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01/02 Monday
7:00 PM Jerry Bergonzi Group
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi's music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
10:22 PM The Fringe
The Fringe are one of the genuine living treasures of the Boston jazz scene. Originally formed back in 1971 by tenor-saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Richard Appleman, and drummer Bob Gullotti as an outlet for their free jazz improvisations, The Fringe have entertained and enlightened Boston area jazz audiences for over 30 years. Bassist Appleman left the band in 1985 to become Chairman of the Bass Department at Berklee College and was replaced by veteran bassist John Lockwood.
Along with their impressive tenure with The Fringe, Gullotti, Garzone, and Lockwood are in great demand as session players and have played with many of the greats of contemporary jazz. Along with keeping up with a busy performance schedule, each of them are well-respected educators helping to inspire the jazz musicians of tomorrow.
01/03 Tuesday
6:00 PM Yoga with Natalie
6:00 - 7:00 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Tango
Odd Tuesday Milonga
01/04 Wednesday
9:30 PM Yuka Hunt Quartet
The Yuka Hunt Quartet is a dedicated jazz ensemble which plays
authentic jazz with roots deep in jazz history, with the promise of an
interesting modern jazz listening experience.
Yuka, an accomplished classical pianist, is a serious jazz artist. Her
engaging piano style is influenced by Teddy Wilson and Thelonious Monk
among others. Yuka also sings songs from the great American song book,
revisiting them in a unique way.
This quartet is a special combination of musical personalities, united to revisit classic jazz repertory together.
Lenny Styles, legendary jazz guitarist, is one of the best in New
England. David Landoni, a popular bassist, was formerly with Herb
Pomeroy’s band.
Yuka’s husband, Joe Hunt is a well known jazz drummer, who played
with George Russell, Stan Getz, and Bill Evans.
01/05 Thursday
7:00 PM Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli Group
01/06 Friday
7:00 PM Carrie Ferguson
Singer-songwriter Carrie Ferguson will be playing at the Lily Pad on Friday, January 6th, 7 pm. Ferguson creates soaring folk-pop with haunting melodies and smart, gorgeous lyrics. She recently celebrated the release of her debut CD, Riding On the Back Of the Wind, with a sold-out show at the Iron Horse in Northampton. She performs both solo and with her band, The Cherry Street Band, at regional venues, fairs and festivals. Her songs have been featured on WUMB in Boston, WRSI The River in Northampton, and other regional stations. Carrie has opened for Antje Duvekot, Cheryl Wheeler, and Anne Heaton, and has shared festival bills with Goddess and She, and Catie Curtis.
" Let me just say it: this album is great. It crosses musical genres like a cat's cradle. It's rootsy and rocking, swinging and soulful. The songs are well-crafted and catchy with sweet melodies and instrumentation that is artfully arranged. Ferguson's tales seem to leap from the speakers. "
Performer Magazine
8:00 PM Jim Hobbs & Friends
9:00 PM Yani Batteau and the Styles
ani Batteau calls her music 'Americana Soul'. Her musical roots run deep encompassing the sounds and lore of Vintage Country, traditional folk and the unique mystique embedded in Appalachian culture. Her banjo picking style extends beyond claw hammer tradition as she skillfully launches into improvisational riffs that are at once complex and dynamic. She is joined by her seasoned bandmates, The Styles, Steve Sidhly on Guitar and Marty White on bass.
"Yani Batteau has carved out her own niche of what she calls
mountain music. Her latest album 'Fearless' includes a sly
banjo-driven cover of Johnny Cash's 'Ring of Fire'."
The Boston Globe 2/24/11
"An adroit, yet mysterious, amalgamation of country styles"
John Gersh
“Yani is so skillful, making the difficult seem effortless as her fingers fly over the strings…”
Lucy Holstedt - Berklee College of Music
“I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love to hear Yani sing and play.
Kirk Etherton - writer and musician
01/08 Sunday
10:00 AM Yoga with Natalie
10:00 - 11:15 - Gentle/Beginners
11:30 - 12:45 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Third in Line
Third in Line
with original text and choreography by Magdalene San Millán
A one-woman show about the joys, pains, and hilarities of family history. The performance
combines theatrical monologues with dance to describe a personal journey beginning in turmoil and
ending in peace. Characters include a brilliant alcoholic grandmother, an embittered mother and a
determinedly artistic father. Material may not be suitable for young children. Approximately 1 hour in
length with no intermission
9:00 PM Swamp Queen and the Little Piggies & AtlAtl Presents: A Night of Jubilation, it's Scott and Graham's Honeymoon Kickoff!!!
Come help us celebrate two of our best friends beginning the rest of their lives together! Featuring: Premium Rock n' Roll!!
Swamp Queem: http://www.paulamariemusic.com/sqlp.php
Atlatl http://www.atlatlband.com/
01/09 Monday
5:40 PM Yoga with Natalie
5:40 - 6:40 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Jerry Bergonzi Group
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi's music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
10:22 PM The Fringe
The Fringe are one of the genuine living treasures of the Boston jazz scene. Originally formed back in 1971 by tenor-saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Richard Appleman, and drummer Bob Gullotti as an outlet for their free jazz improvisations, The Fringe have entertained and enlightened Boston area jazz audiences for over 30 years. Bassist Appleman left the band in 1985 to become Chairman of the Bass Department at Berklee College and was replaced by veteran bassist John Lockwood.
Along with their impressive tenure with The Fringe, Gullotti, Garzone, and Lockwood are in great demand as session players and have played with many of the greats of contemporary jazz. Along with keeping up with a busy performance schedule, each of them are well-respected educators helping to inspire the jazz musicians of tomorrow.
01/10 Tuesday
6:00 PM Yoga with Natalie
6:00 - 7:00 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Tango
Even Tuesday Milonga
01/11 Wednesday
9:30 PM Comedy
01/12 Thursday
7:00 PM The Jorge Perez-Albela's Beyond Worlds Band
Jahaziel Arrocha: Saxophones (Panama)
Kevin Harris: Piano (USA)
Albino Jorge Mbie: Guitar and voice (Mozambique)
Ehud Ettun: Bass (Israel)
Jorge Perez-Albela: drums and percussion (Peru)
9:30 PM The return of Pedro Ito
The return of Pedro Ito
Pedro Ito-Drums
John Lockwood-Bass
Nando Michelin-Piano
Special guests- All sorts of instruments
01/13 Friday
7:00 PM The Fearless Combo
8:00 PM Ben Cosgrove
Ben Cosgrove, a rising young local composer and multi-instrumentalist, performs his original, geographically-inspired compositions on solo piano.
9:00 PM Nick Grondin New Standards Trio + special guest Rick Stone
Performing original pieces and jazz arrangements of favorite songs by bands such as the Beatles, Muse, Radiohead, U2 and more— this guitar-bass-drums trio continues on its mission to combine jazz openness and group interaction with rock songwriting and energy.
Nick Grondin, guitar, compositions, vocals
Brad Barrett, bass
Gary Fieldman, drums
And special guest, Rick Stone, alto sax
10:00 PM David Maxwell's OutTakes Unlimited
Neil Leonard, alto sax
Phil Grenadier, trumpet
Jef Charland, Bass
Gary Feldman, Drums
David Maxwell, piano, percussion
11:11 PM gaT
The Gill Aharon Trio is rarely a trio.
Gill Aharon - pen and piano
Randy Wooten - drums
Jef Charland - bass
Andrew Stern - guitar
Rick Stone- alto sax
Kelly Roberge - tenor sax
Daniel Rosenthal - trumpet
01/14 Saturday
8:00 PM KOMBUCHA
KOMBUCHA
bert seager – piano
sean farias – bass
austin mcmahon – drums
original trio music – conversant – spacious – propulsive
songs without words for 2011
bert seager
thirteen compact discs have won him unanimous critical acclaim from the New York Times, Keyboard Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe and many other publications.
toured extensively in the United States and internationally, including twelve tours to Japan. performed and recorded with Joe Lovano, Tim Hagans, George Garzone, Bob Moses, Joe Hunt, Richie Barshay, John Lockwood.
concerts and festivals with George Mraz, Miroslav Vitous, Mick Goodrick, Tom Harrell, Ben Street, Chris Speed, Billy Drewes and Jorge Roeder.
austin mcmahon
- performs with Jason Palmer, Tim Miller, The Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, George Garzone, Kevin Harris Project and Quartet of Happiness - a jazz group focused on educational outreach.
- actively tours with many projects including the Joe Davidian Trio, Carmen Staaf Trio at jazz clubs and festivals in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Seattle, Portland, and Miami as well as internationally in Germany, Ireland and Italy.
recently released his first album as leader entitled Many Muses which has been described by CDBaby as, “subtle, reverential to tradition, and thoroughly new.”
sean farias
http://www.myspace.com/seanfarias
- can be heard performing with an eclectic array of performers throughout the New England area ranging in styles from jazz, avant garde, celtic, gypsy, latin, folk, pop/rock, balkin, drum 'n' bass, and electronic.
- has also been fortunate enough to perform with many local and international artists on the cutting edge of contemporary improvised music including the likes of George Garzone, Charlie Kohlhase, Bob Gullotti, Jeff Galindo, Santi Debriano, Eric Hofbauer, and Jim Robitaille.
- In 2009 Sean recorded on the PBS documentary "The Mosque In Morgantown," named Best Documentary Feature at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
10:00 PM Jennifer Greer CD Benefit Show
Jennifer Greer, a critically acclaimed local singer/songwriter has been given a once in a lifetime breakout opportunity to work with one of the record industry’s leading producers.
Jennifer had just finished writing her 4th album “Hey Tide” and knew that in order for her to take her music to the next level she needed to work with a top producer, so she did something bold. She took a chance and approached LA-based Mitchell Froom, best known for working with Suzanne Vega, and he was so impressed with her talent that he has offered to produce her fourth album.
Froom told her: “I think you're really gifted, and there's a great record to be made together. I hope we can move the discussion forward, because I think there is real beauty in your music.”
Now all Jennifer needs to pull off this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is to get herself to LA and is holding a fundraising event at Cambridge’s Lily Pad on Saturday January 14th to help get her there. Tickets cost $20 and include a copy of her last CD “A Fistful of Stars”. Fans, friends and family have been supportive and her Kickstarter campaign will be taking off right after the show.
Jennifer Greer is part of Boston’s music scene and has steadily been making a name for herself over the past few years in the area, building a reputation as a talented musician with a loyal and devoted fan base.
“This is my fourth album, and traces my recent experience from heartbreak to healing. Writing the songs was a huge part of healing myself, and with the hope that they will be an inspiration to others. I had to dig deep as an artist, and dearly want to share this gift of song with you, as the songs were a gift to me”.
About Jennifer Greer
Jennifer’s first album, “Jewel Machine” (2001) won the WRSI singer/songwriter competition. In 2005 she released “the Apiary,” which got rave reviews and won Best Adult Alternative CD 2005 from the Muse’s Muse, and Best unsigned pop artist from Verbicide Magazine in 2008. She was a Finalist in the NewSong Mountain Stage competition 2010.
01/15 Sunday
10:00 AM Yoga with Natalie
10:00 - 11:15 - Beginner/Gentle
11:30 - 12:45 - Vinyasa
6:00 PM Art Opening
01/16 Monday
5:40 PM Yoga with Natalie
5:40 - 6:40 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Jerry Bergonzi Group
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi's music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
10:22 PM The Fringe
The Fringe are one of the genuine living treasures of the Boston jazz scene. Originally formed back in 1971 by tenor-saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Richard Appleman, and drummer Bob Gullotti as an outlet for their free jazz improvisations, The Fringe have entertained and enlightened Boston area jazz audiences for over 30 years. Bassist Appleman left the band in 1985 to become Chairman of the Bass Department at Berklee College and was replaced by veteran bassist John Lockwood.
Along with their impressive tenure with The Fringe, Gullotti, Garzone, and Lockwood are in great demand as session players and have played with many of the greats of contemporary jazz. Along with keeping up with a busy performance schedule, each of them are well-respected educators helping to inspire the jazz musicians of tomorrow.
01/17 Tuesday
6:00 PM Yoga with Natalie
6:00 - 7:00 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Odd Tuesday Milonga
01/19 Thursday
7:30 PM Classical Revolution
Classical Revolution
featuring bassist Rick Robinson (Cut Time Players, Detroit Symphony)
and members of A Far Cry
plus other special guests!
For updated program info please visit:
http://www.facebook.com/events/321465307874637/
Free Show!
$5-20 suggested donation
Rick Robinson, bassist, arranger, composer and 2010 Kresge Artist
Fellow began studying music in Highland Park, MI public schools before
he attended the famous Interlochen Arts Academy and the Cleveland
Institute of Music. Mr. Robinson then went on to Boston for graduate
studies with Larry Wolfe at the New England Conservatory. While in
Boston he served as Principal Bass of the Portland (Maine) Symphony
Orchestra, Assistant Principal Bass of the Boston Pops Esplanade
Orchestra and as a regular substitute with the Boston Symphony
Orchestra. Mr. Robinson was famously offered a permanent position in
DSO without audition in 1989. He brought CutTime Players together in
1995 and began transcribing and arranging 100+ classical and jazz
standards for strings.
http://www.cuttime.com
Founded in 2007 by 17 young musicians bent on making music according
to their own rules, the groundbreaking, self-conducted string
orchestra A Far Cry has enjoyed a heady ascent toward the highest
ranks of today’s new generation of classical ensembles. Hailed by the
Boston Globe as “thrilling,” “intrepid” and “brilliant,” A Far Cry
explores the traditional boundaries of classical music, experimenting
with the ways it is prepared, performed, and experienced.
http://www.afarcry.org
Classical Revolution was founded in San Francisco in 2006 for the
purpose of presenting chamber music performances in venues that are
accessible and fun.
The concept has since spread around the world, with nearly 30 active
Classical Revolution chapters in cities across the US, Canada, and
Europe.
http://www.classicalrevolution.org
01/20 Friday
7:00 PM Emily Schonberg
Folk Singer/songwriter living in Boston, performing covers and original folk tunes for anyone who'll listen. Emily has opened on her own for Edie Carey and for Passion Pit a few years ago with her cover band ELEVEN at Bowdoin College. Her music is easy listening, whimsical and lyrically inclined with tinges of a darker side inspired by Edie Carey, Frank Sinatra, Bon Iver and William Fitzsimmons. She looks forward to being a part of your evening! New EP recording underway and to be released soon. Follow her at EmilySchonberg1 on twitter and Emily Schonberg's Music on Facebook for updates, or subscribe to her youtube at www.youtube.com/Emmajoan21.
8:00 PM Ocean Versus Daughter
www.myspace.com/oceanversusdaughter
9:00 PM Enter Autumn
10:00 PM Kafana - Original, American instrumental folk inspired by the music of the Balkans
The all-acoustic ensemble Kafana derives its name from a common term in the Balkans, meaning a place to happily gather to eat, drink, and listen to music. Kafana, the band, developed its repertoire over three years of weekly performances at a restaurant in Somerville, MA where it interpreted music from the Balkans, Greece, and Turkey. The ensemble now seeks to combine elements from these musical cultures with that of it's players to create modern American folk music: a cultural mashup of styles that is respectful of the traditions it draws on from without being musically shackled by authenticity. Kafana's new repertoire of Balkan and Turkish-influenced original compositions (much of it written by Tev Stevig) is a further development of this idea that continues to explore the borders of both American and world music.
While the ensemble most often consists of Tev Stevig (Klezwoods / Aljashu / guitar-family instruments), Brian O'Neill (Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica / Klezwoods / CORDIS / Aljashu / La Tuza / percussion), and Alec Spiegelman (Cuddlemagic / Ronald Reagan Sax Duo / Klezwoods / clarinet, harmonica), the group often steals a variety of jazz, world, and folk musicians to round itself out. The show at the Lily Pad (Cambridge, MA) on January 20, 2012 will include omnipresent Boston bassist Greg Loughman (Lowman, Klezwoods) , Roberto Cassan (NEWPOLI, Grand Fatilla / accordion), and Geoff Brown (Hickory Strings / mandolin).
https://www.facebook.com/events/328703227158367/
https://www.facebook.com/kafanamusic
11:11 PM gaT
The Gill Aharon Trio is rarely a trio.
Gill Aharon - pen and piano
Randy Wooten - drums
Jef Charland - bass
Andrew Stern - guitar
Rick Stone- alto sax
Kelly Roberge - tenor sax
Dan Rosenthal Trumpet
01/21 Saturday
8:00 PM John Medeski: solo piano
http://www.myspace.com/johnmedeski
We're doing advance ticket sales for this event:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/220323
There will also be a limited number of day of sales.
As the keyboardist in the trailblazing instrumental trio Medeski Martin & Wood, solo performer, film composer, and producer, collaborator and sideman with countless other artists, John Medeski has channeled transformative forces with uncanny power and imagination. A skilled composer and whirling-dervish improviser, he consistently wrings sonic revelations from acoustic and electric piano, Hammond organ, Clavinet, Mellotron, assorted synthesizers and other instruments.
Medeski was born in Kentucky but raised in Florida, starting piano lessons at the tender age of five. He attended New England Conservatory in Boston and studied in the open-ended Third Stream program, which was designed to help artists forge their own style.
Thanks to the intercession of his mentor and jazz luminary, Bob Moses, Medeski landed gigs with the likes of Dewey Redman and the Either/Orchestra; on one of the latter dates he met a fiercely gifted and intuitive young bassist named Chris Wood. Not long thereafter, Medeski and Wood were sharing a New York City apartment, jamming regularly and poring over Medeski’s copious record collection. It took Billy Martin, another Moses referral, to complete the picture. With an impeccable groove feel and grounding in Brazilian and African beats and percussion, Martin enabled Medeski and Wood to play in what the keyboardist calls a “jazz spirit” without being confined by jazzman convention. In 1991, Medeski Martin & Wood was born.
In addition to a spate of adventurous releases embracing acoustic and electric instrumentation, live and studio creation and lively blends of each, Medeski Martin & Wood have constantly expanded their palette -- by collaborating with jazz guitar firebrand John Scofield, backing up artists like R&B sax giant Maceo Parker and glam-punk icon Iggy Pop, building the ingenious, multi-disc compilation Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set, making a movie (the 2009 band doc Fly in a Bottle, directed by Martin for Radiolarians) and even running a yearly camp for aspiring musicians.
But John Medeski’s restless muse could never be confined to a single enterprise, even one as multifaceted and endlessly experimental as MMW. He co-created The Word, an instrumental gospel project, with Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, bringing in the latter’s bandmates and steel guitar prodigy Robert Randolph. He’s also thrown down with, among others, award-winning roots maven T Bone Burnett, Peruvian singer Susana Baca, New Orleans soul legend Irma Thomas, former Phish guitarist-frontman Trey Anastasio, Grateful Dead alumnus Phil Lesh, eminent gospel vocal group The Blind Boys of Alabama, trailblazing hip-hop DJ Dan the Automator, singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, Charlie Hunter’s out-jazz expedition Altitude and rock collective Grizzly Adams; performed extensively and in various styles, from Chicago to Guadalajara, as a solo performer; and fronted the funked-up trio John Medeski & the Itch.
He’s also been active as a producer, helming projects by Chris Wood’s roots-oriented project the Wood Brothers, “sacred steel” family group the Campbell Brothers and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, among others, and as a film composer. His work for the screen includes score music for the features Audrey the Trainwreck (for which the New Yorker praised his “wistful piano), William Vincent, in which he also appears (“The vaguely mischievous, minimalist score by John Medeski,” opined Variety, “is richly atmospheric”), and Day on Fire . His other cinematic work includes a contribution (with erstwhile supergroup the Million Dollar Bashers, featuring members of Television, Wilco and others) to the soundtrack of the celebrated Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There.
01/22 Sunday
10:00 AM Yoga with Natalie
10:00 - 11:15 - Gentle/Beginner
11:30 - 12:15 -- Vinyasa
6:00 PM Free Music Now Collective
9:00 PM Joe Hunt Trio
Joe Hunt joined the George Russell sextet (1960-1962) which included Eric Dolphy, Don Ellis, and Steve Swallow. In 1964 Joe joined the Stan Getz quartet (64-65) for tours in North and South America, film and TV appearances. jazz festivals including Newport. From 1966-67 Joe was with the Bill Evans trio for national tours, festivals, clubs, and recordings. He’s played with Dexter Gordon, Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, and many others.
Joe came to Boston with Gary Burton in 1971 and taught at Berklee College until 2002. He is now Professor of Music (part time) at NEC and still teaches as a part time as Professor at Berklee. He recently played in the Tel-Aviv jazz festival with Don Friedman and Chuck Israels (2/3 and 2/4/2010).Joe is a Cambridge, MA resident and leads a great jazz trio with
EVAN ALLEN (pianist) Rising star from New York
BRONEK SUCHANEK (bassist) with Don Cherry, Art Farmer
Our goal is a high level of interactive improvisation providing us and our audience a rewarding and satisfying listening experience. We play at the Lily Pad every 4th Sunday each month. Treat yourself to a great jazz trio listening experience and come.
http://whatilikeissounds.blogspot.com/2011/06/joe-hunt-trio-at-lily-pad.html
01/23 Monday
5:40 PM Yoga with Natalie
5:40 - 6:40 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Jerry Bergonzi Group
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi's music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
01/24 Tuesday
6:00 PM Yoga with Natalie
6:00 - 7:00 - Vinyasa
7:00 PM Even Tuesday Milonga
01/25 Wednesday
9:30 PM PLUNGE: Mark McGrain, Tom Hall, & Marty Ballou
Mark McGrain & PLUNGE featuring Mark McGrain, trombone; Tom Hall, saxophones; and Marty Ballou, bass.
Trombonist and Composer MARK McGRAIN, returns to New England to perform in trio with saxophonist Tom Hall and bassist Marty Ballou and special guest drummer Rakalam Bob Moses
Sets at 9:30 and 11
Jon Garelick, music writer for The Boston Phoenix, describes McGrain's music this way: "Plunge is about a lot of jazz things. You could start with the tension between composition and total freedom exemplified by [Eric] Dolphy's landmark 1964 album [Out To Lunch], as well as the strain of contrapuntal jazz writing on that album that goes all the way back to Jelly Roll Morton and extends up through the Gerry Mulligan-Chet Baker Quartet, the Jimmy Giuffre 3, and beyond . . . a certain kind of avant-garde small-ensemble writing — one that combines free jazz, swing, mixed meters, contrapuntal lines, and complex harmonic schemes — in other words, that tension between a nearly classically-composed modern music and total freedom."
All three of Plunge's critically acclaimed albums, Tin Fish Tango, Dancing on Thin Ice, and Falling With Grace have ranked in the National CMJ-Jazz Radio Top-10. Plunge has also been featured on NPR's - All Things Considered and reviewed on NPR/PRI'sMonitor Radio and included in DownBeat Magazine's Blindfold Test and Hot Box sections receiving consecutive four star reviews.
What the critics have said:
“With Wynton Marsalis stumping the traditional New Orleans swing sound in a manner that could be described as nearly monomaniacal, it’s good to hear some music coming out of the Big Easy that is in touch with what’s happening today . . . music of the people, not dumbed down for the masses, but spoken with street eloquence.”
--Tim Madison, MuzikReviews (5 stars)
“Plunge is among the best post-Katrina jazz developments in New Orleans music . . . They generate moments reminiscent of music as various as the Jimmy Giuffre trio’s folksiness, 1960s free experi- mentalism, and that long march to the cemetery uptown or out by the lake.”
--Doug Ramsey, Rifftides - ArtsJournal “It takes a great deal of poise and confidence to make music this deft and new.”
--Paul de Barros, DownBeat Magazine (4 stars)
“Tenor and trombone create a scrupulously pristine musical pastel, reminiscent of Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson, perhaps, but with a far more risky and adventurous agenda.”
--John McDonough, DownBeat Magazine (3 stars)
“There’s a spare yet rich sound from this trio, more mischievous and daring -- The distinction of this progressive jazz trio is in their ability to play together without any grandstanding, as equals in a complete, whole partnership. Yes, it’s cliché to suggest you take the plunge listening to this bold new music — but you should.”
--Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic.com
“Plunge is one of those trios operating with style and bravado beyond all expectations . . . wonder- fully courageous and risky jazz. It is unsafe in the best of ways and features a group in full command of their art”
--Jordan Richardson, Blobcritics.org
Mark McGrain has lived and performed in New Orleans since 1996. During that time, he has appeared with Irma Thomas, John Boutte, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Medeski, Martin & Wood, and many others. His resume also includes scoring for PBS, private commissions and commercial ad spots; a long-time faculty member at Berklee College of Music, author of the textbook Music Notation (Hal. Leonard pub.).
01/26 Thursday
7:00 PM Anthony Coleman -- with Michael Attias and Satoshi Takeishi
Anthony Coleman is a composer, improvising keyboardist and teacher, born in New York City on August 30th, 1955. Coleman is a member of the faculty of Boston's New England Conservatory, in the Contemporary Improvisation Department, where he also teaches Jazz and Composition students.
His ensembles have included the trio Sephardic Tinge (three CD's: Sephardic Tinge (1995), Morenica (1998), and Our Beautiful Garden is Open (2002) - all on Tzadik) and Selfhaters Orchestra (two CD's: Selfhaters (1996) and The Abysmal Richness of the Infinite Proximity of the Same (1998), both on Tzadik). Other CD's include the cycle by Night (1987 - 1992), a series of works inspired by Coleman's experiences in (the ex-) Yugoslavia (Disco by Night, Avant 1993), Shmutsige Magnaten, a live solo performance from the Krakow Jewish Culture Festival, Summer, 2005 which features interpretations of the songs of Mordechai Gebirtig, and Freakish: Anthony Coleman Plays Jelly Roll Morton (both on Tzadik). Pushy Blueness (Tzadik) and Lapidation (New World) are both recordings of his chamber music. Coleman has toured and recorded with John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Marc Ribot, Shelley Hirsch, Roy Nathanson and many others.
SATOSHI TAKEISHI (Percussion, Electronics)
Satoshi Takeishi, drummer, percussionist, and arranger is a native of Mito, Japan. He studied music at
Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. While at Berklee he developed an interest in the
music of South America and went to live in Colombia following the invitation of a friend. He spent four
years there and forged many musical and personal relationships. One of the projects he worked on
while in Colombia was 'Macumbia' with composer/arranger Francisco Zumaque in which traditional,
jazz and classical music were combined. With this group he performed with the Bogota symphony
orchestra to do a series of concerts honoring the music of the most popular composer in Colombia,
Lucho Bermudes. In 1986 he returned to Miami, U.S. where he began working as an arranger/
producer as well as a performer. In 1987 he produced 'Morning Ride' for jazz flutist Nestor Torres on
Polygram Records. His interest expanded to the rhythms and melodies of the middle east where he
studied and performed with Armenian-American oud master Joe Zeytoonian. Since moving to New
York in 1991 he has performed and recorded with many musicians such as Ray Barretto, Carlos
'Patato' Valdes, Eliane Elias, Marc Johnson, Eddie Gomez, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Anthony
Braxton, Mark Murphy, Herbie Mann, Paul Winter Consort, Rabih Abu Khalil, Erik Friedlander, Ned
Rothenberg, MIchael Attias,Shoko Nagai, Paul Giger, Toshiko Akiyoshi Big Band, Ying String Quartet,
Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra, Dhafer Youssef, Lalo Schifrin and Pablo Ziegler to name a few.
He continues to explore multi-cultural, electronics and improvisational music with local musicians and
composers in New York.
MICHAËL ATTIAS
After migrations spanning North Africa, the Middle East, Western Europe and the American Midwest, saxophonist Michaël Attias settled in New York City where he currently enjoys rich activity as leader, sideman, composer, and improviser. Exposing himself to a wide range of situations and collaborations, he has created a supple, passionate and uncompromising language in which to render the diversity of his imagination and commitments. All About Jazz.Com has called him "a significant new voice on the alto saxophone"; All Music Guide has described his playing as "both lyrical and explorative."
He has performed and recorded for bandleaders such as Anthony Braxton, Paul Motian, and Anthony Coleman; performed in New York City everywhere from the Village Vanguard to the Stone; appeared at international festivals such as the North Sea, Banlieues Bleues and the Istanbul Jazz Festival; and, as a sideman, appeared on recordings with some of today´s most compelling and original musicians: Paul Motian, Masabumi Kikuchi, Tony Malaby, Ralph Alessi, John Hébert, Nasheet Waits, Sean Conly, Ken Filiano, Kris Davis, Taylor Ho Bynum, and many others.
His current projects as a leader include his long-standing trio Renku, with John Hébert and Satoshi Takeishi; Twines of Colesion, with Hébert, Takeishi, Tony Malaby, Russ Lossing; Spun Tree, with Ralph Alessi, Sean Conly, Tom Rainey; and Face/Swap, a collaborative duo with percussionist Satoshi Takeishi. 2011 saw the debut of the eleven piece Clinamen Orchestra, including all of the players above + vibraphonist Matt Moran, hornist Mark Taylor and trombonist Ben Gerstein, and the collaborative quintet Fugu, with Alessi, Waits, Thomas Morgan and Jacob Sacks. Since 2005, he has released four critically acclaimed albums under his name and is planning two releases in 2012: Renku's third album and the debut of Spun Tree.
10:00 PM Lindenbomber Fleet
Mia Friedman - violin/voice
Lautaro Mantilla - guitar
Beth McDonald - tuba
Borey Shin - accordion
Lindenbomber Fleet is a band that writes and plays mostly instrumental
songs, but violinist/songwriter, Mia Friedman will occasionally meow.
http://soundcloud.com/lindenbomberfleet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxRkSkX4WYk
01/27 Friday
7:00 PM Yani Batteau and the Styles
Yani Batteau calls her music 'Americana Soul'. Her musical roots run deep encompassing the sounds and lore of Vintage Country, traditional folk and the unique mystique embedded in Appalachian culture. Her banjo picking style extends beyond claw hammer tradition as she skillfully launches into improvisational riffs that are at once complex and dynamic. She is joined by her seasoned bandmates, The Styles, Steve Sidhly on Guitar and Marty White on bass.
"Yani Batteau has carved out her own niche of what she calls
mountain music. Her latest album 'Fearless' includes a sly
banjo-driven cover of Johnny Cash's 'Ring of Fire'."
The Boston Globe 2/24/11
"An adroit, yet mysterious, amalgamation of country styles"
John Gersh
“Yani is so skillful, making the difficult seem effortless as her fingers fly over the strings…”
Lucy Holstedt - Berklee College of Music
“I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love to hear Yani sing and play.
Kirk Etherton - writer and musician
8:00 PM Allan Chase & Friends
Allan Chase-alto and baritone saxes
Keala Kaumeheiwa-bass
Luther Gray-drums
and a Special Guest!
9:00 PM Composers Saxophone Quartet
Mark Zaleski- soprano sax
Rick Stone- alto sax
Sean Berry- tenor sax
Kathy Olson- bari sax
This group performs original compositions and/or arrangements by members of the band and local composers including Ayn Inserto, Brian Friedland, Randy Pingrey, Rick Stone, and Kathy Olson.
For more information about the group and to view a short video from a previous performance please visit our website:
http://kathyolsonmusic.com/sax-4-tet/
10:00 PM Tal Zilber
Israeli born pianist Tal Zilber enjoys an unusually diverse career of classical, jazz, and pop performances as well as composing, arranging, and improvising. His chamber and orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Carmel String Quartet and the Be’er Sheva Symphony Orchestra. In 2009 he performed his electro acoustic compositions on the Louisiana-Texas electro acoustic music festival (LaTex). His original incidental music for the play “Chulsha” by Ran Apelberg, was performed at the Fringe Festival in Haifa, Israel under the direction of David Shushan
In the classical music scene, Zilber has appeared as a soloist with the Ramat Hasharon Orchestra in Tel Aviv and his recordings were featured on the Galei Zahal radio station in Israel. Zilber was chosen to serve as an Outstanding Musician in the Israeli Defense Forces and during the three years of his military service, he was chosen by the Zionist Federation to participate in a concert tour in Australia. Prizes and Awards include the Andre Watts Scholarship, the America-Israel culture foundation scholarship, the Lillian H. Duncan Prize and the Marian Fox Martel scholarship.
Zilber holds a M.M from Rice University, a Performance Diploma from Indiana University, and a B.M. from the Rubin Israeli Music Academy, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. His has performed in the Masterclasses of Pnina Salzman, Ronan O'Hara, Evelyne Brancart, Tamás Ungár and the Eroica Trio. Past teachers include Brian Connelly, Edmund Battersby, Michael Boguslavsky, and Alexander Volkov.
Zilber is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory in the studios of Ran Blake and Bert Seager.
11:11 PM gaT
The Gill Aharon Trio is rarely a trio.
Gill Aharon - pen and piano
Randy Wooten - drums
Jef Charland - bass
Andrew Stern - guitar
Rick Stone- alto sax
Kelly Roberge - tenor sax
Daniel Rosenthal - trumpet
01/28 Saturday
1:00 PM Matthew Heck and friends
Beethoven: Romance for Violin & Orchestra, Op. 40 (Piano reduction by Jurgen Sommer)
Bloch: Nigun (Improvisation) from Baal Shem (Three Pictures of Chassidic Life) for Violin & Piano
Brahms: Sonatensatz (Scherzo) for Violin & Piano, Op. Post.
intermission
Brahms: Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60
8:00 PM Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica
Referencing the exotica of Martin Denny, Milt Raskin, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich among others, Mr. Ho’s, Orchestrotica--as a vibraphone quartet--presents an original third-stream collection of updated jazz, chamber, and world music reaching towards the South Pacific via Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Latin America. Led by, multi-percussionist, vibraphonist and composer Brian O’Neill (crashandboom.com) the group normally features bass flute/woodwinds (Geni Skendo), percussion (NorikoTerada), and acoustic bass (Jason Davis). While the "deliciously demented and entertaining" Orchestrotica (The Wall Street Journal) does perform classics by the original artists of the exotica style, the group focuses on "serious jazz and chamber-music writing" (Boston Herald) written by O’Neill that is highly influenced by his fifteen-year career as a percussionist. The quartet often reinterprets classical melodies, improvising over them and adding exotic sounds from around the world leading AllAboutJazz to say, "...if John Zorn is an exotica Picasso, O’Neill is his Georges-Braque counterpart [and] may be, in the long run, a stronger exoticist than Zorn." In June 2011, they released their debut quartet CD, Third River Rangoon, which the Boston Phoenix called "...a rigorous classical-jazz hybrid..." and Lucid Culture called "...a a lushly nocturnal collection ...genius."
The CD continues their Exotica for Modern Living series, which opened with The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel, their 23-pc big band formation performing the lost space-age pop music of Esquivel. The debut CD reached #4 on the CMJ jazz charts, was a Top Album for 2010 (AllAboutJazz) and received 4 stars from the Sunday London Times. Both CDs were recently featured in CA Modern Magazine.
Twitter: @orchestrotica
10:00 PM Conscious Minds presents VVS1
01/29 Sunday
10:00 AM Yoga with Natalie
10:00 - 11:15 - Gentle/Beginner
11:30 - 12:45 - Vinyasa
3:15 PM LongyLaboratory concert series, Peter J. Evans curator
Flandrew Fleisenberg
Evans-Anti-Art-Ensemble
FREE
7:00 PM Pandelis Karayorgis Trio
Pandelis Karayorgis, piano
Jef Charland, bass
Luther Gray, drums
The Boston-based pianist-composer helms one of the best progressive piano trios anywhere. His cerebral, kinetic, witty, and propulsive playing and writing build on the foundation of greats such as Thelonious Monk and Cecil Taylor.
Kevin Lowenthal, Boston Globe, June 2009
" … these guys are as connected in musicianship as a piano trio can be. They think, breath, anticipate, and play as one--in the best sense. … Right in the pocket of empathy and insight ... "
Stu Vandermark, Boston Jazz Scene, May 2010
http://karayorgis.com/
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=101776359
http://www.myspace.com/luthergray
01/30 Monday
5:40 PM Yoga with Natalie - Vinyasa
8:00 PM Jerry Bergonzi Group
Tenor saxophonist, Jerry Bergonzi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. His music is renowned for its innovation, mastery, and integrity. Relentless drive, inner fire, total command, awesome technique, elastic lyricism, rich resonance, world-class, a musical visionary, are among the rave reviews credited to his sound. Bergonzi's music has been applauded throughout the world at festivals, concert halls, and jazz venues and his dedication to jazz music has been well documented by an extensive discography.
10:22 PM The Fringe
The Fringe are one of the genuine living treasures of the Boston jazz scene. Originally formed back in 1971 by tenor-saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Richard Appleman, and drummer Bob Gullotti as an outlet for their free jazz improvisations, The Fringe have entertained and enlightened Boston area jazz audiences for over 30 years. Bassist Appleman left the band in 1985 to become Chairman of the Bass Department at Berklee College and was replaced by veteran bassist John Lockwood.
Along with their impressive tenure with The Fringe, Gullotti, Garzone, and Lockwood are in great demand as session players and have played with many of the greats of contemporary jazz. Along with keeping up with a busy performance schedule, each of them are well-respected educators helping to inspire the jazz musicians of tomorrow.
www.thefringejazz.com/