Thursday, February 20, 2014

BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB ANNOUNCES MARCH 2014 ARTIST SCHEDULE

Blue Note Jazz Club, one of the world's most iconic jazz and blues venues based in Greenwich Village, is proud to announce an impressive schedule of acts for March 2014.

Highlights include: the U.S. premiere of Volcán, a Latin jazz supergroup featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jose Armando Gola, Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez and Giovanni Hidalgo; Donald Harrison, Ron Carter and Billy Cobham Trio; Lou Donaldson; Spyro Gyra; Larry Carlton Group and Kyle Eastwood Group double feature; Omar Hakim; and the 4th Annual James Moody Scholarship for Newark Youth Benefit Concert, among others.
  
MARCH 2014 ARTIST SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 1
Bill Evans Soulgrass with Special Guests
Saxophonist Bill Evans kicks off Blue Note Jazz Club's March schedule, closing out a three-night run with his group, Soulgrass (that began on February 27). Described by NPR as "a supergroup of virtuoso musicians," Soulgrass' engagement at Blue Note showcased a number of special guests; this final night will feature Blues Traveler's John Popper as well as Marco Benevento. With more than 20-years under his belt as a solo artist, Evans and his Soulgrass project are known for exploring a variety of musical settings that go well beyond the confines of traditional jazz, including rock, hip-hop, jam, fusion, reggae, Brazilian and funk.
  
Sunday, March 2
Boogaloo Sunday with Lou Donaldson
NEA Jazz Master Lou Donaldson will perform at Blue Note for a special one-night, Sunday engagement featuring his working Quartet - with whom he has toured the world, playing festivals and clubs for over two decades. The saxophonist played an absolutely invaluable role in the creation and building of the classic Blue Note Record Label, as well as the assembly and musical development of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers bands that originally featured legends such as Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Gene Ramey, and Hank Mobley, among others. As The Wall Street Journal wrote, "Few musicians today can claim to have changed the direction of jazz. Lou Donaldson did so twice."

Monday, March 3
Kenny Werner & Janis Mann - CD Release
Pianist Kenny Werner returns to Blue Note for a special performance with vocalist Janis Mann, in support of their recent album, Celestial Anomaly (2013). Hailed by Andy Gilbert of the San Jose Mercury News as "a stellar 2013 album," the project features innovative and challenging interpretations of jazz and pop standards. A Guggenheim Fellowship Award winner, Werner is a world-class pianist, composer and educator. His prolific output of compositions, recordings, and publications continue to impact audiences around the world. As Quincy Jones said of Werner, "Perfection, 360 degrees of soul and science in one human being. My kind of musician." Mann was described by the San Jose Mercury News as "a brilliant but underexposed Los Angeles jazz singer." Her approach is in the manner of Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, and Shirley Horn, yet with a sound all her own.

Tuesday - Sunday, March 4 - 9
Donald Harrison, Ron Carter & Billy Cobham Trio
The hard-swinging trio of saxophonist Donald Harrison, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham first demonstrated its strong chemistry and affinity for standards on its 2004 recording, Heroes. In April 2005, Blue Note Jazz Club's own Half Note Records captured the trio live during a week-long series of shows at Blue Note, producing the album, New York Cool (2005). Half Note recorded the trio in action at the club again several years later, releasing the album, This is Jazz (2011). AllMusic.com's Thom Jurek called the outing "the finest offering by this trio to date." This week, the band looks build on its recent musical achievements with another hotly-anticipated residency. This also marks Carter's third appearance at Blue Note over the past two months, performing with his Quartet (February 4-9) and with Roy Haynes (February 25 & 26). 

Monday, March 10
Ozmosis Records Presents: The Omar Hakim Experience - CD Release
Widely acclaimed for his versatility, technological prowess and groove, Omar Hakim is one of the most successful drummers and session men of the past 40 years. Hakim has collaborated with dozens of prominent artists including Daft Punk, George Benson, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Bobby McFerrin, John Scofield, Urban Knights, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Jewel, J-Lo, D'Angelo, Mariah Carey, and Madonna to name a few, and has left his imprint on hundreds of recordings, including several under his own name. He appears in support of his new album, titled We Are One. The performance will feature guitarist Chieli Minucci, harmonist Grégoire Maret, saxophonist/flautist Bob Franceschini, keyboardist Scott Tibbs, keyboardist Rachel Z, and bassist Jerry Brooks.

Tuesday - Sunday, March 11 - 16
Spyro Gyra
As Spyro Gyra contemplates upcoming milestones in its storied career, it's tempting to fall back on the Grateful Dead lyric, "What a long strange trip it's been," to describe the band's journey. During its career, the band has performed over five thousand shows, released 29 albums (not counting "Best Of" compilations), and sold over 10 million albums, while also achieving one Platinum and two Gold releases. As the band celebrates 35 years since its first release and looks forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, it slows little sign of slowing down, gaining GRAMMY® nominations for each of its last four albums.
  
Monday, March 17
Gordon Chambers
Award-winning singer-songwriter and record producer Gordon Chambers has written for over 60 recording artists, including household names Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Usher, Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, 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 (which was later featured as the theme song of the film Living Out Loud). 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.

Tuesday - Sunday, March 18 - 23
Volcán: Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jose Armando Gola, Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez and Giovanni Hidalgo
Volcán, a modern Latin jazz all-star group featuring the prodigious talents of pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, bassist Jose Armando Gola, drummer Horacio 'El Negro' Hernandez and percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, is proud to make its official U.S. debut at Blue Note Jazz Club. The group is the product of years of friendship, respect and a diverse and rich musical heritage. With over 150 albums among them as leaders and sidemen, these highly revered musicians have joined forces to our delight.

Monday, March 24
Anna Saeki
Named as one of the "100 Most Respected Japanese People in the World" in Japanese News Week, vocalist Anna Saeki is proud to make her Blue Note Jazz Club debut. Born in Hokkaido, Japan, Saeki made her debut in 1987 as a tango singer after being crowned Miss Sapporo. Soon afterward, she traveled to Argentina to record her first album. Since then, she has received critical acclaim on TV, radio and in various magazines. She was responsible for the boom of Latin music in Japan in the 1990s/2000s and was also the vocalist for the band "Orquesta del Sol." She is an active performer in Japan, the U.S. & Europe as well as many other major cities and countries around the world. She is now considered a top artist in the Tango world.

Tuesday - Sunday, March 25 - 30
Larry Carlton Group + Kyle Eastwood Group
Blue Note Jazz Club is proud to present a double feature comprised of the Larry Carlton Group and Kyle Eastwood Group. Carlton is one of the world's most revered guitarists, having released many solo albums as well as having played on a multitude of the best selling albums of the modern music era.  He is nicknamed "Kid Charlemagne" for his solo on the Steely Dan Royal Scam album (ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the top three guitar solos of all time). A 19-time GRAMMY® nominee, four-time GRAMMY® winner, and all-time guitar great, Carlton has performed on more than 100 Gold or Platinum albums. Kyle Eastwood's bass playing and composing encompasses his life shared between Los Angeles and France. His latest record, Songs From The Chateau, is his fifth record as a leader and is focused on his true love; France. The band performs true and honest music that is both reflective and beautiful. 

Monday, March 31
4th Annual James Moody Scholarship for Newark Youth Benefit Concert
When legendary saxophonist, flutist and vocalist James Moody passed away on December 10, 2010 at 85 years old, the world lost an incredible musician and human being. On March 31, a legion of musicians will assemble at Blue Note Jazz Club, marking the fourth benefit and tribute concert in Moody's honor. The lineup includes: NEA Jazz Master Paquito D'Rivera (clarinet), music director Renee Rosnes (piano), James Carter (tenor sax), Antonio Hart (alto sax), Gary Smulyan (bari sax), Frank Greene (trumpet), Greg Gisbert (trumpet), Bill Charlap (piano), Todd Coolman (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums), and Alexis Cole (vocals). All ticket proceeds will got to Moody's foundation, the CFNJ James Moody Jazz Scholarship Fund for Newark Youth. A limited number of VIP tickets are available. Don't miss the chance to be part of a tribute to master musician James Moody, whose music will continue to live on through the countless fans and musicians he inspired.

LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES
Blue Note Jazz Club proudly presents its Late Night Groove Series, which showcases New York's up-and-coming jazz, soul, hip-hop, R&B and funk artists. Shows are on Friday and Saturday nights. Doors open at midnight and shows begin at 12:30AM. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 day-of-show, unless otherwise noted. The upcoming schedule features:
March 1 - Darren Lyons Group
March 7 - Sérgio Galvão Group
March 8 - (718) - CD RELEASE SHOW
March 14 - Al MacDowell's "Just Ornette" Quartet
March 15 - Outer Bridge Ensemble
March 21 - Akashic Record
March 22 - Jesse Fischer
March 28 - Manner Effect
March 29 - Colin Cannon Quartet

SUNDAY BRUNCH SERIES
Sunday Brunch at Blue Note Jazz Club is $29.50 per person and includes a live performance, brunch and cocktail. Each performer is scheduled for two shows, at 11:30AM and 1:30PM. The upcoming schedule features:

March 2 - Rich Perry's NYU Jazz Ensemble
"East Meets West Brunch Series"

Sunday Brunches Spotlighting Japanese Jazz Artists & Culture
March 9 - Masami Ishikawa
March 16 - Erika Matsuo
March 23 - Yoko Miwa Trio
March 30 - Nobuki Takamen Trio

Blue Note Jazz Club, based in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a New York City cultural institution and one of the premier jazz clubs in the world. Jazz is undoubtedly America's music, and while Blue Note strives to celebrate the music's great history, the club is a place where progression and innovation - the foundation of jazz - are encouraged and practiced on a nightly basis. Blue Note is open for concerts 365 days a year. Location: 131 W. 3rd Street, between 6th Ave and MacDougal St., New York City.


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