Blue Lake Public Radio Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

June 18, 2015

The Jazz Datebook:

Regular Hits:

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea swings downtown Grand Rapids with bassist Warren Jones III and drummer Fred Knapp from the front, street level window of The Republic, 45 South Division. www.republicgrandrapids.com.

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.

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. For a full schedule: http://www.bar-divani.com/tastings-a-events/live-music Phone (616) 774 – 9463.

Tuesdays, 7:30 – 10:30, there’s an open mic jazz jam session at The Grand, 22 Washington, Grand Haven, MI. (616) 847 – 8944.

Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther have been appearing at Notos Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28^th Street SE, Grand Rapids for more than 13 years. Easily the longest continuous jazz hang in west Michigan. (616) 493 – 6686, or www.notosoldworld.com.

Wednesdays, House of Music Entertainment at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 49503, features jazz and blues. April 8^th, vocalist Kathy Lamar; on 4/22, trumpeter Chris Lawrence and The Modern Mayors; and 4/29, the Jazz Fusion Project. More from www.thebob.com/houseofmusic .

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, including vocalist Kathy Lamar on Saturday, June 27^th. Information from (616) 742 – 0600. www.thegilmorecollection.com.

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. The last Thursday of the month belongs to trumpeter Brad Fritcher and Trios. You’ll hear the Robin Connell-Paul Brewer Quartet on June 25^th. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com and click on the calendar for Thursday night.

Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., pianist-vocalist Robin Connell plays in the Lumber Baron Bar at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. See www.robinconnell.com.

Fridays, 7 p.m. the John Shea Trio plays at the J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

Saturdays at 7:30, pianist John Shea leads his trio at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28^th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493 – 6686.

Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. guitarist Greg Miller brings his 6-1-6 guitar concept to the J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

Sundays, Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids, is a fun jam session. 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 6 to 9 p.m. through the summer, pianist/vocalist John Shea leads his trio through the great American song book and jazz standards at New Holland Brewing Company, 66 E. 8^th St., Holland. See www.newhollandbrew.com or phone (616) 355-6422.

First Sunday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W., downtown Grand Rapids. The GRJO is the region’s premier professional jazz orchestra. Information from www.grjo.com.

Timely Hits:

Saturday, June 20^th at 7 p.m. The 2015 Blue Lake International Jazz Orchestra, conducted by James Sawyer and featuring trumpeter Brigette Berke, performs a bon voyage concert, prior to their European tour, at the Big Rapids High School Auditorium, 21175 15 Mile Road, Big Rapids, 49307. This summer, the Blue Lake International Exchange program sees one of their jazz ensembles appear at the world famous Marciac Jazz Festival in France. For information about the Blue Lake International Exchange program please see: www.bluelake.org/international/index.php .

Saturday, June 20^th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Swingtooth, from Grant, Michigan, plays early Swing, romantic ballads, gypsy jazz, and Bossa Nova at The Book Nook & Java Shop, 8744 Ferry St, Montague, Michigan 49437. Swingtooth includes two acoustic hand-built guitars played by Lee and David Middleman, with Chris Cudworth on bass. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com.

Saturday, June 20^th at 7 p.m. pianist Robin Connell’s trio with guest trombonist Paul Brewer plays the J.W. Marriott’s first floor atrium along the Grand River. See www.ilovethejw.com.

Sunday, June 21^st at 10 a.m., vocalist Kathy Lamar joins pianist Robin Connell for the worship service at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain N.E., Grand Rapids. www.fountainstreet.org.

Mondays through August 10^thfrom the West Michigan Jazz Society presents “Jazz in the Park” at Ah-Nab-Awen Park near the Gerald R. Ford Museum along the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. After 14 years at John Ball Park, the series moves downtown. June 22, guitarist Steve Hilger’s Quintet; June 29^th, saxophonist Mike Lutley’s West Coast Trio; July 6^th, The Truth in Jazz Orchestra with saxophonist Dan Giacobassi; July 13^th, Latin jazz with Tumbao Bravo; July 20^th, swinging vocalist Mary Rademacher; July 27^th, Chicago area pianist/vocalist Steve Sandner’s quintet; August 3^rd, guitarist Jimmy Leach’s quartet; August 10^th, Big Band Nouveau. For a full schedule see www.wmichjazz.org and more information from Eddie Tadlock at (616) 430 – 8487.

Wednesday, June 24^th, guitarist Greg Miller plays solo at Reds on the River, 8 E. Bridge St., Suite 100, Rockford, Michigan. (616) 863 – 8181. www.resontheriver.net.

Tuesday, June 30^th at 6:30 p.m. jazz vocalist Libby York and pianist/composer/vocalist John Proulx reunite for a musical evening at Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium, 401 W. Fulton, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI. (616) 331 – 6624. These exceptional performers (Proulx is a Grammy award winner; York is reviewed by the New York Times) are raising funds to support GVSU students who are degree-seeking in voice or dance as a portion of ticket proceeds will go to the PAMELLA AND DANIEL G. DEVOS MUSICAL THEATER Scholarship. Information from www.gvsu.edu/giving/clasmusicaleve. And for more information contact University Development at (616) 331-6000 or e-mail, universitydevelopment@gvsu.edu.

Thursday, July 2^nd through Sunday, July 5^ththe inaugural West Michigan Wine and Jazz Festival takes place in Montague Michigan with music by world famous pianist Xavier Davis, the University of Michigan’s jazz pianist/composer Ellen Rowe, plus Brad Frichter, Checkers Morton, Tim Froncek and Friends, vocalist Ginny Dusseau with the Dave Collee Quartet in a pre-fireworks band shell concert, and others. A full schedule with times and ticket prices from www.westmichiganwinejazz.com.

Wednesday, July 8^th at 7:30 p.m. the Blue Lake Jazz Faculty performs at Blodgett Recital Hall, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. With saxophonist James Hughes, trumpeters Scott Cowan and Jimmy Smith, trombonist Glenn Williams, and our “first session” rhythm section for years now, Dan Karlsberg, Steve Whipple and Tim Froncek (piano, bass and drums). Together they present The “Blue” Recital to honor Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s 50^th Anniversary season. Information from www.bluelake.org.

Friday, July 17^th at 7:30 p.m. a concert to benefit Northview High School Bands called “Max the Sax and his Young Lions,” with Max Colley Jr. on saxophones, his son Max Colley III on trumpet; Keaton Royer, piano; Cary Kocher, vibes; Ryan Limbeck, guitar; Jordan Richardson, bass; and Mike Harvey, drums. Plus a variety of special guests who graduated Northview High School’s jazz program. The concert features famous saxophone music by Paul Desmond, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and many others. The concert takes place in the max Colley Jr. Performing Arts Center, Northview High School, 4451 Hunsberger Ave. NE, Grand Rapids. Information from www.maxcolleyjrpac.weebly.com.

Saturday, July 18^th at 7:30 p.m. “Jazz at the Swan” features drummer/vocalist Tim Johnson’s trio with vocalist Mary Rademacher and pianist/vocalist Mark Kahny in a special back yard benefit for the White Lake Chamber Music Festival. The White Swan bed and breakfast is located at 303 S. Mears Avenue, Whitehall, 49461. Information from the Arts Council of White Lake, (231) 893 – 2524.

Wednesday, July 22 at 7:30 the Blue Lake International Jazz Ensemble and International Jazz Orchestras present their homecoming concerts simultaneously at Blue Lake Lake Fine Arts Camp (Ensemble at Stewart Shell, Orchestra at Barlett Shell). See www.bluelake.org for more information.

Saturday and Sunday, August 15^th and 16^ththe 4^th annual GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy Foundation at Rosa Parks Circle, downtown Grand Rapids. West Michigan’s only free weekend-long jazz festival. More than 10,000 people attended in 2014. See www.grandjazzfest.org.

August 22^nd and 23^rd the Shoreline Jazz Festival returns to Muskegon with headliner Al Jarreau. See more from www.shorelinejazzfestival.com.