The Jazz Datebook, 10-7-15

[Lazaro Vega]

October 7, 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. October 21st, the John Shea Trio. More from www.thebob.com/houseofmusic .

 

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 at 7 p.m. Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids (616) 458 – 2689.  A fun jam session celebrating a 3rd year anniversary Oct 18. Student jazz musicians under 21 with a parent or legal guardian have a chance to play from 8:15 until 9:00 pm. Anyone under 21 has to leave at 9 pm.  The host trio plays from 7:00 - 8:00. www.speakezlounge.com.

 

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:

 

Thursday, October 8^thtrumpeter Brian Lynch joins the Michigan State University Bebop Spartans directed by bassist Rodney Whitaker at Van Singel Fine Arts Center Auditorium, 8500 Burlingame SW, Byron Center, MI. (616) 878-6800.

 

Friday, October 9^that 6 p.m. the Art Prize award ceremony streams live from the Harris Building, 111 S. Division, Grand Rapids, with live music by the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra quartet including Paul Brewer, Robin Connell and Tim Froncek. www.artprize.org

 

Saturday, October 10^th at 7:30 Park Church in Grand Rapids presents “Sweet Honey In the Rock” as part of the “Great American Voices Concert Series.” The five women African-American a cappella ensemble is rooted in African American History and Culture and blend their voices in a spectrum of styles, from blues, gospel and jazz. Tickets are available from www.parkchurchgr.org or by phone from series curator Dr. Patrick Coyle, (616) 459-3203 ext. 129.

 

Saturday, October 10^th at 7:30 p.m. The Michigan State University Bebop Spartans with special guest, trumpeter Brian Lynch, continue their tour of the state with a concert at Center Stage Theater, West Shore Community College, Scottville. An afterglow jam session will be held at the Jamesport Brewing Company, 410 South James Street in Ludington, starting at approximately 10 p.m.  There is no cover charge for this event, however early seating or reservations are highly recommended. See: http://www.westshore.edu/about/public_relations/2015/09/bebop.html

 

Tuesday, October 13^th at 8 p.m. Organissimo, the jazz organ trio, christens The New Vintage Jazz Series at New Vintage Place, 889 Broadway Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids. For members of the West Michigan Jazz Society tickets are $10, or $75 for the season of 10 concerts (once a month through February). For information see www.wmichjazz.org or phone Steve Hilger at (616) 498 – 0855.

 

Tuesday, October 13^th at 7:30 p.m. the Western Michigan University Jazz Lab Band directed by Tom Knific plays a free concert at the Dalton Center Recital Hall, Van De Giessen Rd #3001, Kalamazoo Twp, MI. See www.wmich.edu/music.

 

Thursday, October 15^th Hope College’s Jazz Arts Collective, a student ensemble, performs as part of the Visiting Writers Series at 6:30 p.m. (reading at 7:30) in the new Jack H. Miller Center, John and Dede Howard Recital Hall, 221 Columbia Avenue, Holland, MI. Phone (616) 395-7890 or see www.hope.edu/music.

 

Friday, October 16^th at 7:30 p.m. pianist Aaron Diehl’s Trio performs in in the new Jack H. Miller Center, John and Dede Howard Recital Hall, 221 Columbia Avenue, Holland, MI. See http://calendar.hope.edu/event/guest_artist_-_the_aaron_diehl_jazz_trio#.VhUxzvlVhBc or Phone (616) 395-7890.

 

Friday, October 16^th at 8 p.m. pianist John Mortensen presents a solo recital of classical compositions and jazz compositions and improvisations  at Dalton Center Recital Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. See: https://www.cedarville.edu/Academics/Music-and-Worship/Faculty-Staff/Music/Mortensen-John.aspx

 

Monday, October 19^th at 7:30 p.m. saxophonist Dave Liebman presents his newest group “Expansions” in the John and Dede Howard Recital Hall, Jack H. Miller Center, 221 Columbia Avenue, Holland, MI.  See: http://www.hope.edu/news/2015/arts/expansions-dave-liebman-group-to-perform-on-oct-19-2015.html

 

Monday, October 19^th at 6:30 the West Michigan Jazz Society’s Monday Night Jazz Series presents drummer Fred Knapp’s Trio with the return from China of vocalist Kathy Lamar and including jazz great Jeremy Siskind, piano, and David Rosin, bass. Held at The Guest House, 638 Stocking Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. For details, www.wmichjazz.org.

 

 

Friday, October 23^rd, Hope College’s Jazz Arts Collective performs as part of an Art and Humanities Symposium featuring insights from architect Bill Blanski and jazz musician/educator Brian Coyle. This event takes place in the new John and Dede Howard Recital Hall, Jack H. Miller Center, 221 Columbia Avenue, Holland, MI. 

 

Thursday, October 29^th at 6:30 p.m. vocalist Dianne Reeves in the Great Artist Gala. The Great Artist Gala is St. Cecilia Music Center’s biggest fundraising event of the year. By purchasing a ticket to this benefit you can support SCMC and all of its programs, while enjoying a fabulous evening of food, wine and music. All tickets ($125) include a roaming dinner and wine at 6:30 on all three floors of the historic Music Center at 24 Ransom Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, then an intimate concert with Grammy winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves in Royce Auditorium at 8pm. Benefactor tickets ($250) also include a donation to St. Cecilia Music Center AND a Post-Concert Reception with Dianne Reeves. Reservations from (616) 459 – 2224. See: http://www.scmc-online.org/great-artist-gala-dianne-reeves/.