker, http://rodneywhitaker.com/ Thursday, December 8th, Grammy Award winning vocalist Cecil McLorin Salvant kicks off the Jazz Series at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. See: www.scmc-online.org/2016-17-jazz-series/. Saturday, March 18th at 7:30 p.m. the popular jazz guitar duo of Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo appear at The Block, an intimate 120 seat theater/bar above Unruly Brewing Company, 360 W. Western Ave, 2nd Floor, Muskegon, MI. (231) 726-3231 or www.theblockwestmichigan.org. And for more on the artists, http://frankvignola.com/ . Thursday, March 23rd, 13 year old piano prodigy Joey Alexander appears in the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Jazz Series with his trio. More from, http://www.scmc-online.org/2016-17-jazz-series. Thursday, March 30th, 2017, The Hot Sardines return to the Wharton Center For the Performing Arts, East Lansing. See: http://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/the-hot-sardines . April 21st, 2017, the Wayne Shorter Quartet appears in the Cobb Great Hall of The Wharton Center For the Performing Arts, East Lansing. See: www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/wayne-shorter-quartet. Saturday, April 29th, 2017, at 7:30 p.m. vocalist Dee Daniels performs at at The Block, an intimate 120 seat theater/bar above Unruly Brewing Company, 360 W. Western Ave, 2nd Floor, Muskegon, MI. (231) 726-3231 or www.theblockwestmichigan.org. Here her at http://www.deedaniels.com/ Thursday, May 4th 2017 the San Francisco Jazz Collective plays the music of Miles Davis at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. More from www.scmc-online.org/2016-17-jazz-series. 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 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341. Mondays, Lee and David Middleman play guitars with Chris Cudworth, bass, Rick Stephens, keyboards and Pat Eickenroth, percussion, as Swingtooth, anchoring the Monday night jam session at Rockford Brewing Company, 2 East Bridge St, Rockford. See www.rockfordbrewing.com or phone (616) 951 – 4677. Tuesdays, 7:30 – 10:30, there’s an open mic jazz jam session at The Grand, 22 Washington, Grand Haven, MI. (616) 847 – 8944. 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 28th 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, 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. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com and click on the calendar for Thursday night. Fridays at 7 p.m., “It’s a Friday Thing” features vocalist Kathy Lamar with pianist Bob VanStee and drummer Kevin Jones at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493-6686. 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. Sundays, September 18th and October 2nd, at 11 a.m. saxophonist Mike Frost and guitarist Mike Hyde play the Sunday Brunch Series at J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448. Sundays from 2-4 p.m. the River Rogues traditional jazz band (see www.theriverrogues.org ) alternate weekends with the Bill Huyge, Jeff Beavan, David Schock trio at the New Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233-9186, or on the web, www.harmonybeer.com. 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.

https://www.newmusicusa.org/projects/john-lindberg-wadada-leo-smith-celestial-weather- midwest-duets/

Upcoming from Wadada Leo Smith: http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=news&subsect=news_detail&nid=3423

Since re-invigorating international interest in the sound of the Hammond organ in the 1980's, Joey Defrancesco grew from prodigy to standard bearer, and we featured a wide variety of his celebrated music (including his trumpet playing) Friday night during Jazz From Blue Lake, which you'll find here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand

Since re-invigorating international interest in the sound of the Hammond organ in the 1980's, Joey Defrancesco grew from prodigy to standard bearer, and we featured a wide variety of his celebrated music (including his trumpet playing) Friday night during Jazz From Blue Lake, which you'll find here: www.bluelake.org/radio

August 26, 2016 The Adventure Music Series returns to the LaFontsee Galleries on Sunday, October 23rd at 3 p.m. with “Celestial Weather,” the duo of Wadada Leo Smith and John Lindberg, trumpet and double bass. Says Bill Meyer of visionary composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, he “uses his magisterial instrumental voice, his inspirational leadership and his command of classical, jazz, and blues forms to remind us of what has gone down and what’s still happening.” For 38 years, bassist John Lindberg has performed with Smith, in Smith’s Pulitzer Prize nominated “Ten Freedom Summers” suite, with his Golden Quartet, and in duet, producing a deep knowledge and understanding of each other’s artistic voices, sharing a dedication to creating vital musical structures and systems that provide compelling starting points for spontaneous development and improvisational journeys. Together they released “Celestial Weather” on TUM Records in 2015, an album of vigor and daring, imagining, with inventive scores and stunning improvisations, the weather of the cosmos. The album also celebrates the great bassist from the Art Ensemble of Chicago with a suite called “Malachi Favors Maghostut – A Monarch of Creative Music,” and includes John Lindberg’s two part composition “Feathers and Earth.” The “Underground Series” presents a season of 4 concerts, one in October, February, March and April, on Sunday afternoons at 3. Dedicated to the exploration of unique live music, this concert series thrives with you. Tickets 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. To find LaFontsee Galleries please see, www.lafontsee.us/. John Lindberg & Wadada Leo Smith: Celestial Weather Midwest Duets is supported by New Music USA, through a generous contribution from Joseph A. and Nancy Meli Walker.

People know Harvey Mason -- he's the drummer on Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon," a regular for 25 years in "Fourplay," among hundreds of records. He loves playing with an organ trio, which goes down in Holland, MI, Saturday at Hope College with organist Tony Monaco and guitarist Chuck Loeb at the Jack Miller Theater, then after hours at Windows on the Waterfront. For a preview please see www.bluelake.org/ondemand under "Interviews." To hear Tony Monaco's music, please click on Jazz From Blue Lake under "Programs."

Lansing-area Hammond organist Jim Alfredson joins Tony Monaco with the great Harvey Mason, drums, and Chuck Loeb, guitar, this weekend for the Hope College Jazz Organ Summit. In 2000, Alfredson founded Organissimo, and the trio featuring Randy Scott Marsh appeared live from our studios with guests Paul Brewer and Arno Marsh through the years. Please listen to Jim Alfredson on demand today only under Jazz From Blue Lake viawww.bluelake.org/ondemand

10 years in the making....

But....the Duke Pearson program is now replaced by the Mal Waldron show, which will be replaced after tonight by a program on Jimmy Rowles, which will stay up until next Tuesday morning......

Please join us for 5 hours of the finest in recorded jazz, with an emphasis on the music of pianist/composer Mal Waldon. Described by Jazz critic Francis Davis as making music that's, "Crowded, low-ceilinged, and invariably fixated on a cluster of notes near middle C..." and that, "Waldron’s music as he plays it tends to be about tension and release—but sometimes just tension." You'll find his music under the files labeled "Jazz From Blue Lake," here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand

Sorry: there are 5 hours to each program each night.

Michael Cuscuna describes Duke Pearson as, "Pianist, composer, arranger, producer, talent scout and trend setter." Jazz From Blue Lake featured Pearson's recordings last evening, especially this previously un-issued big band (Baltimore, 1969) concert featuring Donald Byrd, Pepper Adams and Mickey Roker. In the 3rd hour we took it "Out on Blue Lake" with recordings by Perry Robinson as well as Wadada Leo Smith. Find Jazz From Blue Lake under "Programs" here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand

Shared this on my facebook. Thanks.

Bill Evans music was heard last night on Jazz From Blue Lake, using some of this essay in explaining his significance to the music, https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bill-evans-1929-1980-bill-evans-by-aaj-staff.php. We also featured interviews with Paul Vornhagen and Steve Hilger as we get ready for this weekend's GRandJazzFest. If you missed last night's broadcast, you can still catch it today from www.bluelake.org/ondemand . Under "programs" click Jazz From Blue Lake, all 5 hours.

Since the 1960's, multi-instrumentalist Roscoe Mitchell stayed at the forefront of creative music by following the principals of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, an artist-based non-profit dedicated to presenting concerts of original music, among other arts activities. Last evening we listened to some of this remarkable artist's multi-dimensional recording career, and now you can too by clicking "Jazz From Blue Lake" under "Programs" found here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand(Image by Joseph Blough)

Alto saxophonist, composer, record producer, sideman, leader, David Binney regularly plays at 55 Bar in NYC. In fact, he put together the band that David Bowie heard and drafted to appear on his swan song "Blackstar." Binney appeared live on Blue Lake Public Radio in 2006 with guitarist Joel Harrison's band. You'll find his music under Programs, then Jazz From Blue Lake, today only, right here: www.bluelake.org/ondemand

Tomorrow is Tony Bennett's 90th. We jumped the celebration last night during Jazz From Blue Lake. Missed it? Available here today: www.bluelake.org/ondemand

Over the weekend Blue Lake Public Radio remembered pianist Hank Jones and celebrated the birthday of guitarist Kenny Burrell. Burrell grew up in Detroit, made New York by the mid-1950's and since the late 1970's is deeply involved in music education through UCLA. Click on the links to Jazz From Blue Lake found here and you'll catch his blues drenched improvised music in the first part of each hour,www.bluelake.org/ondemand

The Clayton Brothers music (bassist John, saxophonist Jeff) was heard in the first part of each hour of Jazz From Blue Lake Friday night. Mainstays of mainstream jazz since the late 1970's, the brothers are featured with their quintet and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Just a reminder the program is up for on-line listening via www.bluelake.org/ondemand .

Oh no! No man, I'm sorry: it's gone. Damn! No, what I'll have to do now is make another program on his music.

Jazz From Blue Lake brought you one of the best male vocalists ever last evening as our Jazz Retrospective feature fell on the recordings of Johnny Hartman, a bass/baritone balladeer. To hear the program please click www.bluelake.org/ondemand and then under Programs click Jazz From Blue Lake. Hartman has a gift of singing story songs, especially "Lush Life."

Yes. We turn it over after 24 hours. I'm on 5 hours a night, starting at 10 p.m. The on-demand feature is available so people who aren't up until 3 a.m. can hear the program, so the Jazz From Blue Lake links have the previous evening's broadcast available until the next evening's broadcast replaces it, except Friday's show, which stays up until Monday night's program replaces it. It's not an archive, it's more of a time shift.