The Jazz Voyager

Cross country flights can be tiresome when you have to fly around storms but are also very rewarding especially when a jazz concert is in store in the City by the Bay. The destination is SFJazz Center. Opened in 2013, the SFJAZZ Center is located on the corner of Franklin and Fell Streets in the heart of San Francisco’s arts district. With two performance spaces, multiple music practice rooms, a digital lab, and the B-Side restaurant and bar allows the non-profit to explore the full spectrum of jazz, from its origins in the African American and Afro Caribbean communities, to its diverse and evolving expressions around the world today.

Pianist, composer, and in-demand sideman Javier Santiago is one of the most promising voices in the international music scene. As an accomplished producer, beatmaker, arranger and educator, he has become a notable force in both the beat and hip-hop scenes as well as in the jazz world. His newest album is the 2024 release Warrior Energy. This jazz voyager is anticipating hearing this music

SFJazz Center is located at 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California 94102. For more information contact the venue at https://www.sfjazz.org.

Tickets: $25.00

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The Jazz Voyager

Heading back across the continent west to east to the city that never sleeps for another opportunity to hear a big band at Birdland. This iconic venue has been a major part of the city’s jazz scene since 1949. It was famously nicknamed  by Charlie Parker as The Jazz Corner of the World. Sitting on Broadway, one block west of the 52nd Street scene, which was a hotbed of jazz in the 1930s and 40s, and when The Street lost its luster, Birdland blossomed.

In residence for the night is the Mingus Big Band, performing exclusively the music of composer/bassist Charles Mingus. Building off the strengths of the Mingus Dynasty septet, his widow Sue Mingus formed in 1991. She created this 14-piece band to feature new arrangements of her husband’s compositions in a larger band format that draws from a rotation of the best established and rising musicians.

Birdland is located at 315 W 44th Street, New York City, NY 10036. For more information contact the venue at birdlandjazz.com.

Tickets: $40.61 – $50.91

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The Jazz Voyager

From Miami to Seattle is where this Jazz Voyager is in flight to Seattle~Tacoma International Airport for some more of the Northwest hospitality and jazz experience. Located in the downtown section of the city, The Triple Door is situated in a historic theater.  Radiating urban cool with plush half-moon booths, state of the art sound witha side of colorful cocktails. The venue provides an intimate dimension to the atmosphere between artist and audience.

Pianist and composer Lynne Arrriale takes center stage in the Mainstage Theater for two nights and I’ll be in the audience on the second night. Having seen her over twenty years ago I anticipate hearing her growth as a performer. She won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and has recorded seventeen critically acclaimed albums.

The Triple Door is located at 216 Union Street, Seattle, Washington 98101. For more information contact the venue at https://www.thetripledoor.net.

Tickets: $30.00 General Admission | $38.00 Premium

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The Jazz Voyager

Returning from abroad the Jazz Voyager is landing in Miami, Florida and heading to Coral Gables for a little bit of jazz at Sanctuary of the Arts.  Known to present world-class national and international talent, they support and strengthen existing small and medium arts organizations, and support the next generation of young artists with an array of mentorship opportunities, including strategic planning, development, production, rehearsal and performance space.

This week, presented for our pleasure is drummer and composer Ari Hoenig. After his university matriculation he soon found himself playing for legendary Philadelphia organist Shirley Scott and working regularly in New York City. He has gone on to record several albums as a leader and sideman and is an educator in his own right.

The Sanctuary is located at 410 Andalusia Avenue, 33134. For more information contact the venue at https://www.sanctuaryofthearts.org.

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The Jazz Voyager

From Nashville to Bern the Jazz Voyager is crossing the pond once more to sit in the audience at Marians Jazzroom. The venue’s 126 seats offers a guarantee of a musical experience in authentic ambience within the harmonious interior reminiscent of a New York jazz club.

Catching Grammy winner Bill Charlap on the third evening of his five-day engagement will be a treat, especially witnessing for the first time the talents of saxophonist Nicole Glover. She’s a member of Ursa Major led by bassist Christian McBride and leads her own quartet. This isn’t the first time these two have paired up for this

The jazzroom is located at Engestrasse 54, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. For more information contact the venue at https://www.mariansjazzroom.ch.

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