JEAN CHAUMONT
French jazz guitarist and composer who started playing guitar at fourteen years old, after eight years of piano training. Two years later, he began formally studying jazz music. He received a degree in jazz musical studies from the Conservatory of Orsay in 2004, later rounding out this academic training by playing extensively in France with musicians such as Fiona Monbet, Ibrahim Maalouf, Armel Dupas, and Karl Jannuska in venues such as Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Charlie Jazz Festival, Salle Pleyel, and Sunset/Sunside. Alongside his performance work, Chaumont was commissioned for various compositions and arrangements including the scoring of “Le Bonheur en Suspens,” a full-length French documentary for France 3.
Chaumont moved to Princeton, New Jersey in 2014. He began composing for his debut album, The Beauty of Differences, which was released on 15 June 2018. It received critical acclaim including a four-star review from Down Beat magazine and remained in the top 100 in jazz radio airplay for ten weeks in the United States, according to JazzWeek. The Beauty of Differences features a core band with bassist Ike Sturm, saxophonist Sam Sadigursky, pianist Michael Bond, and drummer Rudy Royston as well as Tierney Sutton, Vinod Gnanaraj, John Hadfield, and Enoch Smith Jr. as guests. Its proceeds will finance the excavation of wells in the Sakata region of Malawi, Africa through the Villages in Partnership organization.
Admission: $5.00 Donation ~ Cash Only | 25 and Younger: Free | Youth Arrive At 6:00pm For A Free Dinner
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MAUREESE ITSON
Maureese Itson is a renowned, up and coming Inspirational Saxophonist in the Seattle area. His desire is to inspire people to “Love God, Love People, and Live Amazing” through the gift of music. “It amazes me to see the joy and feel the love from people through music. Music awakens my soul”. He began his love for music growing up in Atlanta, GA. He is a retired Air Force veteran where he spent 20+ years serving. He has a lovely wife and daughter that he loves dearly.
Maureese has been featured on the local Trinity Broadcast Network “Seattle Praise the Lord”, The Washington State Fair, Argosy cruises, the Islander Yacht, and the Gaillard in Charleston, SC. He has performed and shared the stage with artist Michael Bolton, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Gospel Jazz Artist Ben Tankard, Saxophonist Tom Braxton, Contemporary Christian artists “The Benions”, Jazz Trumpeter Bobby Medina, The Jazz Disciples, Toyin Adekale to name a few. Keep a look out for up coming events in the Seattle area, nationally and abroad from this sought after artist.
Suggested Donation: $5.00 | 25 & Younger: Free | Youth Arive At 6:00pm For Free Dinner
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TOMI BERRY
Nights Over Egypt: A Jazz/R&B Oasis!
Wherever Tomi Berry sings, she spreads joy. Whether singing smooth R&B, swinging jazz, or sultry ballads, she holds an audience in rapt attention. A spiritual song-stylist, she engages her listeners in musical conversation. The 2016 42nd Annual Lawrence Award Winner for “Best Seasoned Performer” and the runner up for the 2016’s inaugural Atlanta’s Top Vocalist competition, Susan “Tomi” Berry has an extensive background in performing and public speaking.
An accomplished, classically trained singer, Tomi has performed most of her life in multiple music genres, starting formally in gospel and spiritual church choirs in her hometown of Montclair, NJ. She continued to perform throughout college in classical and madrigal choirs, chorale and was the first soloist to sing with the college jazz band. She also performed with a campus band that did pop and R&B tunes for campus events and private functions.
In Atlanta, she performed with the Hillside Chapel and Truth Center Choir and Jubilee Singers and was a member of the “neo-spiritual” group I Am Unlimited. She has been a member and briefly served on the board of Southeastern Organization for Jazz Arts (SOJA) where she performed a two-woman show with vocalist Nina Carl, with support from Terry Harper on piano, Danny Harper on trumpet and Delbert Felix on contrabass.
She also had the opportunity to perform with jazz pianist/songwriter, Donald Brown during an in-home performance in the Atlanta area and has been supported by jazz pianist/musician/songwriter Takana Miyamoto on multiple projects as well as by pianist Rodney Martino Avery. She was the featured performer at The Velvet Note Acoustic Living Room in 2013 where she performed two shows featuring GRAMMY Award winning, Atlanta-based producer/keyboardist, Phil Davis, bassist. Trey Gilbert, and drummer, Joey Williams. Tomi continues to perform at clubs in the Atlanta metro area like Riley’s on the Square, church and community events and frequents the local jam sessions including Venkman’s and The Velvet Note Acoustic Living Room.
Also performing live is Indigokat Soul, Dance Grooves by DJ Lane.
Attire: Sophisticated, Black with Bling and Dressy
Admission/Secure Reservation : $IndigoKat58 via CashApp by 8.25.23
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The Jazz Voyager
Dashing off to the West Coast this Jazz Voyager is returning to one of his favorite night spots in Northern California called Yoshi’s. One of the world’s most respected jazz venues, earning a reputation as the Bay Area’s premier location for great Japanese cuisine and jazz.
What started as a humble idea amongst a trio of friends has become a true testament of the American dream. The dreamers were journalist and carpenter, Kaz Kajimura, painter and cook, Hugh “Hiro” Hori and artist Yoshie Akiba. In 1972 they set out to create a culinary experience introducing fresh seasonal Japanese cuisine to the Berkeley community. The friends decided to name the business after Yoshie. The menu of Chef Hiro cemented the Japanese cuisine into the DNA of the business making the 27-seat restaurant a popular dining destination for East Bay residents. In 1979, Yoshi’s moved to Oakland’s Claremont Avenue.
Two-time Grammy nominated jazz vocalist, composer and arranger Carmen Lundy is performing at my next stop. Hailing from Miami, she received her music degree from the University of Miami and after an early career in Miami, she moved to New York City. In 1978 she released her debut solo album Good Morning Kiss. She has recorded sixteen albums all while wearing hats as an actress and a mixed media artist and painter.
The venue is located 510 Embarcadero West Oakland, CA 94607. More information can be obtained by calling 212-581-3080 or go to birdlandjazz.com.
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The Jazz Voyager
Departing Atlanta for a quick hop up to the Big Apple to Charlie Parker’s namesake club, Birdland. A revered nightclub that opened in Manhattan on December 15, 1949, originally located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street. It closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but re-opened for one night in 1979. A revival began in 1986 with the opening of the second nightclub by the same name located in the Theater District, not far from the original location. The current location is in the same building as the previous headquarters of The New York Observer.
This week I’ll be enjoying the vocal talents of my friend Vanessa Rubin. Revered as a torchbearer and a storyteller, she possesses a voice with crystalline clarity, hearth-like warmth and playful lioness sass. The Cleveland native brings a wealth of diverse influences to her vocal performance from both the Trinidadian/Caribbean roots of her mother and traditional jazz by way of her Louisiana-born father.
The venue is located 315 W 44th Street, #5402, New York City, NY 10036. More information can be obtained by calling 212-581-3080 or go to birdlandjazz.com.
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