Tag: jazz

The Bad Plus & Marc Ribot and the Jazz Bins

Crosstown Arts presents The Bad Plus & Marc Ribot and the Jazz Bins at Crosstown Theater.

Crosstown Theater
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Doors open at 6:30 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $35-45

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

The Bad Plus

Reid Anderson (bass), Dave King (drums), Ben Monder (guitar), Chris Speed (saxophone)

The Bad Plus are the ultimate originals. A democratic unit with a clear vision and a refusal to conform to convention. For the past two decades they have played with spirit and adventure, made their own rules and done so with a bold sense of creativity and intent. Avoiding easy categorization, The Bad Plus has won critical acclaim and a legion of fans worldwide with their unique sound and flair for live performance.

Now in their 21st year, The Bad Plus continues to push boundaries as founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) embark on a new piano-less incarnation of the band with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (tenor saxophone) – instigating a new wave of excitement and anticipation within the band that is re-energizing their sound and inspiration. The Bad Plus have constantly searched to bridge genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.

The Bad Plus is set to release their 15th studio recording and debut self-titled album as a dynamic new quartet via Edition Records on Friday, September 30th. “Evolution is necessary for life and creativity,” say Dave King and Reid Anderson. “We’ve evolved, but we’re still The Bad Plus.”

Marc Ribot & The Jazz Bins

Marc Ribot (guitar), Greg Lewis (organ), Joe Dyson (drums)

Marc Ribot’s four months with jazz organ legend Brother Jack McDuff were his first ever with an internationally touring artist. Their 1979 itinerary included Ribot’s first concerts in Europe, and his only to date in Gary, Indiana and Rochester, NY. Although the two never recorded together (due to artistic differences that became apparent in Ribot’s later work…Brother Jack reportedly spent much of their stage time fixing Ribot with what side musicians referred to as his “death ray”), Ribot never lost his affection for McDuff’s music and the Hammond organ dominated Soul Jazz scene from which it emerged. Says Ribot: “McDuff’s US audiences—the so-called ‘Chitlin Circuit— were just the hippest in the world: sophisticated about the music, definitely…but also demanding the deepest soul while rewarding restraint in its expression. What this brought out in the musicians was every bit as intense as the music taking shape at CBGBs at the time. In fact, I always felt the two scenes had something in common, and I’ve been trying to express exactly what ever since.”

Fellow Jazz-Bin, Greg Lewis, is not only one of the greatest virtuosos of the Hammond b3 organ alive, but perhaps the only one willing and able to haul a real Hammond b3 and Leslie speaker cabinet to live gigs in NYC! Says Ribot: “Greg is NYC’s best kept secret. He can tell a story on the Hammond like nobody else.” Rounded out with a TBA guest drummer, The Jazz-Bins use deep grooves and over the top improvisation to channel the spirits of Newark’s Key Club Sparky J’s Lounge, and NYC’s CBGB’s c/a 1977 into a quest for punk/soul salvation. The Jazz-Bins go— not exactly ‘ancient’, but ‘back’— to the future, to tap into a scene that never really existed (but should have, will, and does whenever people drop their preconceptions about ‘genre’ long enough to feel the groove), and a vibe that never really stopped. Dig it!

New Orleans native Joe Dyson has certainly been one to watch. He started playing music in his family’s church at just two years old. After being noticed for his peculiar talent, Joe was placed in the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp where he was shadowed by the late, great clarinetist Alvin Batiste, and his longtime band leader and mentor, alto saxophonist Donald Harrison. He went on to graduate from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), and earned a Presidential Scholarship to his alma mater Berklee College of Music.

Joe has shared the stage with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ellis Marsalis, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Jon Batiste, Leo Nocentelli, Sullivan Fortner, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Pedrito Martinez, Grammy Award winners Nicholas Payton and Pat Metheny among others.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Tony Dagradi

Crosstown Arts presents the Modern Masters Jazz Series: Tony Dagradi with the Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.

The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, November 14 2023
Doors at 7pm | Show at 7:30pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets at the door

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

For nearly four decades he has made his home in New Orleans, performing on tenor and soprano saxophone with many of the Crescent City’s most celebrated artists, including Ellis Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, The Meters, Dr. John, James Black, Johnny Adams and Gatemouth Brown. An accomplished classical performer as well, he’s often called upon to augment the woodwind section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. His performing past also includes five years as a member of the internationally acclaimed Carla Bley Band and appearances and recordings with Bobby McFerrin, Mose Allison and Nat Adderley.

Since 1990 Dagradi has been a Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Loyola University in New Orleans where he maintains a large saxophone studio, teaches classes in improvisation, and directs various ensembles.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Adam Larson

Crosstown Arts presents the Modern Masters Jazz Series: Adam Larson with the Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.

The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets at the door

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Adam Larson (b. 1990) is an American saxophonist, composer and author. An endorsed artist for P. Mauriat saxophones, The Boston Sax Shop and Key Leaves, Adam began playing saxophone at the age of 11. Described by critic Howard Reich of The Chicago-Tribune as “a player for whom the word ‘prodigious’ was coined”, by Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen as “a saxophonist who brings Donny McCaslin and Mark Turner to mind”, and by Nate Chinen of The New York Times as “the sort of jazz musician who gets flagged early on as a promising talent and then hustles to meet every requirement for success”, Larson has garnered numerous awards that distinguish him as one of the most promising artists of his generation. Upon graduating from high school in 2008, Adam moved to New York City to pursue his BM and MM in Jazz Performance on full-scholarship from The Manhattan School, finishing his studies in 2014.

Larson has released seven albums; two for Outside In, one for Ropeadope Records, two under the Inner Circle Music label and two produced independently. Larson’s most recent record “With Love, From Chicago”, received a rare 4.5 Star rating from DownBeat magazine and was featured in JazzTimes Magazine, among other national media outlets.

Larson keeps an active schedule with his own groups and as a sideman, having performed at several venues across the U.S. including The Green Mill, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery, The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Smalls, Jazz at The Bistro, The Jazz Estate, The Jazz Showcase, Dazzle, Noce, The Jewell and several others.

Music has allowed Adam to see more of the world than he once thought possible, having toured Poland, India,Taiwan, Holland, and Germany as well much of the United States. Larson’s Trio received a South Arts “Jazz Road Touring Grant” in 2022 and In 2015 Larson’s quartet was selected as one of ten ensembles to tour on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s “American Music Abroad”program and toured Africa for 35 days visiting The Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ghana.

Beyond maintaining an active touring and recording schedule, Larson continues to be a sought after clinician and masterclass presenter and has been a guest at more than seventy-five Universities across the world. Appearances include visits to HKU Conservatory-Utrecht, Temple University, Yale, Manhattan School of Music, and University of North Texas among many others. Larson is currently on faculty at UMKC Conservatory where he teaches classes in the Arts Entrepreneurship program and previously taught jazz saxophone, music business and pedagogy. In addition to his duties at UMKC, Larson has a diverse private lesson studio of online students from the U.S. and abroad.

Adam has authored 12 jazz etude books that have been sold in over 45 countries and States. He has created and released a successful online masterclass dedicated exclusively to developing great technique, called “Lightning-Fast and Crystal- Clean”. He maintains an impressive portfolio of commissioned ensemble writing for school jazz ensembles, having written more than thirty original works to date. Adam was commissioned by the Illinois Music Educators Association to compose the All-State composition for the 2020 convention, where he directed the Honors Jazz Band. Larson has also directed the South Dakota All-State Jazz Combo.

With a vested interest in giving back, Larson has also worked in various capacities with organizations that showcase exceptional young talent in the United States. Adam has served as a mentor for the Grammy Foundation and as an adjudicator for the Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Jazz Orchestra and YoungArts organization.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Lynn Seaton

Crosstown Arts presents the Modern Masters Jazz Series: Lynn Seaton with the Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.

The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets at the door

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Lynn was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 18, 1957. He began studying classical guitar at age seven, switching to string bass at age nine. While studying music at the University of Oklahoma, he began working the clubs around the state.

In September of 1980, Lynn relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio to join the Steve Schmidt Trio and the Blue Wisp Big Band. He was awarded a Jazz Studies Fellowship in the summer of 1981 from the National Endowment for the Arts to study with Rufus Reid.

Lynn has been a faculty member at the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Long Island University, State University of New York at New Paltz, William Patterson College, and is currently a full professor at the University of North Texas. He thoroughly enjoys teaching workshops, coaching ensembles, and doing artist-in residence programs, having done many throughout America and Europe including numerous schools, kindergarten through college, Jamey Aebersold’s and UNT jazz camps, and Clark Terry’s Institute of Jazz Studies. He currently has private students as well.

During September of 1984, Lynn joined Woody Herman and the Young Thundering Herd. July of 1985 brought him a position with the Count Basie Orchestra. During this time he moved to New York City (1986) where he resided until 1998. After his two-year engagement with the Basie Band, he did an extended tour with Tony Bennett and a six-month tour with George Shearing. Much of 1991 was spent touring with Monty Alexander. 1992 through 1994 was spent freelancing in the New York area. 1995 until the fall of 2000 was with the Jeff Hamilton Trio. He has performed at festivals world wide including the Bern, Concord, JVC, Kool, Kyoto, Chicago, Nice, Elkhart, Kansas City, Montreal, Edmonton, Newport, North Sea, Perugia, West Coast, San Sebastian, Ottercrest, Topeka, Sarasota, Paradise Valley and Poori. At present, Lynn is freelancing and touring as a performer and clinician with a variety of people.

Modern Masters Jazz Series: Jocelyn Gould

Crosstown Arts presents Modern Masters: Jocelyn Gould with the Ted Ludwig Trio in The Green Room.

The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Doors open at 7 pm | Show begins at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $20 in advance | $25 at the door | $10 student tickets at the door

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

2021 JUNO Award winner Jocelyn Gould has been called “a leader in the next generation of great mainstream jazz guitarists” by Howard Paul, CEO of Benedetto Guitars. Her joyful energy has captivated audiences around the world and her passion for music is as infectious as her unique ability to connect with audiences. Jocelyn has absorbed the influences of the jazz guitar greats and has woven them into an exciting personal sound, citing Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell as primary influences on the guitar.

Jocelyn has performed and recorded internationally as a leader and with GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, JUNO-winning trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg, DownBeat Rising Star trombonist Michael Dease, Etienne Charles, Jon Gordon, Rodney Whitaker, Randy Napoleon and Diego Rivera.

Jocelyn’s debut album, Elegant Traveler, won the 2021 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Solo.

Golden Hour, Jocelyn’s sophomore album, showcases her virtuosic guitar playing and dynamic compositions, and introduces her voice. It has received international critical acclaim and radio play including extensive play on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Golden Hour reached #1 on Canadian and #9 on North American college radio jazz charts. Jocelyn’s Golden Hour Tour took place in June 2022 with performances at 11 Canadian Jazz Festivals.

Jocelyn toured extensively in 2022, including a 6-week American tour featuring the music of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. She will begin 2023 with a two-month North American tour from Florida to Alaska as one of four guitarists featured in a concert of solo guitar.

Jocelyn is a Professor and Head of Guitar Department at Humber College in Toronto. She is a Benedetto-endorsed artist.

(SOLD OUT) Stax Music Academy SONGBIRDS: A Tribute to Women in Jazz

Crosstown Arts presents Stax Music Academy: SONGBIRDS: A Tribute to Women in Jazz in The Green Room.

The Green Room at Crosstown Arts
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Doors at 7 pm | Show at 7:30 pm
Tickets: $10 GA (Free for SMA students and faculty)

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the jazz department at the Stax Music Academy will present a tribute to the pioneers and powerhouses that have blazed trails for women worldwide in jazz. The concert will feature SMA’s jazz vocal ensemble, Kind Of Blue, named after the iconic 1959 Miles Davis album. The vocalists will be accompanied by a band of instrumentalists from the SMA Jazz Department. This tribute includes nods to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Nina Simone, and even contemporary artists like Esperanza Spalding and Jamila Woods. The music will speak to the strength, elegance, innovation, and devotion that women have embodied in the evolution across the diaspora of modern jazz music.

The Stax Music Academy jazz department, under the direction of SMA alumnus Kori Wallace, currently hosts three main ensembles. The premiere group, The Legacy Quintet, boldly carries the torch of Memphis’ rich musical history and features the program’s four top performing instrumentalists and top performing vocalist. Kind Of Blue, our jazz vocal ensemble, provides vocalists the opportunity to dive deeply into the nuances of the jazz language spoken by some of the greatest voices in American music. Lastly, we have the newly minted Phineas Newborn Jazz Orchestra. The PNJO shines a light on one of the titans of Memphis jazz, and creates the space for students to develop in large ensemble performance. The overall mission of the jazz department is to provide an environment for students to tap into the roots of Memphis music through its deep connection to jazz. Through that connection, students are also able to develop in their approaches to the many styles synonymous with this great city.