September 1 Jazz Datebook

[Lazaro Vega]

September 1, 2015

 

The Jazz Datebook: 

 

Regular Hits:

 

 

Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea swings downtown Grand Rapids from the front window of The Republic, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids.  With bassist Warren Jones III and drummer Fred Knapp, John presents a wide variety of jazz and songbook standards. 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, 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, 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. September 2, the Steve Talaga Trio (great jazz piano); 9-9, The Steve Hilger Jazz Fusion Project; 9-30 Evidence (straight ahead and Latin jazz); 10-7, The Steve Hilger Band; 10-21, the John Shea Trio. 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.

 

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:

 

Friday, September 4^th through Monday, September 7^thThe Detroit Jazz Festival takes place in downtown Detroit. Hundreds of concerts are scheduled, including four by artist in residence, Pat Metheny: Pat Metheny Trio with Antonio Sanchez, Scott Colley & special guest Kenny Garrett; Pat Metheny acoustic duo with bassist Ron Carter; Pat Metheny Reunion with Gary Burton Quartet; Pat Metheny, Scott Colley, Antonio Sanchez, and Danny Gottlieb with the Detroit Jazz Festival Big Band and String Orchestra, Conducted by Alan Broadbent, perform new works including the North American premiere of Metheny’s multi-movement/multi-media tribute to Eberhard Weber. More from www.detroitjazzfest.com.

 

Thursday, September 3^th through Sunday, September 6^th, The Chicago Jazz Festival is held at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St, and Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. This year’s highlights include the Chicago Jazz Orchestra’s Billy Strayhorn Centennial Celebration, Art Hoyle Sextet’s tribute to Clark Terry, Jose James singing the music of Billie Holiday, and the re-union of Muhal Richard Abrams Experimental Band with Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Wadada Leo Smith and many others. See www.chicagojazzfestival.us.

 

Thursday, September 3^rd at 7 p.m. Robin Connell and Paul Brewer lead their band at Mill Point Park, 203 S. Cutler Street, Spring Lake, MI. Free.

 

Friday, September 4th at 8 p.m. the Robin Connell Trio with drummer Paul B. Smith and bassist Chris Kjorness perform at Morat's Bakery 4747 First St, New Era, Michigan.

 

Saturday, September 5^th saxophonist Mike Frost leads his band called Project at the JW Marriott downtown GR, Mixology Lounge, 7 – 10 p.m., J.W. Marriot Hotel, 235 Louis Street N.W., Grand Rapids. (616) 242 – 1448.

 

Saturday, September 5^th at 7 p.m. the General Assemble Big Band, with vocalist Ginny Dusseau appears at Wenger Pavilion in Baldwin.

 

Saturday, September 5^th at 8 p.m. Swingtooth plays Newaygo Brewing Co, 19 State Rd, Newaygo, Michigan 49337.

 

Thursday, September 10^th at 7:30 p.m. the Israeli singer/actress Ester Rada performs at Hope College’s Knickerbocker Theater, 86 E. 8^th Street, Holland, MI. Rada credits Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin as her musical influences, alongside Eryka Badu, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. Tickets from (616) 395 – 7890.

 

Thursday, September 10^th at 9 p.m. organist Tony Monaco jams at Our Brewing Company, 76 E. 8^th Street, Holland, MI. (616) 994 – 8417. See: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/tony-monaco-mn0000013079.

 

Thursday, September 10^th at 7 in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, University of Indianapolis, IN, the 10 day Indy Jazz Fest kicks off. Friday, September 11^th, Dr. Lonnie Smith plays organ, among others. A full schedule is available from www.indygo.net.

 

Sunday, September 13 at 3 p.m. “Jazz in the Sanctuary” returns to Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE, Grand Rapids, with pianists Robin Connell and Paul Johnston, associate professor of jazz studies at Eastern Illinois University and a member of the jazz piano faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp. Tickets from (917) 846 – 2081 or ruthstein@gmail.com.

 

Sunday, September 13^th at 3 p.m. world flutist Gary Stroutsos with a quintet featuring woodwinds by Ken Morgan, world percussion and voice by Carolyn Koebel; vibraphonist Jim Cooper; and bassist Denis Shebukhov appear in “Woodwinds Without Boundaries” at Petter Wine Gallery Barn, 161 N. Blue Star Highway, Douglas MI. Information from kenmorganjazz@gmail.com or (269) 358 – 8028.

 

Saturday, September 19^th at 6 p.m. the Jim Cooper Quartet with trumpeter Dmitry Matheny at Saugatuck Brewing Company, 2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, MI. See: http://saugatuckbrewing.com/events/live-music-jim-cooper-trio/ .

 

Sunday, September 20^th at 3 p.m. the Gebhard Ullmann/Steve Swell Chicago Project with cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and drummer/percussionist Michael Zerang open the new season of The Underground Series, curated by Blue Lake Public Radio’s own Lazaro Vega and made possible with support from www.adventuremusic.org, at LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids. “Gebhard Ullmann is one of the finest improvising artist in the world today,” said pianist Paul Bley of the Berlin-based saxophonist/bass clarinetist. This concert is made possible in part by the Goethe Institute. Further explorations in sound are scheduled from The Gary McCourry Saxophone Ensemble, the Matt Ulery large chamber jazz ensemble In the Ivory, and a one of a kind meeting between percussionists Adam Rudolph and Hamid Drake. Information from (616) 451 – 9820 or www.lafontsee.us.

 

Monday, September 21^st at 6:30 p.m. the West Michigan Jazz Society launches their new Monday Night Jazz Series season at The Guest House, 638 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, with vocalist Patty Gayle and the Mark Kahny Trio. See www.wmichjazz.org.