The Jazz Voyager
Heading back up to the Big Apple, this time motoring up the highway on 95 North. I’ll get in early and will be catching the sights and sounds of the city until it’s time to make my way to Columbus Circle. There it will be my fortune to be in the house that Wynton Marsalis helped build, as an audience member in Dizzy’s Club. Overlooking the New York skyline, the lights of the night will only enhance the performance.
This week this jazz voyager will be taking a very talented organist, pianist and composer, Akiko Tsuruga. Landing in New York City from Osaka, Japan she quickly immersed herself into the jazz scene. Sitting in and playing gigs, she eventually recorded with Frank Wess, Jimmy Cobb, Grady Tate and other top NY musicians. In 2006 she joined Lou Donaldson’s quartet.
Performance Lineup:
Akiko Tsuruga, organ Joe Magnarelli, trumpet Myron Walden, tenor & baritone, saxophone, flute Byron Landham, drums Charlie Sigler, guitar
Tickets: $20.00 ~$50.00
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LUCIA
Lucía is a 23-year-old vocalist from Veracruz, México, the offspring of a well-known Mexican musical family, whose singular artistic vision bridges the gaps between jazz, Latin, and pop music. In 2022 she became the only Latiné singer to have won the prestigious Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition.
Lucía began her musical career at the age of two, singing and dancing in her parent’s son jarocho band, Son de Madera. Since then, she has collaborated and performed with leading artists such as Natalia Lafourcade, La Santa Cecilia, Quetzal and the National Jazz Orchestra of Mexico, and she has performed on stages around the world, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Vancouver Folk Festival, and Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris in Mexico City.
Tickets: $65.00
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SULLIVAN FORTNER
Sullivan Fortner has established himself as a multifaceted jazz talent over the past decade, showcasing his exceptional abilities as a pianist, composer and ensemble leader while maintaining his distinctive artistic voice. Originally from New Orleans, Louisian but now calls New York home, this Grammy Award winner has garnered worldwide recognition both for his solo performances and his collaborative work.
His musical partnerships span a diverse range of acclaimed artists, including vocalist-composer Cecile McLorin Salvant, legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, and guitar virtuoso John Scofield.
Tickets: $65.00
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The Jazz Voyager
Jumping on a quick flight from LaGuardia to BWI to be in the audience at what has become a venerated jazz spot in Baltimore, Maryland, the Keystone Korner. Its founder, Todd Barkin, created the iconic location in San Francisco next to the North Beach police station, thus the origin of its name as a play on words on Mack Sennett’s slapstick “Keystone Kops” films. Moving east, he made a prudent decision to bring that same atmosphere to serve great music to the Baltimore, Washington and northern Virginia area.
The purpose for this travel itinerary is to see one of my favorite pianists and to be part of his 50th birthday celebration with 50 SHADES OF O. The Orrin Evans Trio with special guest vocalist Lisa Fischer will take us on an adventurous evening of music. Evans and his 2x Grammy-nominated Captain Black Big Band released and will be performing music from their new studio album, Walk A Mile In My Shoe!
Orrin Evans Tickets: $45.00 ~ $55.00 + fee | Streaming: 6:00pm Only ~ $15.00 + fee
Keystone Korner Baltimore address is 1350 Lancaster Street, 21231. For more information visit keystonekornerbaltimore.com.
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CHARLES HEATH
Originating from Chicago, Illinois, Charles “Rick” Heath IV is a versatile and renowned musician from local to international levels. Playing anything from Jazz and Blues to Gospel and Latin music, his signature sound is prominent in the recording studios, concert settings, live Broadway theater platforms, and currently as the drummer for pianist and jazz legend Ramsey Lewis. Some of his proudest accolades include works with Donald Byrd, McCoy Tyner, and Slide Hampton. He also served as the resident drummer with the national tour of Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones’ theater production of “The Color Purple.” He is often rotating hats of composer, band leader, recording artist, musical director, producer and teacher and simply inspires and outreaches to his surrounding communities at all times.
Heath’s prominent sound can be heard on recordings with Ramsey Lewis, Robert “Babe” Irving III, Bobby Broom, Zvonimir Tot, Larry Gray, Sergio Perez, Ken Chaney and the Roger Harris Trio. He proudly launched his first independent recording project entitled “Conversations” encompassing the sound of his very own Charles Heath Quartet.
Cover Charge: $15.00
Showtimes: 6:00pm-7:15pm & 8:15-9:30pm
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