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From Autin, Texas
Dan Dyer
Tues. Feb. 9
7 PM
$10.
 
Dan Dyer at Youtube
 
Austin, TX-based Dan Dyer's soulful tenor voice and gospel-tinged pop songwriting are truly something special, and he isn't afraid to reach back to 1970s soulsters like Al Green, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and Dr. John for musical guidance and inspiration. Born and raised in the small East Texas town of Tool, Dyer was given his first guitar when he was only five years old but he didn't learn to play it until some 13 years later when he moved to Austin. Once there, he discovered his love of singing and began working hard at perfecting his songwriting. While attending Texas State University in San Marcos, TX, Dyer, along with guitarist Tyrone Vaughan (the son of Jimmie Vaughan), drummer Jason White, keyboardist Ezra Reynolds, and bassist Josh Dawkins, formed Breedlove, which became pretty successful on the local club circuit, building a solid fan base and releasing a self-produced CD, Reach Out, in 1996 before calling it quits as a band in 1998.

Dyer recorded the still unreleased album 12 Songs in 2001 with guitarist Billy White playing and producing, then relocated to New York, where he began writing musical jingles for commercial marketing campaigns. Lenny Kravitz, who had just started up his own Roxie Records imprint for Warner Bros.' Reprise Records, signed Dyer to his new label and produced (as well as co-writing three songs and playing most of the instruments) Of What Lies Beneath, Dyer's debut solo album (it was Roxie's debut release as well), issuing it in 2004. When Warners was sold, Dyer became the innocent victim of consolidation and reshuffling, and was soon out of a record deal. He moved to St. Louis, MO, and started a family, but eventually began traveling back to Austin to play music. He reconnected with old friend David Boyle, who produced and recorded Dyer in his studio, a converted church located just outside of Austin. The resulting album, the self-titled Dan Dyer, was released by Fat Caddy Records in 2008.
 
Don't miss the Cleveland debut of Dan Dyer and his band when he brings his soulful Austin, Texas based band to the Nighttown stage on Tuesday, February 9th.
 

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From Nashville
Sam and Ruby
Thurs. Feb. 11
7:30 PM
$20. (suggested donation, includes hors d'oeuvres and an open bar)

Due to a scheduling conflict with Nighttown, the Sam and Ruby show is moving to Larchmere Corporate House.  Here is the info for the house:
 
Larchmere House
12404 Larchmere Blvd. (Corner of Larchmere and 124th St.)
Cleveland, Ohio (near Shaker Square)
http://www.ucbnb.com/  
Map
 
There is free parking on both Larchmere Blvd. and 124th St.
 
There will be a meet and greet between 6:30-7:30 PM.  Seating is extremely limited.
 
Reserve your tickets now by calling Jim Wadsworth Productions: (216) 721-5624.

 
Tennessee-based singer/songwriters Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu craft soulful folk and R&B-inspired country-pop tunes that reflect their disparate origins. Brooker, who spent his formative years in Bowling Green, OH, met the African-born Amanfu at a writer's night in Nashville in 1999. The pair became fast friends and championed each other's music, eventually collaborating on the song "The Here and the Now." The duo scored their first hit in 2007 when the progressive bluegrass outfit the Duhks recorded a Grammy-nominated version of Amanfu's "Heaven's My Home" (Sam & Ruby's own rendition of the song appeared on the 2008 soundtrack to The Secret Life of Bees). Sam & Ruby released their debut album, The Here and the Now, on Rykodisc in 2009.
 
Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu began their music careers independently. Ruby, was born in Ghana, West Africa, before moving with her musically inclined family to Nashville, Tennessee when she was three. She started writing music around the age of 10 and recorded her first record while in high school. Ruby left Berklee College of Music during her sophomore year to pursue a career in music full time. She recorded a Top 5 charted pop album, Smoke and Honey, while in the UK.

Sam grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin and played in a band while in high school and college. A CD created while in high school got Sam’s voice noticed in Nashville. He began recording demos and playing at writer’s nights throughout town. Ruby happened to attend one of Sam’s shows and the story of their music together continues from there.

Sam and Ruby began writing songs together and performing at each other’s shows and they continue to grow as a duo.  This year they are expected to release a follow up to their immensely popular debut CD.

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Nighttown's Valentine Weekend "3 Nights of Love" (one night is just not enough)

Kevin Mahogany with the Joe Hunter Trio Friday, Feb. 12 8 PM $25.     Interview with Ed Bradley Kevin Mahogany's "It's_Alright_With_Me" (mp3) Kevin Mahogany's "It_Don't_Mean_a_Thing" (mp3) Promotional Support     With his gift for bebop, ballads, blues, and swinging jazz, Kevin Mahogany's talents emerged long before he was old enough to spell" record deal". "When I was a kid, music was just as important as English and math in our household" says Kansas-City-born, Kevin Mahogany. "In fact piano lessons were a grade school staple for the whole family." By 1970 after starting on piano and moving to clarinet, 12 year-old Kevin was playing the baritone saxophone. That same year he first played professionally with Eddie Baker's "New Breed Orchestra".  But it was during his senior year in high school that his true talent was discovered- singing. When Kevin got to Baker University, he performed with various instrumental and vocal ensembles. He was allowed to form his own vocal jazz choir while at Baker. After graduating, he returned to his roots in Kansas City where Kevin attracted a huge following.  All the while, Kevin was continuing to develop his own style following artist like, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Al Jarreau and Eddie Jefferson. In February 1993, Kevin’s debut album " Double Rainbow" hit the record stores.   Its seldom-heard ballads, bop tunes and blues were met with instant acclaim.  In 1995 Kevin joined with Warner Brothers and the next year released the self -titled CD," Kevin Mahogany". "Another Time, Another Place", “My Romance”, and "Portrait of Kevin Mahogany" closed out the next three years of Kevin at Warner Brothers. After a short hiatus, Kevin returned to the scene in 2002 with Telarc records and released "Pride and Joy" , a tribute to the music of the great Motown era. The shaping of these tunes became very important to Kevin." When you listen to the artist that we respect and call the masters of jazz, they were doing the same thing, performing the music of their youth." Kevin continued," I want to do the same, and continue the tradition." The latest venture for Kevin Mahogany has him stretching his wings and adding the title of "entrepreneur", to his resume. He has started his own label, "Mahogany Jazz", and has two projects scheduled for release. "Kevin Mahogany -Big Band", and "To: Johnny Hartman", a tribute to the incredible vocalist of the 1940-70's. With eleven CD's as a leader, and quite a few as a sideman, Kevin has proved to be the quintessential jazz vocalist. Newsweek describes him as " the standout jazz vocalist of his generation." New Yorker magazine writer Whitney Balliet writes, "There is little Mahogany cannot do." Says the LA TIMES, " Mahogany is one of the first truly gifted male vocalists to emerge in years." Joining Kevin Mahogany will be pianist Joe Hunter and his Trio.  Hunter, a professor of music at Tri-C has extensive performint credits that include work with Tito Puente, David Sanborn, Scott Hamilton, Ken Peplowski, David "Fathead" Newman and many others.   Don't miss the great vocalist Kevin Mahogany with the Joe Hunter Trio live at Nighttown as they kick off Valentine's weekend on Friday, February 12th.   http://www.kevinmahogany.com Norman Connors  Six piece band featuring vocalist Danny Boy Stewart & Jacques Burvick/keyboards Saturday, February 13 8 & 10 PM $30.   Norman_Connors's_"Valentine_Love" (mp3 sample) Norman_Connors'_"You_Are_My_Starship" (mp3 sample)   Like Roy Ayers, George Benson, and Patrice Rushen, Norman Connors is best known for his major RB hits but started out as a jazz improviser. The drummer/composer was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he lived in the same neighborhood as Bill Cosby and became interested in jazz when he was only a child. As a kid in elementary school, Connors was exposed to jazz extensively thanks to such schoolmates as drummer Lex Humphries and the younger brother of bassist and Jazz Messenger-to-be Spanky De Brest. Connors was in junior high when he began sneaking into jazz clubs and sat in for Elvin Jones at a John Coltrane gig. At 13, he first got to meet his idol, Miles Davis, and started expressing his admiration for the famous trumpeter by dressing like him. Connors went on to study music at Philly's Temple University and the Juilliard School of Music in New York. Gigs with Jackie McLean, Jack McDuff and Sam Rivers followed, and he was first recorded as a sideman when Archie Shepp employed him on his 1967 Impulse session Magic of JuJu. After touring with Pharoah Sanders and playing on several of his albums, Connors signed with Buddah's Cobblestone label in 1972 and recorded his first album as a leader, Dance of Magic. A few more jazz-oriented Cobblestone and Buddah dates followed, and it was in 1975 that Connors made RB his main priority with Saturday Night Special (which included the number ten soul hit "Valentine Love"). The rest of the 1970s found Connors featuring RB singers prominently (including Michael Henderson, Jean Carn, and the late Phyllis Hyman) and scoring such RB hits as "We Both Need Each Other," "Once I've Been There," and the lovely "You Are My Starship." Connors, who signed with Arista in 1977, has continued to record for several other labels including MoJazz, and his current label, Shanachie records. Currently Norman Connors is touring in support of his latest CD "Star Power" on Shanachie records.  Appearing with Norman Connors will be his latest discovery on vocals Danny "Danny Boy" Stewart, who is featured on his new CD. He will be featuring his six piece touring group and promises to perform all of his classic hits. Don't miss legendary drummer and producer Norman Connors for a special pre- Valentine's day performance in the intimate confines of Nighttown on Saturday, February 13th. Norman Connors at AllMusic.com John Pizzarelli Quartet Sunday, February 14 6 & 8 PM $35. John Pizzarelli's "After You're Gone" Interview with Mitch Albom (click on Episode 6) Promotional Support   John Pizzarelli has cultivated a winning career by singing classic standards and late-night ballads, and by playing sublime and inventive guitar. Using greats like Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra, and the songs of writers like Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen as touchstones, Pizzarelli is among the prime revivalists of the great American songbook, bringing to his work the cool jazz flavor of his brilliant guitar playing.   Born on April 6, 1960, in Paterson, New Jersey, Pizzarelli has been playing guitar since age six, following in the tradition of his father, guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli.  Hanging out with his father, John was exposed to all the great jazz music of the era, from Erroll Garner and Les Paul to Django Reinhardt.  At 20, he began playing with his father, then went out on his own.  Since 1992, the John Pizzarelli Trio has toured extensively.  In 1993, they received the honor of opening tour dates for Frank Sinatra and joined in the celebration for Sinatra's 80th birthday at Carnegie Hall. John Pizzarelli's voice has continued to develop with time, displaying both charm and humor.  He has recorded as a leader for Chesky, Stash, Novus and RCA, and in 1997 appeared in Dream, a Broadway production of Johnny Mercer songs.   Along the way, Pizzarelli has earned rave reviews.  "The John Pizzarelli Trio has never been tighter, and Pizzarelli himself has never been looser," the Village Voice said of a 1998 New York show. "We can say we're as lucky to listen to (Pizzarelli) as Nat Cole fans were in the years before he became a legend." Pizzarelli was also named "Jazz Vocalist of the Year" by Swing Journal in their 1999 Readers Poll.   Telarc records of Cleveland signed Pizzarelli at the end of 1999 and has had eight highly acclaimed and successful albums on the label to date.   Currently John Pizzarelli is touring in support of his latest Telarc release "With a Song in My Heart", which is a tribute to the legendary composer Richard Rogers..  This latest CD was recorded with his Quartet and and extended group which features his father Bucky Pizzarelli, the Brazilian pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano and many others.   Backing John Pizzarelli at Nighttown will be his brother Martin Pizzarelli on acoustic bass, drummer Tony Tedesco, and the newest member of his group, pianist Larry Fuller. Nighttown fans may remember Fuller from his appearances here with the legendary bassist Ray Brown.   Don't miss John Pizzarelli and his Quartet live at Nighttown in a special Valentine's Day appearance on Sunday, February 14th. www.johnpizzarelli.com

Harry Bacharach & Friends
Thursday, Feb. 18
8 PM
$10.

Harry @ Cain Park
Harry_Bacharach's_"Careful_With_Those_Blues,_Eugene" (mp3)
Harry_Bacharach's_"Eyes" (mp3)

Performing four nights a week, over 200 nights a year, in front of thousands of Northeast Ohio residents, Harry has been able to cultivate an enthusiastic and receptive audience. He self-produced an album with world renowned musicians, such as internationally known percussionist Jamey Haddad (toured with Simon and Garfunkel this summer) and Assistant Concertmaster/Violinist for the Cleveland Orchestra Lev Polyakin.  He has appeared at Nighttown, Cain Park, The Cleveland Playhouse, The Velvet Tango Room and many other of the city's most sophisticated restaurants and clubs. 
 
Don't miss Harry Bacharach and Friends when he debuts his new DVD live at Nighttown on Thursday, February 18th.
 

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Joe Deninzon Trio
Friday, Feb. 19
9 PM
$15.
 
Joe_Deninzon's_"Boddisatva" (mp3)
Joe_Deninzon's_"Nuages" (mp3)
 
The Joe Deninzon Trio will be releasing its debut CD, Exuberance, in February of 2010 and will be touring February 10-21 in support of the new release.   Tour dates include Hoboken, Youngstown, Erie, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Bloomington, and Cincinnati.

The Joe Deninzon Trio is comprised of violinist Joe Deninzon, bassist Robert Bowen, and guitarist Stephen Benson.   On tour, the group will be joined by drummer Lucianna Padmore.

The goal of the Exuberance sessions was to capture the essence of three musicians in a room, playing live with no overdubs and no “production." The group draws influences from jazz stylists including the gypsy explorations of Django Reinhardt and the hot swing of violinist Stephane Grappelli along with rock and pop standards of the past 50 years including compositions from Steely Dan, Alice in Chains, and Radiohead.  It poses the question, “What if artists such as Django Reinhardt were alive today and creating their unique interpretations of music they heard on the radio?”

One of the group's original songs, “Sun Goes Down” (featuring Luba on lead vocals), has been featured in the independent film, “What's Up Scarlet?” and a recent winner in the Jazz category of the Billboard and John Lennon International Songwriting Contests.
 
Don't miss Cleveland native, Joe Deninzon and his acoustic trio plus drummer Lucianna Padmore when the debut music from his brand new CD "Exberance" live at Nighttown on Friday, February 19th.
 

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Pizzacato 4
Sunday, Feb. 21
7 PM
$15.
 

Pizzacato 4, a quartet of Cleveland cellists will perform an eclectic mix of music scored for one to four cellists on Sunday Aprli 27th at 7 PM at Nighttown.   Their repertoire includes Bach to Brubeck, Pachelbel to Puccini  with a little McFerrin thrown in for good measure, and more.   The program will offer a wide embrace of musical styles within the lush sonority of the cello.
 
 A native of Texas , Heidi Albert studied at Baldwin-Wallace College and  the New England Conservatory of Music.   Albert is currently principal cellist with the Grammy-winning Cleveland Chamber Symphony and performs regularly with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and the Akron Symphony.

Nick Diodore, an active free-lancer throughout northeast Ohio , spent his formative years in Marion , Indiana .   Nick’s great passion is fly-fishing: ask him to tie you some spinners, bucktails, or zonkers!

Ida Mercer is a cellist in Red {an orchestra}, the Opera Cleveland Orchestra, and the Cleveland Pops.  Also a teacher at the Cleveland Music School Settlement, she serves as chair of its String Department.  She is probably best known for having won the title of 1967 Illinois State Grange Farm Princess!    

Derek Snyder*, an active free-lancer, grew up in Ann Arbor and studied cello at the University of Michigan and the New England Conservatory of Music.  When not teaching or free-lancing in Cleveland, he's playing in his Tango Band, headquartered in Ann Arbor.   

Don't miss the contemporary Cello Quartet, Pizzacato 4, live at Nighttown on Sunday, February 21st.
 

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Ryan Andrews Requiem
 featuring John Knific and Christine Vienna
Tuesday, Feb.23
7 PM
$15.
 
Audio and video
Listen to Requiem album



Ryan Andrews is a multi-talented instrumentalist, composer, and arranger from Kalamazoo, MI. While finishing his degree in Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University, Ryan released his first collection of recorded compositions entitled 'Requiem'. In addition to composing every track, Ryan plays an impressive range of percussion instruments -- including Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Spanish, Middle Eastern -- drums and acoustic guitar. While still in school, Ryan performed with Stefon Harris, Fred Hersch, Billy Drewes, Casey Benjamin, Terreon Gully, Jamey Haddad, Janis Siegel, and Fred Hersch, just to name a few.
 
To release the album, Ryan enlisted a select handful of upcoming, highly talented young musicians, each with their own impressive musical history and background.


 
John Knific is a prominent Cleveland-based jazz pianist who has been playing with Ryan in various projects since high school. After winning a pre-collegiate Down Beat Student Music Award, John went to CWRU to study music performance and biology. He studied with legendary keyboardist Dan Wall at the Oberlin Conservatory, and has worked with Paul Ferguson, Jamey Haddad, Jack Schantz, and John Hollenbeck. His studies included a year abroad at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he performed at The Swiss Jazz Foundation in Zurich and at The Schlern International festival in Italy. In the Cleveland area, John is known equally well for his entrepreneurism and startup company CitizenGroove, an award-winning digital portfolio provider for music institutions.



Christine Vienna, an upcoming Cleveland-based vocalist, has worked with the best in jazz, pop, and rock. At 20 years old, she had already performed internationally with The New York Voices. At 21, she sang soprano for the off-Broadway hit Toxic Audio, with a yearlong contract in Las Vegas. In the last year, she sang backup for Ben Folds in a performance with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her remarkable performance and teaching resume, Christine will be graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Biology at Baldwin-Wallace College this spring.
 
Chris Beckstrom, a long-time Ryan Andrews collaborator, is a highly accomplished composer and multi-instrumentalist whose resume grows daily. Best described as a "fountain of creativity and energy", Chris is both a successful Chicago-based saxophonist and a Down Beat Award winning composer and arranger.
 
Marc Plotkin and Ben Jacobs are founding members of the New York pop group Miles.  Besides being incredible musicians they are both outstanding audio engineers as well. Ben has worked on Grammy Award winning projects at Avatar Studios and Cleveland-based Telarc International. Marc is both the co-producer and recording engineer of the 'Requiem' record. On top of his engineering and performing capabilities, Marc works full-time as VP Business Development with John Knific at CitizenGroove.
 
The 'Requiem' project is an attempt to defy the normal expectations of jazz and cross genres in a unique way. It's not just another "rock" group, not another "jazz" group, not another "world" or "fusion" group.  It's music doing what music should do: move you.
 
Don't miss Ryan Andrews and Requiem featuring John Knific and Christine Vienna Live at Nighttown on Tuesday, Februrary 23rd.
 

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From Toulouse, France
Phillippe LeJeune Trio
Wed. Feb. 24
7 PM
$10.
 
French pianist Philippe LeJeune is a perfect example of the mixture of jazz and blues which was especially an important strain in the jazz tradition. The young pianist attended a 1968 concert in Reims, France, by master boogie-woogie and blues pianist Memphis Slim, and immediately put an end to his classical efforts and began teaching himself the blues, scouring local record shops for LP's by boogie woogie greats. In 1980 he was invited by Memphis Slim - who had been a parisian citizen since 1962 - to cut an album titled « Dialog In Boogie » as a piano duet.
 
A frenchman who loves and plays classic American jazz is not entirely unusual, but what sets Philippe apart from his contemporaries is his soulfoul feel for the music. His repertoire ranges from classic barrelhouse boogie woogie piano to Duke Ellington and Horace Silver tunes as well those of Milt Jackson and George Gershwin.
 
Philippe LeJeune has released six CD's in the United States  and also makes numerous appearances in various American jazz and blues clubs and festivals : Detroit Jazz Festival, Toledo Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Fest, Cincinnati Blues Festival. His performance at the 2005 Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival (Detroit) was recorded live to be edited into P.B.S. television specials and DVD. Living in Toulouse, France, LeJeune has performed for many years throughout Europe in the Jazz festivals and clubs circuit (France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic …) and in Africa (Tunisia, Sénégal).
Philippe LeJeune has found a role not only as an interpreter of contemporary numbers, but as traditionalist bringing back to today's audiences important music from a variety of older sources and melting it all together into a highly personal style and repertoire. The frenchman's natural instinct for blues, jazz and boogie is food for the soul.
 
For his appearance at Nighttown, Phillippe LeJeune will be joined by Cleveland favorites Roy King on drums, and Marty Block on acoustic bass.  King and Block are part of the regular house trio at Nighttown and have recently backed Mose Allison and Nellie McKay.

Don't miss the French jazz pianist Phillippe LeJeune and his Trio live at Nighttown on Wednesday, February 24th.
 
 

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All performances are held in the Lakeland Performing Arts Center 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, 44094. For tickets and information, call 440-525-7526 or e-mail tmyllykoski@lakelandcc.edu. Map Thursday, February 25 7 p.m. Tomorrow’s Stars Concert Tickets are $7 per adult, $4 per child, and $4 per senior Four area middle school jazz bands will share the stage with the Lakeland Jazz Impact which is a high school "all-star" band under the direction of Ed Michaels. Friday, February 26 8 p.m. The Sean Jones Quartet Tickets are $20 per adult, $10 with a student ID Trumpeter, composer and educator Sean Jones is one of jazz’s top young stars, who funnels exhilarating emotions through his cool trumpet lines. Saturday, February 27 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lakeland College Invitational Free and open to the public Featuring jazz ensembles from Oberlin College, Youngstown State University and The University of Akron. 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Clinic with T.S. Monk T.S. Monk will hold a free clinic to share his knowledge and expertise of jazz with amateur and professional musicians. Free and open to the public. Musicians encouraged to bring their instruments for this unique opportunity. 8 p.m. The T.S. Monk Sextet Tickets are $25 per adult, $15 with a student ID Jazz drummer T.S. Monk and his sextet explode on stage with their driving style of hard and be-bop traditions. About T.S. Monk The T.S. Monk Jazz Sextet’s driving style carries on in the tradition of Monk's father, legendary jazz artist Thelonious Monk, to bridge the musical genres. As a drummer T.S. Monk holds a unique position in the jazz world. He continues the legacy of his father's music both as a performer and as an educator. He chairs the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute which has become one of the premier schools for aspiring jazz musicians in the country. A number of colleges and universities house programs under the umbrella of the Institute. As a performer T.S. Monk is a highly acclaimed jazz drummer and bandleader and has been active leading his own groups since the early 90s. He has released albums on the Blue Note, N2K, and more recently his own Thelonious recording labels. Prior to forming his own group, he played drums with his father's late era group until the senior Monk's retirement in 1975, and in the early 80s he lead a highly popular R&B group, the T.S. Monk Band, that had several hits on the pop charts. His jazz group, The T.S. Monk Sextet, follows the hard and be-bop traditions, performing classic music from the pen of the senior Monk and other jazz composers as well as original music from band members. The T.S. Monk Sextet has been a consistent presence on the jazz scene for over 20 years. The T.S. Monk Sextet includes long time members and emerging talents in the jazz world. The current lineup features veteran member Willie Williams on tenor sax, and Bobby Porcelli on alto sax. Porcelli performed with Thelonious Monk Sr., which serves to further the continuity of the tradition. Williams, a veteran of the New York City jazz scene, has multiple credits as both a leader and sideman, including many years with the great drummer Art Taylor. Pianist Helen Sung is a classically trained pianist who made the switch to jazz after completing her education at the University of Texas and the New England Conservatory. She actively leads her own groups and backs prestigious artists such as Clark Terry and T.S. Monk. On trumpet is educator and established musician Freddy Hendrix. Hendrix has collaborated with George Benson, Lou Donaldson and Wynton Marsalis among many others. The bassist for the Lakeland appearance is to be announced. About Sean Jones Trumpeter, composer and educator Sean Jones is one of jazz’s top young trumpeters. A native of Warren, Ohio, Jones leads the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestras, and has been the lead trumpet player for the Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis in New York City for the past five years. According to his almost 5,000-strong Facebook fan page, his contemporary jazz style is influenced by the work of Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard, with touches of Kim Burrell, Sam Cooke, and Earth Wind and Fire. The quartet’s lineup includes: Sean Jones, trumpet; James Johnson, drums; and Tony DePaulis, bass. Pianist for the Lakeland appearance to be announced. Jones recorded his first album when he was only 24 and since then has leapt into the jazz realm as one of the top young trumpeters. His style is known for both his lyrical fluidity and technical facility. “The idea of being on a journey has been in line with all my albums,” said Jones. “My second album, ‘Gemini,’ explored both sides of my musical loves, R&B and jazz. I expanded that with ‘Roots,’ where I revisited my youth and paid tribute to gospel. And then on ‘Kaleidoscope,’ I created a collage of sounds, exploring different timbres by enlisting vocalists to be collaborators.” On Jones’ fifth and latest album on the Mack Avenue label, “The Search Within,” the venture continues, but this time the focus turns inward. “This is a journey inside my soul that’s taken place over the past 10 years,” said Jones who recently turned 30. “It’s an assessment of where I am in the present as well as how I’ve learned from my mistakes and triumphs as a way of looking into the future. This album goes very deep for me. It’s a spiritual and sonic journey for me.” Jones grew up in Northeast Ohio and attended the Cuyahoga County Community College Jazz Studies High School program. Today he lives in Pittsburgh where he is a professor of Jazz Studies at Duquesne University. About the Lakeland Jazz Festival The Lakeland Jazz Festival was founded by retired Professor and Music Department Coordinator Charles M. Frank. Lakeland's Jazz Festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magic of jazz education to the younger generation of musicians. Over 25,000 middle and high school musicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquely American art form, jazz. In addition, Lakeland promotes music education with its summer jazz camps every year. The camp concludes with evening concerts which allow students performance experience in a collegiate setting. The 38th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival, a presentation of the Arts & Humanities division, is sponsored annually by a generous grant from The Lake County Visitors Bureau.

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Yiddishe Cup
Sunday, Feb. 28
7 PM
$15.
 
Yiddishe Cup audio samples
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brxD5qHu51c
 
Yiddishe Cup was Named one of the top 10 Klezmer groups in the US. Featuring:

 - Bert Stratton clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, harmonica
 - Irwin Weinberger lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, flute, alto sax
 - Steve Ostrow trombone, trumpet, violin, tsimbl, classical guitar
 - Alan Douglass keyboards, backup vocals, string bass, theremin, cello
 - Don Friedman drums, percussion
 - Daniel Ducoff shtickmeister (klezmer dancer)
 
We dare you not to dance!"

Reviving the wacky Jewish humor of the '50s and '60s by parodying everything from cha-cha to doo-wop to rock, Northeast Ohio's Yiddishe Cup is also one of the tightest, most vigorous klezmer bands around. Year after year they wind up on Jewish-music ten-best lists, and their live shows are legendary. Get ready for songs like "Gentile on My Mind" or "Meshugeneh Mambo"! But they can also play it straight, bringing the energy and tradition of klezmer music to their delighted audiences. Says no less an authority than cartoonist Harvey Pekar: "Yiddishe Cup plays cleanly and enthusiastically. Clearly its members are enjoying themselves." The shtickmeister--a klezmer dancer who leads the audience in dancing--will be in the house! Yiddishe Cup clarinetist Bert Stratton, a.k.a. Klezmer Guy, was also one of the founders of the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival.

Don't miss the wild and wacky Klezmer group Yiddishe Cup Live at Nighttown on Sunday, February 27th.

Nighttown Reservation and Seating Policy We only take reservations by calling Nighttown at 216-795-0550.  All seats are General Admission.  All seating is based on the time that you arrive for the show and based on how many people are in your party and where we have tables of that size.  If you are not at Nighttown by 10 minutes before the show, your reservation may be given away to others waiting for a seat.  We don't use any ticketing agency and as a result the ticket price you see is all we charge, saving our customers excessive fees.  All tickets are to be paid in cash.