The Jazz Voyager

Flying West to visit once again that city by the bay and upon landing heading to go down Lombard Street, then hop on a cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf, and take a walk through Golden Gate Park. The ultimate destination for this Jazz Voyager is the 700 seat SFJazz Center’s Miner Auditorium to be in the audience to catch another amazing concert. Rain gear will be required as the weather will be warmer than Michigan but inclement off and on during my stay.

This go round I will be witnessing the vocal talents of the venerated Grammy winning vocalist Dianne Reeves. Whether putting a personal stamp on lilting Brazilian standards, exploring contemporary fare by Ani DiFranco and Stevie Nicks, interpreting American Songbook classics by the Gershwin, Porter, and Berlin, or breathing fresh life into holiday chestnuts. This lady always gets to the heart of a song. Had it not been more than two generations having passed since jazz stars took on aristocratic titles, Dianne Reeves would surely be known as The Queen.

The venue is located at 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California 94102. For those who are requiring more information go to https://notoriousjazz.com/event/dianne-reeves.

CALIFORNIA JAZZ FOUNDATION

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SOUNDS OF A&R | S.O.A.R

Fronted by vocalist April May Webb and trumpeter Randall Haywood, Sounds of A&R effortlessly weave elements of swing, cool, hard bop, and avant-garde. Paying tribute to the jazz greats while, at once, boldly embracing the future with fresh, innovative arrangements and compositions. Their repertoire often surprises the listener by featuring familiar pieces in unexpected ways, spanning various genres. S.O.A.R. captivates the audience, leaving them on the edge of their seats. The fusion of tradition and innovation defines their sound.

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TYREEK MCDOLE

Tyreek has just won the 2023 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition! McDole was one of the five finalists who emerged from a record number of more than 280 applicants representing 37 countries. This marks only the second time a male vocalist has won in the contest’s 12-year history.

McDole an outstanding 24-year-old vocalist, and has been making waves and enchanting audiences with his remarkable talent, characterized by a velvety tone and polished delivery. With a string of prestigious awards to his name, Tyreek shines as a rising star in the music world.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Kathleen Gorman was born on February 18, 1967 and grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia in a musical family where creative expression was encouraged. Piano lessons started at age six, and years of classical studies gave her a solid musical foundation. She began performing and writing in her teens and after composing a theme for CTV for the Winter Olympics, she moved to Montreal, Canada to pursue jazz piano, arranging and composition studies. Completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University, Montreal she  followed this by McGill for advanced study in composition and orchestration.

She continuously worked as a pianist/vocalist for several years in Montreal clubs before settling in Toronto, Canada where she began performing weekly, and set up a home studio, for recording projects and teaching. She is a Toronto based pianist/vocalist, as well as a composer/arranger and jazz educator, teaching jazz piano, theory and composition. She has trained with Jan Jarczyk, Jon Ballantyne, Hilario Duran, Sheila Jordan, Barry Harris, Kurt Elling, and Jeri Brown.

Pianist, vocalist and bandleader Kathleen Gorman continues to record, arrange, compose and educate, performing often in Toronto.

BRONZE LENS

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JOE GRANSDEN

Anthony Dominick Benedetto ~ August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023, known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He received many accolades, including 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Bennett was named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree and founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, Queens, New York. He sold more than 50 million records worldwide and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Who better to pay tribute to this legendary performer than Atlanta’s consummate jazzman, Joe Gransden!  At 42 years old, Joe has already performed worldwide and released 14 CDs under his own name. Renowned first for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to that of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra.

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