Live Jazz in West Michigan

[Lazaro Vega]

November 1, 2007

The Jazz Datebook:

Mondays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The What Not Inn features a jam session open to musicians and vocalists and featuring local, regional and international jazz musicians sitting in with the “house” band “Moment’s Notice” led by trumpeter Eddie Curtis. No cover charge. www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

Tuesday, November 6th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 The Truth In Jazz Orchestra returns to The West Side Inn, 1635 Beidler St, Muskegon, MI. The 16 piece Muskegon based big band led by Dave Collee, often featuring Tim Froncek on drums, is on line at www.tijo.org .

Wednesdays, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Rick Reuther sings at Notos Italian Restaurant, 6600 28th St. S.E., Grand Rapids. Rick Reuther plays with drummer Cherie Lynn and pianist Tom Hagen. See http://www.notosoldworld.com/ or www.rickreuthersings.com

Wednesday, 7 to 11 p.m. trumpeter Eddie Curtis with Wally Michaels keyboards/bass keys and Jack Wilkins, drums, play jazz at Spectators, 6432 Blue Star Highway, Saugatuck, (269) 857 – 5001.

Thursdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Baton Rouge, LA native Sweet Willie Singleton swings jazz standards at Gill’s Blue Crab Lounge in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. N.W., Grand Rapids.

Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. live local jazz is featured at Naya’s Restaurant, 1144 East Paris, East Grand Rapids, MI. (616) 719 – 4400. www.nayagr.com.

Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Restaurant Toulouse, 246 Culver Street, Saugatuck, features live jazz with the Chet Baker influenced trumpeter Eddie Curtis in duo with pianist Wally Michaels. (269) 857 – 1561.

Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. live music at the new address of The Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids. See www.gramonline.org for more information, or call (616) 831 – 1000.

Three Fridays a month trumpeter/vocalist/entertainer Sweet Willie Singleton plays jazz in Ada during the dinner hour (6 to 9 p.m.) at the Thornapple Daily Grill, 445 Ada Drive, Ada, MI. (616) 676-1233 www.thegilmorecollection.com/Thornapple/thornapple.html.

Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. live jazz and blues at The Gull Landing, 438 South Hancock, Pentwater: November 2nd, Muskegon area guitarist Rick Hicks: Nov. 3rd, organist/jazz preacher Doc Woodward Trio; Nov. 9 & 10th, Mary Rademacher and the Rad Pack; Nov. 16 & 17th, Doc Woodward returns by popular request. (231) 869 -4215.

Fridays, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. trumpeter Eddie Curtis plays on the patio behind the Everyday People’s Café, 11 Center Street, Douglas; (269) 857 – 4240.

Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. live local jazz, blues and other musical forms at The Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar, 24 Washington St., Grand Haven. Live local jazz or blues guitarists on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 11 p.m. (616) 844- 5055.

Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pumpernickels, 202 Butler St., Saugatuck, guitarist Chip Kristi plays jazz for brunch. (269) 857-1196.

Friday, November 2nd, Ann Arbor pianist and professor of music at the University of Michigan Steve Rusch improvises freely with his band Quartex at Schuler Books and Music, 2660 28th Street, Grand Rapids (616) 942-2561. The concert is free. See: www.music.umich.edu/faculty_staff/rush.stephen.lasso.

Sunday, November 4th at 8 p.m. Japanese born percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani and Swedish guitarist David Stackenas improvise free music at Mexicans Sans Frontiers, 120 South Division Av. #226, Grand Rapids. (616) 706-7963. Nakatani’s last appearance in Grand Rapids with the Billy Bang Sextet featuring Frank Lowe was recorded for broadcast on Blue Lake Public Radio and subsequently issued on the Justin Time Label of Montreal. Hope College’s recording engineer John Erskine will be at Hugo Caludin’s artist run loft on Sunday at 8 p.m. to capture the improvisations.

Sunday, November 4th from 3 to 7 p.m. The West Shore Jazz Society presents early jazz style of The Chicago Salty Dogs at The Oakridge Country Club, 513 West Pontaluna Road, Muskegon. Contact Bill Blakeman at (231) 206-5683 or E-mail, wjblakeman@aol.com; for reservations, (231) 733-0071.

Sunday, November 4th at 7 p.m. Faruq Z. Bey plays saxophone with the Northwoods Improvisers at the Central Michigan University Library Auditorium, Mount Pleasant. See www.northwoodsimprovisers.com.

Sunday, November 4th at 4:30 p.m. the Jazz Institute of Chicago presents “Franz Jackson Celebrates 95!” at Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center, Dowagiac, MI. Known for his arrangements on “Yellow Fire” and “Southside” with the Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra of the 1930’s, tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Franz Jackson is a living legend of Chicago jazz. An all star cast will support him including trumpeter Art Hoyle. A limited number of tickets are available for a private buffet reception with Franz Jackson at The Woodfire Italian Trattoria following the concert. Tickets for the concert are between $50 and $25; available through (269) 782-1115 or on-line at www.dogwoodfinearts.org.

Friday November 9th at 8 p.m., Saturday Nov. 10th at 8 p.m. and Sunday November 11th at 3 p.m. vocalist Patti Austin appears with the Grand Rapids Symphony under Associate Conductor John Varineau in “A loving tribute to one of America’s greatest singers, Ella Fitzgerald.” Along with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald popularized the Great American Song Book in the middle3 of the last century. Ella Fitzgerald’s interpretation of movie and show tunes (often written for Fred Astaire) by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin, as well as jazz composers Fats Waller and Duke Ellington, popularized jazz’s interpretive possibilities. Tickets are available from $18 to $56 through Ticket Master at (616) 456 – 3333. See www.pattiaustin.com or www.grsymphony.org.

Friday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. a CD release party for Michael Doyle and Evidence at Schuler Books and Music, 2660 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. The new Evidence Jazz Group CD “The Message” includes liner notes by Lazaro Vega. This performance is free. Information from 616 942 2561 or www.schulerbooks.com .

Friday, November 9th at 7 p.m. The Jazz Ambassadors, the United States Army’s 19 piece touring jazz orchestra, appears at Northview High School Performing Arts Center, 4451 Hunsburger Ave. N.E., Grand Rapids (616) 363-4857 ext. 1727. The free concert will feature former Northview High School student Kevin Watt as trumpet soloist.

Saturday, November 10th from 7 to 10 p.m. jazz vocalist Edye Evans Hyde joins blues band The Vincent Hayes Project to open a new season of “The Alley Door Club” at the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, Muskegon. $5 at the door. Information from (231) 727-8001 or www.frauenthal.info.

Tuesday, November 13th at 7:30 p.m. Chicago jazz vocalist Kurt Elling appears in the St. Cecilia Music Center’s revamped jazz season (see: http://stcecilia.portfoliocms.com/Brix?pageID=1) which includes a concert by saxophonist Joe Lovano on January 24th and special Mother’s Day events with pianists Cyrus Chestnut and Eric Reed. Call (616) 459 – 2224 for more information.

Wednesdays November 14th and December 12th the Beltline Big Band plays for swing and couples dancing from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Peninsular Club, 120 Ottawa Avenue, Grand Rapids, (616) 459 – 3261. For information, www.beltlinebigband.com.

Wednesday, November 14th at 8:15 p.m. The New York Voices (www.newyorkvoices.com) appear in concert for the Western Michigan University School of Music at The Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU, Kalamazoo. Tickets are $15 (students $5) from The Miller Auditorium Box Office, (800) 228-9858.

Thursday, November 15th at 8:00 p.m. Fontana Chamber Arts presents the gifted young jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris whose recent major composition “African Tarentella, ‘Dances with Duke’” (For Duke Ellington) is heard at Howard Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. (269) 337-0440. Performed by Stefon Harris - vibes and marimba; Junah Chung, viola ; Louise Dubin, cello; Anne Drummond, flute; Mark Vinci, clarinet; Roland Barber, trombone; Marc Cary, piano; Earl Travis, bass; Terreon Gully, drums. Tickets are $30 and $22 for adults, $5 for students with ID. Phone The Miller Auditorium Ticket Office at (269) 382-7774. See: www.fontanachamberarts.org/?pid=194 .

Thursday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m. The Hope College Jazz Ensemble presents James Miley’s composition “Bug,” followed by the ensemble “Bug,” inspired by jazz collective built around the music of 2004 IAJE/Gil Evans Fellowship recipient James Miley at the Knickerbocker Theater, Holland. “Bug” the band includes Miley at the piano, Peter Epstein from the University of Nevada, Reno on saxophones, guitarist Jeff Miley (Cuesta College), bassist Roger Shew (Fullerton College and Laguna Beach High School) and drummer Brian Hamada (Fresno-based freelance musician). Additional information may be obtained online at www.bugtet.com. The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St. For information, (616) 395-7860

Sundays November 18th and December 16th from 7 to 10 p.m. the Rhythm Section Jazz Band directed by Paul Sherwood plays for big band swing dancing at Westwood at the Crossings, 5760 West River Drive (3 miles west of the East Beltline), Grand Rapids. See: www.gigmasters.com/BigBand/TheRhythmSectionJazz.

Monday, November 19th Macnaughton Boulevard performs at the Kopper Top Guest House, 634 Stocking Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids as part of the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz Gumbo Showcase. Information from (616) 458 – 0125 or www.wmichjazz.org.

Monday, December 3rd at 7:30 p.m. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy plays their high energy swing and blues at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, 600 Forest Hills Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.fhfineartscenter.com or by phone (616) 493-8965.

Thursday, December 13 the West Michigan Jazz Society Holiday Party at the Donnelly Center, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids. Information on the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz from (616) 458 – 0125 or www.wmichjazz.org.

Thursday, January 24th at 7:30 p.m. the Hot Club of San Francisco presents their multi-media, gypsy jazz inspired program “Silent Surrealism” at Dimnent Memorial Chapel, Hope College, Holland. The Hot Club is modeled after the legendary Parisian band of the 1930s, The Hot Club of France, co-led by violinist Stephane Grapelli and guitarist Django Reinhardt. During their performance in Holland, The Hot Club of San Francisco will accompany live 40 minutes of four silent films rediscovered and premiered at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (these are film scores original to The Hot Club of San Francisco). The "San Francisco Chronicle" called the group "one of the most cohesive and entertaining Gypsy swing bands in the United States.” Individual tickets for this concert or season subscriptions to Hope College’s Great Performances Series are available at the ticket office in the DeVos Fieldhouse, 222 Fairbanks Ave., between Ninth and 11th streets, Holland; or by calling (616) 395-7890. Information about the entire season is available from www.hope.edu/gps .

Friday, February 29th 2008 at 7:30 p.m. jazz flutist Holly Hoffman accompanied by pianist Mike Wofford appear in the Hart Community Performing Arts Series, Hart Public Schools Auditorium, Hart Middle School, 308 West Johnson Street. Tickets are $8 and available through librarian@hart.lib.mi.us or 231.873.4476.

March 1st, the Blue Coast Quartet returns to ‘Til Midnight in Holland. ‘Till Midnight is located at 171 East 24th Street, Holland: phone, (616) 392 – 6883 or www.tillmidnight.biz .

Friday, March 14th at 7 p.m. vocalist Sunny Wilkinson and pianist Ron Newman play jazz in concert at Bethlehem Church Sanctuary as part of “Musical Arts for Justice in the Community” to raise money for social justice organizations throughout west Michigan, this year benefiting The Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness. Bethlehem Church is located at 250 Commerce Avenue S.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 456-1741 or www.grmajic.org.

Sunday, March 16th at 7:30 p.m. the Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary Tour comes to the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, 600 Forest Hills Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids, with Terence Blanchard, trumpet; James Moody, saxophones; Benny Green, piano; Nnenna Freelon, voice; Derrick Hodge, bass; and Kendrick Scott, drums. See www.fhfineartscenter.com or by phone (616) 493-8965.

Saturday, March 29th at 8 p.m. The Chicago Jazz Orchestra with trumpeter Jon Faddis (www.chijazz.com ) at the Fine Arts Center Auditorium, Calvin College, Grand Rapids. Available, too, dinner at the Prince Conference Center prior to the concert: www.calvin.edu for more information.

Saturday, April 19, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. the “Harry James Orchestra” appears at Frauenthal Theater in Muskegon, a presentation of Muskegon Community Concerts. Tickets: Star Tickets Plus 1-800-585-3737 or Frauenthal Box Office: M-F 11am-6pm. The Harry James Orchestra is currently under the direction of James’ lead trumpet virtuoso Fred Radke, whose style of playing is so similar to James’ that listeners often cannot discern the difference. Radke’s credits include The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Lennon Sisters, Connie Stevens, and The Pied Pipers.

[Christiern]

Sunday, November 4th at 4:30 p.m. the Jazz Institute of Chicago presents “Franz Jackson Celebrates 95!” at Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center, Dowagiac, MI. Known for his arrangements on “Yellow Fire” and “Southside” with the Earl Hines Grand Terrace Orchestra of the 1930’s, tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Franz Jackson is a living legend of Chicago jazz. An all star cast will support him including trumpeter Art Hoyle. A limited number of tickets are available for a private buffet reception with Franz Jackson at The Woodfire Italian Trattoria following the concert. Tickets for the concert are between $50 and $25; available through (269) 782-1115 or on-line at www.dogwoodfinearts.org.

Good to hear that Franz not only remains among the living but also still performs! It seems like so long ago that I produced an album under his leadership for my Chicago: The Living Legends Riverside series.

Wish I could be there in other than spirit on November 4th. Please give Franz my very best.

[randissimo]

Lazaro,

Thanks for posting the Jazz datebook..