LAKECIA BENJAMIN QUINTET
Lakecia Benjamin is a five-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist, arranger, and composer from New York. She has a warm, resonant tone and her music consists of a unique blend of R&B, jazz, and funk.
Raised in Manhattan’s predominantly Dominican Washington Heights neighborhood. She played recorder in grade school and junior high where she also began writing songs and lyrics. She won admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. It was there she began playing saxophone in earnest. She picked it up quickly and after graduating joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University.
She studied with jazz veterans including Billy Harper, Workman, Buster Williams, and Gary Bartzand has performed with Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, vocalist Vanessa Rubin, and guitarist James Blood Ulmer.
Tickets: First Show ~ CHF 54 ($61.22) | Second Show: CHF 44 ($49.88)
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BILL CHARLAP QUARTET
Hailing from New York City and a musical family, this celebrated jazz pianists and Grammy winner Bill Charlap brings the celebrated soloist, composer, bandleader and outstanding saxophonist Nicole Glover exclusively to Bern for one week for the first time.
He has performed with many of the leading artists of our time including: Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ron Carter, Phil Woods, Gerry Mulligan and Tony Bennett. The album, “Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining, The Songs of Jerome Kern” (RPM) won a 2016 Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Currently, Nicole is a member of Ursa Major, led by bassist Christian McBride, and she performs often with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. In August 2023, she toured Australia with JLCO, performing Marsalis’ symphonic work “All Rise” with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
The Band: Bill Charlap, piano | Nicole Glover, saxophone | David Wong, bass | Carl Allen, drums
Tickets: First Show ~ CHF 54 ($61.22) | Second Show ~ CHF 44 ($49.88)
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KRISTEN STORM QUARTET
Returning to the Bistro with their repertoire of melodic, exhilarating jazz, saxophonist and vocalist Kristen and her long-time band-mates, husband/guitarist Scott Sorkin and drummer Jason Lewis, have a deep connection, and master bassist Kevin Goldberg completes the ensemble.
“With a tone that’s lithe and lustrous, Kristen Strom embodies her musical philosophy in every note she plays.” – San Jose Mercury News
Tickets: $30 per show
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Wally Schnalle was born on March 30, 1957 in Santa Clara, California. Graduating from San Jose State University he recorded early on with Francis Wong and performed with the Nova Vista and San Jose Symphonies.
In 1994 Wally recorded his debut set as a leader for the small Tree Fort label and he soon formed a regularly working quintet although the drummer had been leading groups on and off since 1989. His quintet with tenor saxophonist Dann Zinn and trumpeter John Worley appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
He recorded for Retlaw in 1997 and played often in northern California. In addition to his work as a drummer, Schnalle has been the music editor for the International Drum! magazine and has been active as a teacher.
Drummer and bandleader Wally Schnalle continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bill Ohashi was born on March 29, 1949 in New York City, New York. His formative years were spent learning at Julliard, Mannes College, U. of PA, Berkley School of Music, and bandstands in NYC, New England and the southern corridor. He was making the jam session rounds in the city with jazz legends Kenny Dorham, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Mingus, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Henderson, Jaki Bayard, Carla Bley, George Cables, Lenny White, Billie Cobham and Art Blakey’s Messengers, among others.
Bill’s early work was with Willie Colon, Eddie Palmieri, Larry Harlow, Machito, Slide Hampton, Chuck Israels, Chico O’Farrill, Joe Farrell, Elvin Jones, Bruce Fowler, Ray Charle’s Big Band, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Mingus, Gil Evans, as well as Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Eddie Kendricks & The Temptations, Franki Valli & The Four Seasons, Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Jay & the Americans, Yoko Ono, The O’Jays & Stevie Wonder.
After a brief to move to the west coast and a short hiatus from playing, the legendary Ray Charles wisely gave Bill the opportunity to join his band on the road for about a year, bringing Bill back into the working music scene; Bill subsequently toured Europe three times with Lionel Hampton, playing around NYC and began his own record label, EAR Records, Inc.
As an educator he taught at NYC’s Third St. Music School, Henry St. Settlement, Boy’s Harbor, New England Conservatory, Metropolitan School of Music and others. Trombonist Bill Ohashi, who subs on Saturday Night Live, continues to perform and record.
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