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Bucky Pizzarelli & Aaron Weinstein Duo        
Wed. & Thurs. January 25 & 26     
7 PM each night  
$25.

Bucky Pizzarelli interviews at NPR
Aaron Weinstein's "Somebody Loves Me"

Guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli returns to Nighttown with rising violin star Aaron Weinstein.

Bucky Pizzarelli
Bucky Pizzarelli has enjoyed a career in jazz and popular music that spans over a half a century and includes associations with several music legends including  Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Benny Goodman, and Doc Severinson.  Pizzarelli is a master of the seven string guitar.  He is part of an exclusive club that plays that particular guitar.  Other members include George Van Eps and Pizzarelli's son John.

When it comes to swinging jazz, one would be hard pressed to find a better musician with more history than Bucky Pizzarelli.  Quite simply he has done it all.  He has backed most of the great singers of his time including Sinatra, Bennett, Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, and in recent years his son John, who is becoming a major star in his own right.  Besides high profile TV appearances as a member of the Tonight Show Orchestra, Bucky Pizzarelli has played on several film soundtracks including the recent Woody Allen films "Sweet and Lowdown" and "Mighty Aphrodite".  He has collaborated with several immortal jazz instrumentalists like Benny Goodman, Les Paul, Ray Brown, and Doc Severinson, and is he has exerted an important influence on many of the top jazz guitarists of the present including Gene Bertoncini, Howard Alden, Frank Vignola, and of course his son John.  Bucky Pizzarelli has played every kind of venue imaginable including all the major jazz festivals worldwide and at the White House in Washington DC.  A professor emeritus at William Paterson in New Jersey.  He has also received honorbucky2ary degrees form Hamilton College in New York, and Southern Illinois University.

Aaron Weinstein
Named a "rising star violinist" by Downbeat Magazine, Aaron Weinstein is quickly earning a reputation as one of the finest jazz violinists of his generation.  As a featured soloist, Aaron has performed at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Wolftrap Center for the Performing Arts, Birdland, Blue Note the Iridium, and abroad at jazz festivals in England, France, Switzerland, Iceland, and Israel. 

Aaron has performed and recorded with an array of jazz icons including: Les Paul, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Scott Hamilton, Dick Hyman, Dave Frishberg, Ken Peplowski, Houston Person, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross as well as New York Pops founder/conductor, Skitch Henderson.  He has written arrangements for artists including Janis Siegel, Michael Feinstein, Billy Stritch, and Hilary Kole, is a New York Nightlife Award winner and recent graduate of the Berklee College of Music where he was awarded a full four-year talent-based scholarship.

With the release of his Arbors Records debut, A Handful of Stars, (called “the rebirth of the hot jazz violin” by famed journalist, Nat Hentoff) Aaron has become the youngest jazz musician to have recorded as leader for this prestigious traditional jazz record label.  His newest release, Blue Too, is a duo with John Pizzarelli, also available on Arbors Records.

You don't want to miss this fantastic duo with the legend Bucky Pizzarelli and the rising star Aaron Weinstein, at Nighttown on Wednesday and Thursday Januray 25th and January 26th.

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Reuben Wilson/Greg Bandy/Marvin Horn Organ Trio      
Friday & Saturday January 27 & 28       
8:30 PM   
$20.

"Flipity Flop"  (mp3)

  "The Okiedoke" (mp3)

All-Star NYC Organ Trio featuring Cleveland Native Greg Bandy-drums, Hammond B-3 Master from the Godfathers of Groove Reuben Wilson-organ, & the dynamic Marvin Horn-guitar.

Reuben Wilson
In the late 60s, organist Reuben Wilson began ascending to his current status as a "godfather" of acid-jazz with "On
Broadway", the first in a string of albums for Blue Note Records. With these recordings Wilson revealed a command of funk that helped redefine the soul jazz movement created by the likes of Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Richard
"Groove" Holmes. "l was impressed by the great players," Wilson said in an interview with Carlo Wolff for The Plain Dealer, “but I thought the music could be well served by a pop feeling, I liked what drummers Bernard Purdie and
ldris Muhammad were doing [Wilson has recorded with both drummers]. They were different from an Art Blakey or a Max Roach. Their appeal was to a younger crowd."

Born April 9, 1935 in Mounds, Oklahoma, at age five Wilson moved with his family to Pasadena, California, where his schoolmates included bassist Herb Lewis and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. He started playing professionally in Los Angeles, and in the mid 60s went to New York and worked with a range of artists from Sam Rivers to Grant
Green, Roy Haynes to Willis "Gatortail" Jackson.

While some collectors believe his best work is represented on his five Blue Note releases, Wilson also laid down some trailblazing sides for the Groove Merchant and Chess/Cadet labels. During the '80s, "Got To Get Your Own," the title track to his 1974 Cadet album, caught on in dance clubs in England, "I was in Europe with the Fatback Band, when I heard about it," recalls Wilson. "All of a sudden, the news people from the trades and all were interviewing me separately from the Fatback Band. "That's when l found out l had this big record. Wilson's influence was still evident in the '90s thanks to such groups as US3, Tribe Called Quest and Nas sampling his compositions "Ronnie's Bonnie" and "Were In Love," along with his arrangement of "Inner City Blues."

Reuben Wilson who helped usher in a new musical era over 30 years ago, continues to have a profound influence on the modern music scene. "Today, I'm playing to the children of my original audience", Wilson noted. "I feel like l made a real contribution musically, and I feel very good about the fact that it's actually given me legend status in Europe." In 1997 Blue Note reissued two of his albums: “Love Bug” (1969), with trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, guitarist Grant Green and drummer ldris Muhammad (then known as Leo Morris); and “Blue Mode” (1969) with tenor saxophonist John Manning, guitarist Melvin Sparks and drummer Tommy Derrick.

Greg Bandy
Now based in New York City, drummer Greg Bandy is a perennial favorite  in the Cleveland area and also enjoys an international reputation.  Bandy has toured with several major jazz artists including Pharoah  Sanders, Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, and Olu Dara.  Additionally he  has lead his own groups extensively.  He has taken his groups far and  wide, making appearances throughout North America, Europe, and in such  far away destinations as Japan and Ghana, Africa. 

A percussionist of  distinction Greg takes inspiration from drummers like Art Blakey and  Elvin Jones.  In the past 30 years Greg has made toured the world  extensively and recorded prolifically.    During that time he has was based in NYC from 1977-97, back in Cleveland from 97-06, and has been  in NYC again from 06-to the present.

Marvin Horn
Marvin's stunning technical command and superb musicianship have earned him his long time association with such artists as Hamilton, Jones, and Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, The Dells, Nancy Wilson, Billy Eckstine, James Spaulding, Sarah Dash and Jack McDuff. He has recorded with Chico Hamilton, Elvin Jones, Sarah Hummel, Nat Dixon, Kenny Kirkland, Pucho & The Latin Soul Bros and Chris White. Marvin has 3 movie soundtrack credits including "Color of Rage"; a Documentary, "Black Las Vegas - In Through the Back Door" and "Destination Unknown". a television show - BET Jazz - "Pucho and the Latin Brothers".

Currently, Marvin can be heard swinging at the Cotton Club on 125th Street with The Cotton Club all stars, where he plays regularly with two power packed bands, a 13 piece swing band, and a 7 piece Blues and Jazz Band. He is also the music director for the Cotton Club gospel choir. Marvin appears regularly on the NY jazz club circuit playing venues such as 55 Bar, Porters, Sugar Bar, Zinc Bar, Mobay, Kavehaz, Lenox Lounge, and Le Bar Bat. As guitarist and leader, Marvin appears with his own band which includes Ryan Weaver ..boards, Gerald Hayes on alto sax, Phil Young and Buddy Williams alternating on drums and Stanley Banks on bass. In addition to original compositions, the Marvin’s band plays Latin, Jazz, Blues and Gospel music. In the pocket groove, a relaxed yet masterful swing, harmonic expertise and lightening technical execution are an unmistakable and powerful facet of Marvin's "style", garnering notice from colleagues and jazz critics alike. "

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"Acoustic Cafe"
with Carrie Rodriguez, Erin McKeown, & Kelly Joe Phelps 
Sunday, January 29       
7 PM    
$20.

Rising Singer/Songwriters team up for showcase event!  Solo and group selections featured.  Hosted by Carrie Rodriguez.

Carrie Rodriguez
Love and family have always been sources of inspiration for critically acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician Carrie Rodriguez, but never have they featured so prominently than on her brand new release Love & Circumstance, a covers album that includes songs written by her father, and once performed by her great aunt.

Rodriguez' journey from teenage violin student to touring the world with the likes of Chip Taylor (famed songwriter of "Wild Thing), Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, has resulted in a prodigious output of recordings - eight albums in as many years - for the young musician; with the new album, Carrie relies on others to handle the songwriting duties, she provides the interpretations.

"In 2009, after a very busy few years, I felt like I should take a step back and assess the situation," she says, during a quick stop between tours. "The idea of doing a covers record had been developing for a while, and had been prompted by requests I get at every show for a recording of some of the covers I play live, especially 'La Punalada Trapera.' I stated to wonder what kind of album I could make that would be a fit for that song."

Rodriguez' professional career was launched in 2001 after a show at South By Southwest introduced her to Taylor, with whom she has recorded four full albums and an EP. Her musical development started much earlier, however, and at the hands of an equally seasoned songwriting veteran, her father David Rodriquez. "My dad gave me a Leonard Cohen record for my ninth birthday! I hated it. But of course I rediscovered it at thirteen and loved it." By fifteen Rodriguez and her dad were touring the Netherlands together; chops were being honed.

Rodriguez' maternal side of the family also influenced her musical upbringing. Not only was her mother a fanatical opera enthusiast, her great-aunt, Eva Garza, was a popular Latin recording artist in the 50's, and it was from Garza that Rodriguez first heard 'La Punalada Trapera,' which soon became a mainstay in her live set. Having family friends include Lyle Lovett, who invited Rodriguez to sit in with his band when she was at college, also helped her develop as a performer.

Those who have been following Carrie Rodriguez throughout her career will find Love & Circumstance an exciting addition to her oeuvre, new fans will get a glimpse of the rising star's influences; both will revel in the sterling musicianship and heartfelt interpretations of new and classic songs.

"This is a really important record for me,' says Rodriguez, 'not just because it gave me the chance to go back to my roots, but also because it celebrates my family."

Erin McKeown
At the age of 33, Erin McKeown has already had the career most people dream of, and she only continues to mature as a writer, multi-instrumentalist, and performer with no sign of stopping any time soon. Her first album, "Distillation", arrived a decade ago to high praise and signaled the debut of singular talent. It has been followed by 7 full length albums, 3 EPs, an upcoming concert film, and a groundbreaking internet concert series. From elegant pop to balls-out rock, sweet electronics to witty swing, Erin has packed a ton of music into a substantial career.

For most of the last decade, Erin has spent an average of 200 nights a year onstage, building a loyal fan base across the United States and Europe. She has appeared on Later with Jools Holland, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NPR, BBC, and has had numerous film, television, and commercial placements. She's even written a song via text message with her friend Rachel Maddow.

In the last year, she's taken more time off the road to teach, write poems and op-eds, and launch a successful side-career as a political activist, lobbying regularly on Capitol Hill about issues concerning musicians and technology.

Erin's latest studio album is "F*ck That!", an album of irreverent and inappropriate anti-holiday songs, with accompanying hymnal. McKeown is currently a fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center, working on a book of poems, looking for ways to incorporate her love of sports into her career, and finishing her next studio project- due in early 2012. She is also available for co-writing and album production work.

Kelly Joe Phelps
A writer at the San Diego Troubadour described guitarist and songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps as, “The Phantom Monk Of Folk- Blues,” and rightly so. Over the past 17 years of recording and touring, Phelps has been talked about as much for his passionate, spirit-driven, lone musical ways as for the inventiveness of his playing and singing. A New York Times concert reviewer wrote: “...his airy playing conjuring a pocket of supernatural space. He manipulated his fretboard to create eerie harmonics as he slipped from a mumble to a falsetto, as if to follow the soul beyond the physical realm.”

Kelly Joe is an improviser within the world of folk music. He’ll likely use the same group of songs during one show that he used the previous night, sure enough, but the skew will have changed, the colors and shading moved around. Sometimes, it seems like the song might even be playing him, rather than the other way around. “I approach music this way,” he says, “to give it a chance to breathe, walk, or whisper. Improvising, even in small amounts, turns a piece of music into a conversation, in real time, with all of the unexpected twists and turns that any conversation is going to have, even if it’s with someone you talk to all the time. The emotional complexity of us, in any one moment, can be musically represented through improvisation as a moment in motion, like someone thinking, or worrying, perhaps, right this second, here and now. If there isn’t some part of the unknown or unexpected present, it seems like an important aspect of being human goes missing. That’s the beauty of spontaneity, even in the supposed confines of folk music. It allows a character, a note, or a chord some time to be alive, to look for themselves...if I’m doing my job well, that is.”


   

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Just Added!
The Wee Trio                        
Thursday, February 2                
8 PM      
$10.

The Wee Trio EPK
The Wee Trio Audio Jukebox at Soundcloud

NYC based Trio featuring:  James Westfall-vibes, Dan Loomis-acoustic bass, & Jared Schonig-drums. 
Playing music from their new CD "Ashes to Ashes", which puts their jazz spin on the music of David Bowie.

Roughly one year ago, guitarist Cliff Hines brought together a cadre of New Orleans’ finest musicians to perform the music of David Bowie. Among those assembled was James Westfall, vibraphonist/composer and one third of The Wee Trio. This idea of performing Bowie’s music coincided with the groundwork for the band’s third album. What followed was the recording of Ashes To Ashes – A David Bowie Intraspective, a deep exploration into the eclectic icon’s music, and the band’s follow up to their first two critically acclaimed albums, Capitol Diner Vol. 1, and Capitol Diner Vol. 2 Animal Style.

After these two powerhouse albums, comprised of mostly original material (plus Nirvana’s “About a Girl”, Aphex Twin’s “Avril 14” and Sufjan Stevens’ “Flint”), it became clear that the band was eager to lace their many Wee Trio-isms into the works of an outside composer. With Westfall being no stranger to Bowie’s music, and bassist Dan Loomis and drummer Jared Schonig quickly realizing the treasure trove they had found in the thin white duke’s work, the trio dove headfirst into his vast, diverse repertoire to select six songs that span Bowie’s musical universe: “Battle For Britain”, “Queen Bitch”, “The Man Who Sold The Earth”, “Ashes to Ashes”, “1984”

“We went through long list of composers, and in the end, David Bowie represented the biggest range of musical possibilities.  Going from folk to rock to glam to art soundscape to electronica, he has covered more aesthetic ground than perhaps any other pop artist.  Jazz being the aesthetically voracious art form that it is (and one that is given to perpetual hybridizing of styles just as Bowie was), we saw that Bowie's music gave us that best chance to represent all the sides of our sound as a band,” explained Loomis.

For David Bowie fans and jazz fans alike, Ashes To Ashes will exceed your expectations. The Wee Trio manages to reimagine Bowie’s music while staying true to its spirit and energy. They simultaneously show their talent as jazz musicians while performing the music from the perspective of true Bowie fans. The Wee Trio also managed to showcase the versatility of Bowie’s compositions and how amazingly well they transferred into a new medium. Simply put, they breathe new life into these timeless Bowie classics.

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Stanley Jordan                            
Friday, February 3
2 shows at 8 & 10 PM          
$20.

Virtuoso solo jazz guitarist plays music from his new CD on Mack Avenue Records.  Exclusive Ohio appearance!

In a career that took flight in 1985 with immediate commercial and critical acclaim, guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan has consistently displayed a chameleonic musical persona of openness, imagination, versatility, respect and maverick daring. Be it bold reinventions of classical masterpieces or soulful explorations through pop-rock hits, to blazing straight ahead jazz forays and ultramodern improvisational works—solo or with a group—Jordan can always be counted on to take listeners on breathless journeys into the unexpected.

On his latest Mack Avenue recording, Friends, Jordan takes the time-honored path of inviting a handpicked cadre of guests: guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli, Mike Stern, Russell Malone and Charlie Hunter; violinist Regina Carter; saxophonists Kenny Garrett and Ronnie Laws; trumpeter Nicholas Payton; bassists Christian McBride and Charnett Moffett; and drummer Kenwood Dennard. The results proved truly outstanding on numbers ranging from a Bela Bartok piece to a Katy Perry pop smash, a heady original blues and three jazz classics spanning swing, cool and modern. There’s a listener-friendly samba, an airy spirit song and an astounding nod to the atonal. Jordan even plays some serious piano on a couple of songs, revisiting his first instrument with newfound confidence and wonder.

Reflecting on the wealth of music inspired by collaborating with chosen peers on Friends, Stanley Jordan concludes, “I am so humbled and grateful to all of the wonderful musicians who graced this project. This collection truly speaks to my belief in the integrationist spirit of music. I’d like to move beyond ‘fusion’ and explore the concept of ‘integration.’ When you integrate styles, you combine them into something new while still remaining true to the original sources. The same principal holds for our friendships, which require mutual respect. Our friends are a mirror revealing the diversity within us, and at the same time they give us the courage to share our true selves with the world.”

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Beppe Gambetta                
Tuesday, February 7            
7 PM        
$15.

From Italy!  Master finger style guitarist returns to Nighttown!

It is the smile that is the key for reading the musical universe of Beppe Gambetta. An open and disarming smile that is also the contagious and unresistable smile of a person who invites you to a musical journey with light heart and curiosity.

Beppe is continually composing his personal mosaic of sounds and flavours. From his unique background as an Italian musician in love with both American roots music as well as the music of his native country, Beppe has travelled the world and even crossed the “Iron Curtain” to dazzle and charm music enthusiasts everywhere. After eleven CDs, DVDs, teaching books and collaborations with many other top-flight musicians, Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar.

While Beppe still lives in his native Genova, he travels to North America at least three times each year. His reputation in the U.S. and Canada is reinforced by his participation in prestigious festivals like the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, Merlefest in North Carolina, the Four Corners Festival in Colorado and Canadian Folk Festivals in Winnipeg and Edmonton, as well as events like the radio shows “All Things Considered” and “E-Town”.

In his career he has performed with some great heroes of the folk scene like David Grisman, Gene Parsons, Doc Watson, Norman Blake and with the band Men Of Steel: an international guitar summit (Dan Crary, Tony McManus and Don Ross) of different guitar schools with complex musical interactions.

With America in his heart and his roots in the sun and the olive trees of the Mediterranean sea, he naturally and seamlessly bridges the shores of the two continents, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical "koiné" (fusion) where American root music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, steel string guitars and vintage harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialog unaware of any rigid classification.

Don't miss the great guitar master Beppe Gambetta on Tuesday February 7th on his return to Nighttown.

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Just Added!
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas            
Wednesday, February. 8                      
7 PM     
$20.

Live concert video
"Grand Etang" and "Hull's Reel"

Scottish fiddle and cello music of unrivaled beauty, eloquence, and passion.

Alasdair Fraser
Master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser is a consummate performer. His dynamic fiddling, engaging stage presence, and deep understanding of Scotland's music have created a constant and international demand for his solo appearances and concerts with a variety of ensembles. Alasdair has been a major force behind the resurgence of traditional Scottish fiddling in his homeland and the U.S., inspiring legions of listeners and learners through his recordings, annual fiddle camps, and concerts.

Alasdair's richly expressive playing transports listeners across a broad musical spectrum, ranging from haunting laments from the Gaelic tradition to classically-styled airs, raucous dance tunes, and improvisations based on traditional themes. His vast repertoire spans several centuries of Scottish music and includes his own compositions, which blend a profound understanding of the Scottish tradition with cutting-edge musical explorations. He weaves through his performances a warm and witty narrative, drawing from a deep well of stories and lore surrounding Scotland's musical heritage.

Alasdair Fraser has been featured on over 100 television and radio shows in the UK, and on several nationally-broadcast programs in the US, including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR Morning Edition, A Prairie Home Companion, and The Thistle & Shamrock. On The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS TV) Fraser played a speccial solo tribute to honoree Sean Connery, a fellow Scot, in a segment that included Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Alasdair has released several critically acclaimed albums, including the Indie Award-winning Dawn Dance (Best Celtic Album of 1996), and most recently, Legacy of the Scottish Fiddle, Volume One, on which Fraser and longtime collaborator pianist Paul Machlis pay tribute to Scotland's master fiddle composers of the past 250 years.

Natalie Haas
Vibrant young cellist Natalie Haas is a seasoned performer, recording artist, and teacher. She has joined master Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser for festival and concert appearances in Scotland, Spain, France, and throughout the U.S., including Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, Scotland, the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in France, and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. "People may be familiar with the gorgeous, melodic cello sound," says Fraser, "but they're surprised to learn that the cello used to comprise the rhythm section in Scottish dance bands. Natalie Haas unleashes textures and deep, powerful rhythms that drive fiddle tunes."

A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York City, Natalie discovered the cello at age nine. In addition to having extensive classical music training, she is accomplished in a broad array of fiddle genres. Her musical journey found purpose when she fell in love with Celtic music at the Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School at age 11. Inspired and encouraged by director Fraser, she began to investigate the cello's potential for rhythmic accompaniment to fiddle tunes. Her and Fraser's duo release, Fire & Grace, was awarded the Best Album of the Year in the Scots Trad Music Awards 2004.

A California native, Natalie has also toured extensively with Mark O'Connor as a member of his Appalachia Waltz Trio. The trio released a live CD, Crossing Bridges, to rave reviews in November 2004. She and O'Connor premiered his double concerto for violin and cello, "For The Heroes," with the Grand Rapids, East Texas, and San Diego Symphonies. Natalie has also performed and recorded with fiddler Natalie MacMaster and Irish super-group Solas. She teaches privately, in a workshop setting, and at various fiddle camps.

Don't miss this great international duo in their debut performance at Nighttown on Wednesday
February 8th.

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Valentine's Week at Nighttown Note new  time on Friday David Garfield & Alex Ligertwood      Friday & Saturday, February 10 & 11     Fri 9:30PM,   Sat  8:30 PM      $25. David Garfield & Alex Ligertwood's "The One with The Broken Heart (mp3 sample) David Garfield & Alex Ligertwood's "Josie" (mp3 sample) Keyboard wizard and George Benson's musical director David Garfield and longtime Santana vocalist Alex Ligertwood & group headline Valentine weekend shows at Nighttown. David Garfield David Garfield’s mission statement is “I make music.”  And “make music” he does, as a world-renowned keyboard artist, producer, and composer. Be it jazz, rock, funk, or world beat – he is the creative force behind the production of many internationally acclaimed recordings. David started his career with jazz greats such as Willie Bobo, Freddie Hubbard, and Tom Scott in the 70’s. After being on the L.A. scene for several years, he moved into the vast studio world and earned a reputation for fine craftsmanship and versatility. This work led to composing opportunities for television, film, and commercials (NBC / Disney / Nippon Television / RTL Germany). His first international release on Creatchy Records, “Tribute to Jeff,” featured 78 musicians and artists including Don Henley, Eddie Van Halen, Michael McDonald, and Richard Marx, a virtual who’s who in the music industry. Garfield continues to have ongoing music relationships with George Benson (he is currently Benson’s Musical Director), Boz Scaggs, and Natalie Cole. Over the years, he has recorded with Cher, Spinal Tap, The Rippingtons, Ratt, Larry Carlton, and Smokey Robinson and has performed live with Michael Bolton, The Blue Brothers, Brenda Russell, and Rick Braun to name a few. Alex Ligertwood There’s something deep in the soul of Scotland that produces great blues and R&B singers. Some of wold’s top vocalists over the years, from Rod Stewart to Maggie Bell to Santana’s lead vocalist Alex Ligertwood, have come out of that musically fertile land. One of the first to spot Ligertwood’s big soulful voice was Jeff Beck. He promptly made Ligertwood lead vocalist for the Jeff Beck band in the early seventies. Next up was a stint with another legendary British band, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express. Alex recorded four albums with Auguer’s jazz-rock unit, delivering scorching vocals, playing rhythm guitar, as well as co-writing the albums with Brian Auger.  During the same period, Ligertwood performed and recorded with fellow Scottish soul-mates, the Average White Band. His lead vocals are featured on three Average White Band recordings. In the late seventies, Ligertwood served as vocalist/guitarist and co-writer with Narda Michael Walden Band before joining Santana in 1979. It has proven to be an ideal match. Ligertwood brings a vocal intensity that feeds the volcanic playing of Carlos Santana. He has recorded and co-wrote eight albums for Santana. His vocal talents have also been featured with Spyro Gyra, Ben E. King, Didier Lockwood, Carly Simon, The Dixie Dreggs, Michelle Colombier, Pat Simmons of the Dobbie Brotheres, Jeff Lorber, and many others. Don't miss these huge talents on their return to Nighttown for Valentines Weekend on Friday February 10th and Saturday February 11th. www.creatchy.com Leni Stern & The African Percussion Masters       Sunday, February 12              7 PM      $20. Dynamic Guitarist from Germany/NYC leads Group of all West African Players in pre Valentine's tour de force! Born in Munich, Germany, Leni started playing piano at the age of six and guitar at eleven. At seventeen, she formed her own acting company, and her radical productions sold out houses across Europe. In 1977, she turned her attention to music and left for the United States to study film scoring at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Scoring gave way to her love for guitar and in 1981, Leni moved to New York to play in a variety of rock and jazz bands. In 1983, she formed a group of her own with Paul Motion on drums and Bill Frisell on guitar. As a recording artist, she originally made a name for herself in jazz circles (her first nine albums were instrumental,) then crossed her talents over into the singer-songwriter realm, garnering consistent praise in the process. Critics have said her music incorporates “intelligent lyrics and beautifully drawn vignettes” (Washington Post), “crystalline, jazz-meets-blues guitar lines” (Guitar Player), and “thoughtful structure, evocative moods, attention to groove” (San Francisco Bay Guardian). A “Fleet and Lyrical guitarist”, (The New Yorker). “A Gifted Singer-Songwriter with a Wide-Ranging Sensibility and Sophisticated Guitar and Harmonic Chops” (The Boston Globe).  Five consecutive wins of Gibson’s Female Jazz Guitarist of the Year might make anyone hunker down and focus on going ‘six for six’.  But Leni Stern has always defied expectations, and her diverse, 20-year career in music is a textbook example of growth under a self-imposed fire. From the expert instrumentalist, a singer-songwriter emerged, with observations to share from her travels throughout the world.   Stern adds: “Why deny the impulse to put words to these experiences?  I couldn’t think of a reason.” With the 2005 release of ‘When Evening Falls’, Stern evoked recent travels to Kenya, India and New Orleans to deliver a haunting singer-songwriter album.  Mix in her trademark bluesy guitar solos and the jazz-infused “On The Outside” and “Dancin’ With the Devil”, and a burst of creativity is revealed – ten songs which reflect an artist who has seen the world, experienced life, recorded 13 albums, and continues to grow. In 2007, the release of “Alu Maye (Have you heard)” boldly juxtaposes Stern's trademark inventive guitar and vocal explorations with the indigenous sounds of accomplished African instrumentalists and singers. The result is at once haunting, exuberant, cinematic, personal and resoundingly assured. Stern has discovered her surest artistic footing in the sahel and savanna of Africa. AllMusic's Thom Jurek has described Stern as "a musician of uncommon caliber and vision" -- her new EP is sure to validate such an assertion. Don't miss this exciting world and fusion guitarist on her first stop to Nighttown on Sunday February 12th for a pre-Valentine's Day celebration. http://lenistern.com/ Hot Club of Detroit w/ special guest Zach Brock           Monday & Tuesday February 13-14            7 PM     $20. Zach Brock Video Juke Box Hot Club of Detroit's "'J'Attendrai" Hot Club of Detroit with Cyrille Aimee on "Around Noon" WCPN/NPR Cleveland May 5, 2011 (mp3)  Interview with Marian McPartland on "Piano Jazz" "Noto Swing" from It's About That Time (2010 Mack Ave) (mp3 sample)   "Restless_Twilights" from It's About That Time (2010 Mack Ave) (mp3 sample) Django inspired Gypsy Jazz Favorites from the Motor City in for special Valentines Shows.  With special guest Zach Brock-violin. Hot Club of Detroit Normally we would put a short bio of the group here.  However HCOD's brand new album has just received an exceptional review from JazzTimes magazine.  Here is the review. "San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boulder, New Orleans, Cowtown (a.k.a. Austin): There are enough Hot Club ensembles operating around the country to make even the growth of television’s flourishing CSI franchise seem undernourished by comparison. “It’s About That Time”, the latest release by the Hot Club of Detroit, however, isn’t for Django-philes only – or, for that matter, fans of vintage, homebred swing.  Instead, the quintet continues to project an inquisitive spirit and a venturesome thrust, something that holds true whether it’s revisiting old tunes or unveiling original pieces." "Certainly the influence of guitarist Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli plays a prominent role on the album, but so too does the ingenuity of Joe Zawinul, Charles Mingus, Pat Martino, Chick Corea and Frederic Chopin.  The combination of these elements, along with the occasional odd-meter excursion, makes for some compelling contrast while also preventing retro-inspired lulls.  A case in point is the album’s title track, which finds the band slyly wedding Reinhardt’s “Heavy Artillerie” to MilIt's About That Timees Davis’ seminal fusion-era entry “It’s About That Time.”  Not coincidentally, the same track is one of several distinguished by the close rapport and interplay developed by lead guitarist Evan Perri, Accordionist-bandeneón player Julien Labro and reedman Carl Cafagna." "Of the original compositions, Labro’s “Sacre Bleu,” a brightly flowing waltz arranged for trio, swiftly stands out, due in large part to the composer’s rhapsodic touch.  As for rhythm guitarist Paul Brady and bassist Andrew Kratzat, in addition to providing idiomatic support they contribute and engagingly evocative arrangement of Mingus’ “Nostalgia in Times Square.” - Mike Joyce Zach Brock One of the most virtuosic and emotive voices of contemporary jazz violin, Zach Brock has followed a path which embraces not only jazz, but also classical, world, and popular music. From critical acclaim as a bandleader to international exposure in collaborations with Stanley Clarke, Grazyna Auguscik, and Frank Vignola, Zach continues to gain admiration from both jazz purists and music enthusiasts alike. Zach’s repertoire includes re-workings of songs by Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Phil Markowitz, and Zbigniew Seifert, in addition to an evolving catalogue of his own compositions. His latest CD The Magic Number, with bassist Matt Wigton and drummer Fred Kennedy, offers a telling glimpse of why Zach is being heralded as “the pre-eminent improvising violinist of his generation.” (Neil Tesser, Chicago Examiner) http://www.hotclubofdetroit.com/ http://www.zachbrock.com/site/

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Just Added!
John McCutcheon                   
Thursday, February 16                         
8 PM        
$25.

John McCuctheon Juke Box

Singer/Songwriter and Folk Music Legend live at Nighttown!

John McCutcheon is one of folk music’s great living storytellers.  Revered around the world for his thoughtful and inspiring songwriting and mastery of the hammered dulcimer, John McCutcheon’s career spans over twenty albums and seven Grammy nominations. 

Wisconsin native John McCutcheon  is an American folk music singer and multi-instrumentalist who has produced 34 albums since the 1970s.He is regarded as a master of the hammered dulcimer, and is also proficient on many other instruments including guitar, banjo, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, and jawharp.

McCutcheon, whose family background encompasses farmers and shoemakers, started playing guitar in the early 60s. He picked up a great number of traditional American songs and tunes from the Appalachians, and learned a wealth of instruments, including fiddle, banjo, autoharp and, most notably, the hammer-dulcimer. His playing of the latter encompasses folk, classical, jazz and many other elements. McCutcheon's extensive recording legacy has attracted a string of awards, and also seven Grammy nominations. He has recorded exclusively for Rounder Records since the early 80s. Howjadoo was the first of several children's albums which have established McCutcheon as arguably the leading artist within the genre. In the 90s his children's recordings included the Grammy-nominated Four Seasons series, which featured many compositions co-written with long-time friend and collaborator, Si Kahn. McCutcheon has also collected and recorded a good deal of Nicaraguan music, which was released by Rounder as a double album, Nicaragua Presente!, in 1989. McCutcheon's prolific work rate has included production work for several other folk artists, and he has also had published songbooks and instructional materials.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a living legend perform live on the Nighttown stage.

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Horn's & Things               
Saturday, February. 18                  
8:30 PM    
$20.

Landmark Cleveland Fusion Group featuring Sax Masters Ken LeeGrand & JT Lynch hit the stage at Nighttown!

"Horns & Things" is the powerhouse contemporary jazz ensemble that has pleased audiences throughout the years! The group was founded by saxophonists  J.T. Lynch and Ken LeeGrand.  In an effort to find a place for their music, which could fit the modern genre and fulfill the needs if the Main Stream market, they teamed with Bassist, Derrick James, Keyboardist, Sakait Baksar and Drummer, Ray Harvin to form the nucleus of the band.  Percussionist Bill Ransom has been an addition on various recording sessions and performances.  This phenomenal group has been performing for over twenty years.

They have shared the spotlight with a who's who list of legendary performers from Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard and Joe Sample; to contemporary artists that include; Pieces of a Dream, Najee, Ronnie Laws, Kim Waters, Alex Bugnon and Marion Meadows.  Horn's & Things has opened for R&B artists such as El Debarge, Phillip Bailey, Millie Jackson and Kevin Eubanks.  They have participated in jazz festivals, headlined in concerts and performed the college circuits.  Horn's & Things has five recording projects, which includes three C.D.'s.  "Till the Dawn," Northern Wind","Da Boss", and their most recent release "Get Your Hat On"

Regardless of the occasion, Horn's & Things  has the crossover appeal that pleases audiences of all categories and have proven over the years that they are the dynamic, explosive and intense performers required to make your venue thrive.

Don't miss a Nighttown favorite with Horns & Things live at Nighttown on Saturday, February 18th.

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Duke Robillard                  
Sunday, February 19                     
7 PM         
$20.


Duke Robillard instructional DVD - great playing!
Duke Robillard's "Blues for T-Bone 1988

Master Guitarist plays Blues and Jazz with his All-Star group.

In 1967 he formed Roomful of Blues, which, early on, accompanied Big Joe Turner and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on record and in live appearances.  Roomful of Blues continues, 40 years later, though Robillard left after 12 years. Since then, he has played with rockabilly king Robert Gordon, recorded two albums with the Legendary Blues Band (a sterling collection of former members of Muddy Waters’s band), led his own band until 1990, and then replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

He played on Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind sessions, and with Ruth Brown, John Hammond, Pinetop Perkins, Ronnie Earl and the late Johnny Adams, among many others.  BB King called Robillard "One of the great players." The Houston Post called him "one of God's guitarists.” And
the New York Times says he is, "a soloist of stunning force and originality.”

As a soloist, he has released 13 CDs, plus one with label mate Ronnie Earl and one with the New Guitar Summit.  He has produced and played on two albums with the late Jimmy Witherspoon, two with Kansas City piano king Jay McShann, comeback CDs for Billy Boy Arnold and Rosco Gordon, a swinging confection with the Canadian band The Rockin’ Highliners, and an album of guitar duets with the jazz legend Herb Ellis.

The Blues Music Awards (formerly W.C.Handy Awards) named Duke Robillard "Best Blues Guitarist" four times (2000,2001,2003,2004) making him the second most honored guitarist for that award. He was also nominated in that category in 2005, 2007 and 2008.  In 2007 got a Grammy nomination for his Guitar Groove-a-rama CD and was also honored with the prestigious Rhode Island Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts.  Other awards include three Canadian Maple Blues Awards, in 2001, 2002, and 2003, for Best International Blues Artist; the Blues Foundation's Producer of the Year award in 2004, the French Blues Association Album
of the Year award in 2002 (for Living with the Blues) and Guitarist of the Year awards in 1999 and 2002.

Don't miss the great guitarist and bluesman Duke Robillard and his band live at Nighttown on Sunday February 19th.

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Donny McCaslin Quartet             
Wed. February 22                  
7 PM         
$15.

Donny McCaslin's "Energy Generation"

From NYC!  Rising Saxophone Star & Quartet in NIghttown debut. 

Born August 11, 1966, DONNY McCASLIN grew up in Santa Cruz, CA. Inspired by his father, a pianist and vibraphonist, McCaslin started playing tenor saxophone at age twelve and progressed quickly, touring Europe and participating in the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival’s California All-Star band while in high school. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he joined Berklee professor Gary Burton’s quintet, with whom he toured for four years.

McCaslin moved to New York in 1991, working with bassist Eddie Gomez before joining the group Steps Ahead, with whom he made the 1995 disc Vibe (NYC Records). Around the same time, he collaborated with fellow New York saxophonist David Binney, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wolleson, in the piano-less quartet Lan Xang.

McCaslin really began turning heads with his solo work in larger ensembles – first with Ken Schaphorst’s big band, and subsequently with the acclaimed Maria Schneider Orchestra, where his performance on the album Concert In The Garden garnered McCaslin a Grammy nomination for “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo” in 2004. In 2005, McCaslin joined the quintet led by the widely lionized trumpeter Dave Douglas. Reviewing the Douglas Quintet in Jazz Times, Josef Woodard wrote of McCaslin: “He’s a versatile player who moves easily between inside and outside musical zones… There’s a fluidity and grace to his playing even when he’s pushing at envelopes.”

In 2008 and 2009, McCaslin won the Downbeat Critics poll for ‘Rising Star on the Tenor Saxophone.’ His 2008 release, Recommended Tools, on Greenleaf Music was in many critics’ top ten lists for jazz record of the year, and in 2009, McCaslin released Declaration on Sunnyside, which features a brass quartet.

Don't miss Donny McCaslin debut at Nighttown on Wednesday February 22nd.

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