VANESSA RUBIN
Vanessa Rubin is a revered jazz vocalist and storyteller celebrated for her crystalline clarity, soulful warmth, and bold improvisational style. Born in Cleveland to Trinidadian and Louisiana parents, her sound bridges Caribbean rhythm, classic jazz elegance, and Motown soul. Since launching her career in 1980 in Cleveland’s legendary clubs, Rubin has built an international performance and education legacy.
Signed to Novus/RCA in 1992, she released five albums, including chart-topping Soul Eyes (1992) and Pastiche (1993). Her acclaimed one-woman musical, Yesterdays: An Evening with Billie Holiday, earned a 2011 Kevin Klein Award nomination. Rubin continues touring globally, producing, teaching, and championing lyrical storytelling in jazz.
The Band: Miki Hayama ! Piano | Richie Goods ~ Bass | Alvin Atkinson ~ Drums | Patience Higgins ~ Tenor Saxophone
Cover: Free
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The Jazz Voyager
Atlanta, Georgia is the next stop on the Jazz Voyagers sojourn from Washington, D.C. It’s always good to return to the ATL to see friends, hang with family, blood and adopted, and enjoy their company. Downtown is where I’ll be heading for a fabulous night of jazz at The Commons, the entertainment arm of First Congregational Church.
>This week it’s the gifted pianist Kevin Bales who I haven’t seen perform in years since I left the city. An accomplished pianist with classical chops, he refined his talent from the age of 10. He auditioned for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at age 16, for its most storied conductor Robert Shaw,
Kevin brings to the stage years of experience performing and/or recording with Wynton Marsalis, Louie Bellson, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Ben Tucker, Ira Sullivan, Marcus Printup, Sam Rivers, Nat Adderley, Bunky Green.
The venue is located at 125 Ellis Street NE 30303. For more information contact the venue at https…//firstfridayatfirst.eventbrite.com.
The Commons | Kevin Bales
Hitting the world’s best jazz spots!!! #JazzVoyager #Travel #Club #Adventure #WannaBeWhereYouAre #NotoriousJazz4You re” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen> Hitting the world’s best jazz spots!!! #JazzVoyager #Travel #Club #Adventure #WannaBeWhereYouAre #NotoriousJazz4You
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The Jazz Voyager
Arrived yesterday in Washington, DC. from Tokyo, Japan in time for the DC JazzFest being held at various locations around town. It’s no longer the city I remember and with you know who on Pennsylvania Avenue, I’m grateful there’s plenty of jazz to wander in and out, though it is sometimes the bane of my existence as so much music coincides that I can’t see it all. Ugh. Be that as it may, this afternoon I’m heading to the Downtown DC Anthem Row to see four groups I have never experienced.
What I do like best about jazz festivals is that they introduce new talent to new audiences. This jazz voyager is looking forward to discovering musicians and vocalists throughout the weekend. Thursday afternoon at Anthem Row begins at 4:30 with Benjie Porecki followed by Be’La Dona at 6:00, Langston Hughes II comes on stage at 7:15 and closing out the night at 8:30pm is Brass-A-Holics.
This Jazz Voyager is spending the weekend in D.C. and indulging in as much music that is possible to hear in a day. Will be moving all over the city.The venue is located at 800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. For more information contact the venue at https://www.dcjazzfest.org/artists.
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The Jazz Voyager
Hitting the jetway to board yet another plane, this Jazz Voyager is going to be on a fourteen hour flight to Tokyo, Japan. The destination is Blue Note Tokyo and again will stay in the same hotel with the same walk to the club. More exploration of this wonderful city until it is the appointed hour to become part of the audience.
The night promises to be electric as three-time Grammy-winning and six time nominated vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant who takes the Billboard Critics Poll often will take the mic. The French-American singer has released seven albums and brings her unique style and a band featuring pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Kyle Poole for a three day residency from Wednesday to Friday.
With a cover of ¥ 8,800 | $59.24, the evening is eagerly anticipated. The Blue Note Tokyo is located at 6 Chome-3-16 Minamiaoyama Minato City 107-0062. For more information contact the venue at https://www.bluenote.co.jp/jp.
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The Jazz Voyager
Thanks to the fates who had me buy a roundtrip ticket to New York’s JFK to head back into the city for a night at Birdland. The Jazz Voyager will be heading down to the Broadway District for the second set of the Oscar Peterson Centennial Celebration. However, it’s Harlem during the day to hit a couple of favorite spots, wander through the art galleries and see the evolution of the city.
This evening, Grammy-winning bassist John Clayton is joined by pianist Makoto Ozone and drummer Jeff Hamilton in celebration of their friend, colleague and mentor, Oscar Peterson. This is their first ever musical meeting at Birdland and will be performing his catalogue as well as their own compositions and beloved standards.
The cover charge ranges from $45.76 to $56.06 and this night promises to be something special.
Birdland is located at 315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036. For more information contact the venue at https://www.birdlandjazz.com.
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