2/26-3/3
FEATURING JOHN MEDESKI, ERIC KRASNO OF SOULIVE (2/26-27) JOHN POPPER OF BLUES TRAVELER (2/26-28) & JAKE CINNINGER OF UMPHREY MCGEE’S (2/28-3/1)
F E B R U A R y
2 0 1 3
p r o g ra m
WORLD’S FINEST JAZZ CLUB AND RESTAURANT 131 w. 3rd st. new york city 212. 475. 8592 www.bluenotejazz.com
TWO SHOWS NIGHTLY: 8 & 10:30PM LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES: FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 12:30AM midnight SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH: 12:30 & 2:30 PM
FEBRUARY CALENDAR GATO BARBIERI FEBRUARY 4 RON CARTER QUARTET FEBRUARY 5-10 ABIAH FEBRUARY 11 McCOY TYNER WITH SPECIAL GUEST GARY BARTZ FEBRUARY 12 & 13 RACHELLE FERRELL FEBRUARY 14-17 GATO BARBIERI FEBRUARY 18
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES AMANDA RUZZA FEBRUARY 8 JEREMIAH HOSEA FEBRUARY 9 W. ELLINGTON FELTON FEBRUARY 15 DESSY DiLAURO FEBRUARY 16 TIM GREEN FEBRUARY 22 JUICEBOX FEBRUARY 23 COLLETTE MARCH 1
DOUBLE FEATURE: KARRIN ALLYSON + RAUL MIDON FEBRUARY 19-24
VICKIE NATALE MARCH 2
MAYA AZUCENA FEBRUARY 25
SUNDAY BRUNCH
BILL EVANS SOULGRASS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS JOHN MEDESKI ERIC KRASNO (26-27) JOHN POPPER (26-28) JAKE CINNINGER (28-1) february 26 - march 3
AMINA FIGAROVA FEBRUARY 10 JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE FEBRUARY 17 ROY ASSAF NEW TRIO FEBRUARY 24 BILLY DREWES & HIS NYU ENSEMBLE MARCH 3
GATO BARBIERI FEBRUARY 4 & 18, 8 & 10:30PM Mystical yet fiery, passionately romantic yet supremely cool – you hear those first few notes from that instantly recognizable tenor and know you’re in the unique musical world of Gato Barbieri. His enduring career has covered virtually the entire jazz landscape, from free jazz with trumpeter Don Cherry and avant-garde in the mid-’60s, to film scoring and his ultimate embrace of Latin music throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Barbieri began playing tenor saxophone with his own band in the late ’50s and moved to Rome with his Italian-born first wife Michelle in 1962, where he began collaborating with Cherry. They recorded two albums for Blue Note: Complete Communion (1965) and Symphony for Improvisers (1966), both of which are considered classics of free group improvisation. He also collaborated with Steve Lacy, Abdullah Ibrahim, Charlie Haden, Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, and Chico O’Farrell during this period. Barbieri recorded a handful of albums on the Flying Dutchman label in the early ’70s and then signed with the Impulse imprint, where he recorded his classic Chapter Series: Latin America (1973), Hasta Siempre (1973), Viva Emiliano Zapata (1974), and Alive in New York (1975). While at Impulse, he also composed the Grammy-winning score for the film Last Tango in Paris (1972) – an achievement he parlayed into success as a film composer, scoring a dozen international films over the years in Europe, South America, and the U.S. By the mid-’70s, Barbieri’s coarse, wailing tone began to
mellow, a change evident on his ’70s A&M recordings. However, early ’80s dates like the Live Gato … Para Los Amigos (1984) saw the saxophonist reclaim a more intense, rock-influenced South American sound. After many years of limited musical activity due to the passing of his first wife Michelle (also his closest musi-
cal confidant and manager) and his own triple bypass surgery six weeks later, Barbieri returned stronger than ever with the 1997 Columbia offering Que Pasa, the fourth-highest-selling contemporary jazz album of that year. Since that reemergence, he has continued to release albums including The Shadow of the Cat (2002), which won Billboard’s prestigious 2003 Latin Jazz Album of the Year award and garnered a Grammy nomination, and New York Meeting (2010), his latest release. n
RON CARTER QUARTET FEBRUARY 5 - 10, 8 & 10:30PM
Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of the music’s greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s, Carter performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He later toured Europe with Cannonball Adderley. From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet. He has been named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News, Jazz Bassist of the Year by DownBeat magazine, and Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Carter holds degrees from the Eastman School and the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has also received two honorary doctorates and was the 2002 recipient of the prestigious Hutchinson Award from the Eastman School at the University of Rochester. Most recently, he was honored by the French Minister of Culture with France’s premier
cultural award, the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, given to those who have distinguished themselves in the domain of artistic or literary creation. In 1993, Carter earned a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, and he followed up with another win in 1998 for “Sheet Blues,” an instrumental composition from the film ‘Round Midnight. In addition to scoring and arranging music for many films, he has also shared his expertise in the series of books, among which are Building Jazz Bass Lines and The Music of Ron Carter; the latter contains 130 of his published and recorded compositions. Carter has lectured, conducted, and performed at clinics and master classes, instructing jazz ensembles and teaching the business of music at numerous universities. He was Artistic Director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies while it was located in Boston and, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus although, as a performer, he remains as active as ever.n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
AMANDA RUZZA FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 12:30AM $10
Amanda Ruzza hails from São Paulo, Brazil. She discovered her muse at an early age - perhaps the result of her Chilean mother who loved opera, and her Italian father whose passion was rock n’ roll. Growing up in a house humming with music, Amanda began playing bass early, and was playing professional performance engagements by age 13. Eventually, in Brazil, she worked with distinguished Brazilian producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award-winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Sony Music Japan’s Osny Mello. Besides being a musician fluent in an array of styles, Ruzza is flu-
Jeremiah Hosea SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 12:30AM $10
Few young bassists can claim credentials as extensive and diverse as Jeremiah Hosea. After making his professional debut recording and performing with life-long friend and musical mentor Olu, Jeremiah went on to found the artist/activist collective earthdriver. Since the inception of the project, Jeremiah has toured with Grammy-nominated blues/jazz legend James Blood Ulmer, Gigi, Karsh Kale, Moon Boot Lover, and Lily Haydn to name only a few. Jeremiah’s approach to sound and his adroit technique paired with his commitment to the ethos of love and political change for society coalesce to make him a singular force to be reckoned with. n
ent in several languages as well - Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and English. In developing her musical skills, she is able to cross all cultural boundaries. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
AMINA FIGAROVA TRIO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Composer and pianist Amina Figarova’s 12th album, titled Twelve - her debut release on the renowned independent German label In + Out - celebrates jazz as an international music and New York City as a locale where jazz gypsies may feel most at home. Twelve is suffused with the heightened expectations, sense of adventure and fresh perceptions, as well as the confidence, creative energies and nuanced fulfillment that artists gain from being in the right place at the right time.
that accompany those precious moments when the puzzling jostle of daily existence comes into unexpected but deeply satisfying sync. n
Amina’s pieces strike a perfect tone, employing genuinely beautiful harmonizations, to capture fleeting thoughts
HALF NOTE RECORDS NEW RELEASE
RANDY BRECKER With THE DANISH RADIO BIG BAND
THE JAZZ BALLAD SONG BOOK Trumpeter Randy Brecker, an emeritus statesman whose life in music spans six decades, forges a career record, exploring the contours of jazz’s Great American Songbook in collaboration with the DR Big Band and the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. With lushly conceived charts penned by jazz’s premier arrangers, including Grammy winner Vince Mendoza, THE JAZZ BALLAD SONG BOOK is both cinematic and intimate, reflecting perfectly the scope of Brecker’s contribution to popular music. Evergreens include “Cry Me a River,” “All or Nothing at All,” “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “Skylark.” AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
ABIAH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 8 & 10:30PM ABIAH spent his childhood with his single mother, an accomplished musician who accompanied the late operatic Baritone William Warfield in earlier years. She introduced him to the singers who would become ABIAH’s influences: Sarah Vaughn, Anita Baker and later Nina Simone. “They were great singers and song interpreters,” he says. “They were text painters and I believe that’s a lost art.”
were able to record the entire album in one day. Talk about a quick turn around,” ABIAH says with a laugh. “Robert added such beautiful fabric
ABIAH honed his skills through the years as a background singer for artists George Michael, Chuck Mangione, Amel Larrieux and Yolanda Adams while cutting his chops in opera as a voice major in college. By the time his debut album was released in 2006, ABIAH already knew exactly what he brought to the table — a warm, engaging voice and unassailable taste in music. His debut album was an underground smash. His video Love For a While, a duet with Shanice Wilson became a hit on VH1 Soul and BET J. Life As A Ballad, Abiah’s sophomore studio album, contains a depth of feeling that will delight long-time fans and impress those new to his music. “To me, what’s different about this music is that it has a certain immediacy,” ABIAH says. “We wanted it to be authentic and tell the story of how one finds beauty when life seems its darkest.” To help him capture the songs’ intimacy, ABIAH turned to Blue Note recording artist Robert Glasper, who happens to be his cousin, guitarist/arranger Marvin Sewell, his long time collaborator, and co-producers Keith Witty and Ulysses Owens, Jr. “We definitely have a great chemistry in the studio which is why we
to the music. Marvin was overflowing with genius and Keith helped me to find all the ‘right’ things like a mad scientist.” “There is nothing like feeling and seeing the atmosphere change in a room,” he says. “It’s so important to be in touch with your audience. They come to hear music but leave with their lives changed because of the music. That is my job and calling.” n
McCOY TYNER
WITH SPECIAL GUEST GARY BARTZ FEBRUARY 12-13, 8 & 10:30PM
Jazz pianist McCoy Tyner is widely considered one of the finest and most influential pianists in jazz history. His signature booming left-hand and fleeting right created a unique sound that can be heard on his recordings as a sideman with the John Coltrane Quartet in the 1960s and on his 80plus albums as a leader. Tyner’s most recent project for McCoy Tyner Music/Half Note Records is his first solo effort in almost a decade titled Solo: Live From San Francisco. The release is the third for his label and features eleven solo vignettes recorded at the Herbst Theater in 2007. Tyner’s 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. His harmonic contributions and dramatic rhythmic devices form the vocabulary of a majority of jazz pianists. Born in 1938 in Philadelphia, he became a part of the fertile jazz and R&B scene of the early ‘50s. His parents imbued him with a love for music from an early age. His mother encouraged him to explore his musical interests through formal training.
At 17 he began a career-changing relationship with Miles Davis’ sideman saxophonist John Coltrane. After Coltrane left Davis’ band, Tyner joined Coltrane for the classic album My Favorite Things (1960), and remained at the core of what became one of the most seminal groups in jazz history, The John Coltrane Quartet. The band, which also included drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Jimmy Garrison, had an extraordinary chemistry, fostered in part by Tyner’s almost familial relationship with Coltrane. Tyner has always expanded his vision of the musical landscape and incorporated new elements, whether from distant continents or diverse musical influences. More recently he has arranged for big bands, employed string arrangements, and even reinterpreted popular music. Today, Tyner has released nearly 80 albums under his name, earned four Grammys and was awarded Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2002. He continues to leave his mark on generations of improvisers, and yet remains a disarmingly modest and spiritually directed man. n
RACHELLE FERRELL FEBRUARY 14-17, 8 & 10:30PM Rachelle Ferrell, known all over the world as one of jazz’s finest vocalists, makes a rare club appearance at the Blue Note for four nights in March.
as an instrumentalist and songwriter. In her mid-teens, her father bought her a piano with the provision that she learn to play to a professional level. Within six months, Rachelle Ferrell had secured her first professional gig as a pianist/singer. Ferrell’s debut, First Instrument, was released in 1990 in Japan only. Recorded with bassist Tyrone Brown, pianist Eddie Green and drummer Doug Nally, an allstar cast of accompanists also leave their mark on her record. They include trumpeter Terrence Blanchard, pianists Gil Goldstein and Michel Petrucciani, bassists Kenny Davis and Stanley Clarke, tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter and keyboardist Pete Levin. Ferrell was signed to a unique twolabel contract, recording pop and urban contemporary for Capitol Records and jazz music for Blue Note Records. For four consecutive years in the early ‘90’s, Rachelle Ferrell put in festival stopping performances at the Montreaux Jazz Festival.
Rachelle Ferrell has arrived on the contemporary jazz scene, but her visibility on the pop/urban contemporary scene has boosted her audience’s interest in her jazz recordings. She got started singing in the second grade at age six. This no doubt contributed to the eventual development of her startling six-and-change octave range. Rachelle decided early on, after classical training on violin, that she wanted to try to make her mark musically
Her prolific songwriting abilities and ability to accompany herself on piano seem only to further her natural talent as a vocalist. “Some people sing songs like they wear clothing, they put it on and take it off,” she explains in the biographical notes accompanying “First Instrument.” “But when one performs four sets a night, six nights a week, that experience affords you the opportunity to present the song from the inside out, to express its essence. In this way, a singer expresses the song in the spirit in which it was written, the songwriter then translates emotion into words, the singer’s job is to translate the words back into emotion.” n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
W. ELLINGTON FELTON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
12:30 AM $10
W. Ellington Felton, the son of jazz pianist Hilton Felton Jr., is a singer/ poet/ actor/emcee. Having performed on the Lollapalooza tour and at the Apollo Theater as a teenager, Ellington has shared the stage with Eric Roberson, Raheem Devaughn and Me’shell Ndegocello . He quickly gained a following on Washingtons poetry circuit with his confessional lyrics, quirky pitch, and spontaneous style. When he’s not making music, Ellington commands the spotlight as a classically trained actor. He starred in the critically acclaimed hip-hop play Rhyme Deferred,
performed at the Kennedy Center, the National Black Theater Festival, and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. n
DESSY DiLAURO SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 12:30 AM $10
Dessy DiLauro delivers a unique flavor of original music she describes as “Feathered Fro-hawk Futuristic Art Deco-Centric Harlem Renaissance Hep Music,” with an up-tempo live show incorporating classic elements from the speakeasy era. DiLauro is fast becoming one of Blue Note’s favorite performers with her power-house voice, along with her stellar band and horn section led by her musical director Ric’key Pageot (Madonna, Cirque du Soleil, Jill Scott). Miss Di Lauro evokes the essence of Cab Calloway by blending ragtime music with today’s contemporary R&B music. Although she is a seasoned recording artist with multi-platinum selling album
features, she is releasing her first fulllength album of her original music entitled, This Is…Neo-Ragtime, this February – Black History Month. n
SUNDAY L at e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S BRUNCH SERIES
JUILLIARD JAZZ BRUNCH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
The Juilliard music division, renowned the world over for the quality of its performance education and its many celebrated alumni musicians, dancers, and actors, offers bachelor and master of music degrees in jazz, as well as an Artist Diploma via the pre-professional Juilliard Institute for Jazz Studies, a collaboration between Juilliard and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Altogether, Juilliard’s program features a curriculum designed to maximize professional opportunities, onstage and academically, with equal opportunity
for performance and tailored studio and coursework. The talented young musicians from across the country who are accepted by Juilliard Jazz are taught by some of today’s most active, innovative, and respected jazz musicians. n
HALF NOTE RECORDS NEW RELEASE
DONALD HARRISON RON CARTER BILLY COBHAM
THIS IS JAZZ
For their second Half Note issue, the power trio of DONALD HARRISON, RON CARTER and BILLY COBHAM declare themselves spokesmen for a kind of exploratory improvisation and interplay known only to seasoned jazz professionals. Staunch individualists all, they come together with a united voice of alto, bass and drums - at once steeped in jazz’s richly variegated traditions yet forward-thinking in the cause of new creative expression. AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
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“A Love Surreal” CD Release Event Produced By Jill Newman Productions Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Spend an Intimate, Up Close and Personal Pre-Valentines Evening with
Patrizio Buanne Wednesday, February 13, 2013
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DOUBLE FEATURE KARRIN ALLYSON & RAUL Midón Both artists will play at each concert
FEBRUARY 19-24, 8 & 10:30PM Karrin Allyson moves with ease and authority from the Great American Songbook of Gershwin and Porter to the Great American Jazz Songbook of Duke and Thelonious and Miles and Dizzy, jet-setting to Rio and Paris and swinging back home to pick up Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell
“A free man beyond any category” (Huffington Post) best describes the unique musician that is blind singer, songwriter, guitarist Raul Midón. His singular timeless soul pop jazz sound garnered him a standing ovation during his television debut on Letterman and an open invitation back to Leno following his appearances there. This talented, mesmerizing genre-defying artist has travelled the globe from India to Indiana spreading the message that you can do it, you can be yourself and be recognized and be bold. With three major label records under his belt and countless appearances both on television worldwide and on other artist’s records, he is a pro and more a part of the musical landscape than you might realize.
and Jimmy Webb. A multiple Grammy nominee, Karrin Allyson lives in New York City, following a childhood in the Midwest, schooling in the Bay Area, a degree in classical piano performance and important stints in Minneapolis and Kansas City, where she began her recording career with Concord Jazz. Karrin currently spends two days out of three on tour, playing the major jazz festivals, concert venues and clubs of the U.S. and making repeated tours overseas — to Brazil, Japan, Australia and the great cities of Europe.
His musical collaborations have also been broad and varied from a duet with Jason Mraz to a live recording with bass legend and producer Marcus Miller to playing The Budakan with Roberta Flack. People Magazine calls him an “eclectic adventurist” and the New York Times an “unreconstructed hippy.” Guitar magazine describes him as “One of those rare musical forces that reminds us how strong and deep the connection between man and music can sometimes be.” Midón will delight you with his wit, his musical virtuosity all a result of his dedication to being the best he can be. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
TIM GREEN CD RELEASE SHOW FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 12:30 AM $10
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Tim was inspired to pursue music by a family of musicians at the young age of 10. While attending high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts, he was selected to be one of the 25 members of the Grammy High School All-Star band that performed at the Grammy Award ceremony in Los Angeles, California. Green then received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2004. During that period, he honed his skills performing at jazz clubs around New York and around the country.. In May 2007, Green graduated from
JUICEBOX SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 12:30 AM $10
The brainchild of saxophonist and composer Nick Myers, JuiceBox started spreading groovy, funky music around New York City in 2009. Originally featuring a rotating cast of some of the best young musicians in the city, the group solidified around singer Lisa Ramey and her sultry, soulful voice. With this new inspiration and energy, the group began killing late night sets in New York City downtown clubs and house parties. JuiceBox is always thrilling audiences with deep grooves, hard hitting solos and a never ending box of surprises. With the wailing sounds of the Hammond organ, funky guitar, a powerful horn section and the sensuous vocals of Ramey, they create an irresistible sound that is reminiscent of the 1960’s and 70’s. n
the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the University of Southern California with a masters degree in Jazz Studies. n
L a t e N i g h t G r oSUNDAY o v e S ERIE S
BRUNCH SERIES
ROY ASSAF NEW TRIO SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Breaking into the music scene only a few years ago, pianist Roy Assaf has already toured with the Dizzy Gillespie AllStar Big Band and performed with dozens of notable artists, including Randy Brecker, Roy Hargrove, James Moody, Lewis Nash, T.S. Monk, Barry Harris, Dr. Billy Taylor, Steve Davis, Ron Carter, and Trilok Gurtu. A native of Israel and graduate of the Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music, he has won numerous DownBeat Student
Awards and has led his own projects in performances at international festivals and on national Israeli television and radio programs n
HALF NOTE RECORDS NEW RELEASE
KENNY WERNER With THE BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING
Long regarded as one of Europe’s premier big bands - a group that “manifests love,” according to Grammy-winning arranger Maria Schneider - The Brussels Jazz Orchestra has joined hands with Kenny Werner to create a winning tableau vivant of spirited writing and performance. The Institute of Higher Learning features a sumptuous 3-part suite, “Cantabile,” that reinforces in a singular way Werner’s place among forward-thinking jazzmen. Textural, rhythmic, evincing cascading swirls of color, it was inspired by and dedicated to Bob Brookmeyer. Led by reedman and group founder Frank Vaganee, the BJO offers a perfect canvas for Werner’s painterly approach to composition and arranging.
AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
MAYA AZUCENA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 8 & 10:30PM Maya Azucena inhabits a musical world of her own creation. Her progressive yet accessible style is shaped by an expansive vision that unites genres – uniting hip hop, soul, jazz, reggae, electronica and pop. Like Lauryn Hill, Corinne Bailey Rae, or Gnarls Barkley, she embodies a singular and finely honed artistry through a combination of profound lyrics, soaring melodies, and irresistible rhythms. Her most recent record, Cry Love, is the artistic statement that Maya Azucena has sought to make since day one. The Brooklyn-based singersongwriter’s impressive versatility unfolds over ten original compositions plus a dramatic interpretation of “Little Ghetto Boy.” Executive-produced with her longtime collaborator Christian Ver Halen, and released on her new imprint label, Azucena Songs, Cry Love represents a powerful journey that distills the universal themes of love, survival, and hope. Maya Azucena emerged as a presence on the landscape of popular music following her self-released debut Maya Who?! and the critically acclaimed Junkyard Jewel. Billboard, The Village Voice and The Washington Post have all heralded her mesmerizing performances in the U.S. while her music’s been featured on HBO (The Wire), NBC (30 Rock), and in ads for Verizon Wireless and Ford Motors. Her work with Stephen Marley netted a “Best Reggae Album” GRAMMY and her vocal contributions to an album by Croatian superstar Gibonni garnered two Porin Awards (the top music award in Croatia). Threaded throughout Cry Love is Maya Azucena’s belief that music is a tool for healing and activism. Par-
allel to her recordings, she’s supported a number of charitable initiatives. She performed at the “Save Darfur Rally” in Washington DC, where she appeared among politicians and celebrities such as President Barack Obama and George Clooney. She co-founded MDGFive. com with Emmy-winning director Lisa Russell. Their multimedia website for maternal health awareness prompted an invitation from Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for Maya to perform at the United Nation’s 2010 MDG Summit. Maya also received a Proclamation from the House of Representatives and recently won The Network Journal’s prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” Award in recognition of her tireless community work and strong business acumen. n
BILL EVANS SOULGRASS
FEATURING JOHN MEDESKI, ERIC KRASNO OF SOULIVE (2/26-27) JOHN POPPER OF BLUES TRAVELER (2/26-28) & JAKE CINNINGER of umphrey’s mcgee (2/28-3/1)
FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 3 Grammy-winning saxophonist Bill Evans first joined Miles Davis’s group in 1980 at the age of 22. He went on
Grusin, Steps Ahead, and Mick Jagger, among others, garnering a few Grammy Awards along the way. Since 1990, Evans has been touring almost exclusively with his own band, playing well over 100 concerts worldwide per year. He has recorded 19 solo albums including his latest, Dragonfly (2011), receiving two Grammy nominations in the process. Throughout his more than 20-year career as a solo artist, he has explored a variety of musical settings that go well beyond the confines of traditional jazz, including rock, hip-hop, jam, fusion, reggae, Brazilian, and slamming funk. He recently stepped into more adventurous territory with his 2006 Grammy-nominated release Soulgrass, blending jazz, funk, and bluegrass into a seamless and wholly unique hybrid of quintessentially American styles.
to record six records and tour the world with Davis numerous times over a four-year period. He then toured and recorded three CDs with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra and later played with Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Dave
His follow-up to that widely acclaimed project found him pushing the envelope a little further in the hybrid direction on 2008’s The Other Side of Something. “It’s an extension of Soulgrass...so it seemed like a very natural thing for me to do.” Evans returned to the studio to produce and record the third Soulgrass album Dragonfly, his latest effort, in 2011. Of the record, Evans says: “This CD is a melting pot of styles that work very well together. I have been working with banjo together with the guitar for over six years and, at this point, we have created our own sound n
LLaattee NNi igghhtt GGrroooovvee SSERIE ERIESS
COLLETTE FRIDAY, MARCH 1 12:30 AM $10
Bold, free and uncompromising; Collette represents a new breed of independent artistry. In 2008, Collette released her heartfelt debut Experience Collette to critical acclaim. Soon, she was opening for such national artists as Chrisette Michelle, Talib Kweli, Eric Roberson, Rachelle Ferrell and Noel Gourdin. Four years later, Juneteenth Revolution delivers an evolved sound produced by new talents like Okayplayer artist Danny Swain, Terry “20” Poindexter (Raheem DeVaughn, Jazmine Sullivan) and Aaron Hardin (Ebrahim, Kenny Wesley) among others. Incorporating elements of pop, hip hop, and contemporary R&B, Col-
lette provides an eclectic but accessible collection of soulful jams. Juneteenth Revolution announces a personal, spiritual, and emotional liberation – set to the beat of a joyfully quirky drum. n
VICKIE NATALE saturday, MARCH 2 12:30AM $10
A rare artist of her generation, Vickie Natale’s music combines soul, pop, and R&B. Inspired by Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder, she was crowned the CBS’s Star Search Grand Champion in 2004. Immediately after her win on Star Search, Natale was signed to a development deal with Sony Records and recorded five songs with the label. In 2004 she released the digital single “Like No Other” on A&M Records. In May of 2004, Natale made her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops Orchestra. She has also opened for such
acts as Reba McEntire, Deborah Cox, and Ashford & Simpson, and she toured China, Japan, and the U.S. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
BILLY DREWES & KENNY WERNER NYU ENSEMBLE SUNDAY, MARCH 3
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Saxophonist Billy Drewes has been featured on over 150 CDs. He has worked with Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Paul Motian, Tony Bennett, John Scofield, Lionel Hampton, Eddie Palmieri, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. Kenny Werner is a world-class pianist and composer. A Guggenheim Fellowship Award winner, he has performed extensively with his own groups, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, legendary harmonica player Toots Thielemans, Broadway legend Betty Buckley, and sax superstar Joe Lovano. In 2007,
Kenny Werner released his first album for Blue Note Records. Lawn Chair Society, featuring Chris Potter, Dave Douglas, Scott Colley, and Brian Blade, received critical acclaim for its fusion of electro and acoustic elements. n
HALF NOTE RECORDS NEW RELEASE Striking, bold, organic, and beautiful. Those words describe Maya Azucena’s voice, her music, and her message. On CRY LOVE her impressive talent unfolds over eleven tracks. An anthem for justice, the title track constitutes the album’s core concept. Her desire to inspire and empower listeners saturates the edgy groove of “Warriors” and the sanguine sway of “Near”. “The Half” is a harrowing take propelled by rock icon Vernon Reid. She invited reggae legend and Billboard #1 artist iNi Kamoze aboard on “My Back’s Not Up Against The Wall” while the glistening, acoustic qualities of “Belong To The Sun” furnish another standout cut. The songs are all unified by a remarkable depth and stunning musicality.
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W O R L D ’ S F I N E S T J A Z Z C L U B & R E S TA U R A N T
Blue Note Drink Menu MARTINIS $13 Manhattan
HENNESSY SIDECAR
Redemption rye whiskey, Carpano Antico sweet vermouth
Hennessy Cognac with Grand Marnier and fresh lemon juice
Negroni
BLUE NOTE MARTINI
Bombay Saphire, Campari, Carpano Antico sweet vermouth
citrus vodka, blue curocao, lime juice
VESPER
“MANTECA” MARTINI
Tanqueray gin, Chopin Vodka, and Lillet with a lemon twist
Brinley Gold coconut rum, coconutcream & pineapple juice
FRENCH MARTINI
ITALIAN CHOCOLATE MARTINI
Grey Goose vodka, Chambord & pineapple juice
Meletti Chocolate Liquer Stolivanilla vodka
APPLE MARTINI
Ketel One & apple schnapps
COSMOPOLITAN
Citrus Vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry & lime juice
METROPOLITAN
Absolut Kurant with Triple Sec, cranberry & lime juice
MARGARITA MARTINI
Sauza Conmemorativo tequila, agave, fresh lime & splash orange juice
Mixed drinks $12 ELDERFLOWER FIZZ Beefeater, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon
RUBY RYE
Redemption rye whiskey, grapefruit juice, Chambord
caipirinha
Muddled limes, sugar and Beija Brazilian cachaca
BELLINI
BRANDY ALEXANDER
Prosecco & white peach puree
Brandy, crème de cacao & cream
PCPUNCH
CUBA LIBRE
Grey Goose pear vodka, Brinley coconut rum, pineapple juice
Blackwell rum, Coke & freshly muddled lime
MAI TAI
TOASTED ALMOND
Bacardi light rum, Meyers dark rum, almond liqueur, Triple Sec, Pineapple juice, splash sour mix
Amaretto, coffee liqueur & cream
BRAVE BULL
SPANISH COFFEE
Tequila, Kahlua & coffee
Tia Maria & coffee
SWISS COFFEE
Moca Almond
warm drinks $10 IRISH COFFEE
Irish whiskey & coffee
NUTTY IRISHMAN
Bailey’s Irish Cream, Frangelico & coffee
Peppermint Schnapps, crème de cacao & coffee
Meletti chocolate liquer amaretto, coffee
beer and teas IMPORTED - $8
BELGIAN-STYLE ALE - $14
Sapporo, Amstel Light, Corona, Heineken, Guinness, Stella Artois, Bass Ale
Brother Thelonious Abbey Ale (750 ml)
DOMESTIC - $8
Buckler
Brooklyn Lager, Budweiser, Bud Light
NON-ALCOHOLIC - $6
REPUBLIC OF TEA ICED TEAS - $7 Pomegranate Green Iced Tea Republic Darjeeling Black Iced Tea Ginger Peach Decaf Black Iced Tea
DESSERTS & PAIRINGS SEASONAL FRUIT & SORBET NEW YORK CHEESECAKE RED VELVET CAKE TIRAMISU CINNAMON APPLE STRUDEL WARM LEMON TARTE CHOCOLATE & VANILLA TARTUFO FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE ICE CREAM SORBET OF THE DAY
12 10 10 10 9 9 10 10 9 8
add add add add add add add add add add
Limoncello Meletti Tia Maria Baileys Grand Marnier Amaretto Lazzaroni Drambuie Frangelico Dow’s 20-year Kahlua Prosecco
10 11 10 12 10 10 10 14 10 10
DIGESTIFS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Glenlivet 12 year 12 Glenfiddich 12 year 12 Macallan 12 year 14 Talisker 10 year 12 Glenmorangie 13 Oban 14 year 14 Dahlwinnie 15 year 15 Lagavulin 16 year 16 Mackillop’s 1989 Scapa 34 Deanston 30 year 40 Scott’s 1967 Glenlivet 58
SCOTCH blends
Chivas 12 Dewars 11 J & B 11 Johnny Walker Red 11 Johnny Walker Black 12 Johnny Walker Blue 38
LIQUEURs Amaretto Lazzaroni Aperol Baileys Irish Cream B&B Campari Chambord Cointreau Drambuie Dubbonet Fernet Branca Frangelico Grand Marnier Kahlua Lillet Limoncello Meletti Nocino Walnut Liqueur Pernod Poli Miele Honey Liqueur Sambuca Meletti Tia Maria
10 10 10 11 10 10 11 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 10 10 10 12 10 11
BRANDY & COGNAC
Courvoisier Hennessy VS Hennessy XO Remy Martin VSOP Remy Martin XO Martell VS Martell Cordon Bleu VSOP Paul Beau XO Poli Grappa Moscato
12 12 36 18 36 12 25 25 15
DESSERT WINES Sherry, Dry Sack Sherry, Harvey’s Bristol Cream Taylor Fladgate Tawny Cab Franc Icewine, Inniskillin
10 10 15 20/125
BOURBON / Rye Redemption Rye 12 Basil Hayden 14 Booker’s 14 Knob Creek 14 Woodford Reserve 15 Whistle Pig 16
rum
Beija Cachaca 11 Bacardi Silver 11 Bacardi Gold 11 Brinley Gold Coconut 11 Captain Morgan’s 11 Meyer’s 12 Mount Gay 12 El Dorado 15-year 15 Pyrat XO 15
UPCOMING AT THE BLUE NOTE MAKE RESERVATIONS UPSTAIRS IN THE GIFT SHOP 3/5 - 10
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS
FEATURING JOE SAMPLE, WAYNE HENDERSON, & WILTON FELDER
3/12 - 17
AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS FEATURING MEMBERS OF THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB
3/19 - 20
ROBBEN FORD
3/21 - 24
STANLEY CLARKE & GEORGE DUKE 3/26 - 31
DOUBLE FEATURE: KYLE EASTWOOD & LARRY CORYELL 4/2 - 7 DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER, CHRISTIAN McBRIDE & MORE! MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL ON TOUR 3/18 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY 4/9-14 AL DiMEOLA & GONZALO RUBALCABA DUO 4/16-21 HIROMI TRIO PROJECT FEATURING ANTHONY JACKSON & SIMON PHILLIPS 4/22-25 MACEO PARKER 4/26-28 ARTURO SANDOVAL 4/30-5/5 MICHEL CAMILO 5/6 NYU JAZZ ORCHESTRA 5/7-12 TAKE 6 5/21-23 BRIAN McKNIGHT & THE DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA 5/24-26 THE DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA