Hullo friends. Sunday morning. I actually set the alarm for 8:00 in the hopes of getting this done before the concert today with Barbara Jean at Shakespeare Hill. But now it's 10:30 and not a single word of consequence is written. Say hullo to the world's slowest starter. Were it not for a Tuesday deadline, nothing would get done.
Today, 7/24 at Shakespeare Hill 2:00 - 4:00
Barbara Jean, vocals Bobby Jones, piano Cameron Kayne, bass yours truly, drum set
Barbara Jean brings her silky, smooth vocal stylings and her clever tunes to Shakespeare Hill. If you've heard her at the former Bobby McGee's or at the Ellicottville Jazz Festival, you are already charmed. Perfect intonation and Sinatra-like phrasing would be enough to set her apart, but what is truly exceptional about Barbara Jean is that she writes her own tunes: lyrics, melody, and chord changes. I've told this story before, but it's worth repeating: Before I ever heard her sing, Barbara Jean gave me her recently released CD, Sweet. And the truth is, I was really more interested in hearing how Mike Jones & Cameron Kayne sounded on the recording. I stuck the disc in the car CD changer, and along with this genuine, uncluttered voice and swinging piano, were these standards I didn't recognize. Now I thought I was relatively versed in the Great American Songbook, but I didn't know any of these tunes. Curiosity being what it is, I turned to the liner notes to discover that Barbara Jean had written 15 of the 17 tunes on the record! She has already had one of her tunes licensed by a daytime television program, and she is now preparing to go into the studio to record her sophomore effort. So bring your cooler and your fold-up chair, and join us for Week 3 of this summer's Buffalo News Sunday Jazz Series, this year at Shakespeare Hill.
Tuesday, 7/26 at the Iris Restaurant 7:30 - 10:30
Three Brothers & a Distant Cousin
Phil Sims - trombone & arrangements Andy Weinzler, Russ D'Alba & Kelly Bucheger - tenor saxes Michael T. Jones - piano Cameron Kayne - bass your host - drum set
Considering my intimacy with procrastination, it's a wonder that this gig gets booked at all. But booked it is, and thanks to a work ethic I admire in Phil Sims, an amazing night it will be. This band actually emerged when Phil presented himself with a rather daunting challenge, and wrote some killer arrangements to answer said challenge. To wit, can a trombone player - who has to move a long, unwieldy metal tube to inexact positions - physically keep up with three monster tenor saxophonists whose technical responsibility is to wiggle their fingers really fast? Personal challenge identified, arrangements written, and the Three Brothers were born... When you consider the concept and Phil's choice for sidemen, you'll not want to miss this very special singular performance of a most unique musical ensemble. Still at the same location, now under new ownership and a new name... Please join us at the Iris Restaurant, Maple & Sweet Home Roads in the Maple-Ridge Plaza. Good music, good food, good people, chilled spirits, air conditioning, and always a great hang.
Thursday, 7/28 at Russell Park in Akron noon - 1:00
Laurie Bordonaro, vocals Ben Mozee, saxophone Michael T. Jones, piano Sabu Adeyola, bass yours truly, drum set
Here's what you do: Throw your portable lawn chair in the car and take the leisurely drive to Russell park in Mayberry. Grab your lunch at Guy's Subs, cross the street to the Park, and take in Laurie's concert. Simply, a perfect day... Laurie's love for everything she commits to is evident in the care she invests in each meal served at Guy's, and the unmitigated joy with which she sings her song. A student of both the Berklee and LA schools of music and life, she remains one of us. Genuine and loving, she swings as hard as any singer on the national stage. And all you have to do is drive to Akron.
next Sunday, 7/31 at Shakespeare Hill 2:00 - 4:00
Don Rice, tenor saxophone Bobby Jones, piano Jim Colemon, bass your correspondent, drum set
Sunday Jazz at the Albright-Knox, this summer on Shakespeare Hill, is reputed to be the longest running free jazz concert series in the country. And Don Rice returns for the 21st consecutive year. That's got to be some sort of record in and of itself. Will you join us for our annual reunion?
next Tuesday, 8/2 at the Iris Restaurant 7:30 - 10:30
Barbara Jean, vocals Michael T. Jones, piano Cameron Kayne, bass your host, drum set
upcoming at the Iris Restaurant...
Tuesday, 8/9 Don Menza
Tuesday, 8/16 Laurie Bordonaro
Tuesday, 8/23 Pete Malinverni & Jody Sandhaus
Tuesday, 8/30 Mike Kelly
Tuesday, 9/13 Tim Clarke & George Kane
Tuesday, 9/20 Matt Michaud
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