Pat Mallinger was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and began playing the saxophone at 11 years of age. He received his Jazz Studies degree from North Texas State University on a “One O’clock Lab Band” Scholarship. He lived and performed in Los Angeles, Dallas, Boston, and Japan, before establishing Chicago as his home in […]
Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. A recognized prodigy, Cohen began Suzuki method piano instruction at age three. He quickly became a mature player, melding musicality, technique, and concept. Downbeat observed that his “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary indicate he’s above any convoluted technical […]
The Supergroup, formed by the first letters of their first names, as well as the term BPM stands for beats per minute, the definition of the tempo in music. Collectively they are responsible for over 80 Billboard Smooth Jazz Number 1 Hits and many hundreds of thousands of record sales. Now together as BPM, they […]
A exhilarating jazz filled collaboration with drummer Mike Clark, guitarist Dave Stryker, organist Mike LeDonne, and saxophonist Rob Dixon. A night with original and fan favorite compositions, this swinging ensemble will get your toes tappin' and fingers snappin' with exceptional musicianship and innovation. Mike Clark is a legendary drummer known for his innovative rhythmic approach and his contributions to jazz fusion and […]
Detroit soul jazz flutist & Billboard chart-topping sensation brings her red hot band back to the Rubber City in a sizzlin' return to BLU! Althea was born December 25th in Detroit, Michigan and began her musical journey at the tender age four. She studied classical music while attending Howard University in Washington D.C. and later […]
At the core of Firey String Sistas are three powerhouse women, Nioka Workman (founder),Marlene Rice and Mala Waldron. Together they infuse world, global funk, ‘head bopping’ soul and Jazz music to produce a unique sound for violin, cello, bass, piano and percussion. The Firey String Sistas extend from 3 to 5 members, featuring cutting edge […]
Emmet Cohen is committed to the intergenerational transfer of artistic knowledge, history, and traditions. His signature professional undertaking is the "Masters Legacy Series," a celebratory set of recordings and interviews honoring legendary jazz musicians. He serves as both producer and pianist for each album in the series. The goal of this landmark, ongoing project is […]
The Texas State University Jazz Studies program prides itself on providing an intensive, nurturing environment that emphasizes student-faculty interaction and encourages its diverse student population to find their own voices as performers. Proximity to both Austin and San Antonio enables students to pursue external performance opportunities that enhance their education. The jazz faculty comprises first-call […]
Vocalist Malaya Sol breathes fresh life to Boleros and Sambas in her distinct sound described by Allen Foster on AXS.com as "...an incredible excursion that traveled both around the globe and through time...Her tone is a divine gossamer spun from opulent gold fibers, and her intimate style of delivery is utterly captivating." Lineup: Malaya Sol […]
Celebrating Sinatra! Charismatic crooner Bryan Anthony keeps the legacy of the Great Gentlemen of Song (especially Sinatra) alive and well in his immensely satisfying and sweetly nostalgic performances. A veteran vocalist of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Anthony provides stunning homages to the Swing Era for contemporary audiences. Parker […]
As lead vocalist, lyricist, and composer for internationally and critically acclaimed two-time Grammy Award-winning roots music group, Ranky Tanky, Quiana Parler spent weeks at #1 on several Billboard Jazz charts. Quiana has spent over 20 years as the most sought-after vocalist in the Lowcountry. Known locally for years prior, she rose to national prominence after […]
Acclaimed international Jazz vocalist Lori Williams has a most impressive resume as a performing artist, music educator, songwriter, producer, musical theater actress, radio host, business owner (PositiveMusicPM.org), and artist-in-residence with over 30 years of experience. Her annual vocal jazz tour and performance at music festivals have taken her to Europe (Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Russia, […]
jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer and educator from New York City, his parents were Jamaican and Trinidadian, and he has used their Afro-Caribbean musical styles in his own work. He has worked with, among others, Don Cherry, Jayne Cortez, the South African pianist Dollar Brand (now Abdullah Ibrahim), Randy Weston, for whom he was musical director, Jimmy Scott and fronts a powerhouse band of his […]
Sy Smith has proven throughout her career that an R&B artist can be progressive while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. Foremost a singer with a vocal range spanning five octaves, Smith began an unending succession of background gigs with Whitney Houston in the late '90s, and has since worked closely with Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti […]
Grammy-nominated, vocalist extraordinaire Debo Ray is an immersive musical and visual experience. She has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages: Newport and Monterey Jazz, Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl and more. Her versatility from neo-soul/R&B to jazz, pop, classical/opera and rock is unmatched. In a Boston Globe feature, music critic Jon Garelick asks: […]
As a leading voice in American popular music, the Grammy Award-winning trumpeter is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, producer, arranger, essayist, and social activist who defies musical and artistic categories. All the while, he honors the tradition of what he terms “postmodern New Orleans music,” as well as the spirit of Black American Music, of which […]
Her own trio, The Sheryl Bailey 3, is a modernized version of the organ trio-"the ultimate organ trio" according to JazzInside Magazine. In addition to their 15-year plus residency at NYC's 55 Bar, they have toured China, Canada, Europe and the US. She also tours the world as a member of David Krakauer's "Ancestral Groove". A partial […]
Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with "the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat 'King' Cole," Allan Harris is a Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and band leader. With an impressive discography boasting fourteen recordings as a leader, Harris has […]
In fact, this true all-star band has been a sensation going back to 1997, when they began a 20-year run on Thursdays at Portland’s legendary “Jimmy Mak’s” music venue (The Oregonian dubbed them “Jimmy Mak’s signature group”). With a collective resume that reads like a "Who's Who" of NW jazz, blues, and soul, this group […]
A native of New Orleans, Riley started on the drums when he was three. He played trumpet through high school, but he went back to drums in college. After graduating, he spent three years as a member of a band led by Ahmad Jamal. He has worked often with Wynton Marsalis as a member of the Jazz […]
A dynamic lead bass player from Kansas City, bassist Julian Vaughn is rapidly becoming a major player in the contemporary jazz genre. Vaughn has made a name for himself as bassist in the smooth jazz genre which is dominated by saxophone players. Vaughn grew up in the church where his grandfather pastored until turning over […]
Audrey Silver's voice is like pure sterling. Her phrasing is exquisite, her clarity and enunciation on par with the great Jo Stafford and her breath control is a talent so often, and so wrongfully overlooked rivals Sinatra's. She honed her craft through private study with singers Shelia Jordan and Mark Murphy. She has worked with […]
Award-winning drummer and bandleader Ulysses Owens, Jr. returns to Dizzy’s Club with his powerhouse big band for a five-night engagement. Known for his electrifying performances, Owens crafts a thrilling musical journey through original compositions and vibrant arrangements of works by giants like Terence Blanchard, John Coltrane, and Mulgrew Miller. His repertoire serves as a canvas […]
Grammy Award-Winning Vocalist with The Lavon Stevens Trio As lead vocalist, lyricist, and composer for internationally and critically acclaimed two-time Grammy Award-winning roots music group, Ranky Tanky, Quiana Parler spent weeks at #1 on several Billboard Jazz charts. She has spent over 20 years as the most sought-after vocalist in the Lowcountry. Known locally for […]