Nick Halley spent a year in Brazil studying percussion with masters Marcio Bahia, Oscar Bolao and Pedro Lima as well as performing with Viradouro, one of Rio’s top samba schools. He returned to New York City to attend The New School University’s jazz and contemporary music program, and entered into long-lasting musical friendships with some of the great young musicians in New York’s ever-evolving jazz scene. Nick tours and records with groups ranging in style from traditional Scottish and Irish to gospel, jazz, Brazilian and popular music.

He has performed with artists as wide-ranging as Oscar Castro-Neves, Paul Halley, Maucha Adnet, Chris Norman, Suzie LeBlanc, Theresa Thomason, Rhonda Larson, Café, and Jamey Haddad. When not on tour, Nick is currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia apprenticed to his father, Paul Halley, as organist and choral conductor at the University of King’s College, St. George’s Anglican Church, and the Atlantic School of Theology.

He directs workshops in percussion, music theory, and Brazilian, North African, and South Indian rhythm. The new recording of original music, Barnum Hill, can be heard and purchased at cdbaby.com.

Artist: Nick Halley
Album: Barnum Hill
Released: October 21, 2008

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With a mere 140 years of performing experience between them, James Moody and Hank Jones finally decided to sit down and bounce some ideas off each other and Our Delight was born.

The quartet along with Moody (tenor sax and flute) and Jones (piano) is Todd Colman (bass) and Adam Nussbaum (drums). This quartet turns out some gorgeous compositions, 12 in total, and each one has their own distinct personality thanks to the consistency and all around excellence of every musician involved.

The band covers Gillespie to Stitt and beyond. The only original on the album is “Darben The Red Foxx,” an interesting and thought provoking title with the inference to deceased comedian Red Foxx.

Primarily this album holds back on the jumpin’ swing until it reaches “Eternal Struggle” and picks it up again on “Woody ‘N” You.” The boys let their proverbial hair down as they see fit and how it pertains to each selection, not willing to push any boundaries and experiment as such. Even so, this is beautiful music and these immaculate artists interpret all of it beautifully.

Prior to the upbeat and engaging numbers, what you get is some soothing and eloquent tracks that let you melt into your chair. Not to say they do not have any big band swing, they do but with a softer touch that does not bring you up too high, it just decides to let you down easy every time when there is a change of pace that is noticeable.

At any pace, Our Delight is your delight if you are a true jazz fan and appreciate what the older gentleman of the genre can accomplish when they join forces. Any angle you look at this CD it is a clear-cut winner and definitive jazz.

Samples from Our Delight:

Check out some samples off this new release. Scan through all the tracks on the album, and download any that you like. You can also get the entire album from Amazon.

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The stunning collection of artists performed a one-night only show in Las Vegas last spring, which honored his hugely successful four-decade career. The result is the CD/DVD Hit Man: David Foster and Friends, with stand-out performances by Kenny G, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Katharine McPhee, Brian McKnight, and others.

Having worked with a virtual who’s who of the record business including Barbara Streisand, Madonna and Michael Jackson, Foster’s storied career continues to impact the charts. Spotlighting the many number one hits, award-winning songs and other favorites, the show will also be broadcast as part of the prestigious Great Performance Series on PBS in December.

Order this album on Amazon.

Download this album from iTunes.

For more information about this new release, please visit his website.

Source: On Target Media Group

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The Harlem Jazz Concert Festival celebrates the 2008 Holiday season with two limited time engagement concerts at Casa Frela Gallery. Headlined by rising jazz starlets, pianist and vocalist Deanna Witkowski and violinist Kersten Stevens, the Holiday 2008 concerts explore the richness of jazz music and its expression in the American, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Hip-Hop, Sacred, and Gospel sub-genres.

Festival Details:

Produced by uptown natives Winslow Fabian and Águeda Ramírez, The Harlem Jazz Concert Festival began during the summer of 2007. Providing access to a great diversity of jazz music, from American jazz to World Avant-Garde, The Harlem Jazz Concert Festival boasts a commitment to the traditional, while nurturing and supporting the new and developing trends of the Jazz genre by showcasing jazz artists from the contemporary jazz mainstream, as well as emerging seasoned professionals.

Past artists include Xiomara Laugart (Broadway’s Celia), Oriente Lopez (The Capeman), Octavio Kotan (Afro-Cuban jazz legacy), Annette Aguilar (Bring In Da’ Noise, Bring In Da’ Funk), Sweet Plantain (Broadway’s Fela!), Elin (Dizzy’s Club CC), Andrea Tierra (Jazz Standard), Chanda Rule (Zinc Bar), Courtney Bryan (Nuyorican Poets Café), and Charenee Wade (St. Nick’s Pub).

The Harlem Jazz Concert Festival has enjoyed much success attracting diverse audiences from all five of New York City’s boroughs as well as tourist from Europe, Africa, South America, and The Caribbean.

Dec. 6th Show:

Selling out last year’s Harlem Jazz Concert Festival Fall 2007 Festival, Kersten Stevens is back!
A Harlem favorite, violinist Kersten Stevens is one of the most electrifying, expressive, & contemporary new artists of our time! Being blessed with a unique gift as a soulful jazz, gospel and hip hop violinist, her magnificent talent has propelled her from a local star hailing from Stratford, Connecticut to a national buzzworthy artist! She will go on stage at 8:00 pm.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are $20 (includes complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvers).
Reserve your tickets ahead of time.

Location:
Harlem Jazz Concert Festival
Casa Frela Gallery
47 West 119th Street
Harlem, NY
646-752-4019
www.harlemjazzconcertfestival.eventbrite.com

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Event:
Nov. 16th
(7:30 pm)
Greek Theatre
Los Angeles, CA

The Greek Theatre is bringing their 2008 season to a close, and they are wrapping it up with three great performances. Performing together for the first time, they are pleased to announce performances by The Ellis Marsalis Quintet, The McCoy Tyner Trio, and Brad Mehldau. The concert is scheduled for November 16th and is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm.

Artists:

The Ellis Marsalis Quintet will feature Ellis’ sons Delfeayo (trombone) and Jason (drums). Ellis is regarded by many as the premier modern jazz pianist in New Orleans while his sons are on track to follow in their father’s musical footsteps. Ellis’ latest CD An Open Letter to Thelonius is a thoughtful and moving tribute. This performance will be a unique opportunity to see and hear New Orleans’ venerable first family of jazz performing in Los Angeles.

McCoy Tyner is considered by many to be the greatest living jazz piano player today. The McCoy Tyner Trio features Gerald Cannon (bass) and Eric Kamau Gravatt (drums). Special guest guitarist Marc Ribot will add a playful and experimental element to the trio’s sound.

Leader McCoy Tyner has shaped the sound of modern jazz with his blues-based piano style, replete with sophisticated chords and an explosively percussive left hand has transcended conventional styles to become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music. Tyner has released nearly 80 albums, earned four Grammys and was awarded Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2002.

In a rare solo performance, American pianist Brad Mehldau will captivate the audience and offer the opportunity to fully appreciate his virtuosity at maintaining the formal architecture of a piece, all the while exploring its improvisational openings. Deeply reflective but utterly free of constraint, he is always in command of his technical and melodic facilities. Mehldau was the recipient of the Miles Davis Award in 2006, cementing him as one of the defining musicians of his generation.

Ticket Information:

Ticket Pricing: $30-$75
Get your tickets at
Ticketmaster

Location:
The Greek Theatre
2700 N Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 665-5857
www.greektheatrela.com

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Having started his career back in 1986, at the age of 23, he was quick to make a name for himself. Right out of high school, he was picked up as a member of Bobby Caldwell’s tour, and for the rest of the 1980s, he served as a session musician in several bands, toured with artists such as Jeff Lorber & Richard Marx, and played in the house band of CBS’ short-lived The Pat Sajak Show, with Tom Scott as band leader.

In 2006, Koz was selected to host a syndicated afternoon show for Broadcast Architecture’s new Smooth Jazz Network. The show, based in Los Angeles, is broadcast on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country. Koz and Ramsey Lewis are the only two Smooth Jazz personalities to host two different syndicated shows during the week.

Over the course of his 22 year career in the scene, the saxophonist has earned himself six Grammy nominations. Having recorded with Capitol Records as well as with his own label Rendezvous Entertainment, he has racked up an amazing fourteen albums, along with numerous singles.

His latest release, Greatest Hits, marks an amazing milestone in his career and shows that his career is still moving along. Most fans of smooth jazz have heard the name Dave Koz, but he is also recognized by many more contemporary and traditionalist jazz musicians. This is testimony to his talent and great success in the scene.

To have a listen to some of his Greatest Hits album,
just click on the mp3 player to the left.

Recommended Albums:

Memories of a Winter’s Night (2007)
At the Movies (2007)
Best of Dave Koz (2006)

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The Lincoln Center is proud to host the 2008 Thelonious Monk Festival which covers five days of music. Everything will kick off with “Who is Thelonious Monk?” on November 15th. It will be hosted by Wynton Marsalis and is addressed to younger people, looking for an introduction to the great legend. The festival will continue November 20th through the 23rd, with appearances and performances by artists such as the Danilo Pe?rez Trio, Marcus Roberts, Eric Alexander, Soledad O’Brien, and Courtney Vance.

FESTIVAL BREAKDOWN:

Nov. 15th
Jazz For Young People: Who is Thelonious Monk? Wynton Marsalis will host this event, speaking about the genius behind the music, giving specific examples of his work. The event will take place in the Rose Theater at 1:00 pm. and 3:00 pm, and tickets begin at $12.

Nov. 20th
Council Member Gale A. Brewer Proclamation Declares Nov. 20, 2008 Thelonious Monk Day.

Nov. 20th-22nd
Jazz Talk Historian Sam Stephenson will present a multimedia program on the music of Thelonious Monk. Mr. Stephenson is Jazz Loft Project Director at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. Pre-Concert Lecture is FREE to ticketholders in the Irene Diamond Education Center at 7:00 pm.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Special Guest Marcus Roberts. It will be hosted by Soledad O’Brien on November 20th and by Courtney Vance November 21st and 22nd. This concert takes place in Rose Theater and will begin at 8:00 pm.

Nov. 21st-22nd:
Panamanian pianist and composer Danilo Pe?rez revisits his critically acclaimed release Panamonk and more in The Allen Room, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms and folkloric sounds with the intricate rhythms and originality of Monk’s music. Rounding out Pe?rez’s trio is Ben Street (bass) and Adam Cruz (drums). This series is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Smokin’ Jazz Sessions. This concert takes place in The Allen Room and will begin at 7:30pm and 9:30pm.

Nov. 21st-23rd:
Mostly Monk: One For All featuring Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Jim Rotondi, Dave Hazeltine, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth – Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola Who/What: Mostly Monk: One For All features Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Steve Davis (trombone), Jim Rotondi (trumpet), Dave Hazeltine (piano), John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums). This all-star lineup will feature the music of Monk and more in Dizzy’s Club CocaCola.

More tickets and other information about the festival please visit lincolncenter.org.

Location:
Lincoln Center
70 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY
(212) 721-6500

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Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the annual NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert will take place on October 17, 2008, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The event will begin at 8 p.m. in Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center at Broadway at 60th Street and feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in a program dedicated to the honorees’ works. The concert also will include brief video biographies on each 2009 NEA Jazz Master.

As a bonus there will be a pre-concert conversation, exploring the careers, influences, and ideas from the Masters’ experiences in jazz. The moderator for this conversation will be Dana Gioia, NEA Chairman. The six Jazz Masters taking part in this conversation include vocalist and guitarist George Benson, drummer James “Jimmy” Cobb, saxophonist Lee Konitz, harmonica and guitar player Jean-Baptiste “Toots” Thielemans, and trumpeter Eugene Edward “Snooky” Young.

Information About NEA Jazz Masters:

About NEA Jazz Masters: NEA Jazz Masters are selected from nominations submitted by the public. Musicians selected as NEA Jazz Masters receive a one-time grant award of $25,000, are honored at a public awards ceremony, and may participate in NEA-sponsored promotional, performance, and educational activities under the NEA Jazz Masters National Initiative program.

All of the NEA Jazz Masters are profiled in an NEA publication, which includes brief biographies, selected discographies, and an hour-long audio CD of NEA-produced Jazz Moments, radio shorts of interviews with NEA Jazz Masters. Only living musicians or jazz advocates may receive the NEA Jazz Masters honor.

The National Endowment for the Arts has supported jazz artists and organizations since 1969, providing millions of dollars in grants and awards. In 2004, the NEA significantly expanded its NEA Jazz Masters program and in 2005 created the NEA Jazz Masters Initiative, a comprehensive program of jazz support that includes:
(1) the NEA Jazz Masters Award
(2) the NEA Jazz Masters Live, a series of multiple event engagements in selected communities, featuring NEA Jazz Masters
(3) radio programming featuring NEA Jazz Masters
(4) a compilation CD produced by Verve Music Group
(5) educational resources through the NEA Jazz in the Schools program produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center
(6) publications and reports

For more information on NEA Jazz Masters, the public is invited to visit the web site, at www.neajazzmasters.org.

[Source: www.jazzpolice.com]

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Cape May Jazz Festival
Nov. 7th-9th
Cape May, NJ

November 7-9, 2008, will mark the Cape May Jazz Festival’s 15th year and 30th celebration presented by Bank of America. Friday night’s opener kicks off with a Tribute to Maynard Ferguson featuring a 16-piece big band led by Ed Vezinho and Jim Ward. This performance will be held in the theatre at Lower Regional High School. Jon Faddis, internationally acclaimed high-register trumpeter, will solo with the band saluting Ferguson’s music.

Pieces of a Dream returns to perform on Saturday night, also in the theater. To fill out the schedule, well-known jazz vocalist Jackie Ryan will perform in the Grand Hotel Ballroom Friday, and smooth jazz saxtress Pamela Williams will lend her talents on Saturday night. Ex-Ferguson musician Denis DiBlasio will bring his band to Carney’s on Saturday night, featuring Jim McFalls on the trombone. Also included on this bill are Michael Pedicin, Frank Bey, Edgardo Cintron, Antoinette Montague, David Cole, Bob Ferguson, the Little Jazz Giants and many more plus the always-popular high energy jam sessions and complimentary workshops.

The schedule in its entirety can be found on the web at www.capemayjazz.org , the best source for all the latest on the Cape May Jazz Festival, including music bytes from your favorite artists. For more information or to be put on the mailing list please call 609-884-7277.

For those who wish to discover all venues and performers, the new Preferred All-Event Weekend Pass gives guests an opportunity to attend 20 jazz performances, including RESERVED SEATING at any 2 concerts at the Theatre at Lower for a special $190 (saving $30 off regular ticket pricing). The general seating All-Event Weekend Pass is also available for $150. Individual Friday or Saturday Night All-Event Wristbands are available for $55 each. Saturday Afternoon Jam Wristbands are available for $35 each, and Sunday Afternoon Jam Wristbands are $25 each. Tickets go on sale September 15th by calling 1.877.CM.JAZZ.

The 30th Cape May Jazz Festival is presented by Bank of America and sponsored by Cape Savings Bank, Delaware River and Bay Authority, Barefoot Wines, Yamaha Concert Division, Jazz Times, WRTI Temple University Public Radio, WBGO Jazz 88 FM, WCFA 101.5 LP, WTTH the Touch, Cape May Star & Wave, Cape May Gazette, and Verizon Wireless, with generous support from New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and supported in part by the New Jersey Department of State, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission.

Information including schedules, pictures, biographies, music clips and ticket order form can be found on:
www.CapeMayJazz.org
or by calling 609.884.7277.
Complementary Festival Transportation is available between venues Friday thru Sunday.

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The Catalina Bar & Grill is pleased to bring you a special performance in Tuesday, August 19th at their location in Hollywood. The theme is “A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald,” celebrating and honoring an artist who has contributed so much to popular jazz.

Artists featured include pianist Paul Smith, bassist Jim De Julio, drummer Frank Capp, and special guest Sheri Williams.

Performance Information:

Tuesday, Aug 19th (8:00 pm)
Guests are encouraged to show up about
30 minutes prior to start time

Entrance is $15.00

Catalina Bar & Grill
6725 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

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