West Michigan Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

November 11, 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 each weekend, including vocalist Mary Rademacher Saturday, December 3rd, and Bob VanStee with Kathy LaMar on December 23rd. 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, with veteran Chicago drummer Greg Sergo in the “first chair.” www.republicgrandrapids.com.

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 11/16, 11/30, 12/14 and 12/28 from 6:30 – 9:30 pianist John Shea plays Fricanos Muskegon, 1050 W. Western Avenue, Muskegon. See www.hartshornecentre.com or (231) 722 – 2600 ext. 21.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday live piano jazz is heard from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mangiamo, 1033 Lake Drive S.E., Grand Rapids. Information from (616) 742 – 0600. Wednesday, November 16th, pianist Wally Michaels; Thursday, 11-17, Kevin and Racquel piano and voice; Friday, 11-18, guitarist Gregg Miller; 11-19, saxophonist/pianist Hugh DeWitt; Wednesday, 11-23, pianist Bill Davidson; 11-24, pianist/vocalist Robin Connell; 11-25, pianist/vocalist John Proulx; 11-26, pianist Bill Huyge; 11-30, pianist Stephen Durst. See www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Thursdays, 6 – 9 p.m. Gilly’s at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, music with pianist John Shea and his trio. (616) 356 – 2627.

Thursdays and Fridays, from 6 to 9 p.m. live jazz at The Viceroy, 53 Commerce Avenue S.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 774 – VICE.

Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m. John Shea’s trio swings the standards and jazz at the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.jwgr.com or (616) 242 – 1448.

Fridays from 8 p.m. to midnight the John Gist Group plays old school jazz and soul at Love Restaurant and Lounge, 1520 Wealthy St. in Eastown (the former Intersection). (616) 570 – 9994.

Sundays from 7 to 10:30 p.m. a jazz jam session under drummer/harmonica master Randy Marsh’s direction at Hop Cat, 25 Ionia, Grand Rapids. (616) 451-HOPS. This is a great opportunity for young musicians to gain playing experience with a professional level band.

Timely Hits:

Saturday, November 19th at 6 p.m. trumpeter and drummer Max Colley III is presented in the monthly Jazz Vespers service at First United Methodist Church, 227 East Fulton Street, Grand Rapids. See www.grandrapidsfumc.org.

Saturday, November 19th at 7:30 p.m. the New York based jazz pianist/composer/vocalist Deanna Witkowski performs in the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, 107 South Harrison Street, Ludington, with notable sidemen Michael O'Brien, bass and Vince Cherico, drums. See www.deannawitkowski.com or www.ludingtonartscouncil.org or phone (231) 845 – 2787.

Saturday, November 19th at 8:15 p.m. the 29th Annual Tribute to the Great Swing Bands takes place at Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, with the Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Lab Band performing music by The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Terry Gibbs Big Band and The Boyd Raeburn Orchestra. Information from (800) 228 – 9858 or www.millerauditorium.com.

Monday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m. pianist Mark Kahny and vocalist Tony Reynolds play the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz Gumbo Showcase at the Kopper Top Guest House, 634 Stocking N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.wmichjazz.org for more information.

Tuesday, November 22nd The Truth in Jazz Orchestra (www.tijo.org) appears in concert at The West Side Inn, 1635 Beidler Street, Muskegon. Fantastic local big band featuring drummer Tim Froncek and trumpeter Max Colley III.

Wednesday, November 30th at 8 p.m. the sultry voice of Jane Monheit will grace the St. Cecilia Music Center’s Royce Auditorium, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. See http://www.scmc-online.org/concerts-events/detail/jane-monheit/

Thursday, December 1st at 7 p.m. David Rucks presents “Jazz From the Heart” at the Muskegon Museum of Art, 296 West Webster Avenue, Muskegon. (231) 720 – 2570 or www.muskegonartmuseum.org.

December 4th at 3 p.m. all of the jazz ensembles at Western Michigan University present Jazz For the Holidays at Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo. Information from (800) 228 – 9858.

Sunday, December 4th at 5:30 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays a broad spectrum of big band jazz at Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W. Grand Rapids. If you can’t make it to the bar the performance is streamed (both audio and video with a live chat) via www.grjo.com.

Tuesday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. the Holland Jazz Orchestra and the Hope College Jazz Arts Collective presents The Radiohead Jazz Project at The Dimnent Memorial Chapel, Hope College, Holland. Radiohead is an English alternative rock band deeply influenced by jazz giants Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. The Radiohead Jazz Project was co-commissioned by the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music and is the first grand scale effort to arrange multiple Radiohead compositions for big band jazz. More information from Brian Coyle at Hope College: (616) 395 – 7653.

Monday, December 12th the West Michigan Jazz Society presents “An Old Fashioned Jazz Holiday Season” party at Watermark Banquet Room, 5500 Cascade Road S.E., Grand Rapids. With Tom and Cherie Hagen, Rick Reuther, Mike Lutley and Elgin Vines saluting the holiday music interpretations of Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters. See www.wmichjazz.org for more information and to make reservations.

Saturday, December 17th at 6:30 p.m. the monthly Jazz Vespers service at First United Methodist Church, 227 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, presents Jazz Lessons and Carols with MacNaughton Blvd. See www.grandrapidsfumc.org.

Friday, January 13th at 7:00pm, jazz drummer Keith Hall from Western Michigan University performs at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 250 Commerce Ave. SW Grand Rapids for a concert presented by MAJIC, http://grmajic.org. Information about the drummer from www.keithhallmusic.com.

Saturday, January 28th at 8 p.m. The Bad Plus appears at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts jazz series. See

http://tinyurl.com/87vvywz or phone (269) 382 – 7774

Wednesday, February 22 the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis appears at Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor; followed Saturday, April 14, by the Charles Lloyd Quartet, with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland. See www.ums.org for more information.

Saturday, April 24th at 7:30 and 9:30 first prize winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, Gretchen Parlato, performs at Wellspring Theater, EPIC Center, Kalamazoo as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. See: http://tinyurl.com/6ug45v4 or phone (269) 382 – 7774.