NEW YORK
JIMMY HEATH
86TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OCTOBER 10
O C T O B E r
2 0 1 2
p r o g r a m
WO R L D ’ S F I N E S T JA Z Z C L U B A N D R E S TAU R A N T 131 w. 3rd st. new york city 212. 475. 8592 www.bluenotejazz.com
TWO SHOWS NIGHTLY: 8 & 10:30PM LATE NIGHT GROOVE: FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 12:30AM midnight SUNDAY JAZZ BRUNCH: 12:30 & 2:30 PM
OCTOBER CALENDAR CHUSEOK YOUNGJOO SONG & SANGMIN LEE
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES
OCTOBER 1
BIG BROOKLYN RED OCTOBER 5
JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO OCTOBER 2 - 7
SPARKPLUG OCTOBER 6
RAY GELATO
ANDY MILNE & DAPP THEORY OCTOBER 12
OCTOBER 8
GRP RECORDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
GORDON CHAMBERS OCTOBER 13
OCTOBER 9 - 14
GABRIEL JOHNSON OCTOBER 19
GADI LEHAVI
WYLLYS & GUESTS OCTOBER 20
OCTOBER 15
DIZZY GILLESPIE ALUMNI ALL-STARS tm
OCTOBER 16 - 21
IMANI UZURI OCTOBER 22
JIMMY HEATH 86th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
JEREMY MAGE OCTOBER 26 MELISSA NADEL OCTOBER 27
SUNDAY BRUNCH NYU: COMBO NUVO OCTOBER 7
OCTOBER 23 - 28
ASSAF KEHATI TRIO OCTOBER 14
BANN OCTOBER 29
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT OCTOBER 21
BUIKA
JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE OCTOBER 28
OCTOBER 30, NOVEMBER 1 & 2
We are pleased to announce that our October concerts are part of Daniel Pearl World Music Days. This international network of concerts is in memory of slain journalist/musician Daniel Pearl, who traveled the world working toward cross-cultural understanding with simply a pen and a fiddle. Through our concerts today, we reaffirm our conviction that humanity will triumph and harmony will prevail.
CHUSEOK ft.
YOUNG JOO SONG (8PM) & SANGMIN LEE (10:30)
OCTOBER 1, 8 & 10:30PM $25 AT TABLE / $15 AT BAR
In honor of the Korean Thanksgiving, the Blue Note, in collaboration with the Korean Consulate, brings NYCrenowned Korean jazz artists Youngjoo Song (pianist) and Sangmin Lee (drums) to the stage. Youngjoo Song is one of Korea’s leading jazz pianists. After graduating from Berklee College of Music and Manhattan School of Music, she was able to exponentially climb Korea’s jazz charts in record sales and popularity where she then had multiple opportunities to perform with some of the most prominent artists from both Korea and the US. Her prompt escalation in the jazz world enabled her to record eight albums with distinguished labels such as EMI, Warner and Sony. Free to Fly was nominated for the Korean Music award in 2009 and Love Never Fails won Korea’s “Best Jazz Album” in 2010. Her new album Tale of a City won the “Best Jazz Performance” at the 2012 Korean Music Awards. Youngjoo Song has recorded and performed with some of the most prominent jazz musicians including Steve Wilson, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, Gretchen Parlato, Kendrick Scott, Marcus Gilmore, Vicente Archer, Rogerio Boccato.
Sangmin Lee is one of the most indemand live session drummers in South Korea. Lee has performed with artists such as Rain, Lena Junghyun Park, Juck Lee, Sora Lee, and many other renowned Korean musicians in various genres. After over ten years of session experience, Sangmin moved to the states and graduated from Berklee College of Music (B.M.) and New York University (M.M.) The fresh and vibrant NY music scene lured him to explore and expand his musicality by collaborating with artists such as Grammy-winning music producer Fran Cathcart, Casey Benjamin, Dave Pietro and Hiram Bullock. Sangmin released his first solo album, Evolution in 2010 as a music producer, composer and drummer. The great jazz fusion drummer Akira Jimbo claimed Sangmin’s style as “Hyper jazz rock hip hop techno mixture” – inventive, non-traditional. Just like his album title, Sangmin is pushing himself to reach out beyond his limit as a musician not just as a drummer. His name as a jazz artist started to inflate when he won his first award at The Jarasum International Jazz Festival in 2008. n
JOHN SCOFIELD TRIO OCTOBER 2 - 7, 8 & 10:30PM $35 AT TABLE / $20 AT BAR consciousness as a player and composer.
John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late ‘70s and is still at the vanguard of the art form today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and incredible stylistic diversity, he is one of the “big three” guitarists active in jazz today (along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell). He is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk-edged jazz, and R&B. Born in Ohio and raised in suburban Connecticut, Scofield took up the guitar at age 11, inspired by both rock and blues players. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, and after a debut recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, he was a member of the Billy Cobham-George Duke band for two years. In 1977 Scofield recorded with Charles Mingus and joined the Gary Burton quartet before beginning his international career as a bandleader and recording artist the following year. From 19821985, he toured and recorded with Miles Davis. His Davis stint placed him firmly in the foreground of jazz
Since his tenure with Davis, Scofield has prominently led his own groups in the international jazz scene and recorded over 30 classic albums as a leader, including collaborations with contemporary favorites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Gov’t Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, and Phil Lesh. He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland, and many more. Throughout his career, he’s also punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music. Among his notable releases in this category is the seminal 1998 album A Go Go with Medeski, Martin & Wood. For much of his career, one of the cornerstones of Scofield’s music has been the John Scofield Trio. The group includes old friends and longtime musical partners, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart – three great musicians hitting their stride through invention, playing tight jazz standards and savvy original compositions. Their music embodies the spirit that has kept jazz vigorous and visceral since its birth. Tonight, Scofield brings this storied trio back to the Blue Note for its first appearance in several years. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
BIG BROOKLYN RED FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 12:30AM $10
Big Brooklyn Red is a familiar face (and voice) to the Blue Note. He has been here regularly when not in Miami or on tour. He has lent his soulful vocals to a number of projects since his 1st album release in 2002 including soulful house records, a mixtape released in 2007, guest vocals on tracks with his contemporaries in the underground Soul Music scene, and in live/collaborative performances nationally and internationally. The 2004 “Showtime at The Apollo” champion’s long awaited second studio album, Answer The Call is now available in the UK and wherever he performs live and will soon be on sale both in the US and online. n
SPARKPLUG SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6 12:30 AM $10
Organist Beau Sasser and drummer Bill Carbone spent several years as the other two-thirds of the late legendary soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks’s trio. Sparks was always planning for the future, and frequently played the band demos of songs he wanted to record or other tracks that he thought would be fun live. Sparkplug is Sasser and Carbone’s way of paying tribute to their friend and mentor by performing the songs that he wrote and on which he performed during his 45-year career, as well as imagining what else he might do if he were still here. In addition to Sasser and Carbone, the band features saxophonist David Davis and percussionist Jamemurrell Stanley. The band doesn’t have a regular guitarist, however – because Sparks is irreplaceable, Sparkplug features different guest guitarists on each gig. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
COMBO NUVO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Combo Nuvo, is a unique improvisational ensemble featuring some of New York City’s leading jazz artists such as Dave Schroeder, artistic director and harmonica player in the traditions of Toots Thielemans and the Delta Blues, Lenny Pickett, saxophonist/ band-leader for “Saturday Night Live,” and renowned arranger and composer Rich Shemaria. The group combines influences ranging from jazz and classical to blues and world music. Individually, these artists have performed with such music legends as Miles Davis, Ravi Shankar, Elton John, Yo Yo Ma, Paul Simon, Natalie Cole, Dave
Douglas, Oscar Castro Neves, Randy Brecker and Tower of Power. These musical experiences combine to create truly original music. Today’s ensemble also features fellow renowned NYU faculty members Brad Shepik on guitar, Mike Richmond on bass and John Hafield on percussion. n
ENFANTs TERRIBLES
lee konitz, bill frisell garry peacock & joey baron
with
live at the blue note
ENFANTS TERRIBLES
features four veteran jazzmen whose collective efforts on stage and in the studio span decades. Together they are saxophonist Lee Konitz, guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Joey Baron; individually, each boasts a distinguished career path and network of associations representing jazz’s wide range of stylistic directions.
AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
RAY GELATO OCTOBER 8, 8 & 10:30PM $15 AT TABLE / $10 AT BAR
Acclaimed London-based singer and saxophonist Ray Gelato has been a successful performer in Europe for more than twenty five years. He can fire up an audience with the vocal stylings of singers like Louis Prima and Dean Martin, then captivate them with a ballad played on his lush sounding tenor sax. Highly regarded by critics all over the world, Ray is recognized for his reverent approach to the standards and the distinct imprint he leaves on the classic jazz tradition. His list of admirers included the late sax legend Sam Butera, whose “Witnesses” were the backbone of Louis Prima’s performances for many years. Ray and Sam were featured together at Italy’s Umbria Jazz festival in 2003. Ray formed “Ray Gelato and the Giants” in 1988 after having performed with various groups in England for several years. The ensemble has played to rave reviews worldwide, including five appearances at Umbria, shows at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and Spain’s San Sebastian Jazz Festival. They are regulars at Europe’s most popular clubs, including Ronnie Scott’s and The 100 Club in London, and the Blue Note in Milan. Ray gained increased notoriety in 1998 when he was featured in a commercial for Levi’s Dock-
ers, distributed worldwide, performing the classic Louis Prima hit “Tu Vuo’ Fa L’Americano.” In recent years, he has performed for the Robbie Williams’ “Swing When You’re Winning” concert at Royal Albert Hall in London, Paul McCartney’s wedding, and a command performance for Queen Elizabeth at The Ritz Hotel in London. When touring the USA, Ray teams up with the City Rhythm Orchestra. Known as “Philly’s premier swing outfit,” City Rhythm is led by Pete Spina and Nick Vallerio, and their high voltage style is a natural fit for Ray Gelato. City Rhythm has had much success in their own right touring the USA and Europe and producing several fine CDs on Limehouse Records including Goin’ to Town, City Rhythm Strikes Again and Swingin’ Blue. In 2005 they released Vibrant Tones with jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco. The disc received great reviews and extensive airplay, landing in the Top 20 of the jazz charts for 18 weeks (JazzWeek, Inc.). When City Rhythm teams with Ray Gelato, the show is non-stop fireworks. n
GRP RECORDS 30TH ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 9 - 14, 8 & 10:30PM $35-45 AT TABLE / $20-30 AT BAR
labelmates John Patitucci and Will Kennedy as well as Diane Schuur.
GRP Records has long been synonymous with quality in contemporary jazz. Founded by Larry Rosen and keyboard player and composer Dave Grusin (GRP initially stood for Grusin/Rosen Productions), the label was among the first to release digital commercial recordings. The imprint has released hundreds of albums by a host of well-known artists, including Lee Ritenour, Diane Schuur, Kevin Eubanks, Billy Cobham, Chick Corea, David Benoit, Stephane Grappelli, Gary Burton, John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Michael Brecker, Larry Carlton, The Yellowjackets, and many more. Although GRP was founded in 1978, it existed under the umbrella of Clive Davis’s Arista label until 1982, when it began operating independently. This week at the Blue Note, label founder Grusin teams up with prolific GRP recording artist Lee Ritenour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the label’s independence. The two will be joined by special guests and fellow
A composer, arranger, and pianist, Grusin has won an Academy Award and multiple Grammys for his soundtrack and production work, which spans the gamut from contemporary jazz and fusion to pop and orchestral music. His discography as a leader is extensive, stretching back to the early 1960s, when he began his career as the assistant music director and pianist for Andy Williams. Subsequent decades have found him collaborating with Sarah Vaughan, Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Carmen McRae, and more. One of Grusin’s most prolific collaborations has been with Ritenour. The two have teamed up for multiple critically acclaimed and Grammy-nominated albums. They’ve also worked together on GRP releases combining contemporary jazz with classical instrumentation to create what has become their signature fusion sound. Like Grusin, Ritenour boasts an over 50-year career highlighted by numerous awards, including one Grammy Award and almost 20 nominations, and numerous No. 1 spots in guitar polls. A founding member of seminal smooth jazz group Fourplay, he has recorded over 40 albums and charted almost as many singles. His latest release, Six String Theory (2010), celebrates the instrument that has allowed him the blessing of his tremendous career – the guitar – by assembling a star-studded tribute with 20 of the greatest and soon-to-be greatest guitarists of our time. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
ANDY MILNE & DAPP THEORY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12 12:30AM $10
Dapp Theory is a quintet that blends “contemporary funk, groove, and hiphop into jazz with such seamless, casual precision it’s almost freaky” (LA Weekly). A recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Works commission and the French-America Jazz Exchange award, and voted Rising Star Keyboardist by DownBeat Magazine, leader, pianist, and composer Andy Milne is one of the most important and respected voices in jazz today. With Dapp Theory, Milne has assembled a collective that is helping to redraw and extend the boundaries of jazz. JazzTimes Magazine describes the band’s chemistry as “so impeccable, it’s practically a musical Unified Field Theory.”
GORDON CHAMBERS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13 12:30 AM $15
Gordon Chambers is no stranger to the music industry. The Teaneck, NJ, native has written for over 60 recording artists, including household names Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Usher, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan,
Milne formed Dapp Theory in 1998 and the band has evolved and built a loyal following, recently launching a Kickstarter campaign to help fund its next album, a follow-up to 2008’s Layers of Chance. n
and Marc Anthony. He is best known for his 1994 Grammy-winning hit “I Apologize” for Anita Baker and his 1995 No. 1 Grammy-nominated smash “If You Love Me” for the trio Brownstone. More recently, he’s penned tunes for superstars like The Isley Brothers, Yolanda Adams, Patti LaBelle & Ron Isley, Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown, Angie Stone, and Beyoncé. Last year, Chambers broke new ground with the release of his third solo album, Sincere. The album effortlessly melds a pop and R&B sound with a classic soul aesthetic that is certain to surprise and delight contemporary R&B fans and soul enthusiasts alike. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
ASSAF KEHATI TRIO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Assaf Kehati has been working with Billy Hart, Eli Degibri, Donny McCaslin, Seamus Blake, Victor Lewis and has been performing at the Washington DC Jazz Festival, Regattabar, Boston, MuzEnergo (Russia) Jazz Festival, New England Cable News and Toronto Jazz Festival. He released two critically acclaimed CDs as a leader, A View From My Window (2010) and Flowers and Other Stories (2011). His trio features bassist Ehud Ettun, who has worked and performed with Eli Degibri, Third World Love (Avishai Cohen), and Fred Hersch. On drums is Ferenc Nemeth who has played with musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter,
Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Terence Blanchard, John Abercrombie, Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Aaron Goldberg, and many more. n
DIRTY VERS OF OUR LOG USE IF POS
ARRIVE EARLY, EAT DINNER & GET THE BEST SEATS
WANDA JACKSON DANIEL ROMANO
NEAL MORSE F/ MIKE PORTNOY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
RANDY GEORGE BILL HUBAUER ERIC GILLETTE ADSON SODRE
CLEAN VER OF OUR LOG
OCT 11 7:30PM
OCT 12 7PM
RACHAEL MACFARLANE
JULIE FEENEY
“HAYLEY SINGS”
WITH TEDD FIRTH AND THE BIG BAND
OCT 15 8PM
OCT 24 8PM
ACOUSTIC AFRICA TOUR
YEMEN BLUES FT.
FT. DOBET GNAHORE KAREYCE FOTSO & MANOU GALLO
RAVID KAHALANI
NOV 4 8PM NOV 12 8PM FOLLOW US @HLBALLROOM - LIKE US ON FACEBOOK black logo on white background
white logo on black background
GADI LEHAVI OCTOBER 15, 8 & 10:30PM $15 AT TABLE / $10 AT BAR
Gadi Lehavi is an example of pure gift and amazing talent. He began flirting with the piano as an infant, balancing on the seat and striving to reach the keys. Playing by ear and experimenting with improvisation drew him naturally to jazz. At the age of 11, he was accepted as a student at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. A visit to the United States when he was 13 years old opened a door to the world and provided him with an opportunity to play alongside senior musicians such as Ravi Coltrane and Chick Corea. Since then, Lehavi has additionally performed and collaborated with Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, among others. Sometimes age is just a number. Lehavi was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, in 1996. A few weeks before his ninth birthday, he began to take regular lessons in classical music and theory with Dr. Michal Tal – a renowned classical pianist and a Juilliard graduate. A year after, Lehavi also began taking jazz lessons with Rami Levin, the head of the piano department at Rimon. Following a jazz workshop in Eilat in 2008, Lehavi was invited to perform
at the Red Sea Jazz Festival. In 2009, after attending a five-week program at the Berklee College of Music, his mother brought him to New York City, where he had the chance to showcase his skills in some of the city’s renowned jazz clubs. He immediately caught the attention of famous musicians like Ravi Coltrane and Dave Liebman, and a YouTube video of his solo performance at Smoke amassed over 10,000 views in just a few weeks. FM&P Jazz is proud to have provided Lehavi his first opportunities to present regular concerts in traditional jazz festivals in Europe, including April Jazz, Jazzkaar, the Kaunas Jazz Festival, and the Kaliningrad City Jazz Festival. The feedback the young pianist received from press, audience, and critics following these performances was simply awesome, as they lauded his boundless improvisational and creative capacity. 2012 sees the Lehavi take his trio to Brazil for the first time with a series of concerts with special guest Ravi Coltrane. The pianist will also embark on his first South Pacific tour in November 2012. n
DIZZY GILLESPIEtm ALUMNI ALL-STARS OCTOBER 16 - 21, 8 & 10:30PM $35 AT TABLE / $20 AT BAR History has produced its share of great artists and great people – John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was both. As a performer, he left behind an incredible record of innovation and inspiration; as a composer, a broad repository of musical masterpieces; and as a man, a legion of friends, colleagues, and compatriots who remember him with the same degree of love and esteem they reserve for his work. The Dizzy Gillespie™ Big Band and smaller Alumni AllStar group are the direct descendants of Gillespie’s musical ventures. The groups have featured some of Dizzy’s closest compatriots: senior statesman and NEA Jazz Master James Moody; musical director John Lee; and veteran Gillespie alumni Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, Cyrus Chestnut, Steve Davis, and Willie Jones III. The Alumni All-Star group debuted in 1996, while the Big Band debuted in 1998. Together they continue to delight audiences around the world with the enduring power and freshness of Gillespie’s music. These groups are the legacy the master would have wanted, and they serve as a living tribute from extraordinary musicians who exemplify his style, range, and commitment.
Together, the Dizzy Big Band and small group All-Stars have recorded numerous critically acclaimed albums, including Dizzy’s 80th Birthday Celebration (1997), Dizzy’s World (1999), Things to Come (2002), and Dizzy’s Business (2006). The latest of these albums features new arrangements by musical director Slide Hampton, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, drummer Dennis Mackrel, and vocalist Roberta Gambarini, as well as two vintage Ernie Wilkins arrangements originally commissioned by Dizzy himself. The Dizzy Gillespie™ Big Band’s latest CD, titled I’m BeBoppin’ Too, was released on Half Note Records in June 2009. The big band CD features arrangements by Slide Hampton and a vocal appearance by Roy Hargrove on the title track. All About Jazz called the recording “a remarkably proficient and invariably engaging outing.” The Dizzy Gillespie™ All-Stars are excited to return to their home at New York’s famed Blue Note, which was for many years Dizzy’s favorite jazz club not only in New York City, but in the world. The All-Star Big Band performs there for a week every summer, and the Alumni All-Star small group celebrates Dizzy’s birthday for a week every October. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
GABRIEL JOHNSON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 12:30 AM $10
The featured trumpet soloist on the Golden Globes nominated score to Clint Eastwood’s Changeling and Invictus, Gabriel Johnson studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. After finishing school he moved to Los Angeles and has been very active in the studio scene there, playing or recording with a wide variety of musicians, including Blood Sweat and Tears, Gladys Knight, David Foster, Jill Scott, Diddy, Skylar Grey, Faith Evans, Gerald Albright, Dave Koz, Johnny Mathis, Kyle Eastwood, Vince Gill, Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti, Mindi Abair, Paula Cole, Lyle Lovett, Keb Mo, M83, B.o.B., Huun Huur Tu and Burt Bacharach.
WYLLYS
ft. peter apfelbaum SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20 12:30 AM $10
Wyllys started spinning at age 15 and hasn’t looked back since. Training himself with drum and bass on belt drives in 1997, he has since moved on to many genres of music, playing coast
Gabriel Johnson’s newest release Introducing Gabriel Johnson came out September 25th of this year, blending his trumpet sound with modern jazz and hip-hop. The albums is comprised of 10 original compositions and 3 covers. n
to coast as well as international and festival dates. He has shared the stage with contemporary luminaries Orchard Lounge, Justin Martin, Gigamesh, and The Magician, as well as many talented bands and musicians from many genres of music including Umphrey’s McGee, Trey Anastasio Band, The Greyboy Allstars, Jurassic 5 and Soulive. His live outfit, The New York Hustler Ensemble, featuring a revolving cast of top-notch musicians, is an experiment in nu disco, raregroove, and re-edit, with many nods to house music. This band is ready to take DJ culture to the next level. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
WITH AARON DIEHL TRIO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Young French-American singer Cécile McLorin Salvant recently took home first prize in the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition, chosen by a panel of judges – including Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Kurt Elling. Born and raised in Miami, she grew up in the U.S. before moving to France to study at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory. In 2009, after a series of concerts in Paris, she recorded her first album, Cécile. A year later she won the Monk competition and hasn’t looked back since.
i c o S
Salvant performs unique interpretations of scarcely recorded jazz and blues compositions. She has performed across the globe, accompanied by musical luminaries like Rodney Whitaker, Aaron Diehl, Dan Nimmer, Jonathan Batiste, and Jacky Terrasson. n
W e z ali
s U h it
YC te N o N e / Blu m YC o k .c te N o o o N eb ue fac @ Bl
e. Note s e u tur e Bl o thage pic t ss t e pa ck st l a s . tag om ba ge to aways s k a c r e t a f g l f oo gi v rb Yo u r y t h i n s a a nd CD r a e E v r e h e ck et a nd te ti m i nu
IMANI UZURI OCTOBER 22, 8 & 10:30PM $15 AT TABLE / $10 AT BAR Recently featured in the New York Times, innovative vocalist, composer, and performer Imani Uzuri is an eclectic artist who creates, performs, and collaborates across various genres, including concerts, recordings, experimental theater, performance art, and sound installations. New York Magazine has recently called her work “stunning.” Provocative and dynamic, she is often compared to artists like Grace Jones and Nina Simone as one who defies category. Uzuri has been featured at numerous international venues and festivals from Morocco to Moscow, and she has collaborated with artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Wangechi Mutu, King Britt, Vijay Iyer, Sanford Biggers, Sly and Robbie, and John Legend. She was recently featured in a cameo on Talib Kweli and HiTek’s (who together form Reflection Eternal) timely 2010 anthem “Ballad of the Black Gold,” which they all performed live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with The Roots. Uzuri’s critically acclaimed solo debut album, Her Holy Water: A Black Girl’s Rock Opera (2007), was heralded as “one of the best of the decade” by BoldAsLove.us. Eclectic, emotionally provocative, and dynamic, the album featured lush vocals,
strings, and sultry orchestration. The disc inspired rave reviews from both fans and critics – Black Rock Coalition founder Greg Tate declared: “A sound between weeping and wailing, soul crying, rhapsodizing, [and] retuning fire. Put your hand where it hurts and this sound may heal you.” Earlier this year, Uzuri released her latest album, The Gypsy Diaries, and ode to travel and, in some sense, global unity. The disc sees Uzuri discover the deep ties that bind her rural Carolina roots to Eastern Europe and North Africa, those that bind the purr of sitar strings and the ripple of Japanese folk flute to African-American traditions and the international arts underground. Here the singer’s rich songs find fresh settings for unifying human experiences: the loss of loved ones, the joy of discovering, the alienation and shifts of moving, meeting, and departing. “Ultimately, this album is about finding my place through the traveling,” Uzuri explains, “the communion, the loneliness, victories, sadness, losses, euphorias, revelations, transformations, [and] coming to understand that I am always here: home.” n
JIMMY HEATH 86TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OCTOBER 23 - 28, 8 & 10:30PM
$35 AT TABLE / $20 AT BAR
Jimmy Heath has long been recognized as a brilliant instrumentalist and a magnificent composer and arranger. The middle brother of the legendary Heath Brothers (bassist Percy and drummer Tootie) and the father of Mtume, he has performed with nearly all the jazz greats of the last 50 years, from Howard McGhee, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis to Wynton Marsalis. Heath’s career got off to an early start – in 1948 at the age of 21, he performed in the First International Jazz Festival in Paris with McGhee, sharing the stage with Coleman Hawkins, Slam Stewart, and Erroll Garner. One of his earliest big bands (1947-1948) in Philadelphia included John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Specs Wright, Cal Massey, Johnny Coles, Ray Bryant, and Nelson Boyd. Charlie Parker and Max Roach even sat in on one occasion.
Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, J.J. Johnson, and Dexter Gordon. Heath has also composed extended works – seven suites and two string quartets – and he premiered his first symphonic work, “Three Ears,” in 1988 at Queens College (CUNY) with Maurice Peress conducting.
During his career, Heath has performed on more than 100 albums, including seven with the Heath Brothers and 12 as a leader. He has also written more than 125 compositions, many of which have become jazz standards and have been recorded by other artists, including Art Farmer, Cannonball Adderley,
Renowned for his work as a Professor of Music at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Heath maintains an extensive performance and teaching schedule and continues to conduct workshops and clinics throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada. He has also taught jazz studies at Jazzmobile, Housatonic College, City College of New York, and The New School for Social Research. For over 60 years, the legendary Heath Brothers have been synonymous with great jazz. Although Percy passed away in 2005, Jimmy and Tootie have pressed on, continuing to make great music. Jimmy’s latest album with his big band, the aptlynamed Turn Up the Heath, came out in 2006. This week at the Blue Note, he brings his big band back to the Blue Note to celebrate his 86th birthday. n
L a t e N i g h t G r o o v e S ERIE S
JEREMY MAGE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 12:30AM $10
Jeremy Mage has produced music for Tummy Touch (London dance), Easy Star (Brooklyn reggae), and Double Moon (Istanbul experimental). He has apprenticed with a range of masters in piano, improvisation, and songwriting, from Alan Ginsberg and Jack Hardy in New York to Fred Frith in Oakland, Pupi Perdosa in Havana and Shrinivasan in Varanasi, India. He’s toured as a pianist/ guitarist and singer with soul jazz artist Lizz Wright, Afro punk diva Tamar Kali, and Nigerian dance superhero Wunmi. These tributaries join in the tumbling stream that descends from the Min-
newaska mountains of Mage’s youth; slips through the ripe gutters of New York City; freezes and thaws in broken patterns, and finally evaporates. n
MELISSA NADEL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 12:30AM $10
Melissa Nadel’s music is influenced by a wide range of musical genres, her style is versatile and tasteful, her sound refreshing and original. With a powerful yet angelic voice, she truly brings her own flavor to each song she sings.
Nadel has shared the stage with Chris Botti, Earl Klugh, Al Turner, David Lee, and many others. In 2007, she proudly released her debut record, What Matters. Featuring legendary jazz bassist Charles Fambrough, drummer Mike Clark, saxophonist Joe Ford, pianist Bill O’Connell, and guitarist Bill Washer, the disc is being distributed in Japan through Vivid Sound Corporation and is receiving great reviews. Here in New York, Nadel continues to perform regularly and is hard at work on material for her sophomore release. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
JUILLIARD JAZZ ENSEMBLE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Art Blakey had The Jazz Messengers for nearly 50 years. Although the group was started by pianist Horace Silver, Blakey quickly became the driving force behind what became one of jazz’s most notable institutions. During the years of The Jazz Messengers, the group helped launch and propel the careers of some of this music’s most legendary composers and soloists, including Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Bobby Timmons, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Wynton Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Terence Blanchard, James Williams, and many others.
This afternoon, the Juilliard Jazz Ensemble will pay tribute to this great lineage of artists and music. As Blakey used to say, “Come on out and pat your foot and have a good time.” 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!
BANN OCTOBER 29, 8 & 10:30PM $15 AT TABLE / $10 AT BAR Bann – a group put together with old and new friends. Comprised of members who have all been on the scene for years, this progressive outfit embraces the jazz tradition while keeping one foot firmly planted in the music of today’s world: rock, R&B, soul, and more. The music Bann plays is a combination of original tunes and some old, tried-and-true favorites filtered through the band’s collective point of view. Bann’s drum chair is occupied by Adam Nussbaum, a versatile musician who regularly supports some of the most notable names on today’s jazz scene. After studying at the Davis Center and City College of New York, Nussbaum was making a strong impression in the jazz world by 1978, playing regularly with both Dave Liebman and John Scofield. Other important associations have included Stan Getz, Gil Evans, Gary Burton, Steve Swallow, Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick, James Moody, Sonny Rollins, Art Pepper, Joe Henderson, and Charles Lloyd. Seamus Blake handles Bann’s saxophone duties. A New York-based musician, he is recognized as one of the finest exponents of contemporary jazz. His music is known for its sophistication, bold improvisations, and “sheer swagger.” John Sco-
field, who hired Seamus for his Quiet Band, called him “extraordinary, a total saxophonist.” Blake’s recent releases have garnered him considerable critical praise for his masterful playing, his fine compositional skills, and his facility as a leader. Bann guitarist Oz Noy has made a huge impact on the jazz scene since his arrival in New York City in 1996. His unique and intoxicating style has broken all the rules of instrumental guitar music by focusing on the groove. Allstars such as Keith Carlock, Anton Fig, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Dave Weckl often contribute to his projects on drums, with bassists Will Lee, James Genus, and Reggie Washington holding down the low end. Rounding out the quartet is bassist Jay Anderson. Among the most versatile and respected jazz artists performing today, he has been featured on over 300 recordings, including work with Paul Bley, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Donald Byrd, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, and Lee Konitz. He’s also performed with the big bands of Kenny Wheeler, Bob Mintzer, Mel Lewis, and Maria Schneider. n
BUIKA OCTOBER 30, NOVEMBER 1 & 2, 8 & 10:30PM $45 AT TABLE / $30 AT BAR Voted one of world’s “50 Great Voices” by NPR, Buika—born on the island of Majorca to African immigrant parents—has emerged as a true innovator, a must-see artist among jazz aficionados. Her evident African roots and her cosmopolitanism, developed in clubs in Spain and Americanized during a surreal stint in Las Vegas, explain Buika’s rare selfpossession. But nothing can quite explain her ability to connect, in spite of the fact that she sings nearly exclusively in Spanish—Buika is simply one of those rare and wonderful “one listen” artists. It’s a quality that struck the renowned filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, who cast her in The Skin I Live In, and jazz legend Chick Corea, who featured Buika as a special guest during his epic run at the Blue Note in late 2011. Buika is an artist whose time has arrived. With a 2012 summer European tour and more American dates set for the fall, Buika is rapidly being recognized as one of the most dynamic, individualistic performers in contemporary vocal jazz. Her 2009 collaboration with Chucho Valdés, El Ultimo Trago (The Last Drink), an homage to the Mexican singing legend Chavela Vargas, won Buika her first Latin Grammy award for “Best Traditional Tropical Album.” The fol-
lowing year she recorded a duet with Seal, “You Get Me” for his CD Seal 6: Commitment, and more recently, Buika appeared as a guest vocalist on sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar’s Traveller CD (on the track “Casi Uno”). Her latest release is En Mi Piel (In My Skin), an exhaustive two-disc compilation on Warner Music Latina that showcased B u i k a ’s b re a t h t a k ing diversity and range— and her development as a total artist. The collection begins with the two songs she performed in the Almodóvar film: “Por el amor de amar” (For the Love of Love) and a scintillating version of “Se me hizo facil” (It Was Easy), the original of which appeared on the Trago CD. En Mi Piel also features signature songs from her earlier releases and as well as tracks culled from Buika’s guest appearances on projects by producer/guitarist Javier Limón, singer Armando Manzanero, Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, and special editions of her CDs not available in the U.S. n
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 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 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