ERIC JOHNSON MIKE STERN ECLECTIC GUITARS
&
AUGUST 13 -18
A U G U S T
2 0 1 3
P R O G R A M
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
AUGUST CALENDAR
LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES
EARL KLUGH JULY 30 - AUG 4
SPIRITCHILD & MENTAL NOTES AUG 2
ABBY DOBSON AUG 5
EVA CORTÉS AUG 3
PAQUITO D’RIVERA & HIS PANAMERICANA ENSEMBLE AUG 6 - 11
COURTNEY BRYAN AUG 9 RACHEL ECKROTH AUG 10
LUKE CELENZA AUG 12 ERIC JOHNSON & MIKE STERN ECLECTIC GUITARS AUG 13 - 18 LIBERATION PROPHECY AUG 19 ROY HARGROVE BIG BAND W/ ROBERTA GAMBARINI AUG 20 - 25 LAKECIA BENJAMIN AUG 26 ROY AYERS AUG 27 - SEP 1
DARREN LYONS AUG 16 SAM KINNINGER AUG 17 NICK SAMPLE DROP IT ROXY AUG 23 AKIM FUNK BUDDHA AUG 24 THE FUZZ BAND AUG 30 AL MACDOWELL’S “JUST ORNETTE” QUARTET W/ JAY RODRIGUEZ AUG 31
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES IN AUGUST FEATURES ALL
BRAZILIAN BANDS AND MENU FEIJOADA, BRAZILIAN FISH STEW, AND BATIDAS! 12:30PM & 2:30PM HIROMI SUDA SEXTET CD RELEASE SHOW AUG 4
VIC JURIS BRAZILIAN BAND W/ KATE BAKER AUG 11
AMANDA RUZZA AUG 18
NANNY ASSIS & GROUP AUG 25
NYU JAZZ ENSEMBLE: DAVE PIETRO QUARTET SEP 1
EARL KLUGH CD RELEASE FOR NEW ALBUM HANDPICKED
SPECIAL GUEST JAKE SHIMABUKURO, JULY 30 ONLY JULY 30-AUGUST 4, 8PM & 10:30PM
This week we celebrate the release of GRAMMY® Award-winning guitar virtuoso Earl Klugh’s new, largely solo CD, HandPicked on Heads Up (part of the Concord Music Group). This is a disc that clearly reflects the guitarist’s view that, “Everything has its place. The fun of it is that you are not in a box. Music has no boundaries.”
well. HandPicked is on track to follow on exactly that same path. Thirteen of the CD’s 16 tracks feature Klugh’s signature style of solo guitar mastery. The remaining tracks are duets with three very different players: famed jazz guitarist Bill Frisell; ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro; and Country Music Hall of Fame guitarist and singer Vince Gill.
Since Klugh released his inaugural album in 1976, the Detroit-born master of the acoustic-classical guitar has become one of the most imitated icons of the instrument, issued dozens of discs, 23 of which have been on Billboard’s top-10 list of jazz albums and 5 that made it to the No. 1 slot. During that time, Klugh’s recordings also received 12 GRAMMY® nominations and his collaboration with pianist Bob James, One on One, walked away with the 1980 GRAMMY® Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
Klugh is no stranger to collaborative work. His recordings, One on One, Two of a Kind and Cool with Bob James, and Collaboration with George Benson featured backing bands. However, HandPicked showcases Klugh’s first recorded duets in the purest sense of the word. No band, just beautifully arranged string duets between Earl and his friends.
In 1989, Klugh released his first sologuitar album, titled simply Solo Guitar. Sixteen years later, his second solo recording, Naked Guitar, earned Klugh his 11th GRAMMY® nomination. Both of those discs were not only popular, but they received high critical praise as
But whatever the format, the songs on the CD were handpicked by the youthful looking Klugh to mark his 60th birthday in 2013. All of them highlight the intimate, intricate, reflective and lyrical approach to music that is the hallmark of the guitarist’s playing. And all of them were personally selected, handpicked, by Klugh, reflecting his favorite songs and offering a tribute to his musical heroes. n
L AT E N I G H T G R O O V E S E R I E S
SPIRITCHILD & MENTAL NOTES FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 2 12:30AM
New York City’s original hip-hop ensemble Mental Notes has been attracting diverse audiences with its sound and vibrations since 1999. The group’s eclectic fusion of old school hip-hop, funk, electronica, jazz, and acid rock continues to break the boundaries of the New York live music scene. Lead vocalist and emcee Spiritchild has produced several film scores and spoken word albums for Nuyorican Slam Champions Ainsley Burrows and SmokiFantastic and has released multiple solo albums, including A Tribute to Nina Simone (2001), Eclipse of Hope (2005), and Dark Matters (2010). To-
gether, he and the other members of Mental Notes create an intense listening experience that rivals any sound to come out of the NYC hip-hop scene in recent memory. n
EVA CORTÉS SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 3 12:30AM
After her first release for EMI, Sola Contigo (Alone with You) (2007), and her two subsequent releases for Universal Jazz Spain, Como Agua Entre los Dedos (Like Water Between the Fingers) (2009) and El Mar de mi Vida (The Sea of My Life) (2010), Eva Cortés ranks among the young and most interesting Spanish-speaking composers and performers on the jazz scene today Back 2 The Source (2011), Cortés’s latest release, is her personal look at the essence of what she considers to be the mainstay of her musical influence: jazz. Packed with standards, it is an
album in which the Honduras-born artist uses for the first time English as the main language in one of her recordings. Cortes released her fifth album, Jazz One Night with Eva Cortés in Madrid, on April 17th, 2012. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
HIROMI SUDA SEXTET CD RELEASE SHOW SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Blessed with a pure, crystalline mountain lake voice, Hiromi Suda combines the classical qualities of intricate phrasing, and attention to emphasis and timing with a melodic and harmonic complexity that reminds of bossa nova. In January 2012 she recorded her sophomore album, Sou, produced by the great Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo and recorded at the Avatar studio in NY. The band members are Anne Drummond (Flute), Julian Shore (Piano), Keita Ogawa (Percussions/ Drums),Yasushi Nakamura (Bass). Sou
was released in August 2012 on Happiness Records. She toured Japan on the album (Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Hitachi, Mito and Kofu). In New York, she did a CD release concert at the Cornelia street cafe in October 2012. Hiromi Suda lives and works in New York City. n
HALF NOTE RECORDS NEW RELEASE
FRANCISCO MELA & CUBAN SAFARI TREE OF LIFE
ON HIS SECOND RELEASE FOR HALF NOTE, DRUMMER FRANCISCO MELA CONTINUES TO FUSE THE RHYTHMIC LIFE FORCE OF HIS HOMELAND CUBA, WITH THE HEATSEEKING ENERGY OF MODERN JAZZ. HE IS KNOWN AS A MUSICIAN’S FAVORITE - HE IS A MEMBER OF JOE LOVANO’S BAND, US FIVE - BECAUSE HE BOASTS A PASSION AND SPIRIT RARELY HEARD AMONG YOUNG INSTRUMENTALISTS. MELA’S GROUP IS NAMED CUBAN SAFARI, AND IT FEATURES STERLING PLAY FROM PIANIST ELIO VILLAFRANCA, SAXIST URI GURVICH, GUITARIST BEN MONDER AND SPECIAL GUEST ESPERANZA SPALDING. MELA’S TENDER VOCAL WILL SURPRISE ALL.
MELA CUBAN AD
AVAILABLE UPSTAIRS IN THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP!
ABBY DOBSON AUGUST 5, 8PM & 10:30PM Titled Sleeping Beauty: You Are the One You Have Been Waiting On, Dobson’s spellbinding 2010 debut is a concept album, much like Marvin Gaye’s timeless statement What’s Going On (1971) or Anita Baker’s jazz-kissed Compositions (1990). The disc is a strikingly personal project that draws an artfully singular connection between the ageless fairy tale Sleeping Beauty and Pulitzer Prizewinning author Alice Walker’s uplifting We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness. Dobson was drawn like a magnet to the powerful vocal persuasions of Sarah Vaughan, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, and Donny Hathaway, while being inspired by the introspective acoustic leaning writings of Tracy Chapman and Dolly Parton, the next-level love songs of Anita Baker (including “Fairy Tales”), and the purposed writings of Bob Marley and Sweet Honey in the Rock. On the literary shelf sat her primary Muses Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. As evidence of Dobson’s artistry spread, she graced honored New York stages such as S.O.B.’s, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, Joe’s Pub, and the Blue Note - all to rave reviews. She was featured three times as a singer-songwriter at the New York Songwriter’s Circle and was a finalist in the R&B category of the John Lennon Song Writing Competition for her song “Deeply.” She was pegged by GIANT magazine in its September 2009 issue as an Artist to Watch and has lent backing vocals to artists ranging from John Legend to Talib Kweli. In
addition, she has opened for Rahsaan Patterson, Ledisi, Dwele, Chrisette Michele, Floetry, Kindred, Leela James, and Robin Thicke, and she performs regularly with Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber. When Dobson took the stage of New York’s Blue Note in late 2010 to formally introduce her debut, she was far from an overnight sensation. The lady
has been striving, sacrificing, and succeeding on her own terms for the better part of a decade - to present the world with music of her singular vision via her LadyBraveBird Music company. As one admirer expressed, “Abby is to soulful music an innovative and compelling force, a voice bringing people together ... and joy through the gift of song.” n
PAQUITO D’RIVERA’S
PANAMERICANA ENSEMBLE AUGUST 6-11, 8PM & 10:30PM The winner of nine GRAMMY Awards, D’Rivera is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. He is also the first artist to win Latin GRAMMYs in both Classical and Latin Jazz categories-- for Stravinsky’s Historia del Soldado (2003) and Brazilian Dreams (2001). His numerous recordings include more than 30 solo albums. In 1988, he was a founding member of the United Nation Orchestra, a 15-piece ensemble organized by Dizzy Gillespie to showcase the fusion of Latin and Caribbean influences with jazz. D’Rivera continues to appear as guest conductor of that group which features such artists as James Moody, Slide Hampton, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Jon Faddis, Steve Turre, and others. While Paquito D’Rivera’s discography reflects a dedication and enthusiasm for Jazz, Bebop and Latin music, his contributions to classical music are impressive. They include solo performances with the London Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. In his passion to bring Latin repertoire to greater prominence, Mr. D’Rivera has composed three chamber works recorded live in concert with distinguished cellist Yo-Yo Ma in September 2003.
In addition to his extraordinary performing career as an instrumentalist, Mr. D’Rivera has rapidly gained a reputation as an accomplished composer. Recent recognition of his compositional skills came with the award of a 2007 John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in Music Composition, and the 20072008 appointment as Composer-InResidence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts with the Orchestra
of St. Luke’s. D’Rivera’s works often reveal his widespread and eclectic musical interests, which range from Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies, including influences encountered in his many travels, and back to his classical origins. His numerous commissions include compositions for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress, the National Symphony Orchestra and Rotterdam Philharmonic. He is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award 2005 and the National Medal of the Arts 2005. n
L AT E N I G H T G R O O V E S E R I E S
COURTNEY BRYAN FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 9 12:30AM
Courtney Bryan, of New Orleans, is a prolific and eclectic composer, pianist, and arranger. Her compositions range from solo works to large ensembles in jazz and new music idioms, film scores, and collaborations of dancers, visual artists, writers, and actors She has two self-released recordings, Quest for Freedom (2007) and This Little Light of Mine (2010). She is the organist and director of the Institute of Sacred Music at Bethany Baptist Church of Newark, NJ. Courtney was the featured composer and speaker at the Callaloo Conference 2012 in Princeton NJ, and recently trav-
eled with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Horns to Havana program as an instructor with the New Orleans Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Jazz Camp to Havana, Cuba. n
RACHEL ECKROTH SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 10 12:30AM
Music writers often find themselves stumped as to quantify an artist’s work, seemingly defaulting to the “eclectic trump card” way too often. As to the works of jazz pianist, singer and songwriter, Rachel Eckroth – eclectic is most apropos however, Rachel’s music is obvious – from its roots and influence, to its gracefully bold uniqueness. In 2011, Rachel settled in Brooklyn in what she describes as an “inspired, productive and cathartic year in New York City” – a year that yielded her second solo album, Let Go. Let Go features Ra-
chel singing on 10 new tracks in what she describes as, “a singer-songwriter outing fused with jazz, pop and R&B sensibilities. In 2013, Gold, a single from the new project, was released. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
VIC JURIS BRAZILIAN BAND FEATURING
KATE BAKER SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Vic Juris discovered jazz in his late teens and subsequently studied with Philly jazz guitar legend Pat Martino. In 1975, Juris made his recording debut on alto saxophonist Eric Kloss’ Bodies’ Warmth (Muse). In the early ’80s, Juris immersed himself in acoustic guitar, performing duets with Larry Coryell and Biréli Lagrène, and by the late ’80s he joined bassist Gary Peacock’s group. Kate Baker has a distinctive vocal style and lyrical expression and she has evolved into one of today’s most
sought after singers. Her voice resonates with her love of diverse musical inspirations whether Jazz, Brazilian, Latin or the Blues. Be it a Cole Porter standard or an Antonio Carlos Jobim composition, English or Portuguese, Kate is at home. 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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LUKE CELENZA AUGUST 12, 8PM & 10:30PM
Pianist and composer Luke Celenza speaks about the music on his independently released debut album, Back & Forth, with a clarity and equanimity that defies his young age. He only recently turned 21-years-old, and it has already been almost ten years since he was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) Pre-College Jazz Division. Additionally, GRAMMY® and two-time Latin GRAMMY® winner Dominican pianist and composer, Michel Camilo was a friend of the family and a key influence in his development. The original concept of the title piece is a rhythmic dialogue between groove and swing. “It’s a verse-chorus-versechorus form, taking pop music and taking swing and putting them together. And at the end, we have a release after a constant back and forth conversation.” “Jupiter and Mars” is a sly, and personal, commentary on the “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” notion and plays with the idea of being both in a major and a minor key. “The idea is to be both at the same time, rather than choosing one or the other.”
At the Manhattan School of Music, Celenza studied under professor Jeremy Manasia, who directed the big band, the top ensemble and taught piano. “He introduced me to Sonny Clark, then McCoy, Herbie, Barry Harris, Bud Powell. It set the foundation.” In fact, Celenza says, “I’ve always had great teachers, from Elizabeth Porter back then to Kenny Barron now, I’ve been very lucky.” The MSM band, directed by Manasia and featuring Celenza, won the Charles Mingus Competition in both 2009 and 2010, and in both years he also picked up the Outstanding Piano Soloist Award. Celenza grew up in a family of music enthusiasts. His father, a dentist, is an amateur drummer and jazz fan, and his older brother, Frank, plays guitar and drums. The support was crucial for Celenza to win his shelf full of prizes; including several DownBeat Student Music Awards for Outstanding Performance, the Silver Award from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts and the honor of being a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. n
UPSTAIRS AT THE
ERIC JOHNSON & MIKE STERN ECLECTIC GUITARS AUGUST 13 - 18, 8PM & 10:30PM
Eric Johnson’s stature as one of the premier guitar players in contemporary music is his artistic trump card, backed by a Grammy Award and five nominations, platinum album, Top 10 hits like “Cliffs Of Do- ver,” praise from critics and the esteem of his peers. But the full hand of his talents marks him as well as a gifted songwriter, dynamic live performer, singer, pianist, song interpreter, and creator of a rich and diverse musical legacy.
In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, six-time GRAMMY nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation. Stern’s career encompasses a sequence of musical partnerships reaching from Blood, Sweat & Tears and Jaco Pastorious to Miles Davis, the Brecker Brothers and his own dynamic groups. n
L AT E N I G H T G R O O V E S E R I E S
DARREN LYONS FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 16 12:30AM
Darren Lyons, a well-respected drummer from New York, leads both acoustic and electric jazz bands. Evil Genius features the latter, an ensemble that has been together for over nine years. In Lyons’ wide-ranging career he’s worked with everyone from guitarist Birelli Lagrene to percussionist Manolo Badrena, from pianist Lee Shaw to bassist Victor Bailey and the group Kilimanjaro. He started the Darren Lyons Group at the Knitting Factory in 1996 and the band has worked steadily ever since.
Evil Genius teams Lyons with guitarist Chad McLoughlin, both Mark Adamy and David Starck on keyboards, electric bassist Skip Ward and, on four of the selections, Manolo Badrena joins on percussion. Keyboardist David Sancious, who produced the project, sits in during “Clean.” n
SAM KININGER SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 17 12:30AM
Sam Kininger has been in legendary funk/soul groups since the beginning, including Lettuce and Soulive. He has also performed with larger pop acts such as Dave Matthews Band, DJ Quik and Wyclef Jean. As a solo artist Kininger has developed a distinctive, organic sound on the saxophone that is strongly expressive. He consistently demonstrates technical dexterity and rhythmic precision while maintaining an honest and innovative exploration of musical improvisation. Sam Kininger’s original funk band has been blowing away audiences with high-energy funk for 10 years now. His debut album included completely original instrumental funk/jazz com-
positions. The grooves are intense and the solos are aggressively rhythmic and deeply soulful. Sam Kininger’s sophomore album, Anthem, was released in Japan on March 2008. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
AMANDA RUZZA SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Amanda Ruzza hails from São Paulo, Brazil. She discovered her muse at an early age - perhaps the result of her mother who loved opera, and her father, whose passion was rock n’ roll. In Brazil, she worked with distinguished producers and arrangers, including Grammy Award-winner Moogie Canazio, Maestro Jobam and Osny Mello. Amanda composes music that seamlessly assimilates elements of funk, jazz and South American rhythms. As a session musician
on electric bass, she has contributed on recordings with Bebel Gilberto, Jason Miles, Simone Giuliani and Arturo O’Farrill. Amanda Ruzza’s debut solo album was released on April 17th, and she will continue to perform with her group while continuing to provide bass accompaniment for other artists, producers and studios. 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.
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LIBERATION PROPHECY AUGUST 19, 8PM & 10:30PM Liberation Prophecy’s leader, composer, arranger and alto saxophonist, Duncan has been “Free[ing] ourselves through making music” since 1995, when the band’s inaugural incarnation surfaced as a quartet in the back room of a coffee house in his native Louisville, Kentucky. Duncan has taken the Liberation Prophecy mission with him around the country, assembling likeminded musicians in Denton, Texas and New York City. Duncan’s current Liberation Prophecy is a facile, em-
pathic octet that brings his compositions to life with a proprietary blend of precision, intuition, without-a-net-highwire-daring, and inspired avant-anarchy. Now two albums into its questing, Liberation Prophecy continues to astonish. Guitarist Craig Wagner and trombonist Chris Fortner are both band veterans, and they’re joined by bassist Chris Fitzgerald, drummer Michael Hyman, trumpeter Kris Eans and Steve Good on tenor and bass clarinet. They’re all incontestable heavyweights, bringing experience, virtuosity and smarts to the feast. And new singer Carly Johnson is a revelation—versatile, tuneful, and
with an emotional range that floats from first-person intimate to brassy belting with the greatest of ease. At the time of its first release, 2006’s Last Exit Angel, Liberation Prophecy felt the influence of early Carla Bley, Coltrane, Mingus, Coleman, Zappa, Sun Ra and songwriters Randy Newman and Tom Waits. “With the first album there were more traditional elements of jazz, and samba and avantgarde,” Duncan says. “But with the new one, Invisible House (2012), there’s more rock, and I think it’s more present— simple and present. These are actually just songs…they’re stories, and they’re colors and melodies that you could actually remember. That’s the idea—something that’s listenable, but at the same time collaborative and eclectic.” Those collaborations, three songs with lyric contributions from Will Oldham (“Let’s Not Pretend”), Greta Smith (“Wish I May”), and Joe Manning (“The Lazy Mist”) are unequivocal successes, and signal Duncan’s continuing growth as an artist. Album highlights are plentiful, but a brief checklist would have to include the infectious rhythmic insistence of “You,” an ensemble tour-de-force. Here singer Carly Johnson’s timbre recalls both Peggy Lee and Miss Nancy Wilson, icing the cake with stylish, worldly panache. Experiences such as marriage, divorce, and fatherhood all inform much of Invisible House’s moorings and maturity. n
ROY HARGROVE BIG BAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST ROBERTA GAMBARINI AUGUST 20-25, 8PM & 10:30PM
Since his emergence in the late 1980s, trumpet player Roy Hargrove has proved to be an adventurous and wide-ranging artist, proudly immersed in the jazz tradition and yet continually striking out for new terrain. Among his groups include the straight-ahead, hard bop Roy Hargrove Quintet and Crisol, an Afro-Cuban ensemble that won a Grammy in 1998 for Best Latin Jazz Performance with its album Habana. With the funk-oriented RH Factor, Hargrove released the 2003 album Hard Groove, featuring guest appearances by R&B superstars Erykah Badu, Common, and D’Angelo. His last album, 2008’s quintet session Earfood (Groovin’ High/Emercy), was featured in dozens of year-end Top 10 lists. The seeds of Hargrove’s big band were planted in 1995, when he first formed a big band for a New York jazz festival. Hargrove’s big band lineup eventually crystallized into the band featured on his latest record, Emergence (2009). The Grammy-nominated disc, his first big band release, marks the realization of a lifelong dream for Hargrove. The album’s 19-piece ensemble is a vibrant and versatile group, tackling a wide range of material and styles with equal doses of precision and passion. In light
of the current financial climate, one might wonder why Hargrove picked now to assemble a big band for a recording and national tour. “Financially speaking, this [was] probably the worst thing I could ever do,” says Hargrove,” but it [was] something that [needed] to be done, spiritually and musically speaking.” Hargrove’s big band, which cites the large bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, and Gerald Wilson as key influences, has already been showcased at the Hollywood Bowl and SummerStage in New York’s Central Park. “The small group has been such a big deal for so long in jazz that people forget where the small groups came from,” says Hargrove. “There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you’re hearing your compositions and arrangements played by a wall of sound. I’m just trying to make some music that’s fun to hear and play.” Tonight’s performance will feature special guest Roberta Gambarini, a frequent collaborator with Hargrove who also recently enjoyed a Grammy nomination for her 2009 album So In Love. n
L AT E N I G H T G R O O V E S E R I E S
NICK SAMPLE DROP IT ROXY FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 23 12:30 AM
Nick Sample began his musical education watching his father, jazz legend Joe Sample. Born and raised in L.A., Nicklas gained over 20 years experience learning all creative and business aspects of the industry. Nicklas immersed himself in the LA scene as an electric and upright bassist with Nikka Costa, Zoo Story, Daniel Cage, Jakob Dylan, Duke Daniels and Alison Sudol of “A Fine Frenzy.” He is also a member of The Crusaders and The Joe Sample Trio. Forty years of experience in the music
business is an unprecedented amount of information to gain in just the few years Nicklas has been working with his father. “Joe Sample is the best teacher I could ever have.” “I’m learning from the best.” n
AKIM FUNK BUDDHA SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 24 12:30AM
Akim is a multi-faceted performance artist with talents ranging from Balinese Monkey Chanting,Tuvan ThroatSinging, Martial Arts to Classic Hip Hop dance styles, Rhymes, Beat-Boxing and Body Balancing. Akim creates borderless performance art fusing sounds and movements. He is known for his holistic approach to Hip Hop, drawing from a full spectrum of cultural traditions and artistic disciplines. Akim’s exceptional stage productions transcend borders and has featured at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center (Washington DC), and throughout New York City including Central Park, The Blue Note ,The Whitney Museum (VH1 Hip Hop Honors), Lincoln Center Outdoors, Joe’s Pub,
The Winter Garden, La MaMa Theater & The Rubin Museum. His shows are featured annually at The Brooklyn Academy of Music. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
NANNY ASSIS & GROUP SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Nanny Assis has played with amazing artists like Vinicius Cantauria, Eumir Deodato, and John Patitucci since 1986. He has cheered audiences around the world with a great ability to perform Bossa Nova, Brazilian Jazz, Forro and a myriad of Afro-Brazilian sounds. In New York City, his artistic hub, Nanny has made presentations at Birdland, Zinc Bar, B.B. King and Blue Note. For the past decade, he is the sole voice on Sundays at SOB’s, with his traditional brunch concert at one venue that’s known for opening the doors for Brazilian music.
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In 2011, he recieved the prestigious Brazilian International Press Award as “Best Singer of the Year.” Nanny Assis has recorded two albums: Brazilian Vibes and “Double Rainbow.” “I’m honored that they picked my music,” he was quoted as saying. “I’m ubiquitous again.” n
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TE . E NOR E S U L H E B I CT U TO TTAGE P T S S L AS E PA CK S . TAG OM BA GE TO AWAY S S K A C R E T A F V G L F OO D G I RB YO U R Y T H I N RSA ND C A E E E V R E H CK ET A A ND U TE TI MIN
LAKECIA BENJAMIN AUGUST 26, 8PM & 10:30PM
A streetwise New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Lakecia Benjamin has become one of the most highly sought-after players in soul and funk music. Charismatic and dynamic as both a saxophonist and bandleader, she has worked with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Macy Gray, and more. She has performed on four continents, and her extensive recording credits include saxophone and arrangements for Santigold, Maurice Brown, the Clark
Terry Big Band, Krystle Warren, and Talib Kweli, among others. After being so in demand as a collaborator, Benjamin has recently taken center stage in her own right with the release of her unconventional soul and funk album Retox (2012), on MotĂŠma Music. The debut disc finds the saxophonist showing off her impeccable purist jazz resume with a deep, kaleidoscopic, and ingeniously arranged mix of original old school soul and funk songs. n
ROY AYERS AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 1 8PM & 10:30PM
Vibraphonist and vocalist Roy Ayers is among the best-known, most loved, and respected jazz and R&B artists on the music scene today. Now entering his sixth decade in the business, Ayers, known as the Godfather of Neo-Soul, continues to bridge the gap between generations of music lovers. Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Ayers enjoyed a musical upbringing. In 1966, he joined jazz flutist Herbie Mann’s quartet and recorded with Mann for the next four years, a period that included the release of the flutist’s smash hit LP Memphis Underground (1969), though Ayers would leave the Mann group and his post-bop past behind in 1970. He moved to New York, where he quickly formed his own band Ubiquity, an R&B and jazz-rock outfit with a constantly-shifting roster of musicians. When disco emerged in the second half of the ‘70s, Ayers and Ubiquity found themselves squarely in the limelight. Their hit song “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” became a dance floor sensation, their 1977 single “Running Away” broke into the R&B Top 20, and
1978’s “The Freaky Deaky” became popular enough to inspire a dance step of the same name. After touring with afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti at the end of the ‘70s, Ayers’s career cooled off in the mid-’80s, as he scored a number of minor hits on the Columbia label. However, the ‘90s saw the demand for his sound explode again, as hip-hop, acid jazz, and R&B artists in the U.S. and England began to use samples of Ayers’s ‘70s hits in their work. Suddenly, he was back in the limelight and began releasing albums again, including 1995’s Nasté and 1999’s Juice. Although the new millennium has seen Ayers release fewer new albums, he remains a pop culture hero, as music industry heavyweights like Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, Will Downing, and Talib Kweli seek him out for collaborations and sample his old hits. In many ways, his music is still years ahead of its time. “I’m honored that they picked my music,” he was quoted as saying. “I’m ubiquitous again.” n
L AT E N I G H T G R O O V E S E R I E S
THE FUZZ BAND FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 30 12:30 AM
The Fuzz Band, whose sound is a fusion of Urban & Rock music, met and formed while attending Hampton University in 1997. Performing first at local venues and colleges, the band began writing, performing, and recording their own music; releasing four albums. The band can count Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Africa, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, and England as second homes where they experienced bombings, medical emergencies involving IVs, and pseudo kidnapping & ransom scenarios all in the name of music.
The band has rocked shows at colleges and corporate events across the nation, and has performed with artists such as Outkast, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and Alicia Keys. Their constantly evolving sound can be heard on their musical releases in 2013. n
AL MACDOWELL’S “JUST ORNETTE” QUARTET FEATURING
JAY RODRIGUEZ SATURDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 31 12:30AM
A N.Y. born musician, Al MacDowell has spent most of his passionate music career dedicated and devoted to expanding the limits of American jazz culture in the school of harmolodic music, under the paternal wings of its unique creator, jazz saxophonist, alto and tenor, violinist, trumpeter, composer master, Ornette Coleman. Playing his bass like a lead instrument has placed him in the generation of bassists, like Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius. The group includes Pete Drungle on piano, a Bessie award winning composer,
Tony Lewis, an original member of “The Just Ornette Quartet”, and Tony Falanga’s darkly resonant, 100-plus year old Tyrolean double bass, which collaborates harmonically with Al MacDowell’s piccolo bass. n
SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
NYU JAZZ ENSEMBLE DAVE PIETRO QUARTET SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
12:30 & 2:30PM $29.50 includes music, brunch & 1 drink
Saxophonist Dave Pietro has been on the New York music scene since 1987. His talents as a saxophonist and composer have made him in-demand at jazz clubs, jazz festivals, schools, and concert halls in more than 30 countries. From 1994-2003, Pietro played lead alto saxophone and recorded six CDs with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. He has also toured and/or recorded with the bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Maria Schneider, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock, Mike Ho-
lober, Anita Brown, Pete McGuinness, Jim Widner, and Arturo O’Farrill. As a leader, he has released six CDs with musicians such as Dave Holland, Kenny Werner, Ben Monder, Bill Stewart, Brian Blade, and Scott Colley. 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!
UPSTAIRS AT THE
THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP W H E R E
J A Z Z
L E G E N D S
M E E T
DONALD HARRISON
ARTURO SANDOVAL
THIS IS JAZZ
LIVE AT THE BLUE NOTE
ODEAN POPE
BRUSSELS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
LOCKED & LOADED
WILD BEAUTY
RECORDS VISIT US UPSTAIRS TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR FUTURE SHOWS AND A WIDE SELECTION OF SOUVENIRS AND COLLECTIBLES FROM THE
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
UPSTAIRS AT THE
THE BLUE NOTE GIFT SHOP W H E R E
J A Z Z
L E G E N D S
M E E T
LEE KONITZ
DIZZY GILLESPIE BIG BAND I’M BEBOPPIN’ TOO
ENFANTS TERRIBLES
ELVIN JONES
MCCOY TYNER SOLO
THE TRUTH
RECORDS VISIT US UPSTAIRS TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR FUTURE SHOWS AND A WIDE SELECTION OF SOUVENIRS AND COLLECTIBLES FROM THE
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 $14 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
Cuervo Gold, Kahlua & coffee
Tia Maria & coffee
SWISS COFFEE
MOCA ALMOND
WARM DRINKS $12 IRISH COFFEE
Jameson 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 - $9
BELGIAN-STYLE ALE - $15
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 - $7
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 Taylor Fladgate 20 year Kahlua Prosecco
11 12 11 12 11 12 11 15 11 11
DIGESTIFS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH
Glenlivet 12 year 12 Glenfiddich 12 year 12 15 Macallan 12 year 13 Talisker 10 year Glenmorangie 13 15 Oban 14 year 16 Dahlwinnie 15 year Lagavulin 16 year 18 34 Mackillop’s 1989 Scapa Deanston 30 year 40 Scott’s 1967 Glenlivet 58
SCOTCH BLENDS
Chivas 12 Dewars 12 J & B 12 Johnny Walker Red 12 Johnny Walker Black 13 38 Johnny Walker Blue
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
11 11 11 12 11 11 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 12
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 14 36 18 36 14 25 25 15
DESSERT WINES Sherry, Dry Sack Sherry, Harvey’s Bristol Cream Taylor Fladgate 20 year Cab Franc Icewine, Inniskillin
11 12 15 20/125
BOURBON / RYE Redemption Rye 12 Basil Hayden 14 Booker’s 14 Knob Creek 14 Woodford Reserve 15 Whistle Pig 17
RUM
Beija Cachaca 12 Bacardi Silver 12 Bacardi Gold 12 Brinley Gold Coconut 12 Captain Morgan’s 12 Meyer’s 13 Mount Gay 13 Pyrat XO 15
UPCOMING AT THE BLUE NOTE MAKE RESERVATIONS UPSTAIRS IN THE GIFT SHOP
SEP 5 - 8
CASSANDRA WILSON
SEP 10 - 15
JOE SAMPLE & THE CREOLEJOE BAND SEP 24 - 29
CHICK COREA & THE VIGIL OCT 8 - 13
STANLEY CLARKE & THE HARLEM QUARTET OCT 17 - 20
KENNY G
OCT 21 - 27
DIZZY GILLESPIE
96TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
W/ ALUMNI ALL-STARS & SPECIAL GUESTS
OCT 28 - 31
JIMMY HEATH BIG BAND W/ GUEST MC BILL COSBY(29TH ONLY)