JOHNATHAN BLAKE QUARTET

TJG Mentoring Series Vol. 9 presents The Johnathan Blake Quartet ftg. Dabin Ry

Johnathan Blake, one of the most accomplished drummers of his generation, has also proven himself a complete and endlessly versatile musician. Blake’s gift for composition and band leading reflects years of live and studio experience across the aesthetic spectrum. Heralded by NPR Music as “the ultimate modernist,” he has collaborated with Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Tom Harrell, Hans Glawischnig, Avishai Cohen, Donny McCaslin, Linda May Han Oh, Jaleel Shaw, Chris Potter, Maria Schneider, Alex Sipiagin, Kris Davis and countless other distinctive voices. DownBeat once wrote, “It’s a testament to Blake’s abilities that he makes his presence felt in any context.” A frequent presence on Blue Note records over the past several years, Blake has contributed his strong, limber pulse and airy precision to multiple leader releases from Blue Note artists including Dr. Lonnie Smith’s Breathe (2021), All in My Mind (2018) and Evolution (2016) and Kenny Barron’s Concentric Circles (2018), the latter whose trio Blake has been a vital member for nearly 15 years.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is departing Phoenix and jumping on a two hour flight to the West Coast and that city by the bay, San Francisco, California. We will find our destination, the Black Cat, in the heart of the Tenderloin neighborhood. The historic arts and entertainment district was once home to great supper clubs and fabled live jazz venues. Tapping into that legacy, Black Cat is a refined social dining experience featuring a modern American supper club menu.

On the stage for a four day residency is Marc Cary and The Focus Trio. They’ll be celebrating nearly 20 years of synergy, exploring the rich interplay between Native American music and jazz. The pianist enlists tabla drummer Sameer Gupta and bassist David Ewel to the feel of the music as he taps into his multicultural heritage.

For those of you who have never been to this establishment, the venue is located at 400 Eddy Street 94109. For more info go to  https://notoriousjazz.com/event/marc-cary-focus-trio.

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TIA FULLER

When Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue recording artist, composer, and bandleader Tia Fuller picks up her saxophone, something amazing happens. Blending technical brilliance, melodic creativity, and the performing precision drawn from both her academic and stage experience, Fuller is a force to be reckoned with in the worlds of jazz, pop, R&B, and more. Currently, Fuller balances the worlds of performance and education, fulfilling a demanding schedule as both a busy touring and recording artist and a full-time professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Fuller’s resume makes her uniquely qualified for these roles. The Denver, Colorado native graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, and summa cum laude with a Master’s degree in Jazz Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Already established as a leading jazz musician, Fuller was selected to be a member of the all-female band touring with Grammy-winning pop star Beyoncé. Performing as part of the I AM … Sasha Fierce and Beyoncé Experience World Tour on stages across the globe, Fuller also became a featured soloist on the Beyoncé Experience DVD (Me, Myself and I), I AM Yours I DVD (Wynn Theatre) and also appeared on number of major television shows, including Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, BET Awards, American Music Awards, Grammy Awards and as a featured soloist with Beyoncé for President Obama at the White House.

An accomplished solo artist in her own right, Fuller has recorded five full-length projects with her quartet. Her most recent album, Diamond Cut, received a Grammy nomination in the Best Instrumental Jazz category; produced by three-time Grammy Award winner Terri Lyne Carrington, the album also features two superb rhythm sections, both of which contain some of jazz world’s brightest luminaries – bassist Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette, then bassist James Genus and drummer Bill Stewart. Adding texture and harmonic support of several compositions are guitarist Adam Rogers and organist Sam Yahel. Additionally, Carrington contributes to two tracks with percussion.

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FRANK VIGNOLA

It’s the best jazz guitar lover’s show in the world, celebrating all facets of the guitar in jazz. Frank Vignola’s virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston and New York Pops, and more.

Every Wednesday at The Birdland Theater, Frank leads Frank Vignola’s Guitar Night. Inspired by journeyman jazz guitarist John Pisano’s now famous Los Angeles Guitar Night, Frank Vignola and friends will perform tunes from the standard repertoire and welcome weekly guest artists. Featuring: Frank Vignola (guitar) Ted Rosenthal (piano) Gary Mazzaroppi (bass) Vince Cherico (drums).

THE PLAYERS:

Pasquale Grasso Trio with Janice Siegel ~ vocals

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NICK COLLINS SEXTET

Drummer and bandleader Nick Collins is proud to present his sextet at the Blue LLama Jazz Club, featuring a fun variety of high-energy modern, classic, and original jazz. With deep roots in Ann Arbor, Nick lived and played music in New York City from 1998 to 2004, and returned to his hometown in 2004 to start a family. This dynamic sextet features internationally renowned locals Dwight Adams on trumpet, Tim Haldeman on tenor saxophone, Rick Roe on piano, and Jeff Pedraz on bass. Over the years Nick has played with other local legends such as Randy Napoleon, Josef Deas, Vincent Chandler, Glenn Tucker, Dan Bennett, and Justin Walter.

There is no cover and reservations are not required for this show.

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