Category: Jazz

posts about jazz performances

Jazz in NYC: John Pizzarelli Sinatra & Jobim @ 50 at Birdland

arts-NY 1 Comment

Jazz in NYC: John Pizzarelli Sinatra & Jobim @ 50 at Birdland

Celebrating with Daniel Jobim and Jessica Molaskey half-centennial of Sinatra / Jobim recording 

Jazz in NYC John Pizzarelli Sinatra & Jobim @ 50 Birdland
John Pizzarelli; CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=966106

 

Soft melodies of jazz standards performed by a well recognized guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli in the company of an equally renowned jazz singer Jessica Molaskey and Antonio Carlos Jobim’s grandson Daniel Jobim will make for an unforgettable summer night!  The concerts are a celebration of 50 year anniversary of the recording made by Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Sinatra frequented a bar in Rio where Jobim had performed regularly, and this was how the timeless collaboration came to life.

An album to honor the anniversary is already released but what can beat the power of live performance at the Birdland?

John Pizzarelli comes from a family of New Jersey swing guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli well known in his own rights and still performing with John and his wife jazz-singer and actress Jessica Molasky. John credits Bucky as his most important teacher guiding his musical and professional career.

In the newly released album Pizzarelli masterly mixes the songs on the original recording done by Sinatra and Jobim in 1967 with those that were not included on it. That original album had “transported Brazilian music into stratospheric heights where it remains to the present day” in the words of Nick Catalano from AllAboutJazz.com.

The master of romantic ballades and sensible interpretation of classical tunes, Pizzarelli’s return to Birdland is highly anticipated. The audiences know his gentle sense of humor and warmth of his music. Its no wonder that “@50” album is described in The Times  as  “sentimental rather than slavish” with the “songs that weren’t on the Sinatra album coming off best”. You will enjoy Bossa Nova classics like Girl from Ipanema and many more.

You can make reservations here.

Venue: 315 W 44 Street, NY                                             Dates: August 8-12, 2017

Beyond NY: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Bard in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

arts-NY 1 Comment

Beyond NY: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Bard in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

Summer Jazz Academy by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra

Beyond NY: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis, JLCO artistic director; image source: jazz.org

Internationally acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with its artistic director Wynton Marsalis will appear in a special performance as part of its Summer Jazz Academy at Bard College. With education being at a core of the Jazz at Lincoln Center philosophy, the Academy program at Bard is marking its second year and is bringing the best high school jazz musicians for 2 week residential intensive in performance practice, aesthetics, culture and history of jazz among other subjects.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and its 15 world-class musicians is billed as the most versatile ensemble with vast musical repertoire starting from rare historical compositions all the way to american jazz staples. The orchestra is known to tour extensively collaborating with the top artists in such diverse genres as dance, folk, classical musicians and various guest soloists.

Beyond NY: Fischer Center at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Fischer Center; Photo: Peter Aaron ’68/Esto

The performance at Bard College is taking place at the time of Bard SummerScape with most events held at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Art located on a picturesque campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY. Bard College is well-known for its rigorous art education program and the best in class roster of summer 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.

Book the tickets  here.

Venue: Olin Hall, Olin Humanities Building, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY       Date: July 29, 2017 

Places to eat around Bard College.

August 2017 Jazz Concert: Cyrille Aimee at (Le) Poisson Rouge

arts-NY

August 2017 Jazz Concert: Cyrille Aimee at (Le) Poisson Rouge

French jazz-cabaret singer

August 2017 Jazz Concert: Cyrille Aimee at (Le) Poisson Rouge
Cyrille Aimee / image source lpr.com

Crisp and delicate voice, playful style, dizzying mix of jazz, soul and ethnic music from France to Brazil –  at the concert of this talented singer Cyrille Aimee you will hear them all.

Born in Fontainebleau, France and raised in the village of Samois-sur-Seine where a famous french gypsy jazz musician Django Reinhardt lived, Aimee had a chance to learn and experience jazz music from her school days. Aimee writes in her bio that with easy proximity to the place of the annual Django Reinhardt Festival held at Samois-sur-Seine attracting gypsy musicians from around the world, she was sneaking out from her bedroom to hear the musicians at the encampment. Her rebellious character can be heard in her singing and in her selection of the songs to perform.

In 2012 Aimee had won Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition which invigorated her international career. Her singing can be described as mixing Sarah Vaughan in name and Michael Jackson in electronics. At her concerts she introduces the loop machine to the audience and delivers brilliant performance with it. “She is a one-woman rhythm machine” in the words of New York Times music critic S. Holden.  The AllAboutJazz calls her “the face of post-modernity”.

Check out Aimee’s website and youtube channel for the latest recordings and much more.

The informal setting at Le Poisson Rouge will make it a delightful musical experience with this amazing jazz singer!

To book tickets, click here.

Venue: (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, NY             Date: August 16, 2017 

 

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H’Sao Band Performance on July 28

arts-NY

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H’Sao Band Performance on July 28

A cappella performance mixing melodies from Chad with modern world soul and jazz

2017 Lincoln Center Festival: H'Sao Band Performance on July 28
H’Sao / image source lincolncenter.org

This amazing Montreal-based band was formed in 2001 when three brothers teamed up with their childhood friend to start performing. Using only their voice at first and adding musical instruments later the group caught the attention of the music fans and gained popularity in Montreal, Canada. H’Sao style can be described as Afro-fusion or Afro-jazz defined by authentic vocal harmonies, electrifying rhythm and stunning dance.

Masterly mixing a cappella singing from their native Chad with the new world gospels, soul and jazz music the group had established itself on the music scene. It travels around the world participating in the prominent musical festivals and events from New Zealand and Australia to Europe, Asia and Americas. Their lyrics are addressing the issues of social justice, love and peace.

H’Sao concert in NYC is part of the Nomadic Knights series of Lincoln Center Festival. More information about their albums can be found here.

 

Venue: Stanley Kaplan Penthouse, Lincoln Center, NY                                Date: July 28, at 8pm