Live Jazz in West Michigan

[Lazaro Vega]

The Jazz Datebook

April 21, 2006

Program Note:

April 29th is Duke Ellington’s 107th Birthday. Blue Lake celebrates the occasion Friday, April 28th after 10 p.m. and Saturday morning, April 29th from 7 to 10 a.m. In April Jazz From Blue Lake birthday tributes included Stanley Turrentine, Bud Freeman, Gene Ammons, Billie Holiday and Charles Mingus. Please see our on-line program guide for a list of this week’s featured artists. www.bluelake.org

The Datebook:

From April 22 through May 7 the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival presents a number of great jazz performances in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. www.thegilmore.com

Thursday, April 27 at 7 and 9:30. The Bad Plus are at The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids. The Bad Plus is Ethan Iverson, piano; David King, drums; and Reid Anderson, bass. Ethan Iverson appeared on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” in February. See:

http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/prev...05/iverson.html

Tickets for The Bad Plus at the Top of the B.O.B. are available through Tickets Plus, the B.O.B., or at the door. $30 with a a two drink minimum.

The B.O.B. web site: http://www.thegilmorecollection.com/The%20....B./thebob.html

In Kalamazoo, the Gilmore Festival Features three jazz series:

Jazz Club at Western Michigan University’s Gilmore Theater Complex:

Sunday, April 23rd at 4 and 7 p.m. pianist McCoy Tyner

Friday, April 28th at 7 and 9:30 p.m. pianist Eric Reed

Sunday, April 30th at 4 and 7 p.m. pianist Danilo Perez

Friday, May 5th at 7 and 9:30 p.m. pianist Lynne Arriale

Saturday Night Jazz at Chenery Auditorium

Saturday, April 29th at 8 p.m. the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo

O’Farrill

Noon Series at Civic Theater

Wednesday, April 26th Nachito Herrera with Puro Cubano

Thursday, April 27th the Jeff Hamilton Trio featuring the swinging drummer

Friday, April 28th A Tribute to Miles Davis’s recording “Kind of Blue” featuring drummer Jimmy Cobb,

who with Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers made up Davis’s second great rhythm

section of the 1950’s.

The next Gilmore Festival is in two years. Please see: www.thegilmore.com or call 1-800-34-PIANO.

Saturday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. The Windy City All Stars play a tribute to New Orleans as they open the new Lakeshore Jazz Connection Concert Season at the Saugatuck Women’s Club, on the corner of Butler and Hoffman streets, Saugatuck. A favorite at Andy’s Jazz Club in Chicago, the All Stars are led by trombonist Russ Phillips and include trumpeter Bobby Lewis (www.bobbylewis.com ), clarinetist Kim Cusack, guitarist Andy Brown, bassist Stewart Miller, and drummer Greg Sergo. The season continues May 28th with The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plus vocalist Sunny Wilkinson, vibraphonist Jim Cooper and pianist Dick Reynolds. $18 General Admission. See www.lakeshorejazzconnection.org or call (269) 857 – 2287.

Friday, April 21 at 5 p.m. and Saturday April 22 beginning at noon and running straight through to the finale concert at 7:30, the Third Annual Thornapple Arts Council/Felpash Jazz Festival in downtown Hastings. Over 18 high school jazz bands will be heard, including young musicians from Northview High School, Comstock Park, Byron Center, Forest Hills East and Coopersville. The finale concert features the Lansing Symphony Big Band and is a fundraiser for the Thornapple Arts Council. Tickets $15 adults; $10 for students and seniors; $5 for children under 12. See www.thornappleartscouncil.org for a full schedule, or call (269) 945 – 2002.

Monday, April 24th at 7:30, The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra delivers the big band sound at The Kopper Top Guest House, 638 Stocking NW, one door south of Fourth Street, Grand Rapids. See www.wmichjazz.org for more at the Kopper Top.

Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Northview High School Jazz Ensemble with guest artists Minds Eye, a musical collective featuring pianist/composer/teacher Steve Talaga, bassist/saxophonist Tom Lockwood, trumpeter/saxophonist Rob Smith and drummer Jeff Moehle. The Northview Performing Arts Center is at 4451 Hunsberger N.E. (off of Alpine), Grand Rapids. Tickets, $5 adults; $3.00 for students and seniors. Phone (616) 363 – 4857 extension 1727.

Thursday, April 27th Till Midnight in Holland features Jazz Avenue with twins Dave and Darren Mathews. ‘Till Midnight, 171 East 24th Street, Holland. Phone (616) 392 – 6883 or click www.tillmidnight.biz

Thursday, April 27th the popular jazz organ trio Organissimo with drummer Randy Marsh, guitarist Joe Gloss and organist Jim Alfredson at Founder’s Brewing Company, 648 Monore N.W., Grand Rapids. Phone (616) 776-1195. www.foundersbrewing.com

Tuesday, May 9th at 7 p.m. The Truth in Jazz Orchestra plays at the West Side Inn, Beidler St., Muskegon. 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 (see: http://www.danjacobsmusic.com/home.html )

The Theater Bar, 24 Washington St., Grand Haven features jazz or blues guitarists Rick Hicks or Eric Glatz on alternating Wednesday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. The Theater Bar, which specializes in seafood, presents live jazz Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m. (616) 844- 5055.

Friday, May 12th, pianist Butch Thompson and Friends at the Hart Public Schools Auditorium in the Hart Middle School. Tickets $7 at the door. Contact Tom Kirk, (231) 873- 6320.

Saturday, May 13th at 6 p.m. The University Musical Society’s 11th Annual Ford Honors Program presents Dave Brubeck the 2006 UMS Distinguished Artist Award. Brubeck Time: A Lifetime Tribute at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor includes The Dave Brubeck Quartet with special guest artists Chris Brubeck, trombone; Russell Gloyd conducting the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; the UMS Choral Union, Jerry Blackstone, Music Director; and The First Presbyterian Church Choir of Ann Arbor, Susan Boggs, Music Director. Brubeck’s quartet will play jazz, with Dave Brubeck, piano; Bobby Militello, saxophone, flute, woodwinds; Michael Moore, bass; and Randy Jones, drums. Movements from Brubeck’s “Light in the Wilderness: An Oratorio for Today” will be performed by the quartet, large ensemble and choirs. Concert tickets: $10 - $60 with proceeds supporting the UMS Education and Audience Development Program. Tickets are also available for a reception and elegant dinner in the Michigan League Ballroom hosted by the UMS Advisory Committee. This event follows the concert and presentation. For details phone (734) 764-2538 or click www.ums.org.

Sunday, May 21st from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. the River Rogues Jazz Band of Grand Rapids opens the new season for the West Shore Jazz Society at their season venue: The Oakridge Country Club, 513 West Pontaluna Road, Muskegon. $20 for members; $25 for non-members. The season includes The Chicago Hot Six on June 18th. For a full schedule call (231) 759 – 0071.