Clifford Brown News

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

One of the most revered figures on the European jazz scene, Swiss trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti has maintained a strong affinity for the music since debuting as a leader in 1965 with A Jazz Portrait of Franco Ambrosetti. Now approaching his 78th birthday in December, Ambrosetti is still swinging after all these years, which is very much in evidence by his latest recording, Long Waves. An all-star session recorded in January, 2019 in New York City, Ambrosetti's 28th as a leader overall and second for the Swiss-based Unit Records features celebrated guitarist John Scofield, pianist Uri Caine, bassist Scott Colley and legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette.Together they interact on an intimate level, displaying remarkable chemistry on seven tracks. 'It was like a constant dialogue,' said Ambrosetti of the empathetic session. 'After one rehearsal, I felt like I had played with this group every night for the last five years.'

Now celebrating 20 years as a mainstay in the Indianapolis arts and culture scene, the annual Indy Jazz Fest returns in 2018 with a 10-day lineup celebrating the legacy of jazz, modern masters and the discovery of new jazz stars. Indy Jazz Fest returns this year with "The Big Beat" to celebrate and honor the spirit of Art Blakey. This year's festival features Jazz new stars, Indianapolis' notable performers and award winning national acts.

It's a marriage committed to musical excellence. Jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos says of his wife Lorraine, 'She's a classically trained guitarist, and her practice can be intimidating at times.' That helps motivate him to practice more, usually four or five hours a day. But she has said, his practicing inspires her to practice more because she feels guilty if she doesn't. Fortunately for the couple, and perhaps the neighbors, they both have successful careers that prevent them from escalating into a friendly, but potentially fatal, competition.

Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights In Jazz closes its 46thseason with a tribute to lauded jazz guitarist Russell Malone. A mainstay on the Manhattan music scene since the 1980s, as well as a regular at international festivals and concert halls, Russell has attracted critical and fan recognition for his work as an accomplished leader and in-demand sideman. 

The Highlights In Jazz 46th Season continues Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 8 P.M., when The Millennials Meet The Masters.

Griffith Kazmierzcak, tpt Ben Frock, tpt Joe Herrara, tpt Chris Frick, pn Jim Hanna, prc Ian Trusheim, bs Kelton Norris, dm Warm the season up with Leo's Maximal Latin Jazz Trumpets!! Arrangements of the music of Tadd Dameron, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, original compositions, and more. Leo Maxey is a Baltimore area jazz trumpeter. Reared in Augusta, GA, he began his musical studies under the tutelage of his father Leonard Maxey, Sr. and Darian Washington and studied with the likes of local greats John Bradley, Michael Katterjohn, and Todd Jenkins. He holds tenure with the BCJO and has performed with artist to include the David Murray Baltimore Big Band, Frankie Ruiz, Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, the Whitt Williams Big Band, The Four Tops, The Impressions, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and others. He studied with Alex Norris, Tim Murphy, Gary Thomas, Michael Formanek, Paul Bollenback, Russell Thomas, Robert Blaine, and Darcie Bishop.

The Nash welcomes the new year hosting a wide array of jazz artists and events. Highlights include the great vibraphonist Warren Wolf on Jan 17, a new 'pro-jam session' with Lewis Nash on Jan 24 and a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement with a new Jazz Meets Poetry event on Jan. 19.

Boston Playwrights' Theatre (BPT) opens its 2017-18 season with Lost Tempo by Cliff Odle. Running from October 5-22, the drama is directed by Diego Arciniegas.

For one night only, October 7, 2017, six award-winning tap artists, connected through their Broadway background in Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, reunite to celebrate their art form in the newly renovated Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Featuring D.C. natives Joseph Webb and Baakari Wilder along with Omar Edwards, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Derick K. Grant, and Jason Samuels Smith, this unique performance is choreographed to honor the roots of tap dance, their predecessors, and each other, all to live jazz music by the Lafayette Harris Jr. Quintet.

Jazz musicians, students and enthusiasts are invited to hang out at The Nash this summer, jam with other students, learn new techniques, or try out different styles of jazz. From bop to brass, guitar to vocals, the popular jazz club will be buzzing as musicians work with instructors in a wide range of classes and workshops.  The first session begins May 22, with a variety of workshops held throughout the summer.

Celebrating its 4th Birthday, The Nash hosts an all-out weekend Birthday Bash with a quintet of heavy hitters, The Lewis Nash Big Apple Quintet.

The 59th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival wrapped up Sunday, September 18 after a weekend of debut artists, returning masters and new favorites. Over 36,600 fans came through the gates of the Monterey County Fairgrounds during the weekend of September 16-18. The weekend featured a festival record-breaking 115 performances of diverse styles of music from around the globe, from tributes and piano trios; big bands to modern jazz, Cuban, blues and fusion groups, mixed with historic conversations, films, and exhibits.

On Sunday, October 23, at 7pm, Claudio Roditi opens the Luna Stage 2016-2017 'Music in the Moonlight' jazz series, with Brazilliance. Roditi will highlight his original compositions, including 'The Monster and the Flower', 'Piccolo Blues', and 'Ballad for JGL'. He will be accompanied on keyboards by Matt King, a Thelonius Monk International Jazz Piano Competition finalist, who has performed with such artists as bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Billy Hart, and guitarist Vic Juris.

Celebrating its 4th Birthday, The Nash hosts an all-out weekend Birthday Bash with a quintet of heavy hitters, The Lewis Nash Big Apple Quintet.

Violinist Benjamin Sutin and his jazz inspired world fusion ensemble, Klazz-Ma-Tazz will be performing at Greenwich Village cultural hotspot Cornelia Street Cafe tonight, March 8th from 8:00 - 9:00 pm.

Violinist Benjamin Sutin and his jazz inspired world fusion ensemble, Klazz-Ma-Tazz will be performing at Greenwich Village cultural hotspot Cornelia Street Cafe next Tuesday, March 8th from 8:00 - 9:00 pm.  

Highlights of the tour include a five-night run at Birdland in New York City, with appearances at major performing arts centers and colleges in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Virginia.

Klezmer/Jazz fusion group Klazz-Ma-Tazz will celebrate the release of their debut album Tangibility, at The Cornelia Street Cafe (New York City), September 2nd, 9:00 pm.  Klazz-Ma-Tazz is an accomplished ensemble that has garnered praise for its dynamic compositions, its improvisational skills, spirit and sense of humor.  While rooted in the jazz idiom, the music reflects the influences of folk music from around the world, particularly from the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the band members themselves.  Among these are Klezmer and Balkan folk music, Indian classical music, Native American tribal dance and English folk music.  On September 2nd, they will perform their entire debut album, Tangibility, as welll as several new pieces that reflect their progressive artistic direction.  Tangibilty will be released on OneTrickDog* Records on September 1st.  

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents “Neighborhood Week,” an entire week of classical orchestral and chamber music in some of Pittsburgh's most beloved locales. Beginning on Monday, August 31, the Pittsburgh Symphony will be bringing music to the community with different events each day through Friday, September 4. All details about Neighborhood Week, including locations and ticket information, can be found at pittsburghsymphony.org/neighborhood.