Her performance at the Falcon will be a very specail night with all proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross to help the disaster relief effort. Suggested donations $50. Call (845) 236-7970 to make a dinner reservation.

Since the beginning of the decade, pianist-composer Hiromi Uehara has supported her impressive body of work with an ambitious tour schedule that has electrified audiences throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia with performances that have pushed the limits of piano jazz to new frontiers of compositional and technical skills.

Heralded as one of the brightest lights on the piano jazz landscape, the Japanese prodigy has not only lived up to the initial praise for her early efforts but surpassed it entirely. And now to celebrate her “travel journal” and the youth of her 20’s, the Pianist embarks on her first solo piano recording.

More About Hiromi

Details:

The Falcon
1348 Rte 9w
Marlboro, NY 12542

Suggested donation $50. All proceeds from the benefit will go to the Japan Civic Force & the Japanese Red Cross. Doors will open at 6:00 pm for dinner – reservations suggested (call 845-236-7970).

More Info

Related posts:

1. Chick Corea Puts Out New Album “Duet”: A collaboration with Japanese pianist Hiromi
2. Sonny Rollins To Play The Tarrytown Music Hall: Benefit concert for Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
3. Jazz Pianist Bill Carrothers & His Trio To Play The Village Vanguard July 14th-19th

Like the 2 have done together for nearly 40 years, pianist Chick Corea & vibraphonist Gary Burton put on a show! This one-night, one-time set was a special treat for jazz fans in L.A. and Orange County, having the opportunity to get a small preview of what is to come on their next album while enjoying some of the stuff that made them jazz greats over the years.

The Set List

The set list was very interesting – as one could expect from these two – featuring standards from some of the greatest jazz legends as well as some original works and even some avant garde pieces. Some of the tunes that really stood out include a rendition of the Beatles’ infamous “Eleanor Rigby”, Thelonious Monk’s often overlooked work “Light Blue”, and a Chick Corea original tribute to late pianist Bud Powell, entitled “Bud Powell”.

Also on the list were some interesting works, featuring a piece called “Allegria” (soon to be released on their next album). This piece begins with hand tapping on the piano, enters into a battery of altered-time sections, and when all seems to be chaotic and lost, the two reunite at the end as if it were the most simple of songs. Another favorite of mine was an original based on the inspiration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Yes, a classical composer! Switching from swing to straight-time, meshing dominants and tonal chords with embellished jazz sounds, it was amazing to hear how a piece could borrow from two completely different styles of music, traditionally never mixed.

Their Style

As was mentioned by Gary Burton, their next album features more of an artist-led approach, rather than a song-based approach. They will be featuring a lot of the most popular standards, but most of the tunes will be the lesser-known or often overlooked ones. In addition, the references, inspirations, and tributes to musicians and composers of various genres really does justice to music as a whole, tying everything together in one unique and mind-blowing package.

The way that Corea and Burton capture the essence of so many styles, artists, and time periods really has to do with their unique perspective on music as a whole. While so many artists tend to think within the boundaries of the already-existing groundwork, the two feed off the ways in which the music can be of multiple domains.

The best way that they do this is by embracing the natural function of the two instruments (piano and vibraphone) and taking it to the next level. In fact, one of the most difficult things they do is change from lead to accompaniment – in an instant. Both are skilled regarding melody, harmony, and rhythm, allowing them to utilize their instruments in multiple ways. Through this, they continue to expand upon the forms that can be created, the genres that can be melded together, and the sounds that captivate.

Overview

To say that these two guys are on the same page would be an understatement. They perform as if they were one person – with 4 hands – going in and out of time, changing roles from lead to accompaniment, and feeding off each other’s ideas the whole time. The most amazing thing is that while the audience knows they are concentrating – and believe me they have to in order to play like they do – it’s entertaining to watch because it seems so fun and effortless.

These two are always fun to watch, challenging the audience, amazing them with their talent, and making it look easy the whole time. Our recommendation is to see these guy whenever you get the chance – you won’t regret it!

Thanks to Heather Cho and the Segerstrom Center For The Arts for the chance to see this concert and write a review.

Related posts:

1. Chick Corea & Gary Burton Perform For Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Jazz Series
2. All Your Jazz Review Of Chick Corea’s New Release “Duet”
3. Chick Corea Puts Out New Album “Duet”: A collaboration with Japanese pianist Hiromi

See Review

An Evening with Chick Corea & Gary Burton Duets will display one of the greatest collaborations in the history of jazz. For this special one-night-only show, the Grammy-winning duo will explore jazz standards featuring fresh new arrangements by Corea.

Corea and Burton first paired in 1972 with their album Crystal Silence, which has been called “one of the seminal recordings of that decade” by NPR. Tickets to see An Evening with Chick Corea & Gary Burton Duets start at $25 and are available now.

Press Release

Concert Details

Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Friday, March 4, 2011 at 8 p.m.

615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Tickets: Start at $25
In person – The Box Office
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Online – SCFTA.org
Phone – (714) 556-2787
Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily
TTY number – (714) 556-2746
Group Sales – (714) 755-0236

Related posts:

1. Performance Review: Chick Corea & Gary Burton In Orange County
2. Sophie Milman To Perform At Orange County Performing Arts Center
3. Chick Corea & John McLaughlin To Perform At UC Santa Barbara

Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall in Love, Botti (pronounced boat-tee) has become the largest selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four No.1 Jazz Albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum & Grammy Awards.

The New York Times said about Botti, “It’s easy to like trumpeter Chris Botti. … an image of pensive
romance, achieving stardom in the realm of adult-contemporary pop … Mr. Botti’s sumptuous, limpid
instrumental voice was the focus of the show.”

Ticket Info

Tickets to Chris Botti start at $46 and are now available online at OCPAC.org, at the Center’s Box Office
at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket
discounts for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is
714.556.2746.

Related posts:

1. Ten-Time Grammy Award Winner George Benson To Perform At OCPAC
2. Grammy Award Winning Jazz Trumpeter Terence Blanchard Released “Choices”
3. Sonny Rollins To Perform At OCPAC

Antoinette Montague’s name and elegant physical appearance have the touch of royalty. It’s silly to take the regal comparison too far, yet her singing on her second album suggests a fitting for a tiara isn’t out of the question. Focused and with purity of intent, she skillfully advances stories that are open-hearted gifts to listeners rather than exhibits of showy technique or solipsistic disclosure.

Long under the spell of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, mentored by Carrie Smith and Etta Jones, Montague has the vocal command and depth of feeling to make you believe the words to songs, even potentially mawkish ones.

Performance Details

Friday, October 8 and Saturday, October 9th, 2010
(8:00 pm, 9:30 pm and 11:00 pm)

Lenox Lounge
Malcolm X Boulevard between 124th & 125th Street
New York City 10027
www.lenoxlounge.com
Reserve your space early and pass the word to all organizations

Related posts:

1. Antoinette Montague Performs With The Queens Jazz Orchestra
2. Antoinette Montague To Perform For The Fund Raiser for Rutgers Law School & the Association of Black Law Students
3. Press Release: Jazz Vocalist Antoinette Montague releases her 2009 performance schedule

Singer/songwriter Gazarek is known for seamlessly mingling her uniquely intimate style with the musical and improvisational elements of jazz while Vasandani is simply one of the hottest jazz vocalists/songwriters/bandleaders working today. Recently, Vasandani won the 2010 DownBeat Critics Poll for best Male Jazz Vocals in the Rising Star category. And Gazarek was voted one of the Best New Artists in the JazzTimes Readers Poll.

Sara Gazarek

(Listen To Interview)

Gazarek is a talented young artist on an amazing musical journey who has emerged as a strikingly original artist with limitless potential. In a follow up to Yours, Gazarek’s widely hailed 2005 debut focusing on American Songbook standards, she delivers a sensational sophomore effort with Return to You. Born and raised in Seattle, Gazarek grew up without much exposure to jazz.

Her preliminary jazz education started during high school and as a senior, she was awarded the first-ever Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation Outstanding Jazz Vocalist Award at the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City.

She studied at the prestigious Thornton School of Music at USC. In 2003, Gazarek was awarded the 2003 Downbeat Student Music Award for Best Collegiate Vocalist. Shortly after the publication hit the press, she was asked to perform with Oleta Adams, Karrin Allyson, and Diane Schuur as the “as yet undiscovered talent” on the Concord Jazz Festival Tour. Simultaneously, Gazarek joined Barry Manilow, Allyson, and Schuur as a Stiletto Entertainment (management) client and was soon being booked by the industry giant, William Morris.

John Clayton, a mentor and teacher at USC, produced her first album, and insisted she develop the arrangements herself with the band she’d been performing with. She found musical soulmates in her group and the resulting record was a debut that was released to national and international rave reviews. It ranked in the Top 10 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Charts, Top 10 on the iTunes top Jazz Album Downloads (US, UK, Switzerland, and Belgium), No. 1 on the iTunes Top Jazz Album Downloads (Germany, France), No. 5 on the Jazz Week Radio Charts, No. 4 on the HMV (Japan) chart. In addition, Gazarek was voted the No. 3 Best New Artist in the JazzTimes Readers Poll. saragazarek.com

Sachal Vasandani

Vasandani’s sophomore CD, We Move, on Mack Avenue Records was produced with a team of top-flight studio sages (John Clayton, Doug Wamble and Al Pryor). We Move finds Vasandani (who also serves as a producer) maturing as songwriter, tune stylist and bandleader in the wake of his breakout 2007 debut, Eyes Wide Open (Mack Avenue Records).

Vasandani was born in Chicago and grew up in a household where all kinds of music was appreciated. In pursuing his love for music at the University of Michigan, he began to be recognized as a talent of the future, most notably by DownBeat magazine, which awarded him Collegiate Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 1999.

After moving to New York, Vasandani quickly became a part of the jazz scene, and made a musical home in storied clubs like the Zinc Bar. And after the release of his breakthrough debut recording, he toured extensively supporting Eyes Wide Open. He opened for such disparate artists from jazz trumpeter Chris Botti to pop singer Joan Osborne.

On We Move, Vasandani has ample support from his trio comprised of pianist Jeb Patton, bassist David Wong and drummer Quincy Davis. The band has been a group since 2001. Vasandani notes that in addition to their instrumental support, two band members also contributed songs, including Patton’s “Horizons” that is paired with the romping, upswing “Once in a While” (by Michael Edwards and Bud Green) and Davis composed the music on “Ring Road (Back to You).”

In addition to his originals, Vasandani puts his spin on songs from the jazz songbook and canon,including Rodgers & Hart’s “There’s a Small Hotel” with a Vasandani intro (“Escape”) that gives the standard a fresh feel. Also on the CD are “No More,” the Hubert Laws/Jon Hendricks ‘70s song; the Bloom/Kohler tune “Don’t Worry About Me;” “Poinciana;” “There Are Such Things” (by Stanley Adams, Abel Baer, George W. Meyer); “The River of St. Marie” by Joe Williams; and Thelonious Monk’s “Monk’s Dream” (with lyrics by Hendricks). sachalvasandani.com

Performance Info:

Date: September 24th-25th, 2010 (7:30 pm, 9:30 pm)

Location: Orange County Performing Arts Center (Samueli Theater)

Tickets: $49 – will go on sale August 22nd. They will be available online at OCPAC.org, at the Center’s Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts for 15 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746.

Related posts:

1. Concert Review: Sara Gazarek & Sachal Vasandani At OCPAC
2. Interview With Jazz Vocalist Sara Gazarek
3. Kurt Elling Among Artists Announced For OCPAC’s 2009-2010 Jazz Series

Cover charge is $10 for each individual set OR $25 cover charge for the entire night (3 sets). APAP Conference attendees with official badges get free admission for entire Jazz Festival. Additionally there is a $7 food/drink minimum per set. Reservations are highly recommended.

- Festival Details
- Venue Info

Festival Set List

Friday, January 8, 2010
8:30pm “R*Time” w/special guest Judith Insell(viola)
Reut Regev – trombone
David Phelps – electric guitar
Sean Conly – bass
Igal Foni – drums

9:45pm “The Other Quartet”
Ohad Talmor – tenor saxophone, clarinet
Russ Johnson – trumpet
Pete McCann – guitar
Mark Ferber – drums, percussion

11pm Mario Pavone’s “Totem”
Mario Pavone / bass
Peter Madsen / piano
Dave Ballou / trumpet , flugelhorn
Gerald Cleaver drums

Saturday, January 9, 2010
8:30pm “The Thirteenth Assembly”
Taylor Ho Bynum – cornet
Mary Halvorson – guitar
Jessica Pavone – viola
Tomas Fujiwara – drums

9:45pm Tony Malaby’s “Paloma Recio”
Tony Malaby, saxophone
Ben Monder, guitar
Eivind Opsik, bass
Nasheet Waits, drums

11pm Mark Helias’ “Open Loose”
Mark Helias – bass
Tony Malaby – tenor saxophone
Tom Rainey – drums

Sunday, January 10, 2010
8:30pm Michael Musillami’s Trio + 3
Michael Musillami – guitar
Joe Fonda – bass
George Schuller – drums
Marty Ehlich – Alto Sax
Matt Moran – Vibes
Ralph Alessi – trumpet

9:45pm George Schuller “Circle Wide”
George Schuller – drums, comp, arr
Peter Apfelbaum – tenor/soprano sax
Dave Ambrosio – bass
Tom Beckham – vibes
Brad Shepik – guitar

11pm Matt Darriau’s “Ballin’ the Jack”
Matt Darriau – alto/soprano sax, clarinet
Andy Laster – baritone sax, clarinet
Frank London – trumpet
Curtis Hasselbring – trombone
George Schuller – drums
Joe Fitzgerald – bass
Anthony Coleman – keyboard, piano

More Info can be found online at www.companyofheaven.com.

Festival Location

Cornelia Street Cafe
29 Cornelia Street
Greenwich Village, NYC
(212) 989-9319
www.corneliastreetcafe.com

Related posts:

1. Cornelia Street Cafe In New York
2. 5th Annual Los Olivos Jazz & Olive Festival
3. Upcoming Events Calendar: Turning Point Cafe in New York

Register for Jazz For Curious Readers

Artist Info

As host-producer of a TV and a radio program on jazz in the New York City area, Shelia Anderson, author of The Quotable Musician: From Bach to Tupac, has met and interviewed musicians, composers, and other music industry professionals from all genres, classical to jazz.

For her latest book, How to Grow as a Musician: What All Musicians Must Know to Succeed (above, right), she put her connections to good use and culled the wisdom and personal experiences of 30 prominent musicians, including Grammy Award-winning performer Al Jarreau; Paula Kimper, a composer of opera, theater, film, and dance music; and Eric Reed, a jazz pianist who has played with the Wynton Marsalis Septet, Joe Henderson, Cassandra Wilson, and a multitude of other masters.

Shelia Anderson weaves together a comprehensive guide that reveals the fundamentals necessary for living a creative and successful life in music, with insights on getting started, developing as an artist, composing, recording, songwriting, preparing for performance, working with a manager, and signing contracts. She shares musicians’ candid and poignant advice on triumph and failure, self-evaluation, ego checks, and personal growth.

More Info

Event Details

Monday, January 4th, 2010
(7:00pm – 8:30pm)
Event is FREE!

Location:
Jazz Museum in Harlem Visitors Center
104 E. 126th Street (Suite 2C)
New York, NY 10035
(212) 348-8300
http://jazzmuseuminharlem.org

Related posts:

1. Fred Anderson Quartet To Release New Album At The Velvet Lounge In Chicago: Fans awaiting this 3rd volume
2. Rockefeller Foundation Presents “A Celebration Of America”: In honor of the presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
3. National Jazz Museum in Harlem Events: April 13th – 18th

Highlights & Schedule

• Thursday’s Grand Opening Night will feature a stunning tribute to Frank Sinatra with the Patrick Williams’ Orchestra conducted by Terry Woodson, in SINATRLAND. Said one reviewer of the “10-star tribute to the Chairman” album- “If you like a well-disciplined big band sound, you gotta hear the Sinatraland Orchestra. You’ll love it!” Closing the evening will be a big band tribute to Benny Goodman with clarinet virtuoso- Ken Peplowski!

• Friday evening will kick off with Ken Peplowski, Gilbert Castellanos, Bill Cunliffe, Paul Keller and Lewis Nash in swinging set of the Great American Songbook, followed by the legendary Jimmy & Tootie Heath quartet featuring Cunliffe and Bob Magnusson. Jackie Ryan and the Tamir Hendelman Trio will follow and closing this second great night of straight ahead jazz will be famed drummer Jeff Hamilton and his Trio which features Tamir Hendelman and Christoph Luty!

• Saturday night will open with one of the most recorded drummers in jazz- Lewis Nash and his Friends, followed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling who will be joined by Dan Barrett, Paul Keller, Jeff Hamilton and Bill Cunliffe. Marlena Shaw and the Bill Cunliffe Trio will be next and closing the evening will be the Holly Hofmann Quartet with Strings in a tribute to Duke Ellington! Holly will feature Mike Wofford on piano, Christoph Luty on bass and Jeff Hamilton on drums, along with special guest- Byron Stripling.

• Sunday Evening will start by featuring one of the hottest young guitar players on today’s jazz scene- Graham Dechter who will be joined by veterans Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton and Tamir Hendelman. And continuing with
some comedy relief will be Dave Frishberg who is certain to perform many of his classic hits including “Peel Me a Grape”. Byron Stripling and Marlena Shaw will team up for the first time and bringing the weekend to a swinging
close will be the renowned Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

More Info

Details

Tickets are now available for the complete four night, three-day package including one Jazz Brunch. Prices are $350/375. Individual reserved seats are priced at $65/$70 for evening performances and $40/50 for the Grand Opening Sessions, $30 each for “Friday, Saturday & Sunday By the Pool” and $50 for each Jazz Brunch. For tickets to the 10th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party, call the Jazzline at 949.759.5003 or for complete artist appearance times and an order form visit our website at newportbeachjazzparty.com.

Those wishing to have a weekend getaway may also enjoy the Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa special rate of $154 per night for a standard room, $164 for Pool/Music View, $174 for Ocean Music View and $179 for Concierge. For hotel reservations call Marriott at 949.640.4000 and ask for the Newport Beach Jazz Party rate.

Free self-parking will also be available for attendees.

The Newport Beach Marriott
900 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA
newportbeachjazzparty.com

Related posts:

1. Guitarist Jim Hall To Play Birdland, Nov. 10th-14th
2. 2nd Annual “Company of Heaven Jazz Festival” At Cornelia Street Cafe: Jan. 8th-10th
3. 11th Annual Latin Culture Celebration At Berklee: A month Of jazz performances & clinics

This performance coincides with the opening of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference at the New York Hilton, which has put a special focus on jazz this year. For those who love the lilting, tropical sounds of vibraphonist Cal Tjader this evening will be a hot ticket.

Performance Background

Sammy Figueroa

Cal Tjader, who recorded almost 80 albums in his long career, and collaborated with Eddie Palmieri, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and many others, was one of the great innovators of Latin jazz. His sound, combining the celestial quality of the vibraphone with the intricate swinging rhythms of mambo and salsa, helped establish Latin Jazz as a genre and is considered to be the foundation of “cool jazz” and acid jazz.

- Other Jazz Styles

Artist Info

A classic tribute band , “Sally’s Tomato” strives to capture every nuance of Cal Tjader’s “Willy Bobo” period and is perhaps the first genuine Latin tribute band (as opposed to a ‘cover’ band). The group’s name, “Sally’s Tomato” (from a song that Tjader composed and recorded for the film “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”), reflects the playfulness and lightness of the music. The band will perform Tjader classics such as The Continental, Soul Sauce, Mambo Terrifico, Cuban Fantasy, Alonso and Tu Creas Que.

‘Sally’s Tomato’, formed in November 2008, debuted at the Miami Book Fair and was an instant success, obtaining an enthusiastic following and the blessings of Cal Tjader’s children. Sammy Figueroa, who has been living in South Florida since 2001, gathered together some great musicians for this special project, among them Richard Bravo on timbales, Brian Potts on vibraphone, Alexander Hoyt on piano and Freddy Lugo on bongos. The band will be joined by New York-based bassist Waldo Chavez.

Performance Details

When:
Friday, January 8th, 2010
(Midnight)

Cover:
$20 admission $10 for pre-reservations
Free admission for APAP badgeholders

Location:
Iridium Jazz Club
1650 Broadway (51st St.)
New York, NY 10019
(212) 582-2121
www.iridiumjazzclub.com

Related posts:

1. Iridium Jazz Club Gives A Tribute To Trumpet Legend Freddie Hubbard
2. Iridium Jazz Club Hosts Freda Payne In Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald
3. Iridium Jazz Club Welcomes Eddie Daniels & Bob James