West Michigan (and some Ann Arbor) Jazz Events

[Lazaro Vega]

May 13, 2008

The Jazz Datebook:

Program Note:

“Live From Blue Lake” presents a local favorite – Evidence -- live from Blue Lake’s studios Tuesday May 27th at 10 p.m. in the next radio concert underwritten by Detroit’s jazz label Mack Avenue Records, the road to great music, mackavenue.com. Tenor saxophonist Michael Doyle’s hard bop and Latin jazz quintet Evidence is a West Michigan collective on the musical strengths of pianist Steve Talaga, drummer Fred Knapp, trumpeter Chris Lawrence and bassist Tom Lockwood. Their latest recording “The Message” includes liner notes by Blue Lake Public Radio’s Lazaro Vega. Evidence “Live From Blue Lake” is also underwritten by a grant from the Holland Area Arts Council and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. Please join us via FM or the Internet Tuesday, May 27th at 10 p.m. for “Live From Blue Lake” with Evidence.

Regular Hits:

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 with pianist Wally Michaels, bassist Jeff Beavin and drummer Jack Wilkin. No cover charge. Music also presented Saturdays and Sundays. www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

Tuesdays May 20th and June 10th and 24th from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 The Truth In Jazz Orchestra plays hard at The West Side Inn, 1635 Beidler St, Muskegon, MI. Also, on Monday, July 16th the band performs after 7 p.m. at John Ball Park Zoo in Grand Rapids. This powerful 16 piece Muskegon based big band announced via its web site that Dave Collee, “has left for the old country and is performing on cruise ships all over the Mediterranean Sea and ports all through Europe. We will sorely miss Dave as a trombonist, announcer, band leader, booking agent and most of all, good friend.” More information from 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

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

Thursdays local live jazz or blues is featured at Naya’s Restaurant, 1144 East Paris, Grand Rapids, MI. (616) 719 – 4400. www.nayagr.com.

Saturdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Restaurant Toulouse, 246 Culver Street, Saugatuck, presents 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 7 p.m. live music on the Blodgett Balcony at 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 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.

Fridays and Saturdays, from 7 to 11 p.m. the Doc Woodward Experience plays jazz and r&b at The Gull Landing, 438 N. Hancock, Pentwater. (231) 869-4215

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

Timely Hits:

Friday May 16th and Saturday May 17th at 7 p.m. then Sunday May 18th at 4 p.m. The Grand Haven Jazz Festival is held at Waterfront Stadium, Grand Haven. Performances and clinics on Friday by The Western Jazz Quartet; on Saturday by saxophonist Jeff Coffin with Austrian bassist Berhard Lackner (Coffin plays in Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – see www.jeffcoffin.com). The Sunday afternoon matinee features Muskegon’s premier jazz big band, The Truth and Jazz Orchestra. Special weekend jazz performances at The Rosebud, The Grand and Portabello are also scheduled. Tickets $10 and $14 at the gate. Charge by phone from (800) 585 – 3737 through Start Tickets Plus (also available at every Meijer location). See grandhavenjazzfest@myspace.com or E-mail grandhavenjazzfest@gmail.comfor more details.

Friday, May 16th from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. the Cooper, Hay, Van Lente Group performs at The Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar, 24 Washington Avenue, Grand Haven as part of the Grand Haven Jazz Festival. One of the working-est bands in west Michigan right now, the trio features Jim Cooper on vibes; Dave Hay piano and bass; plus Mike Van Lente, drums. Look for a new recording by them soon.

Saturday, May 17that 6 p.m. the Max Colley III Quartet participates in the Jazz Vespers concert and worship service at First United Methodist Church, 227 East Fulton Street, Grand Rapids. For information (616) 451 – 2879 ext. 126.

Sunday, May 18th, from 6 to 8 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra performs at Founder’s Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, at 235 Grandville SE (one block south of Cherry Street). After the 18th the GRJO plays the first and third Sunday’s of the month at Founders. See www.grjo.com for more information.

Monday, May 19th from 6 to 9 p.m. the Evan Hyde Quintet with the WMU Swingers take the stage at The Kopper Top Guest House, 634 Stocking NW, Grand Rapids, as part of the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz Gumbo Showcase. Evan is the son of vocalist Edie Evans-Hyde and guitarist Mike Hyde and was the WMJS scholarship winner this last school year. Tickets are $10 at the door. (616) 458 – 0125 or log-on to www.wmichjazz.org .

Saturday, May 24th at 9p.m. The Firefly Club, 637 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor the Polish jazz trio of pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michal Miskiewicz appears on their first North American tour behind the release of their second CD “January” on ECM Records (see: http://tinyurl.com/6496fw). The tour makes stops in New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. www.fireflyclub.com for more information.

Sunday, May 25th at 8 p.m. Dee Alexander sings jazz at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Named by the Chicago Tribune as "Jazz Performer of the Year," Dee Alexander was featured with Orbert Davis and the Chicago Philharmonic, is a regular guest on the Chicago Jazz Festival and recorded with Malachi Thompson's Africa Brass. Reserved seating only. Tickets available from the Saugatuck Center for the Arts at www.sc4a.org or by phone from (269) 857-2399. The Saugatuck Center For the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck.

Thursday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. A Salute to pianist Steve Talaga as Jazz Musician of the Year presented by The West Michigan Jazz Society at The Wege Center Ballroom, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids. Cash Bar opens at 6:30 with the Buffet Banquet from 7- 8:30 pm followed by

Award Presentations then Music & Dancing. $25 per person. Reservations Required by May 22nd. Please phone (616) 458 – 0125 or E-mail bforr@hotmail.com .

Wednesday, June 4th at 11:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, presents a Sneak Peak Luncheon introducing the 2008-2009 Classical and Jazz Series line up. See www.scmc-online.org or phone (616) 459 – 2224.

Sunday, June 8th from 3 to 6 p.m. The Red Rose Jazz Band continues the new season of early jazz presented by The West Shore Jazz Society at The Oakridge Country Club Ballroom, 513 West Pontaluna Road, Muskegon. Tickets are $20 for members of the WSJS or $25 for non-members. The season includes these performances: July 13th Bob Adams’ Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band; August 10th Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers; September 7th The West End Jazz Band; October 5th Rag Time Rick and The Chefs of Dixieland; and November 2nd, The Chicago Salty Dogs. For season tickets or membership in The West Shore Jazz Society please call WSJS President Bill Blakeman at (231) 759 – 0071 or write West Shore Jazz Society, P.O. Box 175, Musekgon, MI 49443.

The week of June 15 – 20th, the annual Aquinas College Jazz Camp, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, is open to students interested in studying with top-professional jazz player-teachers, including improvisation at all levels, arranging and composing for combos, big bands, et al.

For information or to sign-up see www.aquinas.edu/music/jazz_camp.html#schedule .

One correction: Dave Hay will be the piano instructor as Steve Talaga will be performing out of the country. More information from: Dr. Paul Brewer/Director of Bands, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, www.aquinas.edu/music/faculty.html . For PDF of the registration form please see: http://www.aquinas.edu/music/pdf/jazzcamp08.pdf .

Thursday, June 19th at 10 p.m. “Live From Blue Lake” features Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings, a 10 piece early jazz band performing the late music of King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton and the early music of Duke Ellington. See www.porkjazz.com . Please join us live on the air.

June 21st through July 25 The Fontana Chamber Arts 2008 Summer Music Festival. Fontana will present 19 chamber music concerts in multiple venues in southwest Michigan. Concert venues include the Kalamazoo Nature Center (Cooper’s Glen Auditorium), St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo, Stetson Chapel at Kalamazoo College, First United Methodist Church in South Haven, and the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers. Of particular interest to jazz fans: Tuesday, July 8th at 7:30 p.m. jazz organist Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio appears at First United Methodist Church, South Haven; and Wednesday, July 9th at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio gets greasy at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. Information from (269) 382-7774. The Fontana Chamber Arts is located at the Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Suite. 200, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. www.fontanachamberarts.org . As part of their winter season Fontana will present Renaud Garcia-Fons Trio on Thursday, September 25th; The Tord Gustavsen Trio on Thursday, January 15th at 8 p.m. and Stefon Harris and Blackout on Thursday May 14th. Each of those performances takes place at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Kalamazoo.

Monday, November 3rd a Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee presented by Muskegon Community Concerts and featuring Amada Carr and Everett Longstreth at The Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 West Western Avenue, Muskegon. Then on Saturday, February 21st Muskegon Community Concerts presents jazz pianist and vocalist Freddie Cole’s quartet in concert at The Frauenthal. Information on the entire season from www.muskegonconcerts.org.