Notorious Jazz

SHAWNN MONTEIRO
2026-04-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | LA
Shawnn Monteiro who has jazz in her blood, jazz in her soul and jazz in her history. Her father was bassist Jimmy Woode, her godmother was Sarah Vaughan and her godfather was Clark Terry.
Having toured all over the world singing jazz with so many of the greats, many of whom are gone now, Shawnn remembers and comes to Scullers with many stories to share.
She is one of the few of jazz royalty left who is still sharing her incredible voice and dynamic performance with jazz lovers of all ages.
Cover: $42.45 ~ $59.25

TONY HIGHTOWER
2026-04-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Middle C Jazz, 300 South Brevard Street, Charlotte, NC, 28202, United States
Singer and songwriter Tony Hightower is the architect of a new movement, ushering R&B and Hip-Hop audiences into the world of “real jazz.” As the son of the late legendary icon Theresa Hightower, Tony was raised in the industry’s spotlight. Following early success with the neo-soul group 4.0 and collaborations with Outkast, Lionel Richie, and Tyler Perry, he found his true calling in the Great American Songbook.

Under the mentorship of the late Freddy Cole, Hightower emerged as a premier crooner defined by smooth phrasing and a sophisticated, contemporary tone. His critically acclaimed 2022 project, Legacy, serves as his manifesto: a soulful, melody-driven invitation for a new generation to discover the power of Jazz.
Tickets: $33.55 ~ $40.90

PHILIP HARPER FEATURING WINARD HARPER
2026-04-19 19:00 - 22:30 | JazzCultural, 349 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036, New York City, NY, 10036, United States
Philip and Winard Harper are celebrated jazz musicians born in America, a trumpeter and drummer respectively, known for leading the acclaimed post-bop group, The Harper Brothers, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. They recorded successful albums for Verve Records and toured internationally, with Winard continuing as a prominent bandleader and sideman.
The Band
Philip Harper / Trumpet
Winard Harper / Drums
Rico Jones / Tenor Saxophone
Raphael Silverman / Guitar
Maki Nientao / Piano
Jason Maximo Clotter ~ Bass
Tickets: $40.00

VANESSA RUBIN
2026-04-24 19:00 - 2026-04-26 23:00 | Birdland, 315 W 44th Street, #5402, New York City, NY, 10036, United States
Revered as both a torchbearer and a storyteller, jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin possesses a voice hailed for crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and playful lioness sass. The Cleveland native brings a wealth of diverse influences to her vocal performance from both the Trinidadian/Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father. Rubin’s passion for rich musical stories are evidenced throughout her eight albums thus far plus numerous guest appearances.
Highlight s ongs include the evocative “Voyager II” from the pen of Teri Thornton, “Inside a Silent Tear” written by Blossom Dearie, a refashioned waltz version of John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” lyricized by New York Voices and an arrangement of “Superwoman” by Stevie Wonder insipired by the Ahmad Jamal recording of “Poinciana”. So while she has one foot planted in tradition – sticking close to timeless melodies and exquisite vocal forms – Rubin waxes adventurous, embracing stories lesser told while employing lessons of acclaimed storytellers in song such as Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn, and Freddy Cole.
Bandmates:
Allyn Johnson ~ Piano
Kenny Davis ~ Bass
Alvester Garnet ~ Drums
Cover: $35.46 ~ $45.76

2026-05-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Andy’s, 11 E Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
Bandleader Andy Brown has been one of the busiest guitarists in Chicago over the last two decades, leading his own bands and backing visiting jazz stars all over the city, as well traveling nationally and internationally with a variety of groups. He specializes in what he calls “old-school jazz guitar.”
The Andy Brown Quartet brings together four of the finest jazz musicians on the Chicago scene. Featuring Andy on guitar, Jeremy Kahn on piano, Joe Policastro on bass and Phil Gratteau on drums, this quartet combines the member’s shared musical inspirations and presents a lyrical and hard-swinging working band that has delighted audiences and critics alike. As a group they have performed weekly at Andy’s Jazz Club since 2012. Their Delmark records release Direct Call received 4 stars in Downbeat Magazine and was selected as one of the magazine’s Albums of the Year. Their latest recording is the 2023 release Good Atmosphere.
In a performance review the Chicago Tribune’s jazz critic wrote: “Inspiring music-making isn’t necessarily loud, aggressive, self-aggrandizing or heavily promoted. Consider what happens every Sunday night at Andy’s Jazz Club, where the superb but serenely understated Chicago guitarist Andy Brown leads a quartet. Like him, his bandmates speak softly but poetically. Brown’s pastel tones, softly stated melody lines and delicately rolled chords conveyed remarkable intimacy.”
Tickets: $20.00
Showtimes: 6pm-7:15pm & 8:15pm-9:30pm

JOEY ALEXANDER
2026-05-07 19:00 - 2026-05-09 23:59 | Birdland, 315 W 44th Street, #5402, New York City, NY, 10036, United States
Born in Bali, Indonesia, Alexander released his debut album, My Favorite Things, in 2015 on Motema Music, followed by three more on the label, a fifth on Verve, sixth and seventh albums on MackAvenue Records. Alexander’s albums have netted three Grammy Award Nominations -one for Best Instrumental Album (My Favorite Things) and two for Best Improvised Jazz Solo (Giant Steps and Countdown) – with My Favorite Things and Countdown securing the number one spot on the Billboard Jazz Charts and Eclipse ar number three.
Over the course of his astonishing career, Alexander has performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding at the Obama White House, for President Bill Clinton at the Arthur Ashe Learning Center Gala,. at The Grammy Awards, the Grand Ole Opry (with Country Singer Kelsea Ballerini), The Apollo Theatre, Carnegie Hall and major jazz festivals, club venues and concert halls around the world. He has also been subject of profiles on 60 Minutes and The New York Times.
The evening features: Jaleel Shaw ~ saxophone and Alita Moses ~ vocals
Cover: $45.76 ~ $56.06

FRANKIE QUINONES
2026-05-07 19:30 - 21:00 | St. James Live, 3220 Butner Road #240, Atlanta, GA, 30331, United States
Percussionist and drummer Frankie Quinones for one night only brings his Latin Jazz Collective to the stage!
Quinones is a percussionist that focuses on using latin percussive instruments to fuse rhythms into any genre of music. He believes what sets him apart is that he works to have an authentic sound and that he’s not tied to any specific form or genre of music.
Frankie started playing drums and percussion in the church and began taking music seriously in hisjunior year of highschool where he joined a local band back home in Buffalo, New York. After high school he applied and got accepted to Berklee College of Music. It was not an easy journey, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world. Each setback and disappointment added to his music and has enhanced the story he tells via the drum. He doesn’t believe in overcoming, he believes in staying, fighting and showing up. Every experience adds to who you are and the story that you tell in your music, and choosing to play it and live in every moment.
He loves to play it all, be it Jazz, Salsa, Funk, Pop etc. Frankie is most proud of his family! His wife and three daughters are what excites him the most as he watches them grow into adulthood and become who they are destined to become. When you hear him play, he wants everyone to know that he is performing from an honest place with respect to those who have come before him and for those that are coming afterwards.
C
over: $39.00 ~ $49.00 (fee included)

NICOLE HENRY
2026-05-08 19:00 - 2026-05-10 23:00 | Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
Celebrating a 20-year recording career with eight critically acclaimed chart-topping albums, Nicole Henry is the recipient of a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” and she has garnered four Top-Ten jazz albums on the U.S. Billboard, JazzWeek, HMV Japan, and U.K. Sweet Rhythms charts. Hot House Jazz said, “Few voices can set a listening room on fire, then let it burn into a cinder like Nicole Henry’s.”
The New York Times, Miami Herald, and Jazz Times Magazine have compared her to Sarah Vaughan, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston for her dynamic range, impeccable phrasing, and ability to connect to a lyric. Whether burning through a swing tune or gently caressing a ballad, Nicole truly makes each song uniquely her own and “aims right for the emotional center.” (Billboard)
Henry has toured in over 20 countries and has recorded with musical greats Kirk Whalum, Julian Lage, John Clayton, and Gerald Clayton. She’s also performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Pasadena Pops, Michael Feinstein, saxophonist Paul Taylor and more.
Showtimes:
Friday/Saturday: 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Sunday: 2:00pm
Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 + $7.00 fee

LIZZ WRIGHT
2026-05-13 19:00 - 23:00 | Blue Note ~ Los Angeles, 6372 Sunset Boulevard,, Los Angeles, 90028, United States
Through an inimitable voice that The New York Times touts as, “a smooth, dark alto possessed of qualities you might associate with barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather,” renowned vocalist and songwriter Lizz Wright sings with a soaring reflection of the cultural fabric of America. She lies beneath the script of history, transcending social divides with an offer of love and deep sense of humanity. Her music accepts the beauty of reality and creates a collective experience of belonging for the listener. Wright’s songs embody a tradition that allows us to always feel at home.
Wright’s 2024 studio album release, Shadow, presents Lizz in a gentle and triumphant light. With five originals penned by Wright, Shadow is anchored by acoustic guitars and layered with string quartets, harp, Carnatic Indian classical strings, gospel vocals, and bare emotion. It celebrates the intimacy of romantic love, loss, community, and healing. The album was produced by Chris Bruce and executive produced by Wright on Blues & Greens Records (with licensing/distribution through Lightyear Entertainment/Virgin Music). Wright worked with renowned engineer Ryan Freeland (who recorded Grace and has also worked with music legend Bonnie Raitt), and the album features acclaimed guest artists Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello.
At the age of 22, Wright first made a name for herself nationally as a vocalist with a touring concert tribute to Billie Holiday. At 23, she signed with Verve Records for the release of Salt, which topped Billboard’s contemporary jazz charts. She went on to record for Universal Music Group and released the albums Dreaming Wide Awake (2005), The Orchard (2008), and Fellowship (2010). On Concord, Wright released Freedom & Surrender (2016) – featuring the single “Lean In,” which landed on President Obama’s Summer 2016 playlist – and Grace (2017). Wright’s (2022) release of Holding Space (a live recording of a concert in Berlin at the Columbia Theater) was her debut live album on Blues and Greens Records.
Wright looks forward to the release of a duo album in 2026.
Tickets: $43.21 ($35.00 + $8.21 fees) | $54.54 ($45.00 + $9.54 fees)
Discounted Parking: $18.80 ($15.00 + $3.80 fees)
$20.00 Minimum Per Person

MIKE STERN
2026-05-13 19:00 - 2026-05-14 23:00 | Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
To a generation of contemporary jazz guitar aficionados, Mike Stern is regarded as one of the true guitar greats of his generation. A player of remarkable facility whose searing lines are informed mainly by bebop and the blues while also carrying a rock-tinged intensity, Stern made his mark with Miles Davis in the early ‘80s before launching his solo career in 1985. Since then he has released 17 recordings as a leader, six of which were nominated for GRAMMY Awards. His latest recording, Echoes and Other Songs (Mack Avenue/Artistry), features an All-star cast including, Dennis Chambers, Antonio Sanchez, Christian McBride, Richard Bona, Chris Potter, Bob Franceschini, and Leni Stern.
Born in Boston on January 10, 1953, Stern grew up in Washington, DC, then returned to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music where he met and befriended fellow Berklee students like guitarists John Scofield and Bill Frisell, bassist Jeff Berlin, drummers Steve Smith and Vinnie Colaiuta. He got his first big break in 1976 going out on tour with Blood, Sweat & Tears, appearing on the group’s studio More Than Ever and live album In Concert that year and also on 1977’s Brand New Day.
Stern was presented with Guitar Player magazine’s Certified Legend Award on January 21, 2012.
Mike Stern Band: Dennis Chambers~drums, Gary Grainger~guitar, Bob Franceschini~saxophone, and Leni Stern~guitar, vocal.
Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 +$7.00 fee
Showtimes: 7:00pm & 9:30pm

RUSSELL GUNN
2026-05-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63103, United States
Trumpeter Russell Gunn celebrates fellow East St. Louis trumpeter Miles In May at Jazz at The Bistro.
Jazz St. Louis proudly celebrates the life, legacy, and limitless influence of jazz visionary Miles Davis, including a Centennial Week for Miles Davis’s 100th Birthday.
As a marquee highlight of our 30th Anniversary Season, this powerful series pays tribute to an East St. Louis visionary who forever changed the sound of American music. Through unforgettable performances and special events, we celebrate a hometown hero whose fearless innovation continues to inspire the world.
Cover: Free

CLIFTON ANDERSON
2026-05-15 20:30 - 22:00 | Iridium, 1650 Broadway, New York City, NY, 10019, United States
Clifton_Anderson#cite_note-AM-2″>[2] Other bands he has played in include Frank Foster’s Loud Minority, Carlos Garnett’s Cosmos Nucleus, Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones, and McCoy Tyner’s big band.[1] Anderson’s debut album as a leader was Landmarks, which was recorded in 1995 for Milestone Records. A further album, Decade, was released by Doxy around 2008.
The trombone player’s most recent album is Been Down This Road Before from 2020, featuring vocalist Andy Bey and musicians Renee McLean, Antoine Roney, Eric Wyatt, Peter Bernstein, John F. Adams, Monty Alexander, Stephen Scott, Tadataka Unno, Buster Williams, Tom Barney, Ronnie Burrage, Al Foster, Steve Jordan, Sammy Figueroa, and Victor See Yuen.
Cover: $38.62 – $44.21

BUSTER WILLIAMS
2026-05-16 17:30 - 2026-05-17 23:00 | Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
Buster Williams is a prodigious artist whose playing knows no limits. He has played, recorded and collaborated with jazz giants such as Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Chet Baker, Chick Corea, Dexter Gordon, Jimmy Heath, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Herbie Hancock, Larry Coryell, Lee Konitz, McCoy Tyner, Nancy Wilson, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, The Jazz Crusaders, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Golson, Hank Jones, Lee Morgan, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Rollins, Count Basie, and Freddie Hubbard to name a few.
Buster has recorded soundtracks for movies including Les Choix des Armes, McKenna’s Gold with Gregory Peck, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks “Fire Walk With Me”, Spike Lee’s Clockers, and more. His work in Television includes commercials for Coca-Cola, Old Spice, Prudential Insurance, Chemical Bank, HBO, Budweiser Beer and more. TV shows appearances include The Johnny Carson Tonight Show, The Jay Leno Tonight Show, where he performed five of his original compositions with the Branford Marsalis Tonight Show Band. Other television shows include The Today Show, A&E, The Grammy Awards with Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams and Bobby McFerrin. to name a few.
Showtimes:
Saturday ~ 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Sunday | 5:30pm & 8:00pm
Tickets: $35.00 ~ $60.00 +$7.00 fee

THEO CROKER
2026-05-19 19:00 - 23:00 | Blue Note ~ Los Angeles, 6372 Sunset Boulevard,, Los Angeles, 90028, United States
Grammy-nominated trumpeter, composer, producer, and bandleader Theo Croker continues to expand the boundaries of modern jazz with his new album, Dream Manifest (Dom Recs / Fat Beats, June 13). Hailed by the LA Times as “a path to jazz greatness,” the project blends jazz, experimental hip-hop, and cosmic soul into a genre-defying sonic journey.
Singles like the high-energy “We Still Wanna Dance” (produced by D’LEAU), the soulful “High Vibrations” (featuring Malaya), and the hypnotic “Crystal Waterfalls” showcase Croker’s dynamic vision — a sound both timeless and forward-facing (Wall Street Journal). NPR describes his vibe as “chill,” driven by a “clear musical approach and determination,” qualities that have made him a standout collaborator with Ari Lennox, Common, J. Cole, Jill Scott, and Wyclef Jean.
Croker’s live performances are cinematic and immersive, guided by a producer’s mind and a jazz artist’s spontaneity. As DownBeat notes, he “layers music and lyrics with the deft touch of a hip-hop producer and the spontaneity of a jazz trumpeter.” His trumpet becomes both melody and texture within a rich production landscape performed live with his acoustic band.
In 2025, he premiered Dream Manifest at London’s Barbican Theatre with designer Nicholas Daley. The Evening Standard called it “jazz, just not as we know it,” while Jazzwise praised its emotional depth and “total stage control.”
Tickets: $37.54 ($30.00 + $7.54 fees) | $54.54 ($45.00 + $9.54 fees)
Discounter Parking: $18.80 ($15.00 + $3.80 fees)
$20.00 Minimum Per Person

BILLY CHILDS TRIO
2026-05-19 19:00 - 23:00 | Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
Billy Childs has emerged as one of the foremost American composers of his era, successfully marrying the musical products of his heritage with the Western neoclassical traditions of the twentieth century in a powerful symbiosis of style, range, and dynamism.
Thus far, in his career, Childs has garnered seventeen Grammy nominations and six Grammy awards including two for Best Instrumental Jazz Album (Winds of Change in 2024 and Rebirth in 2018), and two for Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist (including New York Tendaberry from Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro, featuring Renee Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma). In 2006, Childs was awarded a Chamber Music America composer’s grant, and in 2009 was the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2013 he was awarded the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award. He has also been awarded a composers award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (2015). In 2018, Childs was named “Outstanding Alumnus” of the Thornton School of Music (sharing that honor with, among others, Morton Lauridsen, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Marilyn Horne). Childs has also served as president of Chamber Music America (2016-2022).
Born in Los Angeles, California he entered USC as a composition major, graduating four years later with a bachelor of music in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn. Since then Mr. Childs has received a number of orchestral and chamber commissions from, among others: Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Dorian Wind Quintet, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the American Brass Quintet, the Ying Quartet, the Lyris Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, Rachel Barton Pine, and Inna Faliks.
As a pianist Childs has performed with, among others, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, Chick Corea, the Kronos Quartet, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, the Dorian Wind Quintet, Ying Quartet, the American Brass Quintet, and Dave Holland.
Childs’ solo jazz recording career includes four critically acclaimed albums on the Windham Hill Jazz label and two volumes of Chamber Jazz music (Lyric, Vol. 1, 2006 and Autumn: In Moving Pictures, Vol. 2, 2010). Childs expanded upon his talent for seamlessly straddling the lines between jazz and classical worlds with a collection of re-imagined Laura Nyro compositions for Sony Masterworks, released in September 2014. Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro, was produced by Larry Klein and features as guest artists, among others: Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Wayne Shorter, Alison Kraus, Dianne Reeves, Chris Botti, Esperanza Spalding, and Lisa Fischer. In 2017, Childs released the first of his three Mack Avenue recordings, the Grammy Award-winning Rebirth, which was followed by 2020’s Acceptance and 2023’s Grammy Award-winning The Winds of Change.
Childs is an in-demand clinician, whose recent invitations include working with students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, masterclasses at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany, and an educational residency at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Tickets: $35.00 +$7.00 fee
Showtimes: 7:00pm & 9:30pm

LORI WILLIAMS
2026-05-23 19:00 - 23:00 | Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
Celebrate the start of Memorial Day Weekend with an evening of live music at the legendary Blues Alley Jazz as international vocalist Lori Williams takes the stage for one special night featuring two intimate performances. Known for her rich tone, expressive storytelling, and deep musical roots, Lori presents an evening of traditional and contemporary jazz, soul, and inspirational music, delivered with authenticity and emotional depth. This performance offers audiences the opportunity to experience her artistry in the city where her musical journey began. Featuring: Benjie Porecki – keys Tracey Cutler – saxophone Michael Bowie – bass Mark Prince – drums Join us for a meaningful holiday weekend evening of music, reflection, and connection.
Williams is a renowned American jazz vocalist, educator, producer, and arts advocate whose career spans more than 30 years. Known for her smooth, soulful sound and expressive storytelling, she blends traditional and contemporary jazz, soul, and inspirational music, delivering performances rooted in authenticity, reflection, and positive messages. Her work has taken her to stages around the world, earning international respect as both a performer and educator.
An accomplished recording artist, Lori has released multiple albums, including Healing Within and her most recent project, Here We Are, recorded in Austria, reflecting her continued global artistic reach and creative evolution. She has performed at venues such as Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, Middle C Jazz, City Winery, the Capital Jazz Fest and Cruise, as well as numerous international jazz festivals. Her artistry has been recognized by former Vice President and President Joseph Biden, and she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her celebrated portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald.
A graduate of Hampton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communications, Lori is also a veteran music educator. She served for over 30 years in DC Public Schools and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS), advocating for arts education and student empowerment through music. Her educational work continues through her roles as an artist-in-residence, clinician, and workshop leader, where she mentors students and emerging artists through performance-based learning and jazz pedagogy. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at Georgia State University, further deepening her scholarship and artistic practice.
Beyond the stage and classroom, Lori is an accomplished radio producer and host. She produces and hosts Collector’s Choice with Lori Williams on JazzRadioWETF.org and curates the Sunday Jazz Lounge, selecting and hiring talent while fostering community through live jazz experiences. She is also the founder of Positive Music for Positive Minds, an initiative dedicated to inspiring and empowering youth and communities through the arts.
Now based in Georgia, Lori continues to perform, teach, and create opportunities for artists while advancing her lifelong mission to spread peace, purpose, and positivity through jazz, education, and community engagement.
Tickets: $50.00 +$7.00 fee
Showtimes: 7:30pm & 9:30pm

THE GIL EVANS PROJECT
2026-05-26 19:00 - 2026-05-30 23:59 | Birdland, 315 W 44th Street, #5402, New York City, NY, 10036, United States
The Gil Evans Project directed by Ryan Truesdell
In celebration of the centennial of Miles Davis, the Grammy Award-nominated Gil Evans Project returns to Birdland for an epic, five-night tribute to the legendary Evans–Davis collaborations. Led by Grammy Award-winning producer Ryan Truesdell, the all-star ensemble performs the complete music from two of the most groundbreaking albums in jazz history:
Sketches of Spain (Tues/Wed/Thurs, 5/26–28)
Porgy & Bess (Fri/Sat, 5/29–30)
Cover: $45.76 ~ $56.06

NICOLE HENRY
2026-05-29 08:00 - 2026-05-31 17:00 | South, 600 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Nicole Henry’s versatile and emotionally driven performances have captivated audiences in 20 countries. She has established herself among the jazz world’s most acclaimed performers, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance. Usually touring the world with her quartet, Henry has also been a special guest of jazz orchestras, pops orchestras, and big bands.
Heralded by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence, and more, Ms. Henry tells real stories through peerless interpretations of repertoire from the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, popular standards, blues, and originals.
Cover: $40.00 +$3.95 fee

JOE ALTERMAN
2026-06-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Joe Alterman brings his joyful, groove-driven piano style to the stage in a performance rooted in swing, blues, and soul. A longtime mentee of Les McCann and Ramsey Lewis, he carries forward their life-affirming tradition while blending dynamic space and rhythmic fire into a sound that is both polished and accessible. A two-time Grammy–winning contributor, Alterman delivers deep swing, melodic warmth, and the kind of jazz that simply feels good. Whether leading his trio or captivating audiences solo, Alterman’s music has been described by Downbeat Magazine as “hard-swinging” and by the late journalist Nat Hentoff as “making people smile and, if the room is right, dance.”
Joe Alterman ~ piano
Jeff Reed ~ bass
Lenny Robinson ~ drums
Tickets: $15.00 +fee | GA $30.00 ~ $35.00 +fee

QUATRE
2026-06-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Red Light Cafe, 553-1 Amsterdam Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306, United States
Bassist Joel Powell, drummer Chris Burroughs, pianist Tyrone Jackson and trumpeter Joe Gransden take to the stage on a Sunday evening of jazz at the Red Light Cafe.
These four musicians have been individually holding down the jazz scene in Atlanta and the metropolitan area for more than thirty years. They have played off and on with one or more in different configurations and come together as a quartet for a one night only performance.
Cover: $15.00 advance | $20.00 at door

JOHN PIZZARELLI
2026-06-13 17:00 - 2026-06-14 22:00 | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Grammy winning producer, guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli celebrates the centennial of iconic singer Tony Bennett with a pair of heartfelt tributes Dear Mr. Bennett, to be released March 3, 2026, which features Pizzarelli’s trio performing timeless songs made famous by Bennett.
For world-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli, Tony Bennett was more than simply an influence. Pizzarelli’s late father, the revered guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, was a frequent sideman for the legendary singer, appearing on albums including 1960’s To My Wonderful One and 1969’s I’ve Gotta Be Me. John got his own opportunity to accompany Bennett for a radio broadcast that also featured pianist Ralph Sharon and bassist Jay Leonhart. The admiration was mutual – Bennett could be found in the audience for a number of Pizzarelli’s performances, and sketched his likeness on two occasions. The charming artwork that graces the cover of Pizzarelli’s heartfelt new tribute album, Dear Mr. Bennett, was rendered during an engagement at Feinstein’s nightclub at New York’s Loews Regency hotel.
John Pizzarelli ~ guitar and vocals
Isaiah J. Thompson ~ piano
Mike Karn ~ double bass
Tickets: Streaming $15.00 +fee | GA $45.00 ~ $55.00 +fee

DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
2026-06-19 18:00 - 2026-06-20 22:00 | Keystone Korner Baltimore, 1350 Lancaster Street, Baltimore, MD, 21231, United States
Two-time Grammy Winner & NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater Sings the Music of Abbey Lincoln!
Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, Grammy and Tony Award-winning NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. Bridgewater’s career has always bridged musical genres. She earned her first professional experience as a member of the legendary Thad Jones/Mel Louis Big Band, and throughout the 70s she performed with such jazz notables as Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie. After a foray into the pop world during the 1980s, she relocated to Paris and began to turn her attention back to Jazz.
Strongly influenced by jazz icons Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, both of whom she met early in her career, NEA Jazz Master Abbey Lincoln’s distinctive vocal style, thought-provoking writing, and spirited personality secured her a place among the jazz luminaries. Over the years, she has worked with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Benny Garter, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis, Jackie McLean, Clark Terry, and Stan Getz. The recipient of numerous civic and community awards for her work with the poor and disadvantaged, Ms. Lincoln resisted the bleak side of life to emerge as a genuine carrier of celebration through music.
Dee Dee Bridgewater ~ vocals
Alexis Lombre ~ piano & keyboard
Liany Mateo ~ bass
Shirazette Tinnin ~ drums
Tickets: $65.00 ~ %75.00 +fee | Streaming: $20.00 +fee

TYRONE JACKSON QUINTET
2026-07-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Eddie’s Attic, 515-B North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA, 30030, United States
Dr. Tyrone Jackson brings his electric band to Eddie’s Attic. The quintet will explores the innovative edges of jazz and creativity. F.T.M.O. (From The Mind Of) is drawn from his critically acclaimed album From the Mind of Tyrone Jackson, where genres blur but the improvisational aspects of jazz remain central.
The Quintet:
Tyrone Kackson ~ Piano
Lavahi~vocals
Patrick Arthur ~ guitar
Joel Powell ~ bass
Robert Boone ~ drums | Grammy Winner
Cover: $23.37

VANESS RUBIN
2026-07-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison St., Detroit, MI, 48226, United States
The Detroit Jazz Workshop is co-sponsoring to bring the incredible performance of the great Cleveland jazz vocalist, Vanessa Rubin. Joining her on stage is the Duncan McMillan Trio.
Vanessa is a vocalist’s vocalist and can do it all. With Vanessa, you know it’s going to be swingin’, Detroit style!
Cover: $15.00 ~ General Admission | $10.00 ~ Students.

VANESSA RUBIN
2026-07-24 19:00 - 2026-07-25 23:00 | Con Alma, 613 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, United States
Revered as both a torchbearer and a storyteller, jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin possesses a voice hailed for crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and playful lioness sass. The Cleveland native brings a wealth of diverse influences to her vocal performance from both the Trinidadian/Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father. Additional homespun influences include the melodic bell tone clarity of a young Capital Records recording artist, Nancy Wilson, the fire of Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, the sweet sounds of trumpeter Blue Mitchell as well as her love of the Motown Sound…especially girl groups like the Supremes.
The Trio
Vanessa Rubin – vocals
Cliff Barnes – organ
David Throckmorton – drums
Cover: $20.00 ~ $50.00 | Call For Reservations

HENDRIK MEURKENS
2026-07-24 20:00 - 22:00 | The Side Door, Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
One of the most unique and captivating voices in jazz brings his quartet to The Side Door. Hendrik Meurkens is a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone and is widely regarded as the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. Born in Hamburg and now based in New York, his path to musical mastery is one of jazz’s most extraordinary stories. As a teenager, a Benny Goodman record with Lionel Hampton lit the fuse — he had to play vibraphone. Then, at nineteen, he heard Toots Thielemans for the first time and knew he had to play harmonica too. He perfected his unique musical voice at Berklee as a vibraphone major, then moved to Rio de Janeiro in the early 1980s to immerse himself completely in the music and culture of Brazil.
His poignant, emotionally affecting harmonica proved to be a sound that Brazilians strongly embraced, and that deep love of Brazilian music , samba, bossa nova, choro, has never left him, infusing everything he plays with a warmth and rhythmic vitality that is entirely his own. Back in Germany by 1983, he became a respected studio musician, recording with European Radio Orchestras and accompanying visiting legends like Harry “Sweets” Edison and Buddy Tate. He then moved to New York on an exclusive contract with Concord Records and has since released over fifteen acclaimed albums as a leader, performing at festivals and clubs around the world.
The Band
Hendrik Meurkens – Harmonica & Vibraphone
Steve Ash – Piano
Joe Fitzgerald – Bass
Ben Bilello – Drums
Cover: $27.98

BENITO GONZALEZ TRIO
2026-08-08 20:00 - 22:00 | The Side Door, Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Two-time Grammy nominee Benito Gonzalez is joined by legends Buster Williams and Lenny White.
Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Benito Gonzalez grew up immersed in traditional Venezuelan folk music before discovering jazz through the playing of Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, and Keith Jarrett, an early inspiration that shaped his powerful, Afro-Latin-infused approach to the piano. Gonzalez made his way to the United States by a serendipitous route, an American cultural ambassador caught one of his trio gigs and later invited him to Washington, D.C.
He went on to play with Jackie McLean in 2003, then spent nearly seven years touring with Kenny Garrett’s quartet, earning two Grammy nominations for the recordings Seeds from the Underground and Pushing the World Away. In 2019 he joined NEA Jazz Master and Coltrane protégé Pharoah Sanders as pianist and musical director. A 2005 winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and a Steinway artist since 2020, Gonzalez has shared the stage with Dave Liebman, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Al Foster, and many others.
Joining him are two of the most legendary rhythm section players in jazz history. Bassist Buster Williams has anchored some of the most important recordings and bands of the past six decades, from Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis to McCoy Tyner and Ron Carter, and remains one of the most revered bassists in the music. Drummer Lenny White, a member of the original lineup of Return to Forever and a Grammy-winning legend in his own right, brings a depth of groove and history matched by few. Together, this trio represents three generations of jazz mastery converging in one room.
The Band:
Benito Gonzalez – Piano
Buster Williams – Bass
Lenny White – Drums
Cover: $38.57

NAT REEVES SEXTET
2026-08-14 20:00 - 22:00 | The Side Door, Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Nat Reeves brings his sextet to The Side Door, the same all-star group from his new album Now in Time. For over 40 years, Nat Reeves has been one of the most respected bassists in jazz. Early in his career he performed with Jackie McLean, Benny Golson, Donald Byrd, Art Taylor, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Kirkland, and Kenny Drew. He became a longtime member of Kenny Garrett’s group beginning in 1994, and has worked and recorded with Pharoah Sanders, George Coleman, Harold Mabern, George Cables, and Joe Farnsworth, among many others. He has released three albums as a leader, State of Emergency, Blue Ridge, and now Now in Time, released April 17, 2026 on Cellar Live.
Now in Time brings together an extraordinary lineup spanning multiple generations of jazz, twelve tracks running just over an hour that move comfortably between Reeves’ own original compositions and a thoughtful selection of standards, including “On Green Dolphin Street,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and a tribute to Marvin Gaye with “The Creator Has a Master Plan.” Throughout the record, Reeves’ bass acts as a quiet narrator, steering the music’s direction with the kind of unhurried confidence that comes from four decades on the bandstand. Critics have praised the album as a recording that rewards close, attentive listening, one that resists the pace of casual consumption and instead invites listeners to settle into a long evening built on the trust and shared musical language of these six players.
T
his is a rare chance to hear the album’s celebrated lineup perform the music live, in an intimate setting.
The Band:
Nat Reeves – Bass
Eric Alexander – Tenor Saxophone
Steve Davis – Trombone
Eddie Henderson – Trumpet
Caelan Cardello – Piano
Jeff “Tain” Watts – Drums
Cover: $38.57
