DIANE SCHUUR 1/29 - 2/3
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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
JANUARY CALENDAR DEBORAH DAVIS & A FEW GOOD MEN 15TH ANNUAL LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA BENEFIT JANUARY 7
DONALD HARRISON, RON CARTER, BILLY COBHAM TRIO JANUARY 8-11
RAMSEY LEWIS & john pizzarelli STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT THE NAT KING COLE TRIBUTE JANUARY 12-13
international guitar night january 14
BENNY GOODMAN REINVENTED 75TH ANNIVERSARY, CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES MARIKA HUGHES & BOTTOM HEAVY JANUARY 11 SPOKINN MOVEMENT JANUARY 12 PHONY PPL JANUARY 18 MISTER BARRINGTON JANUARY 19 KRISSY KRISSY JANUARY 25 CHRIS MASSEY & THE NUE JAZZ PROJECT JANUARY 26 SINKANE FEBRUARY 1 sean schulich FEBRUARY 2
january 15 - 20
SUNDAY BRUNCH
TBA JANUARY 21
JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE JANUARY 13
SONNY FORTUNE
DONALD VEGA TRIO JANUARY 20
JANUARY 22-23
OMAR SOSA & PAOLO FRESU DUO JANUARY 24-27
TBA JANUARY 28
DIANE SCHUUR JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 3
MAMIKO TAIRA JANUARY 27 RALPH LALAMA & HIS NYU ENSEMBLE FEBRUARY 3
DEBORAH DAVIS & A FEW GOOD MEN
JAZZ BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY JANUARY 7, 8PM & 10:30PM Jazz vocalist Deborah Davis returns to the Blue Note stage in her 15th annual Benefit Concert for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The proceeds from this evening’s performance will be donated to the Society for bloodrelated cancer research and patient services.
Davis Sr. who lost his battle with leukemia in 1981. She also pays homage to jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker and journalist Ed Bradley, and she supports the millions of patients who suffer daily with this disease. Davis’s jazz vocals blend gospel, Texas blues, and a hefty dose of soul. A Dallas native, she began singing as soon as she could speak. Her jazz career began when her high school choir director, who was also a jazz pianist, started adding her to his weekend gigs. Davis went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas, followed by a Certification in Recording Engineering from Cedar Valley College. Her career brought her to NYC in 1986, where she has carved out a niche for herself on the international jazz scene. The vocalist earned a nomination of U.S. Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. State Department in 2004. She has sung for many dignitaries at the U.N. as well as former President Bill Clinton. She was also invited to Athens, Greece by the U.S. Embassy to headline a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Davis’s campaign for the cause began in 1997 when she joined the LLS Team in Training, running a 26.2-mile marathon in Dublin, Ireland. Though she completed the task with ease, she soon realized that she had a much better platform to raise funds. Davis is proud that the Blue Note family continues to support the cause as she honors her father Douglas E.
Known to musicians as a hard-swinging singer who captivates audiences, Davis has performed with many legendary jazz greats including Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Art Blakey, Lou Donaldson, and Freddie Hubbard. Davis has also led her own bands featuring many of jazz’s younger lions such as Delfeayo Marsalis, Christian McBride, Brian Blade, and many more. She has also performed with non-jazz acts that range from Bon Jovi and Santana to Celine Dion and Billy Joel. n
DONALD HARRISON, RON CARTER AND BILLY COBHAM TRIO JANUARY 8-11, 8PM & 10:30PM
The hard-swinging trio of Donald Harrison, Ron Carter, and Billy Cobham first demonstrated its strong chemistry and affinity for standards on its 2004 recording, Heroes. In April 2005, Half Note Records captured the trio live during a week-long series of shows at the Blue Note, producing the album New York Cool (2005). Half Note again recorded the trio in action at the club last year, releasing the album This is Jazz near the end of 2011. Donald Harrison is rightly regarded as one of the most influential musicians on the scene today. The son of late great Big Chief Donald Harrison, he began working with Roy Haynes at age 19 and Jack McDuff at age 20. He joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers at age 21 and soon co-led a deeply influential group with Terence Blanchard. In addition to his collaborations with luminaries like Christian Scott, Christian McBride, Cyrus Chestnut, Lena Horne, and Eddie Palmieri, he is a prodigious bandleader, having released a number of well-received records, the latest of which is Quantum Leap (2010).
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 music’s greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, Eric Dolphy, B.B. King, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, Cannonball Adderley, and Bobby Timmons. From 1963 to 1968, he was also a member of the legendary Miles Davis Quintet. Over 50 years into his career, he remains incredibly active as a performer and educator. Ever since his breakthrough in the early ‘70s as a founding member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and progenitor of the jazz fusion movement, drummer Billy Cobham has remained a tireless musical explorer. In addition to his work with Mahavishnu, he also co-founded the fusion group Dreams, contributed to Miles Davis’s seminal Bitches Brew (1970) and Tribute to Jack Johnson (1971), and has led his own solo career, beginning with his debut release Spectrum in 1973. Recent years have seen him touring and recording with his “Art of Jazz” ensembles and continuing to release solo albums, including his recent effort Palindrome (2010). n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
MARIKA HUGHES & BOTTOM HEAVY FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 12:30AM $10
Bottom Heavy instantly established itself as a strong new sound, flowing freely between funky instrumentals, dreamy lullabies, free improvisation, and unique compositions. Hughes fronts the band with such ease and so naturally it makes one wonder why cellos haven’t always fronted bands. Her stylings are reminiscent of her classical upbringing yet defy expectation as she moves us with her supple vocals through jazz, funk, soul, and rock. After years as a side girl, Hughes invited some of her favorite NYC based musicians to join her new band. The great band is Kyle Sanna (guitar), Charlie Burnham (violin), Fred
Cash (bass), & Tony Mason (drums.) The band can point to a few key artists as influences: Gil-Scot Heron, Roberta Flack, Charles Mingus and Cassandra Wilson, to name only a few. 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!
RAMSEY LEWIS AND JOHN PIZZARELLI STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT: THE NAT KING COLE TRIBUTE JANUARY 12-13, 8PM & 10:30PM
Nat King Cole broke the pop barrier with his smoky, smooth vocals, stringing along a huge number of solid hits right after his first, “Straighten Up And Fly Right,” soared up the charts in 1943. As a singer, he was called “the best friend a song ever had,” but he was essentially a jazz performer at heart. RAMSEY LEWIS and JOHN PIZZARELLI have crafted a tribute to the titan of fifties vocal pop, from his hits along with those singular tracks of sophisticated cool jazz that have influenced their own careers. John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, was called “Hip with a wink” by Town & Country, “madly creative” by the Los Angeles Times and “the genial genius of the guitar” by The Toronto Star. Mr. Pizzarelli with his wife, singer/actress Jessica Molaskey, and his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, were labeled “the First Family of Cool” by the San Francisco Chronicle and “the von Trapps on Martinis” by The New Yorker. According to The New York Times, “the Pizzarelli-Molaskey duo is as good as it gets in any entertainment medium.”
Composer, pianist and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis has been referred to as “the great performer,” a title reflecting his performance style and musical selections which display his early gospel playing and classical training along with his love of jazz and other musical forms. A native Chicagoan, Mr. Lewis represents the great diversity of music for which Chicago is noted. Ramsey Lewis first captivated fans with his first album, Ramsey Lewis and the Gentlemen of Swing, by the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956. By 1965, he was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with “The In Crowd,” “Hang On Sloopy” and “Wade In The Water.” He has three Grammy Awards and seven gold records to his credit. He received the industry award for the 2006 Stellar Award for Best Gospel Instrumental Album, With One Voice presented in January 2007. He was also the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in January 2007. Mr. Lewis has also received four honorary doctorate degrees and numerous other accolades. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
SPOKINN MOVEMENT SATURDAY, JANUARY 12 12:30AM $10
Spokinn Movement is the next live band the hip-hop world has been waiting for, having recorded one full-length album, “60-Minute Spin Cycle” on their own label, Chocolate Marauder Records. The album garnered critical acclaim from publications like Boston’s The Dig, hiphoplinguistics.com, and CDBaby. Spokinn Movement has taken their outstanding show to the UK with great success, as well as playing venues at home in the USA like the world famous Blue Note and Webster Hall. They contributed two songs to the New York City Subway “Songs from the Underground” CD. Those songs, “Apes” and “Flows”,
held the #1 and #2 spots for over a month for all compilations on iTunes, giving them a huge online presence. Spokinn Movement is four gifted musicians doing what they do best: make “dope” music. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE SUNDAY, JANUARY 13
12:30PM & 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. All together, 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
INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT
FEATURING MARTIN TAYLOR (SCOTLAND), BRIAN GORE (USA) & SOLORAZOF (MADAGASCAR) JANUARY 14, 8PM
Sponsored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT is North America’s premier mobile guitar festival featuring an evening of solos, duets & quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar. For the 2013 U.S. tour, IGN founder Brian Gore will be joined by Scotland’s Martin Taylor and Solorazaf from Madagascar. Martin is revered in jazz circles for his smooth chord-melody style and walking bass lines. Solorazaf has a unique Malagasy style, mixing vocalizations with rhythmic guitar patterns and foot percussion. San Francisco guitar poet Brian Gore is gaining a reputation as one of the most interesting and influential performers of the next generation in fingerstyle guitar. We are looking forward to a particularly lyrical version of International Guitar Night, with a nice mix of playing and singing. n
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José James GIANTSTEP PRESENTS
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LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO JAN 29 8PM
(NO BEGINNING NO END) JANUARY 23 8PM
ICONS OF FUNK MAD DOGS & DOMINOS ALL-STAR BAND PLAYS
THE METERS EXPERIENCE PRESENTS
ICONS OF FUNK
D&B, LEON RUSSELL CLAPTON, JOE COCKER, GEORGE HARRISON & MORE FEB 1 7:30PM
FEATURING LEO NOCENTELLI, FRED WESLEY & STANTON MOORE FEB 5 8PM
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“A LOVE SURREAL” CD RELEASE EVENT PRODUCED BY JILL NEWMAN PRODUCTIONS FEB 12 9PM
PATRIZIO BUANNE FEB 13 8PM
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BENNY GOODMAN REINVENTED
75TH ANNIVERSARY, CARNEGIE HALL CONCERT JANUARY 15-20, 8PM & 10:30PM Tonight’s show will feature Ken Peplowski & company’s re-working of selected songs from the historic Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall concert in 1938, looked at through the perspective of contemporary musicians. This is much more a re-invention than a recreation. Long before jazz was seen on concert stages throughout the world, its home was nightclubs like The Blue Note. Clarinetist Benny Goodman’s legendary Carnegie Hall Concert on January 16, 1938 marked a momentous occasion of jazz crossing from the clubs to the highbrow realm of concert music (as well as being notable as one of the first public concerts featuring a racially integrated lineup). The show included now famous pieces like, “Sing, Sing, Sing” (with Jess Stacy’s incredible unplanned piano solo at the end) and the “Honeysuckle Rose” jam session with Count Basie and Duke Ellington alumni sitting in. The show featured a host of stars including Goodman regulars Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa as well as Buck Clayton, Johnny Hodges, Walter Page, Lester Young, Harry Carney, and Freddie Green. Tonight’s show features an all-star lineup reinventing that famous concert, but brought back to the original setting the music came from, exactly 75 years later. The late Mel Torme´ said, “Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly one of those few. The man is magic.” A former member of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Ken moved to New York City in 1980 and played in all kinds of settings, from Dixieland to avant-garde jazz. In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a
new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone. Having performed throughout the world’s stages, the litany of musicians Ken has collaborated with
includes: Torme´, Leon Redbone, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Madonna, Hank Jones, Dave Frishberg, Rosemary Clooney, Tom Harrell, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Houston Person, Steve Allen Woody Allen, & Erich Kunzel. FEATURING: Ken Peplowski (musical director & clarinet), Lew Tabackin (tenor sax), Ehud Ashaire (piano), Clifton Anderson (trombone), Terell Stafford (trumpet), Willie Jones III (drums), Linda Oh/Martin Wind (bass), Yotam (guitar), Monte Croft (vibes), Other musicians (TBA)
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PHONY PPL FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 12:30 AM $12
Phony Ppl is a visionary young band of rapper/singers, producers and musicians that are on the cutting edge of New York hip-hop’s current renaissance. Fronted by co-founder Elbee Thrie, rapper/singer Dyme-A-Duzin and MC Sheriff PJ, they’ve been recording out of a basement in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn since high school, and over the past year they dropped two projects, “Phonyland” and “Nothing Special” to industry acclaim. The UK caught it first; Giles Peterson threw them in rotation on BBC radio and MTV UK struggled to describe their sound: “Imagine the
MISTER BARRINGTON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 12:30 AM $10
The collaboration between Zach Danziger (drums), Oli Rockberger (voice and keyboards), and Owen Biddle (bass) builds on the group’s reputation as among NYC’s finest musicians and producers, with four Grammy Awards to their name, and credits including; Mos Def, Sting, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Chaka Khan, John Legend, Levon Helm, Duffy, and Corrine Bailey- Rae. Hailing collectively from New York City, London, and Philadelphia, Mister Barrington came to be when Zach Danziger and Oli Rockberger expanded their duo project and began working with prodigious bassist Owen Biddle, then of The Roots. Since forming several years ago, the group has released two acclaimed albums Mister Barrington, and II with regular rotation on radio stations worldwide. n
rebirth of 90s neo-soul, created by a premature N.E.R.D. and The Roots, sprinkled with the massive hip-hop talents of J Dilla, Flying Lotus and Kanye West?” n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
DONALD VEGA TRIO SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Donald Vega was born into a musical family and began playing the piano by ear at the young age of three and started his formal training at age six. Vega immigrated to the U.S. at age fourteen without speaking a word of English. Suffering from complicated health problems and poverty, he was left to practice on a makeshift cardboard piano and within a year of coming to the U.S., he won the prestigious Los Angeles Spotlight Awards competition, launching his career and gaining him immense respect and the medical and financial help he needed.
Vega has two albums released as a leader: Tomorrows (2008) and Spiritual Nature (2012.) His sound has been said to resonate with a touch of Oscar Peterson’s versatility and Bill Evans’ elegant lyricism. n
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!
SONNY FORTUNE JANUARY 22 - 23, 8PM & 10:30PM After a brief stint with Elvin Jones and Frank Foster, Fortune, an early admirer of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Sonny Rollins, joined Mongo Santamaria’s group, with whom he remained for over 2 years. Fortune worked with vocalist Leon Thomas before joining McCoy Tyner. During this period, in which Fortune started playing the soprano sax, he cemented an already solid reputation as an instrumental innovator with his contributions on Tyner’s albums Sahara, Song For My Lady, and Song of the New World.
When critics speak of Sonny Fortune, names like Coltrane, Cannonball, Young, Bechet, Hawkins and Parker are mentioned. Quite a legacy - but well deserved - for Sonny Fortune embodies all of the finest qualities of those late, great musicians: hard work, dedication to his art, and exceptional music. Lucky for us, Sonny is still here and blowing hard.
Fortune, now accomplished on several instruments (clarinet, flute, tenor and baritone sax included), joined Miles Davis for a year, recording four LPs: Big Fun, Agartha, Pangaea and Get Up With It. In addition to leading his own groups, Fortune has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Elvin Jones, Oliver Nelson, George Benson, Nat Adderly, and Buddy Rich, to name a few. Fortune cites John Coltrane as his main influence, comparing Coltrane’s importance to that of his own father. Stereophile magazine described Fortune as “one of the most intriguing alto players in contemporary jazz.” n
OMAR SOSA & PAOLO FRESU DUO JANUARY 24-27, 8PM & 10:30PM Almost 5,000 miles separate the birthplaces of Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu and Cuban pianist Omar Sosa. Yet these two genius improvisers and composers have found a way to demolish the distance and form an unusual but fascinating duo. The pair’s concerts are nothing less than global jazz events – mustsee shows for jazz aficionados. Having worked together in a groundbreaking trio with Trilok Gurtu and recently released Alma (2011), a duo project with cello contributions from Jaques Morelenbaum, these two virtuosos bring their one-of-a-kind musical confluence to the Blue Note for a fournight run. Born in 1965 in Camagüey, Cuba’s largest inland city, Sosa began his musical study at age eight, studying percussion and marimba before taking up piano as a teenage student at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Música in Havana. Amassing a unique alchemy of influences that includes traditional Afro-Cuban music, European classical composers, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Chucho Valdés, and the pioneering Cuban jazz group Irakere, he ultimately relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1995, where he was soon invigorating the Latin jazz scene with his adventurous writing and percussive style.
Annually performing upwards of 100 concerts on six continents, Sosa has appeared in venues as diverse as the Blue Note, Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
and numerous notable jazz festivals across the globe. He’s garnered several Grammy nominations and has released a string of well-regarded solo albums in the last decade, in addition to his work with Fresu. Boasting a style that combines Miles Davis’s penchant for melodic understatement with a taste for pushing boundaries, Paolo Fresu spent much of the ‘80s maturing into a major force on the Italian jazz scene. His popularity soon expanded to broader Europe, where he’s a regular on the club and festival circuit. In addition to extensive work with his own groups and with Sosa, he’s also collaborated with icons like Carla Bley and Ralph Towner. Among the latest additions to his vast discography is the Cinquant’Anni Suonati project released on Tuk Music in five parts in 2012 . n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
KRISSY KRISSY FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 12:30 AM $10
When Krissy Krissy was a little girl, she would hype up the crowd at church in a voice soulful beyond her years, and belt out Fred Hammond or Kirk Franklin songs so hard that the veins in her head would bulge, her face would turn red, and the congregation wouldn’t know what hit them. When the now 23-year-old pop/rock artist sings, that guttural passion still shows on her face and her audience is still dumbstruck at this “little white girl with soul.” Except today instead of doing it at the church in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood
that she grew up in, she’s singing it out to millions nationwide via MTV, Logo, iHeartRadio, and YouTube thanks to her summer hit, “Dream,” the first single from her debut EP, Above All. n
CHRIS MASSEY & THE NUE JAZZ PROJECT SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 12:30 AM $10
Chris Massey, a Spectra Jazz recording artist, is becoming a wildly talked about new breed of young talented player in the world of jazz. Drummer, composer, and bandleader, Massey produces a fire and forward momentum in his playing that is becoming a fresh sound in the scene today. Massey has performed with legends such as Donald Harrison Jr., Joe Lovano, and Dave Holland. As a composer, he gains inspiration from notable drummer-composers like Brian Blade and Jeff “Tain” Watts. His first recorded composition “Gotham Nights” was performed in 2005. He is currently residing in the New York City area and performing with/leading
his modern jazz group “The Nue Jazz Project”. His JazzTimes and Downbeat reviewed album Vibrainium is now on sale via iTunes, Amazon, and various other media outlets. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
MAMIKO TAIRA SUNDAY, JANUARY 27
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Mamiko began studying music at the age of eight with a local piano teacher. At the age of sixteen, she went to a private music school to study piano with Fumio Itabashi. Itabashi noticed her vocal quality immediately and suggested she become a singer. In 1988, she moved to Philadelphia to study Jazz Voice at Temple University. After graduating in 1992, she performed in Philly until her return to Tokyo in the fall of 1993 where she continued to perform until 1998. In 1999, Mamiko moved to New York, placed 3rd in the 2002 Jazzconnect competition, and toured extensively with the James McBride
group in 2003. On May 16, 2012, she released her debut album, And It Begins, for D-musica in Japan followed by the US release in August 2012. 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!
DIANE SCHUUR JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 3, 8PM & 10:30PM Vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. A longtime disciple of Dinah Washington and other legendary jazz singers of the ‘40s and ‘50s, she has built a stellar career by embracing not only the jazz of her parents’ generation, but also the pop music of her own youth in the ‘50s and ‘60s. In a recording career that spans nearly three decades – and includes two Grammy Awards and three Grammy nominations – Schuur’s music has explored nearly every corner of the 20th century American musical landscape. Blind from birth, Schuur was still a toddler when she learned to sing the Dinah Washington signature song, “What a Difference a Day Makes.” Armed with the rare gift of perfect pitch, she taught herself piano by ear and developed a rich, resonant vocal style early on. In 1975, an informal audition with trumpeter Doc Severinson (then the leader of the Tonight Show band) led to a gig with Tonight Show drummer Ed Shaughnessy’s group at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Tenor saxophone titan Stan Getz was in the audience, and he invited her to participate in a talent showcase at the White House. A subsequent return performance at the White House led to a record deal with GRP, which released Schuur’s debut album, Deedles, in 1984. Over the next 13 years, Schuur recorded 11 albums on GRP, including two Grammy winners: Timeless (1986) and Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra (1987). The recording with the Basie Orchestra
spent 33 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Jazz charts. Schuur joined the Concord label in 2000 with the release of Friends for Schuur. The move to Concord marked the beginning of a series of highly successful collaborative projects, including al-
bums with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, singer Barry Manilow, and the Caribbean Jazz Project. Among Schuur’s latest releases are The Gathering (2011) and Diane Schuur Live (2012). Although the live recording epitomizes the style fans have come to know and love from this unforgettable artist, The Gathering marks a new chapter in her musical life. A collection of 10 classic songs from the country music canon, the project casts Schuur’s talent in a whole new light. n Diane Schuur, vocals, piano Alan Broadbent, musical director, piano, arranger Ben Wolfe, bass Ulysses Owens Jr., drums Joel Frahm, saxophones Romero Lubambo, guitar
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SINKANE FRIDAY, february 1 12:30 AM $10
Sinkane is an alias of Ahmed Gallab, a solo recording artist from Columbus, Ohio, who sings and plays numerous instruments (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, et al.). His percussion-heavy style of music draws from a wide range of influences, most noticeably free jazz (e.g.,Pharoah Sanders) and shoegaze (e.g., My Bloody Valentine). Born in Sudan, Gallab and his family fled to the United States when he was six years old. He made his debut in May 2008 on Emergency Umbrella Records with the EP Color Voice; the same year, he toured as the drummer of Caribou and
Of Montreal. A self-titled album was released in May 2009. He later signed to DFA -- an ideal home for his trippyhybrid sound -- and released a second album, Mars, in November 2012. n
SEAN SCHULICH saturday, february 2 12:30 AM $10
Sean Schulich has played with the Funky Meters, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the New Orleans Suspects, Bernie Worrell, Meshell Ndegeocello and Zigaboo Modeliste. He’s played Jazz Fest in New Orleans, at The Mint in LA, and at BB King’s, the Brooklyn Bowl and the Bowery Ballroom here in New York City. Sean hails from Woodstock, NY, and after earning his Masters from Yale, he won Artists International, selling out his debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall. Being a multi-genre musician, he then went on to co-found the fusion group Alpha Mosaic, winning a Sony Jazz Competition.
His playing is soulful, performances electric, and his band is powerful. This is not a show to miss. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
RALPH LALAMA AND HIS NYU ENSEMBLE SUNDAY, february 3
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Tenor saxophonist Ralph LaLama is well known through such luminary bands as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Joe Lovano Nonet, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Jon Faddis. DownBeat’s Zan Stewart said, “Lalama is a grand, modern-minded storyteller…a first-class jazz soloist.” He has earned three Grammys and has eights CDs as a leader, five of them on the Criss-Cross Jazz label. His latest, The Lalama Brothers: Erie Avenue co-led with his brother, pianist Dave Lalama, is being released in the
fall of 2011. It features Peter Washington (b), Kenny Washington (d) and special guest Joe Lovano (G mezzo soprano). His impact as a jazz educator is made evident by the evolution and success of his many students through his decadeslong association with NYU. 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.
AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
UPCOMING AT THE BLUE NOTE 2/5 - 10
RON CARTER QUARTET 2/14 - 17
RACHELLE FERRELL DOUBLE FEATURE: KARRIN ALLYSON + RAUL MID贸N 2/19 - 24
2/26 - 3/3
BILL EVANS SOULGRASS FEATURING JOHN MEDESKI & GUESTS ERIC KRASNO OF SOULIVE (2/26-27), JOHN POPPER OF BLUES TRAVELER (2/26-28) & JAKE CINNINGER (2/28-3/1)
3/5 - 10
THE JAZZ CRUSADERS FEAT.
JOE SAMPLE, WAYNE HENDERSON, & WILTON FELDER 3/12 - 17
AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS DOUBLE FEATURE: KYLE EASTWOOD + LARRY CORYELL 3/26 - 31
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
DH Krahn gin, 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 DH Krahn gin, 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 14 Macallan 12 year Talisker 10 year 12 Glenmorangie 13 Oban 14 year 14 Dahlwinnie 15 year 15 Lagavulin 16 year 16 34 Mackillop’s 1989 Scapa Deanston 30 year 40 Scott’s 1967 Glenlivet 58
SCOTCH blends
Chivas 12 Dewars 11 J & B 11 Johnny Walker Red 11 12 Johnny Walker Black 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 Royal Tokaji Aszu “Red Label” Cab Franc Icewine, Inniskillin
10 10 15 21 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
LINE! ICATION DEAD FEB 15TH APPL
ON THE
FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST LOVE JAZZ! Featuring Two of the Oldest Jazz Festivals in Europe
July 9-17, 2013 Join us for a week of:
Great Jazz Music overlooking the Mediterranean Festival Passes and Preferential Seating Cultural Sightseeing in Provence & on the Riviera Fine Dining, featuring Regional Specialties Deluxe Rooms at 4-star Hotels near Festival Sites
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Phone: 1 (866) 499-3799 • nanc y@CulturalTourConsultants.com 259 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 206A Kalamazoo, MI 49007 USA