The Jazz Voyager

The friendly skies beckon once again for a continental flight to that well known city by the bay. San Francisco, California is the destination for the Jazz Voyager, specifically Oakland to one of my favorite hangs, Yoshi’s. With the larger space and expanded Japanese menu it quickly became one of the premiere jazz venues on the West Coast.

Having not seen him for more than a decade, I am looking forward to seeing Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter, one of the male vocalists who came along to fill in the void with an individual sound. He is joined by 7 & 8 string guitarist Charlie Hunter as they bring Superblue to the stage.

Yoshi’s is located at 510 Embarcadero West, 94607. Get more info by visiting the Jazz Calendar at notoriousjazz.com/event/superblue-kurt-elling-and-charlie-hunter

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is leaving Ohio for the Big Apple and the upper West Side where jazz hits nightly at Smoke Jazz & Supper Club. Located at the junction of 106th and Broadway also known as Duke Ellington Boulevard, it is one of New York City’s premier live music venues renowned for programming legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars.

This week they present George Cables, one of the essential pianists with impeccable sound, sensitive accompaniment, and original playing. A trusted collaborator over the past 50 years for artists like Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, and Art Pepper, Cables has also released numerous recordings as a leader.

The venue is situated at 2751 Broadway, New York City 10025. Get more info by visiting the Jazz Calendar at https://notoriousjazz.com/event/george-cables-quartet-2

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The Jazz Voyager

With vocals in my spirit and a penchant for Ohio, this Jazz Voyager is staying out of the air and renting a car for a leisurely three and a half hour drive from Akron to Cincinnati, Not only will I experience a new venue but I get to see an old friend and Clevelander I haven’t seen in a while. This week the voyage takes me to Caffeè Vivace when one of my favorite vocalists, Vanessa Rubin, will take the stage.

If you’ve never heard this amazing interpreter of a song perform, you’re in for a treat. She will take you places your heart hasn’t been in a while, make you laugh with her playfulness on a lyric and will send you home remembering when love was new.

This coffee house by day turns into an intimate jazz lounge by night providing a space for Cincinnatians to gather, work, socialize and herald the musical art form of Jazz. Founded by Brent Gallaher and Vanessa Keeton, their goal is to bring a full-time jazz listening venue back to the Queen City. So the pair, coffee and jazz, have a symbiotic relationship that works well for the city’s residents and visitors to Walnut Hills. I’ll be hanging out for a couple of days to write and listen to the area’s finest local jazz musicians.

The venue is located  975 E McMillan Street 45206. You can get more information by visiting The Jazz Calendar at https://notoriousjazz.com/event/vanessa-rubin-6.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is off to Akron, Ohio to Blue Jazz+ where I’ll be taking in a couple of sets of music. A stunning live music venue and photography gallery in the downtown of the city, it has been designed in mid-century retro with a modern feel and crafted with presentation of live jazz in mind.

This week I’ll be in the house to partake of vocalist Kathy Kosins who exemplifies the intersection of jazz and soul. She’s earned several top nominations for her duet with Frank McComb, has new material with Paul Randolph and the legendary Al Hudson and has written and released several new tracks during the making of her now-classic Uncovered Soul.

The venue is located 47 E Market Street, 44308. You can get more information by calling 330-252-1190 or by visiting blujazzakron.com.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is heading to Logan Airport in Beantown for a summer experience at the famous Scullers Jazz Club that has been a jazz landmark in the city since its founding in 1989. Led by jazz impresario Fred Taylor, the 200-seat club offers spectacular views of Boston’s skyline and the Charles River that serve as the perfect backdrop for world-class entertainment you won’t see anywhere else in Boston.

This week I’ll be enjoying NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Kenny Garrett. His illustrious career includes hallmark stints with Miles Davis, Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw and the Duke Ellington Orchestra. With a heralded career as a solo artist of more than 30 years ago, he is easily recognized as one of modern jazz’s brightest and most influential living masters.

The venue is located on the ground floor of the DoubleTree Suites at 400 Soldiers Field Road, MA 02134. More information can be obtained by calling 617-747-2261 or by visiting scullersjazz.com.

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