The Jazz Datebook, west Michigan

[Lazaro Vega]

February 1, 2011

The Jazz Datebook:

Regular Hits:

Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays 7 – 11 p.m. and Saturdays 6-10 p.m. The What Not Inn features a revolving cast of local musicians. Saturday, February 5th, vocalist Mary Rademacher. Every Monday the What Not Inn jam session is open to musicians and vocalists featuring local, regional and international jazz musicians sitting in with the “house” band. No cover charge. For a full schedule see www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea continues at The Republic, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids. www.republicgrandrapids.com.

Tuesdays, from 7 to 10 p.m. pianist John Shea leads the band at the Big O’ Café, 80 Ottawa NW, Grand Rapids. (616) 451 – 1887 or www.bigospizzas.com.

Tuesdays from 7 to 11 p.m. live local jazz at The Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar, 24 Washington St., Grand Haven. (616) 844- 5055.

Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 493 – 6686, or www.notosoldworld.com.

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. jazz at Hennessy’s Irish Pub, 885 Jefferson St. in downtown Muskegon (the old G&L building). Information from (231) 728 – 3333. February 9th, The West Side Jazz Trio.

Wednesdays, 7 to 10 p.m. pianist John Shea is working at Brick Road Pizza, 1017 Wealthy Street S.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 719 – 2409.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday live jazz from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mangiamo, 1033 Lake Drive S.E., Grand Rapids. Information from (616) 742 – 0600. 2-2, John Proulx; 2-3, Bill Huyge; 2-4, Mark Kahny; 2-5, Paul Lesinski; 2-9, Greg Miller; 2-10, Robin Connell; 2-11, Bob VanStee; 2-12, Paul Lesinski; Monday, 2-14, Mark Kahny; 2-16, Mark Kahny; 2-17, Wally Michaels; 2-18, Greg Miller; 2-19, Bill Huyge; 2-23, Greg Miller; 2-24 Robin Connell; 2-25, Mark Kahny; 2-26, Paul Lesinski; 3-2, John Proulx. See www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Wednesdays, 7 – 10 pm. Gilly’s at The B.O.B, 20 Monroe Avenue N.W. Grand Rapids, features the Mark Kahny/Tony Reynolds duo.

Thursdays, 7 – 10 p.m. Gilly’s at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, music with pianist John Shea. (616) 356 – 2627.

Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. pianist Bob VanStee with singer Kathy LaMar at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 493 – 6686, or http://www.notosoldworld.com/site/index.php/lounge/live_entertainment.

Fridays, Tony Reynolds and Wally Michaels entertain at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids. (616) 493 – 6686. www.notosoldworld.com.

Fridays from 6:30 to 9:30 John Shea is heard. at Cobblestone Bistro, 9818 Cherry Valley SE (M-37), Caledonia. (616) 588 – 3223 or www.mycobblestone.com

Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. the Stormhorn Jazz Trio featuring alto saxophonist and storm chaser Bob Hartig at The Cobblestone Bistro, 9818 Cherry Valley SE (M-37), Caledonia. (616) 588 – 3223 or www.mycobblestone.com. For information on Bob see www.stormhorn.com.

Timely Hits:

Sunday, February 6th at 5:30 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra hits at Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W. Grand Rapids. If you can’t make it to the bar, the event will be streamed (both audio and video with a live chat) on the web via www.grjo.org.

Wednesday, February 9th at 7:30 p.m. The Jazz Arts Collective, Mainstream and Contemporary Ensembles (two jazz chamber ensembles) of Hope College give a free public performance of original compositions at the Dimnent Memorial Chapel, 227 College Avenue at College and 12th Street, Holland. Information from (616) 395 – 7860.

Friday, February 11th at 7 p.m. the Chicago based ensemble Eastern Blok returns to Bethlehem Lutheran Church 250 Commerce Avenue S.W. Grand Rapids for a concert of pan-cultural music, blending classical and jazz approaches with melodies and rhythms from the folk music traditions of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia. With Groan I Vanovic, classical guitar; Doug Rosenberg, woodwinds; Matthew Ulery, bass; and Michael Caskey, percussion. To hear the band click http://easternblok.net/music.html. Proceeds benefit the Heartside Fund and Heartside Music Together. See www.grmajic.org or call (616) 406 – 9655.

Friday, February 11th at 8 p.m. the Vijay Iyer Trio appears in The Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. Information is from www.fontanachamberarts.org .

Saturday, February 12th, the 33rd Annual Gold Company Miller Show featuring the award winning university vocal jazz ensemble Gold Company, directed by Steve Zegree, and Gold Company II directed by Michael Wheaton. Tickets through the Miller Auditorium Box Office, (800) 889 – 228 – 9858 or www.millerauditorium.com.

Sunday February 13th at 2 p.m. pianist Roger MacNaughton performs a fusion of classical music and jazz at the 2011 Hempy Keyboard Series at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Information on MacNaughton’s multifaceted careeer from www.grogermacnaughton.com. Information on the concert from www.sc4a.org or (269) 857 – 2399.

Thursday, February 17th at 8 p.m. the Ferris State University music program presents Claudia Schmidt at The Blue Cow Cafe, 119 North Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids. See www.ferris.edu/festival or call the Blue Cow Café at (231) 796 -0100.

Saturday, February 19th at 6 p.m. vibraphonist Jim Cooper leads his trio in the Jazz Vespers service at First United Methodist Church, 227 East Fulton St., Grand Rapids. Information from www.grandrapidsfumc.org or (616) 451 – 2879.

Monday, February 21st at 7:30 p.m. the Continuing Great Artist in Residence series at Hope College presents jazz pianist Fred Hersch with bassist Tom Knific, drummer Keith Hall and vocalist Taylor O’Donnell in Wichers Auditorium, 127 East 12th Street, Hope College, Holland. Information from (616) 395 – 7893.

Tuesday, February 22nd, at 7:30 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. vocalist Ann Hampton Calloway and her trio in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. N.E. Grand Rapids. (616) 459 – 2224 or http://www.scmc-online.org/concerts-events/detail/ann_hampton_callaway/.

Tuesday, February 22nd at 8:15 p.m. bassist/educator Tom Knific hosts a CD release party for his new disc “The Muse,” at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Kalamazoo, with special guests Fred Hersh, piano; Chris Beckstrom, saxophone; John Knific, piano; Keith Hall, drums; Ryan Andrews, percussion, and Taylor O’Donnell with Mark Jackson, voices. Information from (269) 387–4678.

Saturday, February 26th from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. pianist John Shea reunites with bassist Paul Keller and drummer Pete Siers (the group played in Grand Rapids in the 1980’s at The Harley Hotel, and before that at a variety of venues) at Cobblestone Bistro, 9818 Cherry Valley SE (M-37), Caledonia. Reservations are suggested, $30 in advance, $35 at the door: includes table dinner/show/cash bar. (616) 588 – 3223 or www.mycobblestone.com.

Saturday, February 26th at 8 p.m. the Ferris State University music program presents Jazz at The Blue Cow Cafe, 119 North Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids. See www.ferris.edu/festival or call the Blue Cow Café at (231) 796 -0100.

Friday, March 4th from 8 to 11 p.m. the Lakeshore Big Band plays for dining and dancing at the Grand Haven American Legion, 700 South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven. The American Legion number is (616) 842 – 5310; and for information on the band please see www.lakeshorebigband.com.

Sunday, March 6th at 7:30 p.m. Gold Company and the Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra in The Allen Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, New York. See: http://tinyurl.com/5v4ft5f .

Friday, March 11th at 8:15 p.m. The Cleveland Jazz All Stars at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. With Ken Peplowski, saxophone & clarinet; Jiggs Whigham, trombone; Shelly Berg, piano; Tom Knific, bass; Jamey Haddad, drums. Tickets available at the door or from the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office, (800) 228 – 9858.

Thursday, April 7th at 7:30 p.m. Aquinas College’s Spring Jazz Night featuring the AQ Jazz Band directed by Dr. Paul Brewer in the outdoor Amphitheater, Art and Music Center, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids. Information from (616) 632 – 2413 or www.aquinas.edu/music/events.html.

Thursday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m. Dr. Paul Brewer and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra present music composed and arranged by “Doc” Brewer, at the Kretschmer Recital Hall, Art and Music Building, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids. Information from (616) 632 – 2413 or www.aquinas.edu/music/events.html.

Friday, April 15th, the Mara Rosenbloom quartet at Mexicains San Frontieres, South Division, Grand Rapids. See: http://www.mararosenbloom.com/live/ .

Friday, May 6th from 8 to 11 p.m. the Lakeshore Big Band plays for dining and dancing at the Grand Haven American Legion, 700 South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven. The American Legion number is (616) 842 – 5310; and for information on the band please see www.lakeshorebigband.com.

Sunday, June 12th through Friday, June 17th the Aquinas College Summer Jazz Camp. Information from (616) 632 – 2413 or www.aquinas.edu/music/jazz_camp.html.