The Jazz Voyager

From Oakland and the City By The Bay it’s a cross country flight to the Big Apple. Once landing at LaGuardia I will be heading across the Triboro to downtown Manhattan wherein lies Greenwich village. This Jazz Voyager will be taking in an Afro-Cuban experience for an evening at the Zinc Bar.

On stage the Axel Tosca Trio holds down The Cuban Jam. The three time Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist blends jazz, classical, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban rhythms to create a genre-defying soundscape that captivates audiences.

Xiomara Laugart has performed Cuban Nueva trova, jazz standards, and Broadway numbers on local and international stages. She joins her son Axel and combines the beloved Cuban sounds of home from the 1950s to today with Tosca’s eclectic take on modern jazz, swing, and bebop.

Cover: $35.00

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The Jazz Voyager

Had a great time last night in San Francisco as my flight plan continued west from Austin to that city across from the city by the bay. Once landed will venture to traverse the Golden Gate Bridge to Oakland, California. This Jazz Voyager enjoys the flavor of the city and always the music and ambience of the club Yoshi’s.

I missed this bassist at the Atlanta Jazz Festival over the Memorial Day weekend but I am resolved not to do so this time. I arrived in plenty of time to hang out in San Fran, have my reservation for the 7:30 performance of Aneesa Strings.  I’ve heard that she’s a beacon of light for young women, black artists and creatives. I can only be patient to experience this bassist, singer, composer who blends jazz and pop with r&b.

The venue is located at 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland 94607. For more information contact the venue at yoshis.com.

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The Jazz Voyager

Heading West, the Jazz Voyager will be flying for a little under two hours from Atlanta to the cowboy country known as Texas. I’ll be landing in the city known as the Live Music Capital of the World due to its immense number of music venues. I’ll be heading to downtown Austin’s Warehouse District to the corner of 4th & Colorado Streets where sits the Parker Jazz Club.

On tap for this week is Grammy winner saxophonist and composer Miguel Zenón who brings his groundbreaking and influential talent to the stage for one show only. The San Juan, Puerto Rico born musician is a Doris Duke Artist and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow.

He has worked with the SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Danilo Perez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Kurt Elling, Joey Calderazzo, Steve Coleman, Ray Barreto, Andy Montañez, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, The Mingus Big Band and Bobby Hutcherson among others.

The venue is located at 117 W 4th Street, Suite 107B, 78701. For more information contact the venue at https://www.parkerjazzclub.com.

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The Jazz Voyager

Atlanta, Georgia is the next stop on the Jazz Voyagers sojourn from Washington, D.C. It’s always good to return to the ATL to see friends, hang with family, blood and adopted, and enjoy their company. Downtown is where I’ll be heading for a fabulous night of jazz at The Commons, the entertainment arm of First Congregational Church.

>This week it’s the gifted pianist Kevin Bales who I haven’t seen perform in years since I left the city. An accomplished pianist with classical chops, he refined his talent from the age of 10. He auditioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at age 16, for its most storied conductor Robert Shaw,

Kevin brings to the stage years of experience performing and/or recording with Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben Tucker, Ira Sullivan, Marcus Printup, Sam Rivers, Nat Adderley, Bunky Green.

The venue is located at 125 Ellis Street NE 30303. For more information contact the venue at https…//firstfridayatfirst.eventbrite.com.

The Commons | Kevin Bales

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The Jazz Voyager

Arrived yesterday in Washington, DC. from Tokyo, Japan in time for the DC JazzFest being held at various locations around town. It’s no longer the city I remember and with you know who on Pennsylvania Avenue, I’m grateful there’s plenty of jazz to wander in and out, though it is sometimes the bane of my existence as so much music coincides that I can’t see it all. Ugh. Be that as it may, this afternoon I’m heading to the Downtown DC Anthem Row to see four groups I have never experienced.

What I do like best about jazz festivals is that they introduce new talent to new audiences. This jazz voyager is looking forward to discovering musicians and vocalists throughout the weekend. Thursday afternoon at Anthem Row begins at 4:30 with Benjie Porecki followed by Be’La Dona at 6:00, Langston Hughes II comes on stage at 7:15 and closing out the night at 8:30pm is Brass-A-Holics.

The venue is located at 800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. For more information contact the venue at https://www.dcjazzfest.org/artists.

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