Blue Lake Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

The Jazz Datebook

March 14, 2006

Muskegon – Every other Tuesday The Truth in Jazz Orchestra plays at the West Side Inn, Beidler St.. Last on the bandstand March 7th and upcoming March 14th and 28th the sixteen piece big band led by bassist/bass trombonist Dave Collee. This neighborhood tavern fills up over the course of the performance. Music from 7 p.m. on the school night.

Grand Rapids – Monday, March 20th, 6 to 9 p.m., the Grand Rapids collective Mind’s Eye, which has recorded a suite of movements named for each of the Great Lakes, features a repertoire of bop and swing favorites when they appear at the Kopper Top Guest House 638 Stocking N.W. (one door south of Fourth Street). Pianist-composer-educator Steve Talaga is featured in this collective of area musicians including the “Ira Sullivan of Michigan” Rob Smith on both trumpet and saxophones; Tom Lockwood, bass (or baritone saxophone); and Keith Hall, drums. This is a “Jazz Gumbo Showcase” presentation of the West Michigan Jazz Society. WMJS phone, 458 – 0125, or www.wmichjazz.org . p.s. On the last Monday of each month beginning March 27th, the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, a talent rich area big band, appears from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Kopper Top Guest House.

Grand Haven – The Theater Bar, 24 Washington St., features either jazz and blues guitarists Rick Hicks or Eric Glatz on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. and live local jazz bands on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m.

Saugatuck – Saturday, March 25th, 8 p.m., Chicago vocalist Kirsten Gustafson tunes up for a national tour with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra by appearing with entertainer Michael Holmes in their production called “Swinging the Standards” at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ Bertha Krueger Reid Theater. “You Taught My Heart To Sing” was Gustafson’s 1992 debut on Atlantic records with liner notes by Sammy Cahn. In 2000 she released “Live at Montreux” recorded at the famous Swiss music festival. Seats are $15 through the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, (269) 857 – 2399 or www.sc4a.org .

East Lansing – Wednesday, March 22nd, 7 and 9 p.m., trumpeter Ingrid Jensen performs with Michigan State University’s Professor’s of Jazz led by bassist Rodney Whitaker at The Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan State University. 1-800-WHARTON or www.whartoncenter.com . See www.ingridjensen.com for biography and music samples of this fabulous trumpeter.

Ann Arbor – Tuesday, March 28th , 8 p.m. , Misha Mengleberg, Han Bennink and Holland’s world-renowned Instant Composer’s Pool Orchestra get creative at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 North Fourth Avenue. For directions to the multi-directional music of the ICP Orchestra see www.kerrytownoncerthouse.com

Ann Arbor – Thursday, March 30th Russ Gershon’s labor of love The Either Orchestra, recently recorded at the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa, is the second mid-size band to appear in the same week at the Kerrytown Concert House. A different vibe than the crazy Dutchmen, the Either Orchestra is known for their recasting of jazz classics by Charles Mingus and Miles Davis as well as leader Gershon’s amazing wit, as in his piece “There’s a Bus That’s Leaving Soon for Alban Berg’s House.” www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Ann Arbor – Friday, March 31st , 8 p.m., The San Francisco Jazz Collective plays a tribute to Herbie Hancock at The Michigan Theater. Joshua Redman, saxophones and artistic director; Bobby Hutcherson, vibes and marimba; Renee Rosnes, piano; Miguel Zenon, alto saxophone; plus a rhythm section to be announced. Part of the 12th Annual Jazz Series presented by The University Musical Society, now in it’s 127th season. See www.ums.org

Hart – Friday, May 12th, pianist Butch Thompson and Friends at the Hart Public Schools Auditorium in the Hart Middle School. Tickets at the door, $7.00. Contact Tom Kirk, (231) 873- 6320.

[Uncle Skid]

Thanks, Lazaro!

[Lazaro Vega]

From www.bluelake.org

The Jazz Datebook

March 23, 2006

Muskegon – Every other Tuesday The Truth in Jazz Orchestra plays at the West Side Inn, Beidler St. The sixteen piece big band led by bassist/bass trombonist Dave Collee features a swinging book and regular guests such as drummer Tim Froncek and trumpeter Dan Jacobs, who drives down from Bellaire . This neighborhood tavern fills up over the course of the performance. Music from 7 p.m.

Holland – Thursdays, 8 to 11 p.m. at Till Midnight, 171 East 24th Street, area trumpeter Dave Shock’s group The Shock Effect with bassist Jeff Beavan, Battle Creek’s tasteful arranger and accomplished pianist Terry Lower, plus drummer Mike VanLente. Rick Hicks sits in on guitar. (269) 392-6883.

Saugatuck – Friday, March 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. Jim Cooper contributes his solo vibraphone performance to an open house at The Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street. Then Saturday, March 25th, 8 p.m., Chicago vocalist Kirsten Gustafson tunes up for a national tour with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra by appearing with entertainer Michael Holmes in their production called “Swinging the Standards” at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ Bertha Krueger Reid Theater. “You Taught My Heart To Sing” was Gustafson’s 1992 debut on Atlantic records with liner notes by Sammy Cahn. In 2000 she released “Live at Montreux” recorded at the famous Swiss music festival. Seats are $15 through the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, (269) 857 – 2399 or www.sc4a.org .

Ganges – Sunday, March 26th from 5 to 7 p.m. the Dave Hay / Jim Cooper Quartet at the Lakeshore Interfaith Institute, 6676 122nd Street. Ganges is in the vicinity of Saugatuck and Fennville. $3. Hay, piano; Cooper, vibraphone; Tom Lockwood, bass; Mike VanLente, drums.

Grand Rapids – Friday, March 24, 6:30 p.m. vocalist Mary Rademacher swings at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. $3, cash bar. www.gramonline.org

Grand Haven – Saturday, March 25th from 7-9 p.m. Megan Horist is accompanied by the ragtime pianist Jim Eberhard and friends from Grand Rapids. In “Big Blue,” the building on the corner of Ferry and Columbus. Presented by the Grand Haven Area Arts Council. This concert is part of an on-going Saturday night series.

Grand Haven – The Theater Bar, 24 Washington St., features either jazz and blues guitarists Rick Hicks or Eric Glatz on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. and live local jazz bands on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m.

Grand Rapids – On-going: Find out about the next “Jazz Gumbo Showcase” presented by the West Michigan Jazz Society. Phone (616) 458 – 0125, or log-on www.wmichjazz.org . Their regular venue is The Kopper Top Guest House, 638 Stocking N.W. who just announced The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, a talent rich area big band, will play from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Monday of each month beginning March 27th.

Kalamazoo – Wednesday, March 29th @ 8:00 p.m. The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet celebrates their new CD “Spin” (Telarc Records) with a free form approach to musical styles in concert at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University. $25 for adults (group discounts available), $5 for students. Phone for tickets (800) 228-9858, Coming from a classical music instrumentation the band has cross over appeal to jazz.. Residency activities by the LAGQ include: 3-29, 10:30am: Open House, The Fountains at Bronson, 1700 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo. 1:00pm: Western Michigan University Convocation Series, Dalton Recital Hall. Thursday, March 30th, 10am: Youth Concert, Dalton Recital Hall. A presentation of www.fontanachamberarts.org

Ann Arbor – Tuesday, March 28th at 8 p.m., veteran improvisors of European jazz Misha Mengleberg, piano, and Han Bennink, drums with Holland’s world-renowned Instant Composer’s Pool Orchestra at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 North Fourth Avenue. For directions to the multi-directional music of the ICP Orchestra see www.kerrytownoncerthouse.com

Ann Arbor – Thursday, March 30th at 8 p.m. Russ Gershon’s labor of love The Either Orchestra, recently recorded at the Ethiopian Music Festival in Addis Ababa, also appears at the Kerrytown Concert House. A different vibe than the parade music to pure improvisation by the Dutchmen, Cambridge Mass.’s Either Orchestra is known for recasting jazz classics by Charles Mingus and Miles Davis, as well as leader Gershon’s absurdist wit, as in his piece “There’s a Bus That’s Leaving Soon for Alban Berg’s House.” www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Ann Arbor – Friday, March 31st , 8 p.m., The San Francisco Jazz Collective plays a tribute to Herbie Hancock at The Michigan Theater. Joshua Redman, saxophones and artistic director; Bobby Hutcherson, vibes and marimba; Renee Rosnes, piano; Miguel Zenon, alto saxophone; plus a rhythm section to be announced. Part of the 12th Annual Jazz Series presented by The University Musical Society, now in it’s 127th season. See www.ums.org

East Lansing – Wednesday, April 5th Doc Severinsen with the Great Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Cobb Great Hall, the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. www.whartoncenter.com

Hart – Friday, May 12th, pianist Butch Thompson and Friends at the Hart Public Schools Auditorium in the Hart Middle School. Tickets at the door, $7.00. Contact Tom Kirk, (231) 873- 6320.