MOTOWN REIMAGINED! 27 #1 hits, over 60 top 10 hits. Motown had so many hits that one could put together five separate shows of their music and still have plenty of songs left over. The exemplary songwriting of Smokey Robinson, Holland/Dozier/Holland, as well as Berry Gordy himself, along with the interpretation by such legends as […]
Joe Alterman Album Release Show Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naivete, with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome. One would not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his music as "happy music with tasty meat on the bones," Les McCann states […]
Described as both a “young phenom…on piano” and an “absolute great,” Jeb Patton has earned a well-regarded reputation in the international jazz community. The multi-talented Patton is known as a “player of great expression” and “not one to tread the predictable,” as well as a “simpatico accompanist” for The Heath Brothers, an “innovative” arranger, and […]
Pianist Bertha Hope pays tribute to her late first husband with a Salute to Elmo Hope's Centennial. Hope-Booker started playing professionally in Johnny Otis's band as well as local trios. In 1958, Hope-Booker met Elmo Hope who was touring with Sonny Rollins. Hope-Booker married Elmo in 1960 and the following year they moved to New York City. Together they recorded […]
Featuring Jay Anderson & Matt Wilson Soskin has recorded and performed with such diverse musicians as Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Buster Williams, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Cornell Dupree, Herbie Mann, John Abercrombie, Claudio Roditi, Sheila Jordan, Gato Barbieri, Joe Locke, David"Fathead"Newman, Mark Murphy, Slide Hampton, Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Bobby Watson, […]
“One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz” – All About Jazz Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs makes a long-awaited Smoke Jazz Club debut, leading a very special quartet featuring acclaimed trumpeter Sean Jones with bassist Matt Penman and drummer Ari Hoenig. A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in […]
The music of Steve Swallow, Clare Fischer, Benny Golson, A.C.Jobim, McCoy Tyner, Kenny Garrett, Roland Kirk, Dizzy Gillespie, Mingus & Coltrane. Scott FitzGibbon | flute, saxophone Ken Johnston | trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn Gus Russell | piano Robert Lassila | bass Joe Kelner | drums
The name Tyrone Jackson is the quintessential jazz piano player. His boundless creativity coupled with harmonic mastery, utilizes the piano as a blank canvas. Jackson is nationally recognized and has traveled the world as a solo artist and sideman. As a composer, Jackson has composed original music for Pulitizer Prize winning author Natasha Tretheway's book of […]
Steve Tyrell GRAMMY Award-winning producer and vocalist Steve Tyrell is the definition of a renaissance man. In his nearly five decades in the music business, he has achieved success as a singer, songwriter, producer, music supervisor, and most recently, radio host. His breakthrough performances in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II […]
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, pianist Luther S. Allison is a rising star who is making his Smoke debut as a leader with a stellar sextet featuring the great saxophonist Steve Wilson. Allison has already gained a reputation working alongside Rodney Whitaker, Jazzmeia Horn, The Baylor Project, Samara Joy, Gregory Tardy, Ulysses Owens Jr. and […]
“Anyone who is serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists.” – All About Jazz 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 […]
Pianist, composer, producer and arranger Demetrius “Krayon” Nabors is well known and in demand in the Detroit area and on the national contemporary jazz scene. He is a two-time Detroit Music Award Winner in the Outstanding Gospel/Christian Musician category. His considerable talents caught the attention of numerous high-profile national artists, including R&B singer KEM, flutist […]
Nearly sixty years after he moved to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica, his hometown, Grammy nominated pianist Monty Alexander is an American classic, touring the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. A perennial favorite at Jazz festivals and venues worldwide and at the […]
“Blind Date” feat. Christian Jacob “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 “Brecker has the chops to play it cool or hot, laid-back or virtuosic.” – Downbeat 9-time Grammy-nominated vocalist Tierney […]
Randy Porter: Piano | Garrett Baxter: Bass | Charlie Doggett: Drums Grammy-nominated jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. As a Steinway Artist, Randy Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. Lynn Darroch of The […]
The Heavy Hitters is a sextet co-led by pianist Mike LeDonne and tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. The band is rounded out by some of the premiere purveyors of straight-ahead swinging jazz: Vincent Herring on alto saxophone, Joshua Bruneau on trumpet, Peter Washington on upright bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. The music is built to […]
At 43, Tyshawn Sorey is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist, and professor of contemporary music. Sorey has received accolades for performances, recordings, and compositions ranging from improvised solo percussion to opera, with work in best-of lists for both classical and jazz music. A Newark native, is among the most formidable denizens of the in-between zone. Here […]
A jazz Celebration of Stevie Wonder featuring special guest Adam McKnight. For over 35 years, Maria Howell, this petite North Carolina native, who splits her time between both the east coast and the west coast, has developed her career as a singer, actor, and voiceover artist. Her debut acting role was the choir soloist in […]
George Colligan - piano | Nicole Glover - saxophone | Alex Claffy - bass | Kush Abadey - drums George Colligan is not only one of the great jazz pianists of his generation, but he has earned an international reputation as a multi-instrumentalist (drums, trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer, accompanist, teacher, and bandleader, as well as […]
Joey Alexander, is an Indonesian jazz pianist. He became the first Indonesian musician to chart on Billboard 200 when his album My Favorite Things debuted at number 174 and then peaked at 59. His first album, My Favorite Things, was released in 2015 when he was 11 years old. Widely regarded as a wunderkind, Alexander taught himself to play jazz at the age […]
Laurence Hobgood: pianist, Matt Clohesy: bass, Jared Schonig: drums. Laurence Hobgood, a multifaceted artist with a career spanning over three decades, brings his exceptional talents to the stage. From a young age, he immersed himself in the world of music, ultimately transitioning to jazz during his time at the University of Illinois. It was there […]
Michael Wolff ~ piano, Ben Allison ~ bass, Allison Miller ~ drums. In the summer of 2015, the renowned pianist-composer battled a rare cancer, defying the odds to make a remarkable recovery. His sons Nat and Alex, known from The Naked Brothers Band, played by his side during his darkest moments. Today, he is completely […]
Mandy Gaines ~ vocalist | Sergio Pamies ~ piano Mandy Gaines began singing at an early age in school and church. She holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster in Speech/Arts. She has continued her studies through private vocal instruction and workshops emphasizing oral interpretation, jazz improvisation, vocal technique, theatre, and broadcasting/media studies. Born […]
Atlanta native Joe Alterman expresses a certain upbeat naivete, with a broad smile and bright eyes that make you feel welcome. One would not guess that this is a man hailed by greats; Ramsey Lewis describes his music as "happy music with tasty meat on the bones," Les McCann states "Joe's on a 'blow your […]