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09/01 Monday
7:00 PM The Odd Tuesday Milonga
7 - 8 Beginner Lesson
8 - 9 Practica
9 - 12 Milonga (Dance)
Cost: $5 for any two; $10 for all three.
09/03 Wednesday
10:00 PM KGBG
Kaufman/Gertz/Bergonzi/Guerrero
Jerry Bergonzi sax
Gabriel Guerrero piano
Bruce Gertz bass
Bob Kaufman drums
09/05 Friday
7:00 PM Mitch Marcus Quintet
Mitch Marcus founded the Mitch Marcus Quintet in 1999. From post-apocalyptic jazz to scintillating trance hypnotism, the Mitch
Marcus Quintet delivers a unique brand of original music, taking you through a labyrinth of ever-shifting textures, comprised of some
of the SF Bay Area's finest musicians, this dynamic collective features the extended compositions of saxophonists Marcus and Sylvain
Carton, as well as the rumbling opuses of drummer Ches Smith.
The members of the Quintet also play in a diverse array of Bay Area and National/International bands, such as Donovan, Marc Ribot,
Grachan Moncur III, Stanley, Trevor Dunn's Convulsant Trio, Kipple, Secret Chiefs 3, Good for Cows, Japonize Elephants, Realistic
Orchestra, Matt Small Chamber Ensemble, Ben Adams Quintet, Nathan Clevenger group, and Shotgun Wedding Hiphop Symphony,
The Mitch Marcus Quintet won "Best Jazz Group 2006" from the SF WEEKLY
Mitch Marcus has been an integral part of the Bay Area music scene, arriving in 1998 after graduating from The Indiana University
School of Music with a BM in Jazz Studies. Contributions to The Mitch Marcus Quintet and its offspring, The Mitch Marcus Quintet +
13, include 3 albums and over 50 different compositions ranging from straight-ahead jazz to complex harmonic/rhythmic endeavors
and a multi-movement suite. These original compositions are unique in that they allow the soloists to navigate non-traditional terri-
tory and find new ground to play within; as well as create distinctive song formats dictated by the melody. Mitch's composition
partner and co-creator/co-leader, Sylvain Carton, have 10 years of playing and writing experience together, creating a viable
partnership in the Bay Area music scene.
www.mitchmarcusmusic.com
www.myspace.com/mitchmarcusquintet
Written By: Steve Silberman, contributing editor - Wired Magazine
The Mitch Marcus Quintet plays 21st century jazz: adventurous music that
swings with all the muscularity and verve of pioneers like Mingus, Monk, and
Rollins, but pays tribute to that glorious past by daring to advance the sweet
science of collective improvisation into the future.
The quintet's influences range freely through the last few decades of musical
exploration – you can hear everything in it from the luminous harmonies of
Ellington and Strayhorn to the on-a-dime turnarounds of Ornette's groups to
Zappa's perpetually surprising melodic inventions – but they sound like no one
but themselves, the sign of true innovators
These qualities of freshness and boldness shouldn't be as rare as they are; but
Marcus and company have happily freed themselves from the deadly reverence
for previously-discovered territory that drags down many younger jazz players
these days. The Special is music that reawakens the hip listener to the potential of
the vast undiscovered terrain ahead. The album also boasts the singularly warm,
organic, and punchy production aesthetic of Stephen Barncard, an
underappreciated genius who has specialized in drawing out the full
embodiment of his musicians' imaginations for over three decades now.
Classic Barncard projects like the Grateful Dead's American Beauty and David
Crosby's If I Could Only Remember My Name established new high-water
marks for the recording of acoustic guitars and vocals in their day; it's
wonderful to hear on The Special how readily Barncard's uncompromising
commitment to the natural sounds of well-played instruments in an uncluttered
ambience translates to contemporary jazz.
The poet Ezra Pound's challenge to his generation of writers was to always
"Make it new." The Mitch Marcus Quintet has taken up that challenge with the
perfect balance of control and abandon, which is the very essence of jazz. In a
world of play-it-safe hybrids of tired forms and well-intentioned-buttepid
homages to the great ones, Marcus and his colleagues are the real thing.
Mitch Marcus is one of those freak
genius types. A virtuosic saxophonist
and dynamic composer, he has a
wide-open ear, a deep respect for
jazz tradition, and a fearless creative
spirit.
East Bay Express, Sam Prestianni
Mitch Marcus Quintet One of the Bay
Area's most riotously swinging young jazz
groups, the quartet serves up post-bop
with an array of jagged rhythms. But just
when the sound becomes reckless, they
connect the dots brilliantly.
Daniel King, San Francisco Chronicle
09/10 Wednesday
10:00 PM KGBG
Kaufman/Gertz/Bergonzi/Guerrero
Jerry Bergonzi sax
Gabriel Guerrero piano
Bruce Gertz bass
Bob Kaufman drums
09/11 Thursday
10:00 PM The Julien Kasper Band
The Julien Kasper Band sound has been described as "Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane take James Brown, Jeff Beck and T-Bone Walker out to lunch". This is dynamic, accessible, highly original instrumental music with a world of contrasts ranging from tough funk and rock grooves to floating, ethereal harmonic adventures.
http://www.julienkasper.com
http://www.myspace.com/julienkasperband
09/12 Friday
7:00 PM Ben Kogan/Scurvy/Alex Asher
Ben Kogan @ 7, Scurvy @ 8, and Alex Asher @ 9.
Ben: www.myspace.com/benkoganmusic , Scurvy: www.myspace.com/scurvynyc, alex: www.myspace.com/alexasher.
10:00 PM Michael Bates' Outside Sources:
Russ Johnson-trumpet, Quinsin Nachoff-saxophone/clarinet, Jeff Davis-drums, Michael Bates-double bass
"Bates demonstrates his rock solid composing skills and enviable technical faculties....Simply put, Bates has the ability to make a huge impact on the existing state of modern jazz!"– Glenn Astarita
As a composer and musician, Michael Bates “serves up melodic modernism and contrapuntal elegance” (”Time Out, New York”) and his influences range from Shostakovich, Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman to Bad Brains, Wayne Shorter and John Zorn. Known as a both a leader and double bassist in several collectives, he has performed with Quinsin Nachoff, Russ Johnson, Michael Blake, Gerald Cleaver, Dan Weiss, Tyshawn Sorey, Greg Osby, Jeff Davis, Kevin Turcote, Ben Monder, John McNeil, Briggan Krauss, Peter Van Huffel, Scott Dubois, Ohad Talmor, Michael Attias, Michael Sarin and several other creative musicians.
His debut cd “Outside Sources” was called one of the best albums of 2004 by Cadence Magazine editor Bob Rusch. His second album, "A Fine Balance" (2006) was also exceptionally received and garnered many effusive reviews including several "best of 2006" designations. Released on the German based record label, Between the Lines, A Fine Balance contains ten compositions that combine exquisite melodies and contrapuntal textures with an organic and interactive approach to playing jazz.
Michael's latest recording is set for a fall 2008 release and will be available on trumpeter Dave Douglas' label Greenleaf. Mr. Douglas notes, “I whole-heartedly recommend taking special note in Outside Sources! Michael Bates is a fantastic bassist and an engaging composer.". The new cd "Clock-wise" will feature several more contrapuntal pieces that have been described as “gems that manages to navigate that most difficult and rarely traveled road leading to accessible experimentation....always forward–thinking but also beautiful and within the grasp of even the most casual jazz fan. (Chris Watson, “The View”).
Michael grew up in Canada and often worked at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Even though he was exposed to musicians such as Sun Ra, Thomas Chapin, the Clusone Trio and Dave Holland, he began playing music in hardcore and punk rock bands and maintains that being a jazz musician is no different. While the music he writes and performs is rooted in the jazz, classical and creative music traditions, hardcore’s ‘Do It Yourself’ ethos remains an important component of his music. He is well known as a hard worker and motivated performer.
Michael has recorded three cd's as a leader and over a dozen as a sideman. He has composed well over two hundred pieces of music including works for chamber ensembles, string quartets and solo double bass. As a touring artist, he has visited Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada. Michael has received several grants and fellowships from the Canada Council of the Arts and was on faculty for five years at the Banff International Jazz Workshop. He has studied with the former principal bassist of the Tokyo Symphony, Yoshio Nagashima, at the University of Toronto with Don Thompson and Dave Young and in New York with bassist/composer Mark Helias and Tony Falanga. Michael currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Celena and small dog, Cosmo.
09/17 Wednesday
10:00 PM KGBG
Kaufman/Gertz/Bergonzi/Guerrero
Jerry Bergonzi sax
Gabriel Guerrero piano
Bruce Gertz bass
Bob Kaufman drums
09/19 Friday
7:00 PM Marye Lobb
09/21 Sunday
7:00 PM Sharoni/Licata/Garzone
09/22 Monday
7:00 PM Steve Langone Group
Kevin Harris piano
Kendall Eddy bass
Steve Langone drums
Rick DiMuzio tenor
Jim Repa alto
Bruce Bartlett guitar
09/24 Wednesday
10:00 PM KGBG
Kaufman/Gertz/Bergonzi/Guerrero
Jerry Bergonzi sax
Gabriel Guerrero piano
Bruce Gertz bass
Bob Kaufman drums
09/25 Thursday
7:00 PM Fred Woodard Trio
Fred Woodard – Guitar
Greg Loughman – Bass
Yoron Israel - Drums
$10 suggested donation
The Music
This concert will feature an evening of standard and original jazz music. Woodard’s guitar style draws from several influences including, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, George Benson and Sonny Rollins. Woodard also takes sounds from styles other than jazz and adapts them to a jazz format.
Here’s what WGBH jazz radio host Eric Jackson has to say about Woodard: “I find Fred’s tone to be warm and inviting, making you want to hear more from him. No matter if he’s playing a ballad, an up tempo tune or an African American spiritual, that warmth shines through.”
Biographies
Fred Woodard (guitar, leader) has performed extensively with his trio in the northeastern and midwestern United States and southeastern Canada, making appearances at events such as the Providence Jazz and Blues Festival, The Discover Jazz Festival, The Kingfield Jazz and Blues Showcase and the Iowa City Jazz Festival. Woodard has released two CD’s Arrival and 1715 on his own label, Ujam Records. Both of these CDs have received extensive airplay and positive reviews as well. Woodard is currently on the faculty at the Roland Hayes School of Music in Roxbury, MA.
Greg Loughman (bass) has been very active on the Boston jazz scene for a number of years. His musical career has also taken him on tours of Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Czech Republic and Japan. He is also a faculty member at the University of Maine in Augusta, ME.
Yoron Israel (drums) has toured and recorded with musicians such as Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Burrell, Art Farmer, James Williams and he has recorded four CDs as a leader. He is currently assistant chair of the percussion department at Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA.