Jazz in West Michigan

[Lazaro Vega]

July 20 2015

 

The Jazz Datebook: 

 

Regular Hits:

 

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. 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.

 

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. July 28^th, Edye Evans Hyde; August 4^th, Laura Bennett; August 11^th Timmy Sanders; August 18^th, Laura Bennett; August 25^th Mary Rademacher. 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.

 

Tuesdays through Sundays at 7 the World Class Jazz “Scully Tour” produced by Tim Scully brings jazz bands into 5 venues across northern Lower Michigan. Starting at the First Street Beach in Manistee on Tuesday, the group moves to Gull Landing, 438 S. Hancock St., Pentwater, on Wednesday; Rotary Pavilion in Cadillac on Thursday; then to Rambadt Park Campground in Reed City, Friday; Wenger Pavilion, Baldwin, Saturday; and back to Gull Landing in Pentwater for the grand finale on Sunday. Here are the jazz band appearing yet this summer; July 28^th through August 2^nd, Tom and Cheri Lynn Hagen with vocalist Rick Reuther; August 11^th through the 16^th, vocalist Jenna Mammina and guitarist Rolf Sturm; August 11^th through the 23^rd, pianist Terry Lower’s quintet with vocalist Edye Evans-Hyde; and Saturday, September 5^th the General Assemble Big Band appears at Wenger Pavilion in Baldwin to wrap it up.

 

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.  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. 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:

 

Wednesday, July 22nd at 7:30 p.m. The 2015 Blue Lake International Jazz Orchestra, conducted by James Sawyer and featuring trumpeter Brigette Berke, performs a homecoming concert at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s Bartlett Shell following their tour of Europe. For information about the Blue Lake International Exchange program please see: www.bluelake.org/international/index.php .

 

Wednesday, July 22^nd at 7:30 p.m. the 201 Blue Lake International Jazz Ensemble, conducted by David Jensen, performs a homecoming concert at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp’s Stewart Shell   following their recent appearance 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 .

 

Thursday, July 23^rd at 6 p.m. trumpeter Walter White appears at GRAM on the Green, a free outdoor concert series presented by the Grand Rapids Art Museum on their outdoor terrace. Cash bar; food trucks. More information from www.grartmuseum.org.

 

Friday, July 24^th at 7 p.m. trumpeter Allen Vizzutti and the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra perform at the Louis Armstrong Theater, Performing Arts Center, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, as part of the 2015 GVSU Trumpet Seminar. For information contact Dr. Sheryl Lott, (616) 331 – 3484.

 

Tuesday, August 4^th at 7 p.m. the River Rogues Jazz Band play traditional, early jazz at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park’s “Tuesday Evening Music Club” in the Amphitheater. Black Jake and the Carnies are also on the bill. 1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids. See www.meijergardens.org for more.

 

Thursday, August 6^th at 8 p.m. vocalist Jenna Mammina and guitarist Rolf Sturm appear at One Trick Pony, 136 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids. (616) 235 – 7669. See: http://www.waterstreetmusic.org/jenna_rolf.html/ .

 

Friday, August 7^th the singer/guitar duo of Jenna Mammina and Rolf Sturm celebrate the release of their first album together, “Spark,” with a concert at the Old Dog Tavern, 402 E Kalamazoo Avenue, Kalamazoo. (269) 381 – 5677. See http://www.waterstreetmusic.org/jenna_rolf.html.

 

Sunday, August 9^th, Bay-area/St. Joseph-Michigan vocalist Jenna Mammina and guitarist Rolf Sturm continue their whirlwind tour of Michigan with a performance at The Livery, 190 5^th St, Benton Harbor, MI. (269) 925-8760.

 

Thursday, August 13^th at 8 p.m. Big Band Nouveau featuring Michael Doyle, Mark Wells and Dan Jacobs appears at Babarino’s in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. (616) 356-2000 for more information.

 

Thursday, August 13^th at 8 p.m. the Rick Holland/Evan Dobbins Little Big Band with vocalist Lindsey Holland come in from Rochester, New York, for a performance at The Union Cabaret and Grill, 125 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI. (269 – 384 – 6756. http://www.rickhollandproductions.com/content/little-big-band

 

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 combines internationally known jazz performers with Michigan based artists. Children’s activities and after hours performances this year, too. The festivities kick off Saturday at noon with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Edye Evans Hyde, then presents Walt Gutowski and the Bridge Street Band at 2 p.m., Mike Frost’s Project 2.0 at 3:30 p.m., Latin jazz with Grupo Aye at 5 p.m.; Brian Simpson and Jackiem Joyner at 6:30 and this year’s Saturday night headliners Paul Brown and Nate Harasim (“The Producers”) with special guest, saxophonist Deon Yates at 8. An After Party follows at The B.O.B. GRandJazzFest picks up again Sunday at 1 with big Band Nouveau, followed by adult/contemporary singer/guitarist Bryan Lubeck at 2:30, bassist Michael Manson at 4 and then Sunday night’s headliner Steve Cole Music featuring the Chicago native wailing on saxophone. Free face painting for children, a variety of guitars available to try out at the Family Guitar Tent with Spanish guitarist Bryan Lubeck, and it’s recommended you bring folding chairs to Rose Parks Circle. www.grandjazzfest.org.

 

August 22^nd and 23^rd the Shoreline Jazz Festival returns to Muskegon with headliner Al Jarreau. The festival opens at Heritage Landing on Saturday, August 22^nd at 1 p.m. with the “Chicago Connection,” featuring Gerey Johnson, Reggie Foster, Lamar Jones, Collin Clausen, and Jason Grant, then continues at 2:30 p.m. with pianist/composer Greg Karukas; at 4 p.m. with Muskegon-born soul singer Bettye LaVette; at 5:45 with guitarist Norman Brown and special guest saxophonist Marion Meadows; then at 7:30 headliner Al Jarreau. Sunday at Heritage Landing starts at 1 p.m., and continues with 30 something guitarist Matt Marshack at 2:30; flutist/festival producer Alexander Zonjic and special guest, Swiss pianist Alex Bugnon at 4 p.m. ; rhythm and blues and jazz singer Will Downing at 5:45 and at 7:30 White Hot Summer Groove with guitarist Peter White and saxophonist Euge Groove. General admission is $25 per day with a limited number of preferred seats for $50 per day. See more from www.shorelinejazzfestival.com or www.startickets.com or 800-585-3737.