JACQUES LESURE TRIO
The guitarist takes to the stage bringing special friends with him for an evening of great jazz. Coming out of Detroit the jazz guitarist is a recording artist is signed to WJ3 Records.
He has performed with several jazz artists, such as Jimmy Smith and Stanley Turrentine as well as Wynton Marsalis, Eric Reed, Warren Wolf and Gregory Porter.His performances can be heard in La La Land, the Academy Award winning movie.
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JOE GRANSDEN JAM SESSION
Trumpeter Joe Gransden has been playing for more than forty years. Not long after high school, Joe was on the road as a sideman with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. A number of A.F.M. contracted sideman gigs include Barry White, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, The Whispers, etc. Eventually moving to New York City, he performed with numerous groups, including sub work with Toshiko Akiyoshi and Chico O’Farrill at the famous Birdland Jazz Club. Meanwhile, Joe formed his own group, which performed in Brooklyn each week and included the venerable guitarist Joe Cohn and ex-Betty Carter bassist, Matt Hughes. He leads a 16 piece big band along with configurations of quartet and quintet, conducts a jazz camp and holds court with a weekly jazz jam every Monday evening.
Musicians bring your instrument and join on stage!
Cover: Free
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LOUIS HERIVEAUX
Heriveaux plays Mood Indigo, classic sounds inspired by the 1920s.
After graduating from Griffin High School in 1992, Louis settled in Atlanta, Georgia. Louis began playing Jazz on Atlanta’s Jazz scene, at age 17. Heads began to turn and fellow musicians and club owners began to take notice of his early signs of professionalism and confidence at the piano.
At age 19, a prominent Jazz guitarist began frequenting jam sessions in Atlanta, where Louis often sat in. After several visits to the jam session, it was Russell Malone that hand-picked Louis to join his world-class quartet. Louis graciously accepted the invitation and became an international Jazz musician, performing with Russell Malone for two years, on some of the most famous stages Jazz music has ever known.
Louis’ time spent with Russell Malone was a pivotal move in his budding career as a Jazz musician. That gig opened doors for other opportunities for this young, gifted musician. Jazz vocalists began to seek Louis out for his ability to accompany them with an innate ability to assess their needs during a performance and at rehearsals. Vocalist Jeanie Bryson invited Louis to do a Southeast tour with her and he once again hit the road! His finesse on the piano also caught the attention of Nnenna Freelon, who sought him out as an accompanist for one of her engagements as well.
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LOUIS HERIVEAUX
Heriveaux plays Mood Indigo, classic sounds inspired by the 1920s.
After graduating from Griffin High School in 1992, Louis settled in Atlanta, Georgia. Louis began playing Jazz on Atlanta’s Jazz scene, at age 17. Heads began to turn and fellow musicians and club owners began to take notice of his early signs of professionalism and confidence at the piano.
At age 19, a prominent Jazz guitarist began frequenting jam sessions in Atlanta, where Louis often sat in. After several visits to the jam session, it was Russell Malone that hand-picked Louis to join his world-class quartet. Louis graciously accepted the invitation and became an international Jazz musician, performing with Russell Malone for two years, on some of the most famous stages Jazz music has ever known.
Louis’ time spent with Russell Malone was a pivotal move in his budding career as a Jazz musician. That gig opened doors for other opportunities for this young, gifted musician. Jazz vocalists began to seek Louis out for his ability to accompany them with an innate ability to assess their needs during a performance and at rehearsals. Vocalist Jeanie Bryson invited Louis to do a Southeast tour with her and he once again hit the road! His finesse on the piano also caught the attention of Nnenna Freelon, who sought him out as an accompanist for one of her engagements as well.
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STANLEY CLARKE
Stanley Clarke 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 to headline tours, selling out performances around the world.
Originally a double bass player who aspired to play in the Philadelphia Orchestra, Clarke was seduced by jazz, and moved to New York City to work with Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Stan Getz and, most importantly, Chick Corea. Clarke and Corea formed the legendary cutting-edge jazz-rock fusion band Return to Forever, and during that time Clarke developed an entirely new way of playing the bass, liberating it from the rhythm section to become a lead instrument. His creativity has been recognized and rewarded in every way imaginable. In 2022, Clarke was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2011 he received the highly prestigious Miles Davis Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in recognition of his body of work.
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NICHOLAS PAYTON TRIO
Nicholas Payton – trumpet, piano & keyboards | Peter Washington – bass | Kenny Washington – drums
“Payton’s genius virtuosity captivated both faithful fans and anyone in the NPR crowd just discovering his music for the first time. – NPR
Multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton reunites the trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington that recorded his acclaimed Smoke live album Live Relaxin’ with Nick. A multi-instrumental virtuoso from New Orleans, Payton is a master trumpeter (and pianist) who brings insight, inspiration, and passion to a wide spectrum of Black American Music. Over the years, he has recorded and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Dr. Michael White, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Doc Cheatham, and Joe Henderson, among many others, and is widely considered one of the most important artists of our time.
In a review, the Chicago Tribune states, “No descriptive label or category could be affixed to Payton’s solos, which were as brashly original as they were technically imposing.”
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RUSSELL MALONE QUARTET
Russell Malone – guitar | Rick Germanson – piano | Vincent DuPont – drums | Neal Smith – drums
“Russell Malone has the storytelling skills of a great singer, perhaps a legacy of his many years with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall. – The Times (UK)
Guitar master Russell Malone leads his popular quartet with pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Vincent Dupont, and drummer Neal Smith. Malone is a musician deeply rooted in the blues and bebop, and his soulfully swinging approach is just one of many reasons why he is so popular. Chicago Tribune states, “Though he spikes his solos with occasional running lines, it’s gently rolled chords and lush sequences of harmonies that ultimately define his work,” and Jazz Times describes him as “an uncommonly sensitive interpreter of ballads.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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JANE MONHEIT
Record Release
Jane Monheit – vocals | Max Haymer – piano | Karl McComas-Reichl – bass | Curtis Nowosad – drums
“A voice of phenomenal beauty.” – The New York Times
Jane Monheit makes a highly anticipated Smoke debut to celebrate the release of her new album. A celebrated vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook, Monheit has been at the forefront of jazz singing since she emerged over 20 years ago to instant acclaim. During the ensuing years, she has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz, including Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, and many more.
All About Jazz writes, “Monheit has great chops, a terrific voice.” Downbeat adds, “Monheit continues to dazzle.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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THE MUSIC OF BENNY GOLSON
Eddie Henderson – trumpet | Ralph Moore – tenor saxophone | Steve Davis – trombone | Mike LeDonne – piano | Buster Williams – bass | Carl Allen – drums
“Among jazz’s greatest living composers.” – The Washington Post The music of jazz legend Benny Golson is celebrated and performed by the New Jazztet featuring trumpeter Eddie Henderson, trombonist Steve Davis, pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Carl Allen with special guest Ralph Moore on tenor saxophone. This group recorded together under Golson’s leadership in 2008, which resulted in the acclaimed album, New Time, New ’Tet. Golson is one of the most important contributors to jazz history as a player and the jazz canon as composer writing such enduring classics as “Killer Joe,” “I Remember Clifford,” “Along Came Betty,” “Stablemates,” “Whisper Not,” “Blues March,” “Five Spot After Dark,” and “Are you Real?” among quite a few others. He also was a major influence on the tenor saxophone playing in the bands of Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic, and Art Blakey. The full impact of his career on American culture is hard to summarize but Downbeat called him “a defining voice of modern jazz.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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CHARLES MCPHERSON
Reverence | Record Release
Charles McPherson – alto saxophone | Terell Stafford – trumpet | Jeb Patton – piano | Peter Washington – bass | Billy Drummond – drums
“No jazz musician of the past 60 years has more palpably channeled the sound of Charlie Parker than alto saxophonist Charles McPherson.” – Jazziz
Alto saxophonist and bebop legend Charles McPherson celebrates the release of his new Smoke Sessions album, Reverence, with his quintet featuring trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Jeb Patton, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Billy Drummond. One of the most acclaimed and beloved voices in jazz, McPherson’s rich musical style is rooted in the blues and bebop and has influenced and inspired generations of musicians and listeners for over six decades. He has performed at concerts and festivals around the world with jazz greats like Barry Harris, Billy Eckstine, Nat Adderley, Jay McShann, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and others. In a recent review, Downbeat states, “As a still-vibrant jazz veteran with ties to innovators like Charles Mingus and Lionel Hampton, McPherson’s writing carries on the traditional weight of bebop and swing, buoyed with an inventive, contemporary spark.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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JACKY TERRASSON TRIO
Moving On ~ Record Release
Jacky Terrasson – piano | Kenny Davis – bass | Alvester Garnett – drums | Special Guest: Grégoire Maret – harmonica (Sat & Sun)
“Terrasson boasts a smooth-rolling conception and sophisticated touch that have long set him apart from the pack.” – Time Out New York Pianist Jacky Terrasson celebrates the release of his new album, “Moving On,” leading his American trio with bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Alvester Garnett with special guest Saturday and Sunday Grégoire Maret on harmonica. Since his arrival on the scene over 30 years ago, Terrasson has been one of the most groundbreaking and original pianists who has helped to reshape and redefine the sound of the classic trio. His inspired repertoire, bracing solos, and dramatic ensemble interplay are some of the hallmarks of his celebrated music. London Jazz News reports, “Terrasson has presence and theatricality, and his performance(s) brim with good ideas,” while JazzTimes reports, “There’s excitement and ingenuity embedded throughout (his) wholly original, shrewdly executed arrangements.”
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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ODE FOR JOE: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF JOE HENDERSON
Nicholas Payton – trumpet | Walter Smith III – tenor saxophone (Wed – Fri, 4/17 – 4/19) | Melissa Aldana – tenor saxophone (Sat – Sun, 4/20 – 4/21) | Renee Rosnes – piano | Peter Washington – bass | Al Foster – drums
An all-star group performs the music of Joe Henderson, one of the most distinctive and admired artists in jazz history. Henderson was a prolific composer who wrote numerous jazz standards and was a transcendent soloist who left a discography of classic albums. The Guardian called him “a giant of the jazz saxophone.” The New York Times added, “Mr. Henderson was unmistakably modern,” and quoted the great Benny Golson, “Joe had one foot in the present, the other in the future, and he was just a step away from immortality.” Pianist Renee Rosnes and drummer Al Foster each spent significant parts of their careers working alongside Henderson. They celebrate Henderson’s April 24th birthday.
***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees apply to all tickets
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WARREN WOLF & HISTORY OF THE VIBES
Warren Wolf [vibes]
Alex Brown [piano]
Blake Meister [bass]
Tim Green [saxophone] (Friday & Saturday)
Quincy Phillips [drums] (Friday & Sunday)
Eric Kennedy [drums] (Saturday only)
Warren Wolf is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD. From the young age of three years old, Warren has been trained on the Vibraphone/Marimba, Drums, and Piano. Under the guidance of his father Warren Wolf Sr., Warren has a deep background in all genres of music. Vibraphonist Warren Wolf is one of the hardest swinging virtuosos in all of modern music.
Friday at 7pm
Saturday at 6pm & 8:30pm
Sunday at 5pm
Streaming Passes: $15.00 | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE
Virtuoso bassist and 8-time Grammy Award Winner Christian McBride premieres his exciting new Quintet, URSA MAJOR, with saxophonist Emilio Modeste, guitarist Ely Perlam, pianist Mike King & drummer Savannah Harris!
Christian McBride has been one of the most important and prolific figures in the jazz world for 20 years. Christian is one of the most acclaimed jazz bassists of his generation, renowned for his bold, swinging style and robust sound. He has appeared on more than 300 recordings as a sideman. Earning a 2016 GRAMMY Award for “Best Improvised Jazz Solo”, the only bassist to ever win at this category.
Streaming Pass: $15.00 | Fees Apply To All Tickets
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JAZZMEIA HORN
With a maturity and vocal confidence that goes well beyond her years, with a frank tone reminiscent of Nina Simone, the young singer Jazzmeia Horn arrives on the international music scene revealing an undisputed talent.
Winner of the prestigious Thelonius Monk International Vocal Jazz Competition 2015 , Jazzmeia is ready to take her place alongside today’s best jazz vocalists. Naturalness and an eye towards a modern approach to vocality are some of the characteristics of her art.
Born in Dallas in 1991, Jazzmeia Horn grew up in a musically talented family, and it was her grandmother, a jazz-loving pianist, who gave her her distinctive name. She began singing as a child, but it was after she moved to New York that the most prestigious awards and three Grammy-nominated albums arrived, jewels of classic jazz, gospel and neo-soul.
The Performers:
Jazzmeia Horn: vocals | Victor Gould: piano | Jason Clotter: contra~bass | Michael Reed: drums
***Website requires translation
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PAQUITO D’RIVERA QUINTET
Paquito D’Rivera is a living monument of Latin jazz. Born in Havana in 1948, he was introduced to music at an early age by his father, who is a classical saxophonist but also with a clear passion for listening to jazz. During his studies at the Havana Conservatory of Music he met Chucho Valdés with whom in 1967 he created the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna. But it was in 1973 that the two laid the foundations for their legend: they founded the group Irakere, mixing jazz, rock, classical and Cuban music. A mix with Western music certainly not too pleasing to the Cuban regime: it was precisely the continuous interference of the communist government that pushed D’Rivera to ask for political asylum from the United States in 1980.
Even in his new homeland he soon emerged as a beacon of Latin jazz . He collaborates with McCoy Tyner, George Coleman, Chick Corea, Tito Puente, Astor Piazzolla, while in his formations he welcomes young musicians, projecting them towards international fame (Michel Camilo, Danilo Pérez, Hilton Ruiz, Claudio Roditi). In 1989 he joined one of the most amazing Afro-Latin orchestras that have ever graced the stage, the United Nation Orchestra created by Dizzy Gillespie, of which he himself became director after Gillespie’s death.
He is the only artist who can boast of having won the Grammy Award for both jazz, Latin and classical music. And D’Rivera has won quite a few awards: the last two at the 2023 Latin Grammys for the best Latin jazz/jazz album ( I Missed You Too!, with Chucho Valdés) and for the best contemporary classical composition (the Concerto Venezolano , recorded by trumpeter Pacho Flores..
The Band:
Paquito D’Rivera: clarinet/saxophone | Jose Rivero: piano | Gaston Joya: double bass | Sebastian Laverde: vibraphone | Mauricio Zottarelli: drums
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LARRY GOLDINGS TRIO
Three pillars of international jazz, celebrate over thirty years as a trio and 30 years is almost an eternity in jazz terms, but the trio shows no signs of tiredness, on the contrary, the ability to renew itself, exciting the audience is always the same.
The trio has been recognized for breaking new ground and setting new standards with its synergistic and inspired playing. They have more than a dozen recordings under their belt, all showcasing their signature sound, whether exploring great jazz standards in depth or featuring original compositions.
Larry Goldings: organ
Peter Bernstein: guitar
Bill Stewart: drums
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KANDACE SPRINGS
For some time one of these intersections has borne the name of Kandace Springs: the young singer, pianist and composer based in Nashville who has already been part of the artists of the prestigious Blue Note label since her debut album.
On the Blue Note stage she will present her 2020 album The Women Who Raised Me, a tribute to all the female voices that have been decisive and influential in her career.
***Website will require translation
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ALLAN HARRIS
Singer and guitarist, he represents the quintessence of jazz vocals, heir to an art, that of crooners, which in the past has produced great performers.
Born in Brooklyn and raised between Harlem and Pittsburgh, between jazz and country, over the course of his career he has received dozens of awards, among which the Downbeat critics’ referendum in the “Rising star jazz vocalist” category stands out, which in America represents the definitive consecration for a jazz musician, and three New York Nightlife Awards as “Outstanding Jazz Vocalist”.
Allan Harris: guitar, vocals
John DiMartino: piano
Jay White: bass
Sylvia Cuenca: drums
Irwin Hall: saxophone/flute
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WCLK AT 50 | LIL JOHN & HIS ALL-STAR BAND
To celebrate WCLK 91.9’s 50th Anniversary the Atlanta Jazz Festival is presenting WCLK At 50: Featuring Lil John Roberts with an Atlanta All-Star Band.
Award-winning drummer Lil John Roberts will lead an Atlanta All-Star Band including these outstanding musicians: Phil Davis, Rodney Edge, Tres Gilbert, Derek Scott, Miguel Gaeten, Melvin Jones, Joe Gransden, Kebbi Williams, Jamel Mitchell, Mike Burton, Saunders Sermons, and Daniel Wytanis.
There will be special guest performances by Kathleen Bertrand, Cleveland Jones, Rhonda Thomas, Imani Grace-Cooper, Julie Dexter, Tony Hightower, Dashill Smith, and Alexandra Jackson.
As the Narrator, Jon Goode will weave in stories about the history and legacy of WCLK. Lil John Robert serves as the concert’s Music Director. The event is Co-Produced by Jamal Ahmad, Lil John Roberts, and Ray Cornelius.
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ORRIN EVANS
During his kaleidoscopic quarter-century as a professional jazz musician, pianist Orrin Evans has become the model of a fiercely independent artist who pushes the envelope in all directions. Never supported by a major label, Evans has ascended to top-of-the-pyramid stature on his instrument, as affirmed by his #1-ranking as “Rising Star Pianist” in the 2018 DownBeat Critics Poll. Grammy nominations for the Smoke Sessions albums The Intangible Between and Presence, by Evans’ raucous, risk-friendly Captain Black Big Band, stamp his bona fides as a bandleader and composer.
In addition to CBBB, Evans’ multifarious leader and collaborative projects include the Eubanks Evans Experience (a duo with eminent guitarist Kevin Eubanks); the Brazilian unit Terreno Comum; Evans’ working trio with bassist Luques Curtis and drummer Mark Whitfield, Jr.; and Tar Baby (a collective trio of 20 years standing with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Nasheet Waits). One of Tar Baby’s two 2022 releases will be released on Evans’ imprint, Imani Records, which he founded in 2001 and relaunched in 2018.
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EUGENIE JONES
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QUIANA PARLER & 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. 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 her success on the 2003 season of American Idol. Quiana has worked and collaborated with diverse artists and producers such as Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Bobby McFerrin, Miranda Lambert, David Foster, Walter Afanasieff and many more.
Her performances have been featured on national broadcasts like The View, NBC’s TODAY, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, The Tyra Banks Show, and Saturday Night Live, as well as the Academy of Country Music Awards and the American Music Awards. Lavon Stevens has traveled and performed all over the country including Aspen, Colorado, Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. The resort vacation destination of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina has been his home since 1981. He is one of the premier entertainers on Hilton Head Island. He is producing a variety of shows and recording projects including other R&B, Jazz and Gospel artists.
Cover: $10.00 ~ $15.00
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MARIE-CLAIRE GIRAUD
Marie-Claire Giraudis a soprano, jazz singer, musical theater singer, songwriter, composer, playwright, and actor. Born on the island of Dominica and raised in The Bronx. Marie-Claire started her operatic training in Rome, Italy. The pandemic afforded Marie-Claire the luxury of time to reflect, and she overcame obstacles that were blocking her creative path.
With her creativity freed, Marie-Claire wrote her first musical, discovered her true voice of soprano. With the musical finished Marie-Claire has many more projects in the works, screenplays, novels, EP’s, musicals and more.
Program: The Great American Songbook At The Movies
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