420 First Street East Sonoma, CA 95476 phone 707.996.4466

Friday, March 12, 2010

Bassist Andrew Emer Quartet

Michael Abraham-guitar, Dayna Stephens-Tenor Sax, Shaun Lowecki-drums

ANDREW EMER moved to New York City from San Fransisco in 1998. While in San Fransisco he worked with Billy Higgins, Buddy Collette, and Bruce Forman along with Steve perkins of janes addiction in a Ska/Klezmer out-fit. Since moving to New York he as had the pleasure of working and touring with; Lee Konitz, Donald Byrd, Jason Moran, Jeff Ballard,Kenny Wollesen, Peter Apfelbaum, Chris Cheek, George Garzone, Frank Kimbrough, Waddada Leo Smith,Carl Allen, Mike Clark, Arturo O'farell, John Popper (Blues Traveler), Slide Hampton, Donny Mclaslin. In the fall of 2007 Andrew worked with Jack Dejohnette sideman; Michae Cain to score a play for Labyrinth Theater Company with Co-artistic Directors: John Ortiz and Phillip Seymore Hoffman. The play, "A View From 151st street" premiered at the New York City Public Theater and had a successful 38 show run. Since then he has been touring the states and Europe with various Jazz acts. Andrew is currently Adjunct Faculty, String Bass & Electric Bass, at Santa Rosa Junior College, summer faculty at Lake Tahoe Jazz camp for Kids and a Jazz Clinic Visiting Professor National Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium 2009-2010.

“Powered by former students of Charlie Haden, Andrew Emer (Bass) and his four piece progressive crew doesn’t seem to believe in rules, so it doesn’t seem like there are any for them to break.”

—Midwest Record

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Terry Disley Experience Trio

Terry Disley keyboards, Dan
Feiszli bass, Jon Arkin drums.

Terry Disley was born in London where he studied piano and theory of music from age 8. He spent the next 12 years studying classical repertoire, jazz, composition, piano accordion, saxophone, harmony and arranging at the Salterton School of Music. He began composing at age 11 and by 13 was writing for his own electric/acoustic chamber group. Since then he has gone on to write for a multitude of ensembles including string quartets, electronic contemporary dance music, jazz (both big band and small groups), ambient music, vocal scat jazz, film scores and contemporary pop songs.

Since 1997 he has lived in San Francisco recording and performing with his own projects, recording three solo albums in amongst his touring schedule, session and arranging work. From 1999 – 2002 he fronted a jazz trio “Three Thinking” at the Ana Mandara - actor Don Johnson’s Vietnamese style club and restaurant. In 2002 he was featured alongside Yellow Jackets musicians Will Kennedy (drums), and Marc Russo (sax), on J Thompson’s CD Romantic Night, and in 2003 he co-wrote the music for the San Francisco Oracle World Convention with Chris Hedge from the Magnetic Poets. Terry performed a solo piano improvisation on this theme to an audience of 15,000 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco accompanied by a state of the art hi-tech laser light display.

Reuniting with his old band mates Acoustic Alchemy (2004-2006) he one again toured America and the UK, this time as Special Guest Artist featuring some of his own material along with tracks from the release “The Best of Acoustic Alchemy.”

Terry formed his own group “The Terry Disley Experience” in 2003 and released the first of a series of albums. The “Experience” album put him firmly on the map in the contemporary jazz radio market and the track “Side to Side” was voted by 17,047 KKSF Radio 103.7 listeners as the best unsigned artist track of the year. He subsequently released the CD’s “Across the Pond” (2006) and “London Underground” (2008).

Friday, March 26, 2010

Amendola vs. Blades

Wil Blades-Hammond B3 and Scott Amendola-drums

Wil Blades and Scott Amendola conjure various sonic deities though only a duo. Their live shows have been generating a buzz around the Bay Area. The two got their start as a group when Scott had the vision of performing Duke Ellington’s “Far East Suite” in duo with Wil. While quite a daunting task translating a suite (originally written for a big band) into duo, the Hammond Organ had previously been used in the 1940’s and 1950’s to emulate the sound of big bands. With Wil’s knowledge of this tradition and Scott’s desire to push boundaries, they were able to pull it off in an explorative, yet cohesive manner. The duo continues to perform the Ellington suite in their live performances, while also developing their original material. In performance, Amendola and Blades cover everything from Avant Garde to Funk, Bebop to Rock.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Mad & Eddie Duran

with drummer Smith Dobson and Adam Gay on Bass

Master San Francisco guitarist Eddie Duran describes his playing on his first recording in over a decade, as "piano style" guitar. Like a pianist, he combines chord voicings with single-note phrases. In Eddie's skilled, seasoned hands, six strings become eighty-eight keys - and they all swing! Eddie's extensive credits include work with Stan Getz, Cal Tjader, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, Vince Guaraldi, Benny Goodman, George Shearing, Red Norvo, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand, Tania Maria, and Pearl Bailey.

With her first note, Mad Duran forever destroys the negative myths about female horn players. As the late drummer Eddie Moore said, "Mad can hit with the boys anytime. "The new kid on the block," one of the premier female instrumentalists, prides herself primarily on tenor as a hard core bop player, with an eclectic taste for contemporary Latin and Brazilian styles. Mad's credits include performances with George Cables, Jessica Williams, Hal Galper, Tootie Heath, Stan Getz, James Moody, Eddie Moore, and Eddie Marshall, just to name a few. The late Herb Cain summed it up when he wrote, "Mad Duran is just what jazz needs - soul, swing and a breath of femininity."

Friday, April 9, 2010

Joshi Marshall Project

http://www.joshimarshall.com/

Joshi Marshall was born in Berkeley, California, in 1971. At the age of ten he picked up a saxophone and has been playing it ever since. As a junior, Joshi became a member of the prestigious Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble and Combo. In 1989 he won the award for Most Outstanding Soloist at the Monterey Jazz Festival High School Competition. While still in high school, Joshi had the rare opportunity of playing in and hosting sessions with his mother, Beverly Bivens, lead singer of the pop group, We Five and many notable jazz musicians which included saxophonist Pharoah Saunders and pianist, Benny Green.

After finishing high school, Joshi was offered a scholarship to the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Though the scholarship was tempting, Joshi instead opted to immediately dive into his professional career and apprenticeship in the San Francisco Bay Area with prominent blues and jazz singer, Faye Carol. After working with Carol for three years, Joshi broke out with his own jazz trio, Marshall Arts, which featured his father, Fred Marshall, a prominent jazz bassist for many years with such notables as Vince Guaraldi, John Hendrix and drummer Max Roach. Marshall Arts played in the San Francisco Bay Area for over ten years, during which time Joshi played with other celebrated jazz musicians including Charlie Hunter and Josh Jones.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Jazz Gitan

www.jazzgitan.com

Don Price – 1^st Guitar, Ken Billeci- 2^nd Guitar and Paul Klempau- 1^st bass

JAZZ GITAN - pronounced JAZZ J'TAN - is a jazz ensemble that carries on the tradition of gypsy swing created by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli during their domination of the Paris jazz scene during the 1930s. The “Hot Club” style of jazz is ideal for all occasions; from nightclubs to swing dances to elegant dinner parties and weddings. The music of JAZZ GITAN is the swinging jazz of the 30s and 40s, plus a cross-section of songs from the modern Gypsy Jazz repertoire. With instrumentation similar to Django’s Hot Club, Don Price and Jazz Gitan provides exciting, engaging music for all to enjoy.

Don Price & JAZZ GITAN perform "le jazz hot" music of the Parisian swing era. The songs belong to the Jazz and Swing style of Django Reinhardt, and the Gypsy "le pompe" guitar style expressed will make you want to tap your feet. The mix of high energy guitar playing among the players, light hearted Django-esk quotes create an enjoyable musical experience. Don has performed in a variety of venues, including memorable performances with BB King, Frank Gambale, Larry Coryell, Bruce Forman, and his current trio Jazz Gitan puts on a show that is virtuosic, musical, fun and family friendly. Don personally credit's Robin Nolan with teaching him the "authenticity" of playing gypsy jazz guitar. We all must ackowledge listening to the great players such as Stochelo Rosenberg, Bireli Legrene, Angelo Debarre, to name only a few. Of course, last but not least, is the master player himself, Django Reinhardt, for giving us this inspired musical genre - le jazz hot!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Mads Tolling Quartet

www.madstolling.com

Mads Tolling – Violin
Mike Abraham – Guitar
George Ban-Weiss – Acoustic/Electric Bass
Eric Garland – Drums

Mads Tolling, Mike Abraham, George Ban-Weiss and Eric Garland cinclame together through the eclectic San Francisco jazz scene. The distinctive Quartet integrates the violin into a traditional jazz combo. All four instruments play unconventional roles to make the music come to life. Violin may act as drum, guitar may take bass lines and bass may carry the melody. There are some moments of pure spontaneity, but underlying the concept of MTQ are thoughtful compositions and arrangements. All four players have re-thought their instruments in a fresh way, relying on their instincts to let the music speak for itself.

MTQ draws inspiration from jazz to world music to rock & roll, and from such artists as Herbie Hancock, Ravi Shankar and Radiohead. Most of the music is composed and arranged by bandleader, Mads Tolling.

Mads Tolling, internationally renowned violinist, violist, and composer, is a two time Grammy Award-Winner. He is currently a member of the Turtle Island Quartet and soloist with bassist Stanley Clarke’s band. Born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark, Mads moved to Boston to study at Berkeley College of Music. Mads was immediately recognized as a fresh voice in jazz, and his career went into full swing performing with top artists such as Al Di Meola, Kenny Barron, Paquito d’Rivera & Leo Kottke. Mads’ sophomore CD release “The Playmaker” features jazz greats Russell Ferrante & Stanley Clarke along with vibes extraordinaire Stefon Harris. Hear these leading musicians along with a violinist, who views his instrument as part fiddle, part

saxophone, part acoustic and electric violin. Mads Tolling is a leading innovator in string playing, and this recording of jazz, fusion, funk, classical, Danish folk along with rock & roll arrangements of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” and Radiohead’s “Just,” encapsulates his point of view.

Tolling’s new cd “The Playmaker” conveys the connection between sports and music. In sports, the playmaker’s role is to facilitate his teammates for scoring opportunities - to bring them, and ultimately the team, success. This is what musicians do: make their band mates sound better by supporting them during a solo, making the band sound greater than any one of its parts. In the titular Tolling original, “The Playmaker Suite,” each of the movements is dedicated to three athletes who are truly great at what they do, while serving their teammates and representing their sport to the highest degree possible. Likewise, for three of the remaining songs, they are dedicated to musicians, who had that same greatness in their music making, while being true “playmakers” on the bandstand.

“Virtuosity may be a given on “The Playmaker,” but what’s most impressive is the sound of Tolling’s quartet, which drives the majority of the record and, based on the results, must be thrilling live.”

 -John Kelman, All About Jazz

Friday, April 30, 2010

The Larry Vuckovich New York Trio

featuring New York master drummer, Chuck McPherson and bassist Michael Zisman

Larry Vuckovich has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences for his deeply imaginative style and repertoire heard at prestigious North American and European jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals. He is equally at home in world music/classically influenced modal jazz as he is with hard-swinging bebop, post-bop, contemporary jazz, and down-home blues. The New York Times notes that his unique outlook and collection of influences “set him apart from most pianists who are heard regularly in New York”. The Village Voice comments on his “book of piano gems that will keep you guessing.” The Toronto Globe and Mail calls him “a musician who sits apart from the rest by virtue...of his taste for both the exotic and the exquisite.”

Cited by piano legend Barry Harris as “one of the premier West Coast pianists, Mr. Vuckovich brought his Jazz-Latin Trio/Quartet, featured on his two current piano trio/quartet CDs, to Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club in New York on a recent East Coast tour. On the same tour, he performed with Marian McPartland on her Piano Jazz show, broadcast to national and global NPR affiliates. Mr. Vuckovich has appeared as soloist at the Fazioli piano series in San Francisco, New York and Chicago, and also leads an 18-piece band that sold out the 600-seat 2007 Jazz at Filoli show in Woodside, CA.

His two latest recordings, High Wall: Real Life Film Noir and Street Scene, on his Tetrachord Music label, placed in the Top 10 of the JazzWeek national radio reporting charts, and are heard regularly on XM Satellite Radio. They have won praise from top critics:

“He’s a passionate exponent of what most people call straight-ahead jazz ... there is a consistently tasteful quality to his music that makes it very appealing to the ear. "
– Leonard Maltin, Movie Crazy

“… he creates an earthy post-bop style of richly varied improvisational expression.”
- Jazz Podium (Germany)

"... a pianist whose evocative touch and poetic (but unsentimental) sensibility convey the wisdom of deep musical life experience"
– Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times

"A true musician's musician...originality, elegance, dexterity and most of all great sense of swing, time, space and phrasing. For those who are keen on a superior jazz trio, Street Scene is highly recommended."
- Gilbert Mathieu, Jazz Improv

"... any discussion of the best jazz piano players in the world must now include Larry Vuckovich!"
-Brad Stone, Music Director, KSJS, San Jose, CA

"A MONSTER of a player who should be much more well known.”
- Gary Walker, Music Director, WBGO, NJ/NYC.

Situated in an 1859 landmark building with a long colorful history,  the Plaza Bistro offers a relaxing bistro style ambience, delectable wine country cuisine, including daily specials, fine wines and an indisputable social atmosphere.

What could be finer on a Friday evening than live jazz "On The Plaza"?  

The Plaza Bistro offers relaxed atmosphere, a complete dinner menu if you so desire and a full bar for your favorite adult beverage.

The SVJS had teamed up with the folks at The Plaza Bistro to present live jazz Friday evenings, 7 to 10 pm. No cover  and no minimum!

 Join us at The Plaza Bistro for the best live entertainment in town: America's one true art form, JAZZ!

Why not join the SVJS and support live jazz in Sonoma?