|
 Blue Monday's Jazz Jam Session every Monday with house band members Calvin Keys- guitar, Melvin Butts- saxophone, Hashima- bass, Keith Saunders- piano, and Leon Joyce, Jr.- drums,
and (In Loving Memory of Khalil Shaheed) from 7:00pm-11:00pm and doors open at 5:00pm. Come on out and sing, play your instrument or just enjoy the music. You can never tell what stars will show up at our Blue Monday's Jazz Jam Sessions.
Admission is $10.00.
Music students FREE admission.
|
|
|
 Come out to Glen Pearson & Friends jam session every Thursday from 8:00pm-11:00pm and doors open at 5:00pm.
Cover $5.00.
|
|
|
 "Shades and Hues of Jazz and Blues"
Statuesque Oakland native Odabi casts a spell on audiences with her soulful voice, captivating energy, and out-of-this-world vocal range.
Terrie Odabi's broad stylistic and linguistic range, including Spanish, African, and Middle Eastern dialects, has made her a vocal asset in demand with bands and recording projects. Her breathtaking work was recently featured on the Tonehammer series, "Forgotten Voices." As much as Odabi enjoys collaborating on new and varied projects, she shines as a bandleader where she can return to her roots and to what she loves best: jazz, gospel, blues, and soul. Often compared to Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Jill Scott, Odabi blends the old-school with a fresh sound. Musicians are Terrie Odabi, vocals; Tammy Hall, piano; Ron Belcher, bass; and Leon Joyce, Jr., drums.
(Friday, May 10, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 I'll Be Loving You - Always
Branice McKenzie's career includes everything from jazz to theater to prolific songwriting. Some of her credits include critically acclaimed performances at The Newport Jazz Festival, The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival and The Umbria Jazz Festival.
Branice's incredible four-octave voice and magnificent song stylings have been hailed throughout the world. For almost ten years, she toured with Harry Belafonte, then went on to spend sixteen years with the late great Gregory Hines. She has also performed with Roberta Flack, Hugh Masekela, Carly Simon, BeBe Winans, Dianne Reeves, Peggy Lee and Miriam Makeba to name a few. She has and continues to perform all over the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia.
(Saturday, May 11, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 Mother's Day Concert:
SPECIAL MOTHERS DAY SHOW 5/12 6:00-9:00PM MEDICINE BALL BAND featuring- JANICE MAXIE-REID- keyboards, vocals (Sting, Tony Lindsay); TERIE ODABI-vocals (Steve Turre, Lenny Williams); multi-Grammy winner MADS TOLLING-violin (Stanley Clarke, Turtle Island); West Coast Blues Society Sax Player of the Year- NANCY WRIGHT-tenor sax, vocals; the legendary LEON JOYCE JR.-drums (Ramsey Lewis, Monty Alexander) and DAVID STURDEVANT-guitar, harmonica, vocals (PeeWee Ellis, Lady Bianca) in tribute to all of the great mothers of the world.
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 Appropriately, Hubert Laws asked Nika to perform the musical tribute for his Lifetime Achievement Award. There are few times when something occurs in musical shows that is so far out, so far above and beyond, that other musicians shake their heads in wonder. That is the way it is when Nika Rejto plays the flute.
No, she doesn't simply play it, she makes love to it, she makes it melt with deep emotion, she makes it an instrument of madness with thrilling trills, rapid fire staccato, and more than anything, the clearest, mellowest sound that may ever have emanated from a flute. And, she does the same thing with a piccolo.
This is no ordinary working of an instrument to produce sound, it is a thrill-inducing experience for audiences as she throws her head back, plays toward the sky, twists and dips with the beat and the mood. Dr. Herb Wong, long time Bay Area impresario got it right, "She had an audience of over 2,000 in her hand-It was very obvious we had a major musician on stage."
Nika Rejto is a master performer who is equally comfortable with classical fugues, including her own compositions, and jazz standards and ballads explored in fascinating new ways, even Latin music that makes it impossible to sit still! In sum, Nika Rejto's version of music is infectious; it sweeps through an audience from the first offering to the last. Until the inevitable standing ovation, she uses her amazing technique to enthrall, caress, and turn on those lucky audiences who join her in musical celebration.
Musicians are Nika Rejto, flute/vocals; Rick Vandivier, guitar; Perry Thoorsell, bass; and Leon Joyce, Jr., drums.
(Friday, May 17, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 Don Russo has paid far more than the usual dues in his journey as a Jazz Bassist. Music has always been his life's quest, from his first vocal stage performances at the age of 5 and his first stint in a band as a guitarist at age 10 through his permanent connection with the bass, formed at age 18. His major influences include Percy Heath, Charles Mingus, Scott Lafaro, Ron Carter, and Charlie Haden.
Don Alberts grew up playing in the San Francisco jazz clubs which exposed him to the challenging music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Bud Powell. Much of this music became his foundation and a style rooted deeply in bebop and the blues. The romantic side of his playing comes from the influence of pianist Bill Evans.
Art Lewis was born in New Orleans and began his career in San Francisco, where he studied under Philly Joe Jones. He played at many local clubs, including Jimbo's Famous Bop City, which was the major club at the time. He moved to New York in 1968 and played with many of the more prominent modern jazz players at clubs like the Village Vanguard, Slug's, Ali's Alley, The Tin Palace, The Public Theater, Jazz Workshop, and more.
Charlie McCarthy is a saxophonist who has played and recorded with many of the greats in Jazz including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Henderson, Sarah Vaughan, Bobbie Hutcherson, George Shearing, Madeline Eastman, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Stan Getz and Joe Williams.
(Saturday, May 18, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 "A Vocal Tribute to Duke Ellington"
Bryant B. Bolling is a native Washingtonian who lived in Baltimore, MD for 20 years. he received his B.S. degree in Music Education and his M.A. degree in Musicology from Morgan State University. Mr. Bolling has worked with many theatrical organizations as an artist, director and writer. Mr. Bolling worked as an adjunct Music professor at Sojourner-Douglass College in Baltimore, MD and received a Fullbright-Hayes Scholarship to study and travel throughout Kenya and Tanzania, East Africa. In 1993 he moved to New York city working in Health Education and as a jazz vocalist. In 2002, Mr. Bolling and his family relocated to California. He continues to lecture and perform nationally and abroad. Musicians are Bryant "Mr. B" Bolling, vocalist; Damu Ali, piano;
Alexander Smith, bass; Larry Douglas, trumpet/mattlekat; and Michael Spencer, drums.
(Friday, May 24 18, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 The Terry Hilliard 'El Bajo' Latin Jazz Experience, led by West Coast Jazz & Latin Jazz Legend John 'Terry' Hilliard on Bass. Made famous by his amazing performances on Cal Tjader's 'Soul Sauce' & 'Soul Bird' Albums, Terry Hilliard is a name synonymous with Hot West Coast Latin Jazz.
Terry's All-Stars include Bay Area Jazz Notables George 'Jazzbeau' Spencer on Piano, Yancie 'The Jazz Doctor' Taylor on Vibes, George Spencer's eldest son Michael Spencer on Drums, and Terry Hilliard's eldest son Jeffrey Hilliard on Bongos & Congas.
The group performs a hot and powerful mixture of Latin Jazz hits from Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, and Dizzy Gillespie, that will make you shout, jump, dance, and cheer for MORE!
(Saturday, May 25 18, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
 Internationally acclaimed jazz recording artist, songwriter and educator, Nicolas Bearde, blends genres of jazz, soul and blues as he takes you on a musical journey, making him one of today's premier male jazz vocalists. An original and current member of Bobby McFerrin's renowned vocal ensemble, "Voicestra" for over two decades, Nicolas has also carved out a distinctive solo career, making a notable contribution to the music world with his soulful style of jazz, known as the "Nicolas Bearde Jazz Experience".
A seasoned and highly respected showman on stage, Bearde's personality and sense of humor, manifest themselves in his expressive ballads and up-tempo tunes, with an engaging rapport that captures and draws the audience into his performance. His artistry transcends his vocal performances.
Musicians are Nicolas Bearde, vocals; Ron Belcher, bass; Glen Pearson, keys;
Deszon Clairborne, drums.
(Friday, May 31 18, 2013; 8:30pm to 11:00pm; doors open at 5:00pm)
$15.00 Admission
|
|
|
|
