Blue Lake Public Radio Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

May 8, 2013

The Jazz Datebook:

Regular Hits:

Mondays starting June 3^rd at 6:30 p.m., the West Michigan Jazz Society presents “Jazz at the Zoo” in the John Ball Park Band Shell, 1300 Fulton Street W., Grand Rapids. June 3^rd, the award winning Northview High School Jazz Band led by Greg Wells; 6-10, Ann Arbor/Detroit saxophonist Paul Vornhagen’s Quartet with Gary Schunk, keyboards; Kurt Kranke, bass; and Randy Marsh, drums. 6-17, The Tom Hagen Summer Swingers with pianist/guitarist Tom, drummer Cherie Lynn Hagen, bassist Elgin Vines, saxophonist and flutist Mike Lutley and vocalists Mary Rademacher and Rick Ruether. June 24, Max Colley III’s Sextet with a tribute to Louis Armstrong featuring Max on trumpet, Tim Fronceck, drums; Tom Hagen, piano; Jordan Richards, bass; Dr. Paul Brewer, trombone; Tom Stansell, clarinet and Sarah Cosby, voice. July 1, “The Ides of Marsh,” featuring West Michigan Jazz Society Musician of the Year Randy Marsh with his dad, the legendary Grand Rapids tenor saxophonist Arno Marsh, in Arno Marsh’s 85^th Birthday Party. Paul Keller’s coming up to play bass, with Robin Connell, piano, and Paul Brewer, trombone, plus Randy on drums. July 8, the Fred Knapp Quartet swings with guest saxophonist Mike Frost; Dave Proulx, piano; Dave Rosin, bass; and Fred on drums. July 15^th, drummer Evan Hyde leads his group with trumpeter Chris Lawrence; Keaton Royer, keyboard; Matt Landon, guitar; and Jordan Richards, bass. July 22, bassist/bandleader Paul Keller presents his “At Sundown” quartet with vocalist/clarinetist Sarah D’Angelo, pianist Duncan McMillan, and Detroit saxophonist Steve Wood. July 29^th, the Mark Kahny Group, with a repertoire of music drawn from Pat Metheny, Dr. John, the Crusaders as played by Mark on piano; Carlos Melendez, guitar; Charlie Hoats, bass; and Randy Marsh, drums. See www.wmichjazz.org for more.

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 and Mondays hosts a jam session open to musicians and vocalists. See the full schedule here: www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68^th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543-3341.

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. amid a growing audience, pianist/vocalist John Shea swings his trio at The Republic, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids, with Arizona transplant Warren Jones on bass and a variety of guests stopping by to sit in. The wine sale makes this a hang. www.republicgrandrapids.com.

Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m. a young jazz trumpeter named Brad Fritcher deals with this trio during “Micro Brew Mondays” at the Skeetown Tavern, 1308 West Sherman Blvd., Muskegon. See www.skeetowntavern.com.

Tuesdays at 7 p.m. it is diva time at Bar Divani, 15 Ionia Ave. N.W., Grand Rapids, as the finest female singers in the area step up and swing: May 14, Monica Da Silva. For a full schedule: http://www.bar-divani.com/tastings-a-events/live-music Phone (616) 774 – 9463.

Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28^th 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. May 16^th, Bill Davidson appears; May 30^th, June 7^th and 20^th pianist/vocalist Robin Connell and trombonist Paul Brewer. Information from (616) 742 – 0600. www.thegilmorecollection.com.

Thursdays, May 23, and June 6th The Steve Hilger Jazz Guitar Trio presents their Student Jam Session at Notos Old World Italain Dining, 6600 28^th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. (616) 493-6686. High school and college age musicians wanting bandstand experience are encouraged to sit in (and Hilger is on the selection committee for student jazz musicians appearing at the Grand Rapids Jazz Festival in August).

Thursdays to June 13^th the Spotlight on Singers Series at Gilly’s in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. Curator Mary Rademacher Reed designed the series around the talented voices of the regions many fine singers. 7 to 10 p.m. with dinner discounts from 5 to 7 at Gilly’s and Judson’s available. Free parking available with dinner receipt. See www.thebob.com. Here’s the schedule: May 9^th jazz vocalist Libby York with pianist Robin Connell, bassist Warren Jones and drummer Greg Sergo; May 16^th, r&b, jazz and soul singer Kathy Lamar; May 23, the classic American songbook with Diana Vandewater; May 30^th, smooth standards with Deborah Kay.

Thursdays at 7 p.m. a variety of jazz bands rotate the schedule at The Book Nook and Java Shop, 8744 Ferry Street in Montague: May 16, a universalist message in improvised music from Checkers Morton featuring pianist/composer Bob VanStee ; 5-23, The Lakewinds Jazz Quartet with Dave Collee on trombone and bass, Vince Liefers at the piano, Tim Froncek, drums, and special guest Tom Stansell, saxophones ; 5-30, the Dave Collee Quartet with pianist Eric Thorne and vocalist Ginny Dusseau, drummer Tim Froncek, and saxophonist/flutist Bob Nixon; 6-6, Checkers Morton; 6-13, The Lakewinds Jazz Quartet; 6-20, The Dave Collee Quartet; 6-27, Checkers Morton. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com .

Saturdays at 7:30, pianist John Shea leads his trio amid the vibrant throng passing by the river view windows of the downtown J.W. Marriott Hotel on their way to dining or up to their rooms. Until 10:30 p.m. 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids; (616) 242 – 1448.

Sunday mornings until May 26th the sounds of guitarist Gregg Miller’s “Six One Six” are heard at the J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids; (616) 242 – 1448. Jazz eye openers from 9:30 to 1:30.

Sundays, Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, is loud: music over table talk. Great jam session, too. Wow! The cats. Information from (616) 458 – 2689. Student musicians under 21 with a parent or legal guardian will have a chance to play with Marsh from 7 to 9; the host trio plays from 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. www.speakezlounge.com.

Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m., pianist John Shea takes his roving band of swingsationalists into the New Holland Brewing Company, where the “Cabin Fever” run of this winter is not to be missed on draft: 66 E. 8^th Street Holland: (616) 355-6422.

Timely Hits:

Friday, May 17th at 8 p.m. at the Trillium Center, Spring Lake, The Lakeshore Big Band plays for dancing. Information from www.lakeshorebigband.com.

Friday, May 17^that 7:30 p.m. world-renowned jazz trumpeter Sean Jones appears at West Ottawa Performing Arts Center in the Harbor Lights Middle School, 1024 136^th Avenue, Holland, MI 49424. Jones will play a 45 minute set with a small band and then with the award winning West Ottawa High School jazz bands. Tickets available at the door.

Friday, May 17^th at 7:30 p.m. vocalist Halie Loren swings at the Hart Public Schools Auditorium, 308 W. Johnson Street, Hart MI 49420. See http://www.halieloren.com/ . Tickets from (231) 873 – 6270 or by e-mail from Tom Kirk at tkirk@hart.k12.mi.us .

Saturday, May 18^th at 6 p.m. the Tyler Vander Maas Sax Quartet performs in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church, 227 E. Fulton St., Grand Rapids. (616) 451 – 2879.

Sunday, May 19^th from 1 – 2 p.m. Tyler Vander Maas presents his Sax Quartet at the East Lansing Arts Festival, located just north of East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing. (517) 319 – 6804 or www.elartfest.com.

Monday, May 20^th, at 6:30 p.m. The West Michigan Jazz Society’s regular Monday night concert at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, blew up, so now the jazzers take over Babarino’s upstairs for the likes of New York jazz vocalist Libby York with Patti Richards’ favorite accompanist Jeff Kressler, piano; Mike Frost, tenor saxophone; Warren Jones, bass; and Fred Knapp, drums. Dig: www.wmichjazz.org.

Friday, May 24^th at 7:30 p.m. Art and All that Jazz presents the violin/guitar duo of Steve Kamerling and Barry Ross at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. (269) 349 – 7775 or www.kiarts.org.

Sunday, May 26 at 4:00pm, cornettist/composer/bandleader Rob Mazurek and guitarist Jeff Parker are featured on a double bill with clarinetist Jeff Chan’s Cultural Arts (Jeff Chan and Edward Wilkerson, woodwinds; Tatsu Aoki, bass; Avreeayl Ra, drums) at the Lakeside Inn, 15251 Lakeshore Road Lakeside, MI 49116. See www.portoluz.org or call 269-469-0600 for more information.

Friday, May 31^st, vocalist Libby York and pianist/vocalist Robin Connell exchange ideas at Restaurant Toulouse, 248 Culver Street, Saugatuck. Phone (269) 857 – 1561 for reservations.

Sunday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7:30 the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W., downtown Grand Rapids. The regions premier large jazz orchestra draws sold out crowds at the popular brew pub. Information from www.grjo.com.

Monday, June 3^rd at 7 p.m. “The King of the Blues,” B.B. King appears at the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. Tickets from www.meijergardens.org.

Thursday, June 6, saxophonist/composer/jazz catalyst Michael S. Doyle presents a new, collectively run big band of highly educated, enthusiastic jazz musicians, Big Band Nouveau, at Babarino’s in the B.O.B., 20 Monroe N.W., downtown Grand Rapids. Their debut in May drew a large, enthusiastic audience. Upcoming on June 8^th the band also appears at Festival of the Arts in downtown Grand Rapids.

June 11^th through June 15^th the 38^th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild, sponsored by Grand Valley State University, takes place at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids. A wide range of musical styles are presented during the conference. See the full schedule of public concerts here: http://www.gvsu.edu/itg2013/public-concerts-94.htm More information from Valerie Stoelzel at the GVSU department of music, (616) 331- 3678. What follows are primarily jazz concerts:

Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents Rex Richardson with the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra in the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Yamaha Performing Artist Rex Richardson is one of the busiest crossover trumpeters on the international scene. Admission: $20 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678

Wednesday, June 12 at 2:45 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents Brandon and Rich Ridenour at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 134 Division North, Grand Rapids, MI. Father and son team and Grand Rapids natives Brandon and Rich Ridenour have been entertaining on stage since Brandon was 7. Admission: $10 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678 or visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Wednesday, June 12 at 9:00 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents Adam Rapa and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra at the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Admission: $20 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678 or visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Thursday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents Allen Vizzutti in the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids. Vizzutti’s trumpet playing can be heard on over 150 movie and game sound tracks including Back to the Future, Star Trek, Halo, and Call of Duty. Admission: $20 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678 or visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Friday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents jazz legend Bobby Shew.

In the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI. the Grammy Award winning Shew has performed with the Tommy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Toshiko Akiyoshi big bands, and is also an excellent small group improvisor. Admission: $20 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678 or visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Saturday, June 15 at 7:15 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents Terell Stafford in the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI. McCoy Tyner said of Stafford, he’s “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player.” Admission: $20 at the door. For more information, please call (616) 331-3678 or visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Saturday, June 15 at 9:00 p.m. 38th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild hosted by Grand Valley State University presents 8 time Grammy Award winner, 6 time Billboard Award winner, and Emmy Award winner Arturo Sandoval, with special guests Jens Lindemann, Allen Vizzutti,Adam Rapa, Bill Lucas, Walter White and Small Medium @Large at the Steelcase Ballroom, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids. Admission: $40.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.gvsu.edu/itg2013.

Sunday, June 16th through Friday, June 21st, Aquinas College Summer Jazz Camp 2013. Information from www.aquinas.edu/music/jazz_camp.html or by calling (616) 632 – 2413.

Thursday, June 20^th at 7 p.m. trumpeter Wynton Marsalis leads the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra in concert at the Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. Tickets from www.meijergardens.org.

Saturday, June 22^nd world renowned “Boogie-woogie” and ragtime pianist Bob Milne plays the Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts, Fremont, MI. The Dogwood box office, (231) 924 – 8885 or see www.dogwoodcenter.com.

Tuesday June 25th, the Truth and Jazz Orchestra play their home-base, The West Side Inn, Biedler Street, Muskegon. See www.tijo.org.

Thursday, August 8^th and Friday, August 9^th, the return of the Blue Lake Monster, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s Faculty big band. See www.bluelake.org for more information or phone (800) 221- 3796.

Saturday, August 17^th and Sunday August 18^th 10 diverse jazz bands and performers appear at Rosa Park Circle, downtown Grand Rapids, in the 2013 Grand Rapids Jazz Festival. See www.grandjazzfest.org.

Saturday, September 28, Diana Krall’s Glad Rag Doll world tour comes to the Cobb Great Hall of the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, Michigan State University, East Lansing: https://www.whartoncenter.com/boxoffice/performance.aspx?pid=1401

Thursday, October 24^th, jazz greats David Sanborn and Bob James share the bill for the Great Artist Fundraising event at the St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids. Tickets are on sale now. (616) 459 – 2224. www.scmc-online.org.