A Celebration of the guitar through the music of French jazz legend Django Reinhardt with Stephane Wrembel, Stochelo Rosenberg, Paulus Schaffer, Olli Soikelli and Simba Baumgartner at The Town Hall on Saturday, May 5, 2018
Django-a-Gogo_Poster Art / Image courtesy of Stephane Wrembel
An incredible fête of guitar music in the spirit of great musician Django Reinhardt will be taking place on May 5, 2018 at The Town Hall in midtown Manhattan. Django’s celebrated melodies immediately bring to mind fun time at a smoky French café full of happy musicians and cheerful crowds. That atmosphere is being recreated by Stephane Wrembel and his Django-A-Gogo festival. Wrembel and his guests are very familiar to New York audiences and are known for their deep virtuosity and care in keeping the music of Django Reinhardt alive. Book your tickets here. Read More
Jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch is playing in duet performances with Anat Cohen, Kate MacGarry, Miguel Zenon, Esperanza Spalding and Pocket Orchestra at the iconic NYC Jazz Standard Club on May 8 – 13, 2018
Fred Hersch / Photo credit Jim Wilkie
Serious jazz by the world-class musicians in an intimate and sound-perfect music club at the center of music universe – what could be better for a night out in New York City? The famous Jazz Standard club is hosting an acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch and his superb guests in a very special Duo Invitation Series on May 8-13, 2018. The guest list includes a brilliant clarinetist Anat Cohen, an introspective singer Kate MacGarry, a 2018 Grammy Award nominated alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon and an Emmy-award winning vocalist Esperanza Spalding.
Piano-jazz master and composer with solo performances at a legendary NYC club on October 31 – November 2, 2017
Fred Hersch / Photo credit Jim Wilkie
It’s a well known fact that every jazz musician is dreaming about performing at the Village Vanguard,a celebrated New York jazz spot. Going there is part of a sacred ritual for music fans, and for the musicians, it’s a recognition of their mastery and acceptance in the world of jazz. Pianist and composer Fred Hersch is a regular presence on the club schedule and will be performing there October 31 – November 2, 2017.
Fred Hersch is a celebrated figure on the international jazz scene. He came to fame in 1984 when he debuted with Horizons. His very sophisticated style of introspective and emotionally rich music is gaining in its depth with each appearance and recording. Hersch plays with his highly acclaimed trio, in solo concerts and in collaboration with other musicians. One such collaborationwith another remarkable pianist Sullivan Fortnerhas taken place early in October 2017 at Bard College organized by the Catskill Jazz Factory. An established pianist and a bandleader, Hersch is also a well-known composer and jazz educator. Being nominated for ten Grammy awards, the last two in 2017, and named a 2016 Doris Duke Artist puts Hersch at the top of the list of contemporary jazz musicians. His very personal story of near-death health crisis, a remarkable come-back and an openness about his experiences all contribute to his very distinct status among the musicians. A profile in the WallStreetJournal by Ted Gioia calls this return to life “a miracle” which brought Hersch music to the level “that doesn’t get any better than this”. Hirsch’s latest albumOpen Book was released in September 2017.
While jazz remains Hersch’s passion and major preoccupation, he is also a talented storyteller, with a lot to share with his readers. His new memoir “Good Things Happen Slowly” was released in September 2017. NPR’s Terry Gross interviewing Hersch had described the story in the book as what “it was like to be closeted in the jazz world, and then come out as gay and as having AIDS”.
Hersch talent is clearly reaching new highs with each new show, and the upcoming appearances at the Vanguard will surely be no exception.
Catskill Jazz Factory brings great music to Bard College
This partnership of two great pianists is promising to make a delightful night full of fresh perspectives on contemporary jazz. Each musician brings a distinct style and artistic excellence while being true the roots of his style.Merging these two creative personalities playing the music of Fred Hersh, Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter and others is not an easy fit. But it will surely be refreshing and exciting.
Fred Hersch / Photo credit Vincent Soyez
Fred Hersch is a celebrated figure on the international jazz scene. He came to fame in 1984 when he debuted with Horizons. His very elegant style of introspective and emotionally rich music is gaining in its depth with each appearance and recording. His trio with bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson enjoys a fruitful collaboration and maintains a demanding live performance and recording schedule. The New York Times review of the trio performance at the Vanguard back in 2012 described their style as “the incremental stretch toward an elusive ideal”. A celebrated pianist and a bandleader, Hersch is also a well-known composer and jazz educator. Being nominated for ten Grammy awards, the last two in 2017, and named a 2016 Doris Duke Artist puts Hersch at the top of the list of contemporary jazz musicians. His very personal story of near-death health crisis, a remarkable come-back and an openness about his experiences all contribute to his very distinct status among the musicians. A profile in the WallStreetJournal by Ted Gioia calls this return to life “a miracle” which brought Hersch music to the level “that doesn’t get any better than this”. Hirsch’s latest albumOpen Book was released in September 2017.
Sullivan Fortner, a 2015 Cole Porter Jazz Fellow with the American Pianists Association, brings in the vibe of his generation to this fascinating partnership. Also a leader of his own band, The Sullivan Fortner Trio, who are performing extensively, Fortner had played with vibraphonist Stefon Harris and the trumpeters Roy Hargrove and Etienne Charles and toured with major jazz collectives of today. Graduating from Oberlin Music Conservatory with bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies and master’s from Manhattan School of Music, Fortner is recognized for his youthful energy mixed with the disciplined maturity. A review in the New York Times of his “Aria” album release stresses that “his fundamentals as a player could hardly be stronger”.
The concert at Richard B. Fischer Center for Performing Arts at Bard College located on a picturesque campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY is organized by an innovative educational and performance art community the Catskill Jazz Factory.Bard College is well-known for its rigorous art education program and the best in class roster of music performances in upstate NY. Only two hours away from hustle and bustle of New York City, the campus is sufficiently insulated for full concentration and study, yet affords a convenience of being accessible via train connection to the city.
The Richard B. Fisher Center is an architectural jewel in itself being designed by Frank Gehry and hosting a multitude of adventurous programs at the world-class facilities.
Norah Jones with Brian Blade & Chris Thomas at LPG on September 10-14, 2017
Norah Jones performs in 2010 Photo Credit: Larry Philpot, www.soundstagephotography.com
Norah Jones will perform in the informal and cozy settings of (Le) Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village, NYC on September 10-14, 2017. Her presence on the global music scene had been established overnight after she won 5 Grammys for the album “Come away with me” released in 2002 by the Blue Note Records label. In all she is a 9 times Grammy award winner.
Jones delicate singing is rightfully falling into jazz fusion category for her mixing of jazz, country and intelligent pop. TheFT reviewof her performance at 2016 London Jazz Festival at the London Palladium points out that “her success in selling nearly 50m records over her career has been in spite of prevailing trends”. This falling in between of the pre-defined musical genres makes Jones style so distinct and precious to those looking for new sounds.
Jones grew up in Grapevine, Texas. Born to a family of American concert producer Sue Jones and Indian sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, she was singing in church and taking piano lessons from yearly on in her life. The music of such jazz masters as Billie Holiday and Bill Evanshad particularly strong influence on her. So it was not a coincidence that she had graduated from University of North Texas majoring in jazz piano.
In the years that followed the release of “Come away with me”, she deviated from jazz into country and soul music accompanying herself on guitar. Her returning to jazz for the 2014 Newport Jazz festival on Rhode Island was very well received by the fans with tickets sales topping the charts.
Her latest album “Day Breaks” released in 2016 features Jones firmly following her jazz and piano roots. For this project she has teamed up with such prominent musicians as the saxophonist Wayne Shorter and the bassist John Patitucci. In the words of the New York Times review of her 2016 tours and album release “rather than making some sort of prodigal return, she was accessing her musical core”.
The performance at (Le) Poisson Rouge will be a delight for the music fans!
music of Django Reinhardt alive. Book your tickets here. Read More
music of Django Reinhardt alive. 
