The Jazz Voyager
Austin, Texas is the next stop for the Jazz Voyager where I’ll be visiting a jazz spot called Parker Jazz Club. A world-class basement lounge designed by a musician, for musicians nestled in the heart of downtown Austin’s Warehouse district, where the best dining and entertainment venues reside. Within the walls every microphone, cable, speaker, wire, baffle, table, and chair was meticulously hand chosen for the purpose of serving the music.
This week taking the stage is vocalist Kenny Williams whose 25 year career has lit up stages with a tornado of talent and charisma. The Austin native studied voice at the University of Texas, and cut his teeth as an actor and an entertainer in clubs on the city’s famed 6th Street. Born to entertain, and his star shines brightly. He is a truly gifted vocalist, while his spirit, energy, and passion will bring you back for more.
The venue is located at 117 W 4th Street, #107b, 78701. For those requiring more information go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/kenny-williams.
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The Jazz Voyager
Staying on the West Coast, this Jazz Voyager is taking a drive down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) to visit once again one of my favorite cities, that fabulous one by the bay, San Francisco. Opened just eleven years ago, I’ll be stepping into the SF Jazz Center and taking one of 700 seats in the Miner Auditorium to catch another fabulous performance. The Center is the first stand-alone structure in the country built specifically for jazz performance, and also houses the 100 seat Joe Henderson Lab.L
He’s the pianist in residence for the week in a variety of configurations and I am referring to an elder statesman who goes by the name of Kenny Barron. Tonight I am pleased to witness his ironclad trio with bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and drummer Johnathan Blake.
The venue is located at 201 Franklin Street, California 94102. For those requiring more information go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/kenny-barron.
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The Jazz Voyager
As I say farewell to Indianapolis, I’m looking out the window of the plane heading to the great northwest of Portland, Oregon to pay a visit to the Jack London Revue. The venue is rooted in the original American tradition of jazz and the underlying principles of freedom through improvisation, however, they feature a wide range of music that has been inspired by jazz’s world wide diaspora.L
Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin will be getting all the attention of this Jazz Voyager as she fuses traditional conceptions of jazz, hip~hop, and soul in her performance. She has received 3 Grammy nominations for her latest album Phoenix. The far-reaching new album finds her poised alongside a curated all-star cast of Wayne Shorter to Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow to Patrice Rushen, and Sonia Sanchez to Angela Davis. The album is produced by the multi-Grammy winner drummer and activist Terri Lyne Carrington.
The club is located at 529 SW 4th Avenue 97204 For those requiring more information go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/lakecia-benjamin.
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The Jazz Voyager
In the air once more and three hours later flying from Phoenix to that renowned city with the racetrack, Indianapolis, where this jazz voyager will be in The Jazz Kitchen audience for a toe-tapping good time. Since 1994 this venue has been serving up world~class musicians and cuisine in a casual, sophisticated atmosphere.
The Jazz Voyager will witness the talents of Tony Monaco, who may be the best organ player to come along. This will be my first time hearing him in person, having only experienced him on compact disc. Mentored by the legendary Jimmy Smith in the classic style, he does not swing, smolder or smoke, he burns. He began his keyboard life at age eight, at twelve he heard Jimmy Smith and jazz became his destiny. An enthusiastic student, Tony began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio where he was guided by local organ gurus Hank Marr and Don Patterson.
For those of you who have never been to this establishment it is located at 5377 N. College Avenue, Indiana 46220. For those wanting more information go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/tony-monaco.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is departing Phoenix and jumping on a two hour flight to the West Coast and that city by the bay, San Francisco, California. We will find our destination, the Black Cat, in the heart of the Tenderloin neighborhood. The historic arts and entertainment district was once home to great supper clubs and fabled live jazz venues. Tapping into that legacy, Black Cat is a refined social dining experience featuring a modern American supper club menu.
On the stage for a four day residency is Marc Cary and The Focus Trio. They’ll be celebrating nearly 20 years of synergy, exploring the rich interplay between Native American music and jazz. The pianist enlists tabla drummer Sameer Gupta and bassist David Ewel to the feel of the music as he taps into his multicultural heritage.
For those of you who have never been to this establishment, the venue is located at 400 Eddy Street 94109. For more info go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/marc-cary-focus-trio.
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