Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Cleopatra Brown was born on December 8, 1909 in De Kalb, Mississippi. She moved to Meridian, Mississippi when her father took a position as pastor and in his church she played piano as a child.

In 1919 her family moved to Chicago, Illinois and she began learning piano from her brother who worked with Pine Top Smith, playing boogie-woogie for dances. Around the time Cleo was 14 she worked in vaudeville, as well as taking gigs in clubs. In 1935, she replaced Fats Waller as pianist on New York radio station WABC.

From the 1930s to the 1950s she toured the United States regularly, recording for Decca Records among other labels along the way and recording many humorous, ironic titles such as Breakin’ in a New Pair of Shoes, Mama Don’t Want No Peas and Rice and Coconut Oil, When Hollywood Goes Black and Tan, and The Stuff Is Here and It’s Mellow.

Cleo’s stride piano playing was often compared to Fats Waller and she is credited as an influence on Dave Brubeck, who played during the intermissions of her shows, and on Marian McPartland. She played regularly at clubs in Chicago, toured widely, and recorded for both Decca and Capitol Records.

Brown began to shy away from singing bawdy blues songs because of her deepening religious beliefs. In 1953, she was baptized, retired from music, and became a nurse in 1959. Jazz biographies frequently listed her as deceased due to her absence from music. The song Sweet Cleo Brown was recorded by Brubeck in tribute.

From the mid-1970s until 1981, she performed under the name of C. Patra Brown on radio shows in Denver, Colorado. She replaced boogie-woogie music with slower, inspirational music. She returned to record again, and performed on National Public Radio.

Pianist and vocalist Cleo Brown, who was the first woman instrumentalist to receive the NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, and also performed and recorded under the name of Cleo Patra Brown,  died on April 15, 1995, in Denver, Colorado.

GRIOTS GALLERY

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BILL CHARLAP TRIO

The Bill Charlap Trio – with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington – is a jazz super-group with three brilliant, accomplished talents.

Their dazzling interplay and near-telepathic communication has earned a Grammy Award and multiple nominations, plus raves from audiences everywhere. Downbeat gave their new live recording, And Then Again, 4 ½ stars, placing them among “the best of the best ensembles in jazz history” playing at “the epitome of their creative powers.”

Two Shows ~ 7:00pm & 9:30pm  | Friday 12.13  ~ 7:00pm Sold Out

Tickets: $40.00 + $3.00 fee

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JEREMY PELT QUINTET

Tomorrow’s Another Day may be trumpeter and composer Jeremy Pelt’s most experimental recording to-date, notable for its variety and bold auricular explorations. With greater emphasis on the dynamic aspects of sound, it is a thought-provoking record that gets a huge lift from the participation of drummer/technologist Deantoni Parks, who previously has lent his remarkable talents to such visionary artists as Meshell Ndegeocello and André 3000. Pelt’s newest band features vibraphonist Jalen Baker, guitarist Alex Wintz, bassist Leighton McKinley Harrell and drummer Allan Mednard, with pianist Frank LoCrasto on two tracks.

Their talents seamlessly come together to produce an utterly unique universe of sounds which have the ability of evoking gritty scenes that pulse with elemental energy or surge transcendently skyward. Through it all it is the trumpet and creative presence of Pelt which provides a sense of ballast to the myriad sounds and textures with an intensely personal and mesmeric weave of arguably some of the most stunningly imaginative and communicative work he has given us so far.

The Band: Jeremy Pelt – trumpet | Jalen Baker – vibraphone | Misha Mendelenko – guitar | Leighton Harrell – bass | Jared Spears – drums

Showtimes: 8:30 | 10:00pm

Tickets: $15 ~ $20

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MATT WILSON

Tree Jazz- The Shape of Christmas to Come Palmetto 20242 The year 2024 marks the 60th birthday of the beloved drummer, composer, and bandleader Matt Wilson. It also celebrates the 15th anniversary of one of Matt’s acclaimed ensembles, the Christmas Tree- O, featuring multi-reed legend Jeff Lederer and revered bassist Paul Sikivie. The band performed their first concert on December 9, 2009, in Brooklyn, NY. They then recorded their seminal album, Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, at Maggie’s Farm studio on a snowy May day in 2010. The album was released in the fall of 2010 by Palmetto Records. Since then, the band has performed extensively across the United States and Canada. Their annual sold-out engagements at the Jazz Standard (now held at Dizzy’s) have become a New York City holiday tradition.

The Band: Matt Wilson – drums | Jeff Lederer – saxophone | Paul Sikivie – bass

Two Shows ~ 8:30pm | 10:00pm

Tickets: $15.00 ~ $20.00

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YOLANDA RABUN

Backed by a flawless band and background vocals, get in the spirit as Yolanda Rabun performs her rendition of seasonal tunes during “Songs of Holiday Cheer” a signature show with a diverse holiday repertoire.

An extraordinarily gifted storyteller with a soul-drenched jazz voice, the Triangle chanteuse  is also a publisher and songwriter with four full studio albums with chart-topping singles under her belt with So Real, Christmastime, and No Fear.

She is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMYS) and includes her 2021 Holiday Pops with the North Carolina Symphony performance as a personal favorite.

With an energetic personality and joyful spirit, Yolanda successfully manages her music and life as a wife, mother, music entrepreneur, motivational speaker, professional AEA actor, and practicing Corporate Attorney. Yolanda is a modern-day Renaissance woman, get ready for an evening of delight!

Tickets: $28>00 ~ $200.00

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