The Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

November 14, 2008

The Jazz Datebook:

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 Wilkins. 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.

Tuesday, December 2nd from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 The Truth In Jazz Orchestra plays swinging improvisational jazz at The West Side Inn, 1635 Beidler St, Muskegon, MI. Fronted by West Michigan's legendary drummer Tim Froncek the TIJO is 16 Muskegon’s crowning glory: the highest level musicians play charts from the classic big band era and today's challenging writing for large ensemble. The band was organized by Dave Collee, Ed Spier, and Matt Lintula to perform great songs and the most demanding music literature for big band. They have the players to pull it off, plus it is a great hang! More from www.tijo.org.

Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. the Mike Michewicz Quartet plays classic and contemporary jazz on the patio at Zeytin Turkish Restaurant, 400 Ada Dr S.E., Ada Township, 49301. Regular members of the saxophonist’s band are pianist Steve Talaga, drummer/trumpeter Max Colley, and bassist Tom Lockwood. No cover.

Thursdays through December from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Junior John plays jazz at Louis Benton Steakhouse, 77 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids MI 49503. The group features saxophonist John Gist, pianist Paul Lesinski and drummer Kevin Depree. They’ll be taking Thanksgiving and Christmas off. (616) 454 – 7455 or www.louisbenton.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.

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

Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. live music in the Peter M. Wege Pavilion at The Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, with a Jazz Encore from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, November 21st, bassist Jeff Beaven’s trio; 28th, The Fred Knapp Trio; Jazz Returns Friday, December 26th. GRAM is also presenting classical chamber music Sunday afternoon from 2 to 3 p.m. See www.artmuseumgr.org 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.

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:

Thursday, November 20th at 8 p.m. guitarist Eric Menendez Trio, “All Strings Considered,” performs at Z’s Bar and Restaurant, 168 Louis Campau Promenade NW, Grand Rapids. www.zsbar.com.

Friday, November 21st at 8:15 p.m. clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski is the guest artist with the University Jazz Orchestra and University Jazz Lab Band as The Western Michigan University School of Music presents their 26th Annual Tribute to the Great Swing Bands at Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. See www.kenpeplowski.com for more information. Tickets through the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office, (800) 228 – 9858.

Sunday, November 22nd from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. The Rhythm Section Jazz Band with vocalist Francesca Amari swings at Westwood at the Crossing, 5760 West River Drive, Grand Rapids. The group performs on there on the third Sunday of each month.

Saturday, November 28th Smooth Jazz and Poetry with The Social Exchange at 3668 29th Street, Kentwood. Featuring music by Too Smooth for Notes and poetry by Nalink. Information from www.sonicbids.com/toosmoothfornotes.com or by calling (616) 248 – 4291. See myspace.com/thesocialexchange for more information.

Sunday, November 30th from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. a benefit for jazz drummer Randy Marsh’s twin sister Pam Castleman at Knight’s of Casimir Hall, 6th and Davis NW, Grand Rapids. Food, raffle, and music by Organissimo, The Greg Nagy Trio, Root Doctor, The Cooper/Hay/VanLente Trio and others. Donations are requested to help pay Pam’s hospital bills and her eventual rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed. Donations may be made to the Pamela Castleman Benefit Account, c/o Union Bank of Hastings, 529 W. State Street, Hastings, MI, 49058.

Wednesday, December 3rd at 9 p.m. saxophonist Eric Alexander leads his quartet featuring Billy Hart, drums, Peter Zak, piano, and Tom Knific, bass, in a concert to benefit the Billy Hart Jazz Scholarship at Western Michigan University. The performance takes place at The Union Cabaret and Grille, 125 South Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI. Admission is $20; $5 for students, and available at the door. See www.wmich.edu/jazzstudies.

Thursday, December 4th from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The Beltline Big Band and the West Michigan Jazz Society present, “’Tis the Season to be Swinging,” a holiday jazz party at The Kopper Top Guest House, 634 Stocking N.W., Grand Rapids, 49504. Tickets are $25 per person and include a buffet dinner of beef sirloin medallions and chicken breasts. Reservations to (616) 458 – 0125 or by mail to The West Michigan Jazz Society, 304 Paris S.E., Grand Rapids MI 49503. The Beltline Big Band, formed nine years ago by Marilyn and Steve Tyree, specializes in jazz and dance music of the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Saturday, December 6th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. auditions are being held for the new St. Cecilia Music Center’s School of Music All-Star Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Kurt Ellenberger. The new ensemble is designed for serious high school jazz musicians. For the audition: Students will be asked to perform a solo jazz piece from a “lead sheet” or a school band piece as well as be asked to improvise, play Major and Minor scales and sight read. Rehearsals start January 5th and continue to May 12th every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. To schedule and audition please phone Martha Cudlipp at (616) 459 – 2224.

Sunday December 7nd from 6 to 8 p.m. The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra performs at Founder’s Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W., Grand Rapids. Information from www.grjo.com.

Sunday, December 14th at 5 p.m. pianist Steve Talaga presents a special Christmas Service at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 7495 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 942 – 2741.

Saturday, December 20th pianist Steve Talaga and Mind’s Eye is heard from 6 to 7 p.m. in the First United Methodist Jazz Vespers service at 227 East Fulton St. Grand Rapids. Then: January 17th, Hugh DeWitt and Friends; February 21st drummer Keith Hall and Another Dimension; March 21st, Nelson Wood and the Village Jazz Trio; April 18th, drummer/trumpeter Max Colley III; May 16th, vibraphonist Jim Cooper. Information from (616) 451 – 2879 ext. 126 or www.grandrapidsfumc.org.

Friday, January 9th from 7 to 10 p.m. guitarist Rick Hicks plays jazz at The Alley Door Club, part of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Muskegon. Music is heard on the second and fourth Fridays of each month until May 8th. January 23rd, The Buster Blues Band; February 13th, jazz by Organissimo; February 27th, vocalist Edye Evans Hyde sings jazz; March 13th Big Daddy Fox plays R&B; March 27th, Root Doctor plays the blues; April 10th is singer/songwriter night; April 24th Troll For Trout plays modern folk; and May 8th the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Jazz All Stars swing hard. Tickets are $6 at the door. Information from (231) 727 – 8001 or www.frauenthal.info.

Thursday, January 15th at 8 p.m. The Tord Gustavsen Trio from Norway performs at 8 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Winter Season. See http://www.norway.org/culture/music/tordtrio+turne.htm. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris and Blackout appear Thursday May 14th. 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 .

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. vocalist/pianist Freddy Cole, Nat King Cole’s younger brother, appears in St. Cecilia Music Center’s jazz series at Royce Auditorium, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. Tickets are available from (616) 459 – 2224 or from www.scms-online.org .