Chuck Israels is a composer/arranger/bassist who has worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, J.J. Johnson, John Coltrane, and many others. He is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1961 through 1966 and for his pioneering accomplishments in Jazz Repertory as Director of the National […]
Aaron Lessard is a Nashville Jazz/Fusion guitarist. His show brings a barrage of melodic and high flying guitar along with a stunning trio to back him. A product of the Berklee College of Music, Lessard’s influences range from greats like Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, John Scofield, and Robben Ford. His mix of original compositions and […]
By some measures, Kevin Bales was a latecomer to jazz, already 17 when he encountered the sounds and structures and became captivated by the freedom and corresponding challenges of the music. But if late to the party, he wasted no time in immersing himself in the celebration, declaring total commitment to what would be his […]
Itamar Borochov, Trumpet/Effects/Vocals Rob Clearfield, Piano/Effects Sam Weber, Bass Jay Sawyer, Drums Raised in the cosmopolitan port city of Jaffa, now a significant presence on the international jazz scene, Borochov is creating a new musical hybrid - bringing the sacred sounds of his upbringing to a jazz quartet setting. His third release Blue Nights (Laborie […]
Lezlie Harrison – vocals Antoine Drye – trumpet John DiMartino – piano Yoshi Waki – bass Russell Carter – drums Vocalist Lezlie Harrison, whose burnished, soulful alto strikingly illuminates a distinctive blend of standards, classic 70s soul, and her original music, leads a quintet with trumpeter Antoine Drye, pianist John DiMartino, bassist Yoshi Waki, and drummer Russell Carter. Drawing her diverse repertoire from foundational sources like the soul […]
Rebecca Kilgore, Vocals | Randy Porter, Piano | Tom Wakeling, Bass
"Back Home In Kansas City" Record Release Bobby Watson – alto saxophone Wallace Roney Jr – trumpet Cyrus Chestnut – piano Curtis Lundy – bass Victor Jones – drums Alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, one of the most acclaimed and beloved artists of the last 40+ years, returns to New York City and Smoke to celebrate […]
Mary Stallings is a classic example of how it takes time, musical seasoning and living a full life to mature as a vocalist and to address a lyric properly. While youthful instrumentalists may have something to say, Stallings brings a lifetime of emotional intelligence that enables her to truly inhabit a lyric. “Mary Stallings is […]
Harlem born, New York City raised, Bobby Broom has been heralded as “one of the most musical guitarists of our time” by jazz historian and author, Ted Gioia. Playing Carnegie Hall with Sonny Rollins and Donald Byrd at age 16, Broom recorded his debut as a leader, “Clean Sweep,” for GRP Records at age 20. […]
“Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never lets its essence slip away.” — The New York Times An 9-time Grammy nominee, Tierney Sutton has received 8 Nominations for “Best Jazz Vocal Album” as well as a 9th for arranging. Known for her impeccable […]
Multi-instrumentalist and Portland native Machado Mijiga wears many hats, both literally and metaphorically. Classically-trained, jazz-weathered, and eclectically inclined, Mijiga left the proverbial creative "box" at a very early age, with access to many instruments and a diverse musical background brought about by an intercultural heritage. Mijiga is a musical polymath; composer, producer, bandleader, educator, gear […]
Jeff Jenkins – Piano | Darryl White – Trumpet, Flugelhorn | Dale Black – Acoustic Bass | Jeffrey Johnson – Drums Omaha-based jazz pianist, composer, and educator Jeff Jenkins was recently a professor of music in the Thompson Jazz Studies Program at the University of Colorado at Boulder.Grounded in a wide range of jazz styles, he […]
Chalis O'Neal is one of the best trumpet players in Kansas City and we are lucky to have his trio coming to perform. Make your reservation today before tables fill up!
Pianist Shedrick Mitchell leads a quartet in celebration of his new album. After releasing his debut recording in 1997, Mitchell began a history-making run supporting some of the biggest names in music including Maxwell, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Jay-Z, Whitney Houston, Christian McBride, and Dianne Reeves. After a 25-year hiatus of recording as a leader, […]
The Harlem Jazz Session is a weekly concert & jam session hosted by 3x Grammy and Latin Grammy winning saxophonist/composer, Peter Brainin, featuring the hottest and most innovative musicians from around the world and around the corner! Weekly roster includes all star musicians: Paul Bollenback, Cecilia Coleman, Gary Versace, Mike Karn, Anthony Pinciotti and MORE! […]
Herschel McWilliams is a life long resident of the Kansas City area. Born and raised in Kansas City, KS, growing up the son of musicians (father who is a drummer & mother is pianist) he was introduced to many musical influences at an early age. He started learning piano at 8 years old and alto […]
George Cables – piano Craig Handy – tenor saxophone Essiet Essiet – bass Jerome Jennings – drums One of the essential artists of piano, George Cables (aka “Mr. Beautiful”) is known for his impeccable sound, sensitive accompaniment, and original playing. A trusted collaborator over the past 50 years for artists like Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, […]
Stanley Clark is a four-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist, performer, composer, conductor, arranger, producer, a composer for recordings and film, as well as one of the most celebrated acoustic and electric bass players in the world. Known for his musicality, dexterity, and ferocity on the acoustic and electric bass, Clarke was the first jazz fusion bassist […]
The music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is filled with empathy and conviction, bonding arcs of melody and lamentation to pluming gestures of space and breath. Listeners were introduced to this riveting sound with his acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times. The album also introduced his […]
Cynthia Scott – vocals Houston Person – tenor saxophone Jeb Patton – piano Russell Hall – bass Willie Jones III – drums Cynthia Scott, a soulful, Grammy-nominated vocalist, leads a swinging quintet featuring the legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person. Scott worked with Ray Charles as a Raelette before launching her successful solo career and subsequently […]
Eddie Henderson – trumpet Donald Harrison – alto saxophone Kevin Hays – piano Gerald Cannon – bass Mike Clark – drums Trumpeter Eddie Henderson leads an inspired quintet of trusted collaborators featuring saxophonist Donald Harrison, pianist Kevin Hays, bassist Gerald Cannon, and drummer Mike Clark. Henderson’s “deft feel and plush sound made him a central […]
Singer/Songwriter Eugenie Jones is an exceptional vocalist and cleverly gifted lyricist who has released highly praised, primarily original, vocal projects. Her current release - Players - was a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy contender and internationally ranked #7 on Jazz Week's top 50 charts. Jones is additionally an Earshot Jazz Vocalist of the Year award recipient and the first vocal recording artist to receive Earshot's Recording of […]
Dave Stryker Trio with Warren Wolf Dave Stryker~Guitar, Warren Wolf~Vibraphone, Jared Gold~Organ, McClenty Hunter ~Drums The Dave Stryker Trio will be featuring new material from their latest CD "PRIME!" Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 30 CD’s as a leader to date), or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, […]
Join us, as trumpeter, educator, and composer, Mark Russo, takes us on a musical journey throughout the "The Blue Note Era", with his jazz quartet. Line-up: Mark Russo: Trumpet, A.J. Kluth - Tenor Sax, Ian Kinnaman - Bass, Jonathan Hooper - Piano, Ricky Exton - Drums A freelance jazz trumpet player and educator in the greater Cleveland area. He […]