JAZZMEIA HORN

Jazzmeia Horn is one of the promising young musicians of the new jazz generation according to Downbeat: the leading jazz magazine  listed her as one of the ’25 for the Future’. The singer from New York is not only influenced by the virtuosic vocal lines and scats of Sarah Vaughan, but also by the R&B of Mary J. Blige and Erykah Badu, as well as hip-hop and spoken word. She also developed a talent for composing and arranging by collaborating with the likes of the WDR Big Band and Metropole Orchestra.

At the age of three, Jazzmeia Horn already started singing in a gospel choir. She was allowed to sing with the adults, as she was too loud for the children’s choir. Since then she has won all the important awards, including the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Vocals Competition. She has received compliments from famous colleagues such as Al Jarreau and John Hendricks. She has been compared to legendary singers such as Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, as well as to successful contemporaries such as Gregory Porter and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

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CARMEN LUNDY

“Musicians as diversely gifted as Carmen Lundy, who has excelled as a vocalist, composer, lyricist, arranger, and pianist for more than three decades, remain far and few between.” – Jazz Times

Carmen Lundy: vocals | Julius Rodriguez: piano & keys | Ben Williams: acoustic & electric bass | Terreon Gully [drums | Andrew Renfroe: guitar

Two-time Grammy® Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album singer and composer, Carmen Lundy, has been making her mark in New York City’s jazz scene since 1978. Her debut album, “Good Morning Kiss” dominated the Billboard chart for 23 weeks.. Beyond her solo success, Carmen contributed to Grammy®-winning projects, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Jazz, and is a prolific composer with over 150 published songs. Recognized by the Jazz Times and The New York Times, Carmen Lundy’s legacy is one that transcends genres, spanning music, acting, and mixed media art.

Carmen Lundy began her professional career as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon. Three decades later, Ms. Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation.

***Fees Apply To All Tickets

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TAKE 6

Take 6 is Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea and Khristian Dentley, and has been heralded by Quincy Jones as the “baddest vocal cats on the planet!,” is the quintessential a cappella group and the model for vocal genius.

With 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, a Soul Train Award, and they as Members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, this musical phenomenon  has six virtuosic voices united in crystal clear harmony, against a backdrop of syncopated rhythms, innovative arrangements, and funky grooves that bubble into an intoxicating brew of gospel, jazz, R&B, and pop.

With collaborations and praise from such luminaries as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston, the multi-platinum selling sextet has toured across the globe, collaborated across genres, and is recognized as the pre-eminent a cappella group in the world.

***Fees Apply To All Tickets

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JANE MONHEIT

Record Release

Jane Monheit – vocals | Max Haymer – piano | Karl McComas-Reichl – bass | Curtis Nowosad – drums

“A voice of phenomenal beauty.” – The New York Times

Jane Monheit makes a highly anticipated Smoke debut to celebrate the release of her new album. A celebrated vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook, Monheit has been at the forefront of jazz singing since she emerged over 20 years ago to instant acclaim. During the ensuing years, she has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz, including Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, and many more.

All About Jazz writes, “Monheit has great chops, a terrific voice.” Downbeat adds, “Monheit continues to dazzle.”

***PLEASE NOTE: All 7PM and 9PM shows at Smoke are Dinner Shows | Fees Apply To All Tickets

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Frank Meester was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on April 14, 1970 and studied philosophy and general literature at the University of Amsterdam and Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands. From 2010 to 2016 he was assistant lecturer in Philosophy and Professional Practice at The Hague University of Applied Sciences .

He went on to become the youngest of the writing duo Gebroeders Meester and wrote columns in Filosofie Magazine and de Volkskrant, among others. With Stine Jensen, they also wrote two books together about parenting and toured the country in 2018 and 2019 with the theater performance Het opvoedcircus.

Meester also plays in the Hot Club de Frank, founded in 1990 when he was just 20 years old. Two years later they expanded to a quartet and played in local cafes. In 1994 personnel changes took a turn at vocal swing and became a permanent salon band at the Amstel Hotel and the Amerstadam Bamboo Bar. They dropped their debut cd in 1996, De Heren van het Circus, to critical acclaim, and expanded once again to a quintet. Their sophomore release in 1999 hit success again being broadcast across the radio waves.

Another personnel transition has the band currently consisting of Meester, solo guitarist Harold Berghuis, violinist Jelle van Tongeren and saxophonist Wim Lammen. The band creates a new sound within gypsy jazz with different rhythms, other instruments and special arrangements. They have played festivals and European tours.

Double bassist Frank Meester, who has been published thirteen times, continues to perform with his sons Midas and Gilles in The Maestros.

ROBYN B. NASH

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