ROZ MACDONALD & POVEL WIDESTRAND

THURSDAY DECEMBER 17 

9.00 PM EUROPE / 8.00 PM UK / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

Roz MacDonald, bass Povel Widestrand, piano

Roz Macdonald is a double bass player from Scotland, currently based in Berlin. She studied jazz at Leeds College of Music where upon graduating received the Yamaha Jazz Scholarship in 2016. Since then she has been actively gigging on the vibrant jazz scenes in Berlin and the UK, both as a side-woman and with her own projects.

The Swedish pianist Povel Widestrand counts among the aspiring young musicians of the European jazz scene. Following classical piano studies, he studied at the Fridhems Folkhögskola, Svalöv (Sweden) in a one-year program of study in 2011 and continued his piano studies at the Berlin Jazz Institute (UdK/HfM Hanns Eisler). In 2017, he concluded his studies with top marks. He is the laureate of various awards, among them „Jazzkatten - Newcomer of the year 2018“ awarded by the Swedish National Radio, and has performed at festivals such as the Umeå Jazz Festival. He lives at present in Berlin and takes part in many active projects with groups such as Dyki Lys, Mirna Bogdanovic Quintet and the Musina Ebobissé Quintet. In addition, he is currently working on a solo project.

____________________

Last minute booking will close 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments.

DADO MORONI- JORIS TEEPE - JEROEN DE RIJK

FRIDAY DECEMBER 18

9.00 PM EUROPE / 8.00 PM UK / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

Dado Moroni is one of the world's great jazz pianists. He is from Genova, Italy, and is self taught, like so many of the greatest jazz musicians. His first influences were Art Tatum, Errol Garner, Fats Waller and Teddy Wilson. He tried to learn their solos by ear, and at age 11 met jazz pianist Flavio Crivelli who introduced him to Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and other more modern pianists - at that time - Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans.

He started playing professionally at age 14 with the leading jazz musicians in italy such as Gianni Basso and Sandro Gibellini, and went on to be invited to play with artists like Chet Baker, Franco Ambrosetti and Johnny Griffin. He became house pianist at the famous Widder Bar in Zurich playing with Jimmy Woode and Alvin Queen, and not long afterwards he recorded under is own name with Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Franco Ambrosetti and Tullio de Piscopo. Since then he has been regarded as one of the world's great jazz pianists, and has shared the stage with just about everyone including Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Bud Shank, Buddy De Franco, Zoot Sims, Ron Carter, Grady Tate James Moody, Ray Brown and many more.

Joris Teepe has been (and still is) working with many Legends & Stars in Jazz such as Benny Golson, Rashied Ali, Barry Harris, Bobby Watson, Sonny Fortune, Tom Harrell, Chris Potter, Billy Hart and Randy Brecker. His longest stint was with Rashied Ali (John Coltrane’s last drummer), with whom he recorded 4 CDs and toured the world for 9 years. Joris Teepe has been leading his own groups for 25 years and has recorded 16 CD’s as a leader. Teepe has composed over 100 originals, including pieces for Symphony Orchestra & Small Jazz Group and for Symphony Orchestra, Big Band & Choir. He leads his own Big Band in New York, performing exclusively his own music. He also performs his own repertoire as a guest soloist with local Big Bands. One of his latest projects is the “Trio of Liberty” co-led by Don Braden. This trio marks their 25th year of musical cooperation . Down Beat selected their CD “conversations” as CD of the year 2017. Another new project is “In the Spirit of Rashied Ali” and a new CD was recorded and will be released in the Spring of 2018.

Jeroen de Rijk is an Amsterdam based percussionist and music producer who played live and/or recorded with Louis van dijk, Toots Thielemans, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, George Duke, Yellowjackets, Mezzoforte, Gino Vannelli, Candy Dulfer, Madelinen Bell, Monty Alexander, Jimmy Haslip & Scott Kinsey and many others.

For his company Baileo Music Productions ± 60 albums were recorded and released. 25 years ago the first album under his own name - Speak Low - was released, recorded in NYC with Dado Moroni and Joris Teepe.

__________________

Last minute booking will close 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments.

A True Living Legend of Music

CHARLES MCPHERSON with RANDY PORTER

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19

9.00 PM PAR | 8.00 PM LON | 3.00 PM NY | 12.00PM LA

Charles McPherson - alto saxophone Randy Porter - piano

A LIVE PERFORMANCE ONLINE BY ONE OF THE GREATEST ALTO PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE MUSIC. AT 81 YEARS OF AGE CHARLES MCPHERSON IS A FORCE OF NATURE. HE PLAYS WITH THE FIRE AND VITALITY OF A 20 YEAR OLD, THE VIRTUOSITY OF A GREAT MASTER, AND THE WISDOM AND SOUL OF A GREAT SAGE ALL COMBINED.

After growing up in Detroit, Charles studied with the renowned pianist Barry Harris and started playing jazz professionally at age 19. He moved from Detroit to New York in 1959 and performed with Charles Mingus from 1960 to 1972. While performing with Mingus, he collaborated frequently with Harris, Lonnie Hillyer (trumpet), and George Coleman (tenor sax).

Charles has toured the U.S., Europe, Japan, Africa and South America with his own group, as well as with jazz greats Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Nat Adderly, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Randy Brecker, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and others.

Charles was the featured alto saxophonist in the Clint Eastwood film “Bird,” a biopic about Charlie Parker. Charles has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Don Redman Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from California State University San Marcos. Charles performed this past April at the NEA Jazz Master’s 2019 performance during Stanley Crouch’s tribute.  Widely recognized as a prolific composer, Charles is now Resident Composer for the San Diego Ballet, where he has written three original suites for chamber music and jazz combos.

Charles is joined for this this concert by the great pianist Randy Porter who has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. As a Steinway Artist, Randy Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. Lynn Darroch of The Oregonian states, “Porter has built a reputation as a musician’s musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility…”

Randy Porter has performed with many jazz greats, including Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Benny Golson and Charles McPherson.  With the Charles McPherson Quartet, he has traveled throughout the US and in Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and China. The Charles McPherson Quartet has re-created the music from the classic recording Charlie Parker with Strings, performing with many orchestras nationwide. Porter has also performed McPherson’s Sweet Synergy Suite with the San Diego Ballet (see below)

Porter Plays Frishberg Unsung, a tribute album to songs by Dave Frishberg, will be released in 2020.  Randy Porter is on piano, John Wiitala is on bass, and Todd Strait is on drums. Porter arranged, performed, engineered, mixed, and mastered this project at HeavyWood Studio. Nominated for the 60th Grammy Awards, Porter Plays Porter features vocalist Nancy King, interspersed with instrumental tracks by the Randy Porter Trio.  John Wiitala, bass and Todd Strait, drums bring their swing skill set and intuition to Randy’s arrangements of Cole Porter tunes.  Randy’s original song, Inside Your Mind, adds to the album’s poignancy.

RECENT ALBUM RELEASE:

Charles McPherson’s Jazz Dance Suites captures his groundbreaking collaboration with the San Diego Ballet, an association that began in 2015. A family affair, Jazz Dance Suites is inspired by McPherson’s daughter Camille McPherson, a soloist in her 8th season with the prestigious dance company. Joining McPherson on Jazz Dance Suites are some of the most exciting names in modern jazz; Terrell Stafford on trumpet, Lorraine Castellanos on vocals, Jeb Patton, and Randy Porter on piano, Billy Drummond on drums, David Wong on bass and Yotam Silberstein on guitar.

__________________

Last minute booking will close 60 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments.

DAVID O’ROURKE

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19

11.00 PM EUROPE / 10.00 PM UK / 5.00 PM NEW YORK / 2.00PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00

David O’Rourke - guitars Chloe O’Rourke - guest appearance on vocals

In this performance David O’Rourke will bring his arranging skills to bear by offering on the spot interpretations of your requests as well as some seasonal songs traditional folk melodies from Ireland and America.

David has played with many jazz legends such as Tommy Flanagan’s Trio, Cedar Walton’s Trio, Jackie McLean, Billy Higgins, Curtis Fuller, James Spaulding, Vernal Fournier, and Brother Jack McDuff. He collaborated with drummer Lewis Nash on a project that brought Irish music and jazz together for a CD (“Aisling”) by a band they called “The Celtic Jazz Collective”. They played several runs at Jazz Standard as well as a performance in Harvard sponsored by the Cambridge Multicultural Center. David recorded a CD with Larry Willis (piano), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and Al Harewood (drums) and later on wrote an extended orchestral medley from Porgy And Bess for Larry Willis to perform with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. His close friendship with George Benson and Hammond B3 player Seleno Clarke led to a 12 year stint with Seleno’s Quintet. From their Harlem base the quintet played festivals in the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada and at various US festivals.

For over a decade, New York City based jazz guitarist, conductor, and arranger he has guided tomorrow’s jazz musicians as ‘house bandleader’ of the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra. And for his contributions to Jazz Standard Discovery (a music education program that he has led since 1998), David and co-founder James Polsky were named “New Yorkers Of The Week” by NY1 News. He has played with Les Paul and Bucky Pizzarelli and studied with legends such as Barry Galbraith and Pat Martino. He currently leads and writes for his own 20-piece band (The O’Rourkestra) at the Zinc Bar NYC.

O’Rourke is in demand as a jazz conductor and arranger and is currently creating arrangements for the debut tour (Japan) of drummer Lewis Nash’s Big Band. He conducted the RTE Concert Orchestra for two years in succession as music director/conductor of the tributes to arranger Nelson Riddle. He conducted for Steve Wilson’s “Bird With Strings” at SUNY New Paltz, conducted Steve’s 50th birthday run at Jazz Standard and wrote string arrangements for trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s “Close To My Heart” recording followed by performances at Jazz Standard NY and Sirius Satellite Radio, and in 2014 a concert performance at the prestigious London venue; Kings Place.

____________________
Booking closes 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments and send passwords.

A SPECIAL MUSICAL COMMUNIQUÉ FROM AN AUTHENTIC JAZZ MESSENGER

BOBBY WATSON

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20

9.00 PM EUROPE / 8.00 PM UK / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

Bobby Watson, saxophones Roger Wilder, piano

A saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, Bobby Watson grew up in Kansas City, Kan. He trained formally at the University of Miami. After graduating, he proceeded to earn his “doctorate” – on the bandstand – as musical director of legendary drummer Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers – frequently referred to as the “University of Blakey” because it served as the ultimate “postgraduate school” for ambitious young players.

After completing a four-year-plus Jazz Messengers tenure (1977-1981) that incorporated more than a dozen recordings – the most of any of the great Jazz Messengers, the gifted Watson became a much-sought after musician, working along the way with a potpourri of notable artists including, but not limited to: drummers Max Roach and Louis Hayes, fellow saxophonists George Coleman and a younger Branford Marsalis, celebrated multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis (who joined the Jazz Messengers at least in part at the suggestion of Watson). In addition to working with a variety of instrumentalists, Watson served in a supporting role for a number of distinguished and stylistically varied vocalists including: Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Lou Rawls, Betty Carter and Carmen Lundy.

Later, in association with bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis, Watson launched the first edition of Horizon, an acoustic quintet modeled in many ways after the Jazz Messengers but one with its own distinct slightly more modern twist. Watson also led a nine-piece group known as the High court of Swing – a tribute to the music of Johnny Hodges – as well as the GRAMMY-nominated 16-piece, large ensemble Tailor Made Big Band. The lyrical stylist is also a founding member of the well-respected 29th Street Saxophone Quartet, an all-horn, four-piece ensemble.

For more than three decades now Watson has contributed consistently intelligent, sensitive and well-thought out music to the modern-day jazz lexicon. All told, Watson, the immensely talented and now-seasoned veteran, has issued some 30 recordings as a leader and appeared on 100-plus other recordings, performing as either co-leader or in support of other like-minded musicians. His classic 1986 release, Love Remains (Red) has long been recognized by the Penguin Guide to Jazz (Penguin). Having received the publication's highest rating it was then identified in the ready reference book's seventh edition as a part of its "core collection" [i.e. a "must-have"], joining other entries by a number of aforementioned jazz masters as a recording that any jazz aficionado should own. Not simply a performer, the saxophonist has recorded more than 100 original compositions including the music for the soundtrack of A Bronx Tale, which marked Robert DeNiro's 1993 directorial debut.

Roger Wilder was born and raised in Rochester, NY. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from University of Miami in 1986, he continued to record and perform in South Florida, most notably in groups assembled to back Stanley Turrentine, Randy Brecker, Adam Nussbaum, and Chris Potter. He taught a jazz piano class and private lessons at Miami-Dade Community College 1987-91. In 1995, he and his wife moved to the New York City area for five years, where his activities included teaching, performing, and recording.

 He settled in Kansas City, and he now performs with local musicians including Angela Hagenbach, Sons of Brasil, Dan Thomas, and the Westport Art Ensemble. Discography: Duffy Jackson: Swing, Swing, Swing (Milestone/Fantasy) Phil Flanigan: New York Toast (Philophile) Glenda Davenport: Sophisticated Lady Chuck Zeuren: Why Not? Jon Doty: Until the Last Star is Out (MP3.com) Wesport Art Ensemble (Passit) Angela Hagenbach: Poetry of Love (Amazon Records) Mike Metheny: KC Potpourri Dan Thomas: City Scope

____________________

Booking closes 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments and send passwords.

JIM RIDL & KATHY RIDL

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20

11.00 PM EUROPE / 10.00 PM UK / 5.00 PM NY / 2.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

Jim Ridl is in high demand as a New York City jazz pianist, composer, teacher and band leader. His ongoing residency at the internationally known jazz club The 55 Bar is in its fifth year, where he and his quartet perform his original compositions monthly. Jim performs worldwide with a variety of jazz artists, including The Joe Locke Quartet, The Dave Liebman Big Band, The Paul Jost Quartet and the Mingus Big Band. He has toured with the US State Department American Music Abroad program (’12 and ’15), performing in Russia, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Slovenia and Malta. As a composer and leader, Jim has released 7 recordings, the latest titled Door in a Field, Volume 2. Jim was a Princeton University Visiting Artist for three separate semesters (’12, ’14, ’16), coaching jazz ensembles in repertoire and performance. Jim continues as adjunct educator in Jazz Piano Studies at The City College of New York and the New York Jazz Workshop in Manhattan. From 1994 – 2004, Jim performed with jazz guitar legend Pat Martino, receiving critically acclaimed reviews of performances around the world, and producing four outstanding recordings: Interchange, Night Wings, The Maker and Nexus. Jim was raised on a farm and ranch in North Dakota, and discovered his love for piano and jazz at an early age. He attended the University of Colorado at Denver, where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Scoring and Arranging, and was awarded its Student Achievement Award for composing “Ocean Sojourn,” an orchestral tone poem, performed with the Denver Symphony Orchestra, James Setapen conducting.

Designer and musician Kathy Ridl specializes in music related graphics projects, having designed over 300 CD covers, and programs and posters for concerts, festivals and theatrical productions. Kathy was raised in a family of musicians where music was the joyful center of life. She studied viola and bass, and earned a degree in Music and Media from the University of Colorado at Denver, majoring in Scoring and Arranging. Kathy plays bass with the Gypsy Jazz group Stringzville, and plays viola when the occasional occasion arises.

_____________

Booking will close 90 minutes before the concert to allow time to process payments and send passwords.

ANTHONY KERR

TUESDAY DECEMBER 22 

9.00 PM EUROPE / 8.00 PM UK / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

A long-serving soloist with the BBC Big Band, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames as well as his own ensembles, his unique and passionate style has drawn influence from Milt Jackson, Bill Evans, Gary Burton, Bobby Hutcherson and others. 

Anthony is also an established and respected jazz educator, having coached ensembles at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as well as being professor of Jazz Vibraphone at London’s Royal College of Music - a position which he has held for more than 20 years.

His long list of associates reads like a who's who jazz and includes such artists as Charlie Watts, Cleo Laine, Chico Freeman, Pete Long, George Shearing, Guy Barker, Benny Golson and Peter King.

In this solo vibes concert he takes classic jazz compositions and arranges them in his own unique style turning the three octaves of the vibraphone into something of an orchestra.

____________________

Booking closes 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments and send passwords.

SCOTT EDMUNDS

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23

9.00 PM EUROPE / 8.00 PM UK / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00 PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00 

Scott Edmunds, solo piano

Originally from Northeast Pennsylvania, Scott Edmunds is an active pianist, composer, and educator.  Scott has had opportunities to perform with many influential musicians in the jazz genre, such as Tim Warfield Jr., Wycliffe Gordon, Marshall Gilkes, Carla Cook, and Dick Oatts, as well as with acclaimed musicians on the European scene such as Perico Sambeat.  Scott has similarly had opportunities to perform at festivals and venues such as The Kimmel Center, Chris's Jazz Café, and South Jazz Club in Philadelphia; Fat Cat, Rockwood Music Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and The Appel Room at Lincoln Center in New York City; and Jamboree Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain.

__________________

Last minute booking will close 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments.

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI - MIKE KANAN - PAT O’LEARY

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24

9.00 PM PARIS / 8.00 PM LON / 3.00 PM NY / 12.00PM LA

TICKET PRICE €10.00 / £10.00 / $13.00

Gabrielli Stravelli, vocals Mike Kanan, piano Pat O’Leary, bass

Gabrielle has toured the United States with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing his masterwork Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration. She was chosen by world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch to premiere his song cycle, Rooms of Light, at Montclair University PAC. 

In 2020, she was honored with the Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording (“Pick Up My Pieces”); the 2019 Broadway World Cabaret Award for Best Jazz Vocalist; the 2015 MAC Award for Best Female Vocalist; and the 2015 Bistro Award as a Jazz Vocalist. 

Since 2015 she has toured internationally with the “American Music Abroad” (AMA) program, performing and teaching throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. In 2019, Gabrielle and her quintet headlined the Providencia Jazz Festival in Santiago, Chile, the Las Condes Jazz Festival and the 10th Annual Semana Internacional de Jazz en la Patagonia. She appeared at the 2019 Kota Kinabalu Music and Dance Festival in Malaysia, the 2016 Eleuthera All That Jazz Festival in the Bahamas, the 2013 Maree Sonore Festival in Venice and the 2013 Kastav Cultural in Croatia.

_____________

Booking closes 30 minutes before the start of concert to allow time to process payments and send passwords.