May 9, 2012

[Lazaro Vega]

May 9, 2012

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. 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 and the return of trumpeter Chris Lawrence on occasion.” 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.

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. May11, Steve Talaga; May 12, Robin Connell; May 16, Steve Talaga; May 17, Mark Kahny; May 18, Nick Ayoub; May 19, Bob VanStee; May 23, Mark Kahny; May 24, Bill Davidson; May 25, guitarist Greg Miller; May 26, Steve Talaga; May 30, Mark Kahny; May 31, Bob VanStee; June 1, Robin Connell; June 2, Bill Davidson. www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Wednesdays from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. the Wally Michaels/Tony Reynolds duo at Gilly’s in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, (616) 356 – 2627.

Thursdays, 6 – 9 p.m. pianist John Shea leads his swinging trio at Gilly’s in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. (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.

Thursdays from 7 to 10 and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11 live jazz at Shepard’s Grill and Tavern, 6246 28th Street S.E., Cascade. (616) 350 – 9604.

Wednesday and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to midnight jazz at The Ottawa Tavern Jazz Kitchen, west Michigan’s only full time jazz club, on the corner of Pearl and Ottawa Streets in The Waters Building. The venue features two stages running two different bands on the weekends. Thursday, May 10, vocalist Susan Morris and Bluemonk Jazz, with Carlos Melendez and keyboardist Matt Moresi; Friday, May 11, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. the Fareed Haque Trio with Fareed Haque, guitar, Greg Fundis, drums and Alex Austin, bass www.fareed.com; Friday, May 11, the Hope College Mainstream Ensemble with Mike Reynolds, piano Zach Pedigo, bass Wayne Titus, drums (Jazz Studies majors at Hope College in Holland, MI), performs during intermission and after the second set of Fareed Haque's appearence on the Bite Stage. Saturday, May 12, drummer Paul Smith Group with pianist Bob VanStee and bassist Sam Webber are heard on The Bite Stage, while on the Tavern Stage is Ann Arbor guitarist Jake Reichbart’s trio with drummer Fred Knapp and bassist Dave Rosin www.jakereichbart.com ; Wednesday, May 16 the Matt Brewer Trio with world-renowned bassist Matt Brewer, pianist Robin Connell and drummer Randy Marsh; Thursday, May 17, Evidence; Friday, May 18th, guitarist Steve Hilger’s band with drummer Randy Marsh; Friday, May 18, the Stockholm born guitarist Tomas Janzon with vibraphonist Jim Cooper; Saturday, May 19, New York cool jazz vocalist Libby York www.libbyyork.com; Saturday, May 19, the second night of guitarist Tomas Janzon with vibraphonist Jim Cooper, drummer Mike VanLente and bassist Joe Aprea; May 25, saxophonist Paul VornHagen Quartet; May 30, The Sons of the Desert play early 20th century jazz with saxophonist Tom Elferdink, bassist Jeff Beavan and guitarist Don Hooker; June 15, The Wonderland Jazz Ensemble; June 28, the Paul Lesinski Quartet; June 30, saxophonist Josh Quinlan. See www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Fridays, except May 11th, from 7 to 10 p.m. pianist John Shea plays the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. N.W. overlooking the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

Saturdays, 8 to 11 p.m. pianist Mark Kahny performs at Porto Bello, 41 Washington Street, Grand Haven. See www.markkahny.blogspot.com .

Sundays, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.jwgr.com or (616) 242 – 1448.

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. Word has spread, and this opportunity for young musicians to gain playing experience with a professional level band is a hit. May 13, world renowned bassist Matt Brewer, guitarist Carlos Melendez, trombonist Paul Brewer, and Matt Clifford; May 20, Robin Connell and Matt Brewer.

Timely Hits:

Thursday, May 10, the Brad Mehldau Trio appears in the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Kalamazoo. (800) 228 – 9859 or www.millerauditorium.com.

Monday, May 12 vibraphonist Gary Burton joins 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein to perform a new work written for them by jazz legend Chick Corea as part of the final concert of the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, Kalamazoo. Information from www.thegilmore.org.

Sunday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Grand Lady Riverboat is hosting a Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch with music by Tom and Cherie Hagen. The Grand Lady launches from the Steamboat Landing (near Riverview Airport), 755 Taylor Street, Jenison. RSVP (616) 457 - 4837 or see www.grandlady.com.

Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m. smooth jazz saxophonist Herbie Russ plays at The Blackhawk, 8940 N. 32nd Street, Richland, MI (near the corner of M-89 and M-43). Information from (269) 731 – 5388.

Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. trombonist Paul Brewer, pianist/vocalist Robin Connell, the New York City bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Randy Marsh appear in the liturgical setting of the First United Methodist Church Jazz Vespers Service, meant for jazz and worship lovers of all ages, free of charge, at First United Methodist Church, 227 East Fulton Street, Grand Rapids. Then on May 19, Robin Connell and Paul Brewer. See www.grandrapidsfumc.org.

Sunday, May 20 (the first and third Sundays of each month) 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, May 22 at 7 p.m. The Paul Keller Trio with pianist John Shea and drummer Pete Siers headlines Jazz Night in the Spring Lake High School Auditorium. The Spring Lake High School and Middle School Big Bands will be joined by special guests The Hip Pocket Horns. Information from www.springlakebands.org or e-mail jazznight@springlakebands.org.

Thursday, May 24 at 6 p.m. The West Michigan Jazz Society’s Jazz Musician of the Year Banquet honors pianist Mark Kahny at Watermark Country Club, 5500 Cascade Road S.E., Grand Rapids. Dinner at 6:30 followed by the awards presentation, music and dancing. Reservations by May 17th to The West Michigan Jazz Society, 4144 Bulrush N.W., Grand Rapids, 49534. For information, (616) 735 – 4744 or donamraymer@gmail.com.

Sunday, May 27 at 4 p.m. “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” presents The Velvet Trio (Harrison Bankhead, bass; Avreeayl Ra, drums; James Sanders, violin) with flutist Robert Dick and vocalist Thomas Buckner in performance at The Lakeside Inn, 15251 Lakeside Raod, Lakeside, MI 49116. See http://www.portoluz.org

Mondays, June 4 through August 13, 6:30 – 8:30 the West Michigan Jazz Society presents the series of free summer concerts, “Jazz at the Zoo,” at the John Ball Zoo Band Shell, Grand Rapids. June 4, the award winning East Kentwood High School Jazz Bands; June 11, The Beltline Big Band; June 18, Groupo Aye; June 25, The Tom Hagen Quartet with vocalist Rick Reuther; July 2, Mark Kahny and The Boogie Woogie Babies singing group; July 9, Petra Van Nuis Quintet with guitarist Andy Brown; July 16, Mark Rademacher Reed sings with The Midtown Horns; July 23, Edye Evans-Hyde sings with Terry Lower’s Quartet; July 30, Evidence and Orquesta Tradicion; August 6, “The Family” led by Nick Ayoub; August 13, drummer Tim Froncek and The Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra. Information from (616) 735 – 4744 or www.wmichjazz.org.

Monday, June 4 the 16 piece Gull Lake Jazz Orchestra plays The Union Cabaret and Grill, Kalamazoo. Information from www.gulllakejazz.com or from the venue, (269) 384 – 6756.

Tuesday, July 24 at 7 p.m. New York vocalist Libby York performs a free concert at the Centenary Methodist Church, 82 South Hancock Street (across from the Post Office), Ludington. With pianist Mark Khany and bassist Sam Webber. This concert is presented by The Pentwater Township Friends of the Library. Information from (231) 869 – 8401.

Saturday, August 18 from noon to 10 p.m. The Grand Rapids Jazz Fest takes place at Rosa Parks Circle, downtown Grand Rapids. Information from www.grandjazzfest.com.

Friday, October 5 at 8 p.m. The Lakeshore Big Band plays The Grand Haven American Legion Hall. They’ll return on November 2 and December 7. Information from www.lakeshorebigband.com.

Friday, October 26, bassist Ben Allison’s band appears at 7:30 and 9:30 in the Wellspring Theater of the Epic Center, Kalamazoo. See www.fontanachamberarts.org for more information, or phone (269)382-7774. www.benallison.com.

Thursday, November 1, The St. Cecilia Music Center’s Great Artist Gala features John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, called “Hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times and “the genial genius of the guitar” by The Toronto Star. When he performs with his wife, singer/actress Jessica Molaskey, and his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, they’re labeled “the First Family of Cool” (by the San Francisco Chronicle) and “the von Trapps on Martinis” (by The New Yorker). According to The New York Times, “the Pizzarelli-Molaskey duo are as good as it gets in any entertainment medium.” Sponsorships are now available. Contact development director Ricki L. Levine at 616.459.2224 (ext 205) or ricki@scmc-online.org. St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. www.johnpizzarelli.com.

Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m. vocalist Tierney Sutton’s Band opens the jazz series at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 – 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Thursday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. bassist Dave Holland leads his quintet in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 – 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:30 and 9:30 jazz saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Quartet presents performances in the Wellspring Theater of the Epic Center, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. Information from www.fontanachamberarts.org or (269)382-7774.

Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 pianist Bill Charlap leads his trio in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 459 – 2224. www.scmc-online.org.

Saturday, April 20th at 8 p.m. Beyonce’s saxophonist, Tia Fuller, appears in a jazz concert at Western Michigan University’s Dalton Recital Hall, Kalamazoo, as part of the Fontana Chamber Arts Jazz Series. Information from www.tiafuller.com or from www.fontanachamberarts.org and (269)382-7774.