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The John Birks Gillespie Auditorium, dedicated to the late jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, who was a Bahá'í, is located within the New York City Bahá'í Center. Beginning on January 6, 2004,
the anniversary of Dizzy's death, his former pianist and
musical director, Mike Longo, is presenting weekly jazz concerts every Tuesday evening at 8:00 and 9:30 PM.
You will literally be transformed by the
thundering swinging sound of The New York State of the Art
Jazz Ensemble. You won't want to miss their next appearance on Tuesday, July 28, 2009.
The NYSAJE will be featured on some Tuesday nights, and other major jazz artists such as Charlie Persip, Warren Chiasson, Chip White, Freddie Hendricks, Benny Powell, Annie Ross, Jimmy Owens, Daoud David Williams and many others will headline on other Tuesdays. Check the schedule below for the exciting lineup of upcoming shows.
Admission is $15.00 per show, $10.00 for students.
Tickets will be sold at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased
by credit card only by calling 212-222-5159.
July 7: The Mike Longo Trio presents a Special Tribute Concert to Honor
Dizzy Gillespie
Get ready for some heavy swing at this Special Tribute Concert Honoring
Dizzy Gillespie with the Mike Longo Trio featuring Mike Longo on Piano,
(Dizzy's Long-time Pianist and Music Director, and 2 of Dizzy's Sidemen,
Paul West on Bass & Ray Mosca on Drums on Tuesday, July 7 at "Jazz Tuesdays"
in the Gillespie Auditorium at the New York Baha'i Center at 53 East 11th
Street (between University Place & Broadway). There will be two shows at
8:00 and 9:30 p.m. Reservations and Information: 212-222-5159.
Mike Longo has performed with a list of jazz legends that include saxophone
great Cannonball Adderley, Henry Red Allen, Coleman Hawkins, George
Wettling, Gene Krupa, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe
Williams, Jimmy Rushing, James Moody and many others. It was in the mid-60s
when Longo's trio was playing at the Embers West, that Roy Eldridge told
Dizzy Gillespie about this new pianist he had heard. Dizzy came to hear him
play and soon asked him to become his pianist. This started a life-long
musical relationship and friendship. From 1966 through 1975, Longo worked
exclusively as Dizzy's pianist and musical director. Mike left the
Gillespie group officially in 1975 to venture out on his own, but continued
to work for Gillespie on a part-time basis until his death in 1993. Since
that time Mike has recorded numerous albums and CDs on various labels with
some 45 recordings with artists such as Gillespie, James Moody, etc. At
present he has over 20 solo albums to his credit. He is sought after as a
music instructor and is in demand for jazz clinics and concerts at
universities and music schools throughout the world, and has appeared at the
Lincoln Center's new jazz room "Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola." Longo is founder
and President of Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP), an independent
recording label, dedicated to allowing artists to pursue the types of
projects that are in line with their career objectives. All of the artists
represented by CAP (over 70) are extraordinarily talented, both as composers
and performers. Longo's latest venture, Jazz Tuesdays, is dedicated to
allowing artists to retain creative control of their work and providing
students and the general public with an opportunity to hear "world class
jazz at affordable prices."
July 14: Jeanne Ricks and her band C16 featuring George Hodnett – Special
CD Release Party for her latest CD "Make It Work"
What people have said about Jeanne Ricks...
"Deep artistry, classic songwriting, rich harmonies" - Bob James
"A Real Force" - Downbeat Magazine
"A wonderful storyteller and a great songwriter" - George Benson
Jeanne's Track Record......
Jeanne Ricks is described as a singer with a "smoky soulfulness" (New
Entertainment Weekly Magazine), but her talents don't stop there...
Famed Guitarist George Benson selected Jeanne's 'Love Remembers' for the
title track of his Warner CD.
Francis Ford Coppola chose one of her songs for his critically acclaimed
movie 'Assassination Tango', starring Robert Duvall.
Anita Pointer (from the Pointer Sisters) chose 'Thorny Rose', 'Always' and
'Stronger than Pride' for her upcoming CD.
Chaka Khan recorded 'Don't Ask Me' for a WEA release.
Tony Ransom recorded 'Take It To Heart' and 'Turn To Me' for his
Expansion/EMI solo album.
Her song 'Simple Pleasure' was recently chosen for The Weather Channel's
first ever commercial CD release, titled 'The Weather Channel Presents: the
Best of Smooth Jazz' which reached #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz
chart for 7 weeks.
A multi-instrumentalist who plays Acoustic & Electric Guitar as well as
Keyboards - Jeanne lends background vocals to two of Steve Coleman's tracks
on his groundbreaking CD 'The Sonic Language of Myth' [RCA/Victor].
Listening Room, was Jeanne's first solo CD with the help of a few friends
like Branford Marsalis, Lisa Fischer, Darryl Tookes and Hubert Eaves III
lending their talents to her music which she wrote, produced and mixed on
the Rickso Facto Music Label under her artistic pseudonym, "Jenjii".
Her new CD "Make it Work!" is on its way and features Walter Beasley &
(Miles Davis' alum) Robert Irving III - June 2009 - Get Ready!!
"Now's the Time" to listen to her compelling voice and truly soulful music !
July 21: Quarteto Moderno featuring Richard Boukas & Felipe Salles
Quarteto Moderno is a cutting-edge contemporary Brazilian Jazz ensemble
which presents fresh interpretations of samba, baião, choro, frevo,
maracatu, marcha and guarânia. A creatively rich crossroad featuring
original compositions of acclaimed guitarist-vocalist Richard Boukas,
saxophonist Felipe Salles and bassist Leonardo Cioglia, they are joined by
ubiquitous drummer Adriano Santos. The group also performs staple Brazilian
repertoire of legendary composers from Pixinguinha to the living genius
Hermeto Pascoal.
Richard Boukas has led original music ensembles for over thirty years,
ranging from mainstream jazz to his longtime vision for Brazilian music in
jazz and classical settings. A virtuoso guitarist and vocalist in several
stylistic idioms, he has collaborated with top Brazilian musicians including
a ten-year association with Grammy-nominated pianist Jovino Santos Neto. His
rhythm sections have included bassists Nilson Matta, Santi Debriano and
drummers Paulo Braga, Portinho and Adriano Santos. Named "Best Brazilian
Jazz Guitarist in the U.S." by GuitarOne Magazine, he was guest
artist-professor at Brazil's esteemed Campos do Jordão Festival, is veteran
faculty at New School Jazz and a frequent guest artist/clinician at
universities nationwide. An established composer, author and journalist
(Just Jazz Guitar), he has composed commissions for Modern Mandolin Quartet,
Atlantic Brass Quintet, Lamont Saxophone Quartet, his own ensembles and
classical guitarist Ricardo Iznaola. Boukas has released several recordings,
including Balaio, Tudo de Bom (Hermeto Pascoal's Calendário do Som),
Amazôna, Embarcadero and Commitment. For more information, visit www.
boukas.com
Felipe Salles is a native of São Paulo, Brazil and has been performing,
composing and teaching in the U.S. since 1995. While in Brazil he worked
with numerous local bands and noted artists including Daniela Mercury, Paulo
Moura and Wagner Tiso. In the States he has recorded with George Russell,
Gunther Schuller, Sam Rivers, Luciana Souza and Bob Moses. His private
studies with world-renowned musicians David Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, George
Garzone and Kenny Werner (M.A. in Jazz Studies, New England Conservatory)
helped synergize a keen musical vision which at once challenges and embraces
his firm Brazilian roots. The result is a compositional and improvisational
voice of great richness and sophistication. Felipe is a 2005-06 recipient of
Chamber Music America's Jazz New Works Grant Program, which facilitated the
production and release of his latest CD on Curare Records, South American
Suite. His first two solo recordings are Mind Motions and Further South, for
Spain's Fresh Sound label. Felipe is the first candidate to earn a Doctoral
Degree in Jazz Advancement from Manhattan School of Music, He is currently
on faculty at Manhattan's Precollege Jazz division and Five Towns College,
Long Island. For more info, visit Felipe's website at www.sallesjazz.com
July 28: Mike Longo's 17-piece Big Band: The NY State of the Art Jazz
Ensemble with vocalist Hilary Gardner
You'll groove on some exciting new compositions and arrangements with
straight ahead, burnin', foot stompin' jazz when Mike Longo's swingin'
17-piece Big Band, the NY State of the Art Jazz Ensemble with vocalist Miss
Hilary Gardner, returns to "Jazz Tuesdays" next Tuesday, June 16 . This is
the big band that thrilled a sold-out house this past October at Dizzy
Gillespie's birthday celebration and was voted "Band of the Year" in the
2004 Brazilian Jazz Poll. You will be delighted by the NYSAJE's repertoire
from their latest CD "Oasis", that topped the charts at # 7 in December 2004
and remained in the top 20 for an unprecedented 16 weeks. And you won't want
to miss Hilary Gardner's renditions of some jazz classics as well as some
new compositions and arrangements.
Mike Longo has performed with a list of jazz legends that include saxophone
great Cannonball Adderley, Henry Red Allen, Coleman Hawkins, George
Wettling, Gene Krupa, Nancy Wilson, Gloria Lynn, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe
Williams, Jimmy Rushing, James Moody and many others. It was in the mid-60s
when Longo's trio was playing at the Embers West, that Roy Eldridge told
Dizzy Gillespie about this new pianist he had heard. Dizzy came to hear him
play and soon asked him to become his pianist. This started a life-long
musical relationship and friendship. From 1966 through 1975, Longo worked
exclusively as Dizzy's pianist and musical director. Mike left the
Gillespie group officially in 1975 to venture out on his own, but continued
to work for Gillespie on a part-time basis until his death in 1993. Since
that time Mike has recorded numerous albums and CDs on various labels with
some 45 recordings with artists such as Gillespie, James Moody, etc. At
present he has over 20 solo albums to his credit. He is sought after as a
music instructor and is in demand for jazz clinics and concerts at
universities and music schools throughout the world, and has appeared at the
Lincoln Center's new jazz room "Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola." Longo is founder
and President of Consolidated Artists Productions (CAP), an independent
recording label, dedicated to allowing artists to pursue the types of
projects that are in line with their career objectives. All of the artists
represented by CAP (over 70) are extraordinarily talented, both as composers
and performers. Longo's latest venture, Jazz Tuesdays, is dedicated to
allowing artists to retain creative control of their work and providing
students and the general public with an opportunity to hear "world class
jazz at affordable prices."
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