Upcoming: Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors featuring Joe Lovano at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors featuring Berklee professor and saxophonist Joe Lovano will take the stage at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola tomorrow night, Monday, September 16 at 7:30PM and 9:30PM.  Full show details are below.

The Jazz Ambassadors, six students from Berklee’s prestigious Berklee Global Jazz Institute, will join Lovano in performing John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space. Though it was originally recorded primarily as saxophone and drum duets, Lovano and his students have re-imagined Interstellar Space for sextet and will perform it during the week prior to Coltrane’s birthday, which is September 23.

The Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors are pianist Witness Matlou (Johannesburg, South Africa), drummer Jharis Yokely (St. Louis, MO), bassist Jared Henderson (Sisters, OR), trombonist John Egizi (Ventura, CA), trumpeter Mao Sone (Tokyo, Japan), and saxophonist Edmar Colón (Coamo, Puerto Rico). 

The show is part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Coca-Cola Generations in Jazz Festival, which showcases an array of up-and-coming musicians alongside some of today’s most established jazz masters.

Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors featuring Joe Lovano

Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

10 Columbus Circle

New York, NY

Doors: 7:30PM and 9:30PM

Tickets: $35 

Students: $10 w/valid student ID

Around New York ... September 15 - September 21, 2013

Upcoming Shows in the New York area ...

September 16 -- Cultfever / Hot Sardines at Mercury Lounge

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion at Mercury Lounge, 9/17

September 16 -- Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors with Special Guest Joe Lovano at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola
September 17 -- Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion / The Melodic at Mercury Lounge
September 18 -- Adam Stoler at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
September 18 -- Sophie Auster at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2
September 18 -- Hank & Cupcakes / Pink & Blue at Cameo Gallery
September 19 -- Lucy Rose / Julia Easterlin / Katie Costello at Cameo Gallery
September 19 -- Norman Vladimir at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3
September 19 -- Michael Franti & Spearhead / Kopecky Family Band at Terminal 5
September 19 -- Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Har Mar Superstar at Barclays Center
September 20 -- Vampire Weekend / Solange / Sky Ferreira at Barclays Center
September 20 -- Jenny Owen Youngs / Mal Blum / Stephen Brodsky at Union Hall
September 20 -- Oh Land at Music Hall of Williamsburg
September 21 -- Savoir Adore / The Suzan / Ski Lodge at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Four Little Girls with Original Music & Arrangements by Kathryn Bostic

Something for folks in the DC area to check out...

Video: Jihae with Dave Stewart - "I Put A Spell On You"

Jihae and Dave Stewart jammed on "I Put A Spell On You" at the Viper Room back in May...check it out below.  Jihae's new album, Illusion of You, is scheduled for release in January 2014.

Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray Begin Fall Tour

Miss Shevaughn & Yuma Wray began their fall tour today.  They'll be unveiling material from their upcoming studio album which is scheduled for release in March 2014.  Check the list of dates below and go show them some love.

Tour Dates

• Sep 12 - The Prospector, Long Beach, CA
• Sep 13 - Press Restaurant, Claremont, CA
• Sep 14 - Chopper John's, Phoenix, AZ
• Sep 17 - Old Texas Brewing, Burleson, TX
• Sep 18 - The Cavern, Russellville, AR
• Sep 19 - TBA Nashville, TN
• Sep 20 - Lab Listening Room, Asheville, NC
• Sep 21 - Soundhole, Myrtle Beach, SC
• Sep 22 - The Milestone, Charlotte, NC
• Sep 23 - The Box, Charlottesville, VA
• Sep 24 - Hill Country BBQ, Washington DC
• Oct 5 - Art On The Avenue street festival, Alexandria, VA
• Oct 9 - Grand Victory, Brooklyn, NY
• Oct 10 - 193 Degrees Coffee, Kingston, RI
• Oct 11 - Red Hook Bait N Tackle, Brooklyn, NY
• Oct 12 - Bus Stop Music Cafe, Pittman, NJ
• Oct 18 - The Sparrow, Charleston, SC
• Oct 21 - Alleycat, Carrolton, GA
• Oct 24 - Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY
• Oct 25 - Mag Bar, Louisville, KY
• Oct 31 - The Black Cat, Washington DC
• Nov 2 - TBA Brooklyn, NY 

What You May Have Missed: U.S. Royalty at Mercury Lounge

U.S. Royalty - September 6, 2013 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY 

It has been a while since I've seen U.S. Royalty live so, I made it a point to make it out to see them last Friday at Mercury Lounge.  I even dragged my hip-hop lovin' cousin along for the ride. 

U.S. Royalty play rock 'n' roll and they do it exceptionally well.  Why aren't these guys massively huge?  Friday, we got a mix of old and new songs in a set that was precise and shake your ass fun.  Based on what they played, the new record is going to be a good one.  I was happy to hear their new single "Blue Sunshine".  I'm already fond of that track.  And, I was thrilled that old favorite, "The Desert Won't Save You", is still in the set; I've been listening to that track a lot lately.

The last time I saw them they set the bar high. They were raw in a intensely wild, hot, sweaty, leave all on the floor sort of way.  This time, they met the bar and dare I say, surpassed it.  They still left it all on the floor, they were just more subtle about it this time. Well, maybe not frontman John Thornley, he's still delightfully unrestrained. His vocals were clear and spirited.  The steady force of bassist Jacob Michael and drummer Luke Adams provided a tight driving rhythm that refused to let you stand still.  Guitarist Paul Thornley played with a cool, unassuming confidence yet maintained enough swagger and bite to say the non-verbal equivalent of, we're 'U.S. Bloody Royalty, That's Who'!

Their set left me thoroughly entertained and exhausted; damn I really love rock 'n' roll.

This is what it looked like.

More photos HERE

Jessye Norman To Host An Hour On WBGO, Today, 9/10

Jessye Norman (Photo credit: Carol Friedman)

Famed opera singer Jessye Norman will be sitting in the DJ chair for an hour today, Tuesday, September 10, starting at Noon on WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM. She will host an hour of her favorite music on Mid-Day Jazz with Rhonda Hamilton.

Two weeks later, on Tuesday, September 24, Norman will serve as Hostess and Honorary Chair for a special performance of Lady Day.  Lady Day stars her friend and host of WBGO's JazzSet, Dee Dee Bridgewater as Billie Holiday. The show takes place at Little Shubert Theatre, 7PM.  This special event will benefit WBGO and The Actors Fund.  For more information about the benefit and tickets visit, www.WBGO.org/LadyDay.

What You May Have Missed: Ula Ruth at Mercury Lounge

Ula Ruth: September 6, 2013 @ Mercury Lounge, New York, NY 

I was down at Mercury Lounge on Friday to catch a band I dig. I got there early and caught Ula Ruth rocking out.  It looked something like this...

What You May Have Missed: Jazz In The Valley

Jazz In The Valley - August 18, 2013 @ Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie, NY

I made my way to the Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie to be exact, to take in Jazz In The Valley.  The annual festival is held along the Hudson River at Waryas Park. If you've never been, check it out next year!

Denise Thimes with Houston Person & Danny Mixon

More photos HERE

Sax Appeal (Part 1)

Javon Jackson, Jimmy Heath, Gary Bartz & Donald Harrison

(Maurice Brown came out and jammed with them.)

More photos HERE

Newport Jazz Festival: Day 3 Through My Lens

Newport Jazz Festival - August 4, 2013 @ Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI

It was three days of great music in a great location.  As the weekend came to an end, we had to bid adieu to the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management ... well, at least until next year when the iconic festival will be celebrating 60 years since it's birth!  See you all there?!

Harbor Stage

Jon Batiste & Stay Human

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Quad Stage

Donny McCaslin Group

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Jim Hall with Special Guest Julian Lage

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Dee Alexander

More photos HERE

Hiromi: The Trio Project

More photos HERE

Fort Stage

University of Rhode Island Jazz Festival Big Band

More photos HERE

Joshua Redman Quartet

Listen HERE

More photos HERE

Chick Corea & The Vigil

More photos HERE

Jihae To Release New Album + Launches Kickstarter Project

Jihae will release her new album, Illusion of You, via her own Septem label in January 2014.  The record was executive produced by Dave Stewart who also co-wrote a track with Leonard Cohen and Jihae.  

On working with Dave Stewert, Jihae stated, "It was a fun learning experience working with Dave on this album. He is a mad scientist of a creative mind and has quirky ways of envisioning structure, sound and texture. Quite a joker too.. Loved hearing his stories of working with Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Annie Lenox etc.. As Ringo Starr always said.. we said before each take, 'Good luck studio!'"

Jihae launched a Kickstarter project today to raise funds to complete the album process and do a proper tour.  Check out the project's video below.  She has already grabbed a bevy of attention with her smokey and sophisticated voice paired with her cool edginess.  With this upcoming record, Jihae is sure to breakthrough in a major way.

What You May Have Missed: Jake Lewis and The Clergy

Jake Lewis and The Clergy: August 31, 2013 @ The Fastnet Pub, Newport, RI

This past Saturday, I went over to see Jake Lewis and the Clergy at The Fastnet Pub.  This was the first time I had the pleasure of seeing the band perform; and let me tell you, they're pretty darn good!  If you haven't already, you should definitely check them out.  Your ears will thank you for indulging in their indie Americana goodness.

And for your listening/viewing pleasure, we captured a clip of "Lost" from their set.  The studio version of the track is from the album Location, Location.