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| The Stretchin’ The Ivories Festival continues! Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola continues the Stretchin’ The Ivories Festival with great violinist Mark O’Connor holding court with his Hot Swing band. In the After Hours spot this week is the much-celebrated vocalist Gretchen Parlato, winner of the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. Special “Stretchin’ The Ivories Festival” events taking place through March 5 featuring some of the greatest jazz pianists in the world today, including the great pianist Mulgrew Miller, leading his ensemble, Wingspan. January 17-22 7:30pm & 9:30pm w/additional 11:30pm set on Friday only. Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing : Mark O’Connor (violin), Roberta Gambarini (vocals), Howard Alden and Bryan Sutton (guitars), Jon Burr (bass) Peerless violinist Mark O’Connor brings his Hot Swing to Dizzy’s with a program featuring music from his new CD, Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio Live in New York. The recording, released on O’Connor’s own OMAC label, was recorded live at Merkin Hall in New York City and features guitarist Frank Vignola and bassist Jon Burr performing repertoire developed during their six years together. (This is likely the last recording for this trio, as Vignola has departed the trio.) O’Connor’s jazz performances and compositions pay tribute to his friend and mentor--the legendary French jazz master Stephane Grappelli. While performing a number of tunes closely associated with Grappelli, O’Connor’s albums and live performances extend the repertoire with O’Connor and Burr’s original compositions. O’Connor will perform with an all-star ensemble that includes bassist Jon Burr, guitarist Bryan Sutton, guitarist Howard Alden, and vocalist Roberta Gambarini. January 17-21 11pm Tuesday-Thursday, 12:45am Friday-Saturday After Hours With: Gretchen Parlato & Co. : Gretchen Parlato (vocals); Lionel Loueke (guitar) And special guest artists The first thing you notice about Gretchen Parlato is that she’s a singer with a deep, almost magical connection to the music, ” says jazz legend Herbie Hancock. “She takes a lot of chances with her understated style, and it works. Every note is expressive, powerful, and pretty. And most important, her heart is in the right place.” Gretchen’s petite bearing and vocal enchantments evoked another famed, spell-casting pixie for one reviewer, who called Gretchen’s 2002 performance with Herbie in Paris "a fairy-tale like show... in the universe of Björk.” With this shrewd, emotive, and subtle approach, Gretchen beat the odds and twelve other finalists to win the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition. The competition’s estimmable judges were not just impressed but moved by her performance: Flora Purim said she was “awed” by Gretchen; and during Gretchen’s winning number, Little Jimmy Scott was seen waving his hands, church-style, in testimony to her soulful sound. As a New York Times review of the competition noted, her “talent was so deeply centered and concentrated that the effect might have been the same had she stood behind a curtain.” She’s been embraced by her peers as a “musician’s singer, ” a phrase for vocalists who emphasize musicality and expression over entertainment values. For Wayne Shorter, Gretchen’s rare ingenuity and passion for lyrics recall the greatest musician’s singer of the 20th Century: “I think in an inconspicuous way, Gretchen Parlato knows how to play the same instrument that Frank Sinatra played, ” Wayne says. In the Fall of 2003 Gretchen moved to New York, where she quickly created a buzz, working with some of the top musicians on the scene, including Jeff “Tain” Watts, Richard Bona, Café, Mino Cinelu, Essiet Essiet, James Genus, Mark Turner, and Lionel Loueke. She has performed at well-known jazz venues such as the Blue Note, 55 Bar, The Jazz Gallery and the Knitting Factory. Her self-titled debut CD is available now. Saturday, January 21, 2006 – 1pm - FREE Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs present: The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Featuring Rhythmic Prophecies Latin Jazz Quartet – 1:00pm Reinaldo De Jesus Corchado (percussion), Luques Curtis (bass), Richie Barshay (percussion), Zaccai Curtis (piano) This program presents selected professional jazz and urban music performers on concert tours to countries where there is limited exposure to live American culture. Prior to their departure to Egypt, Kosovo and many other destinations, these bands will perform in Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. Come experience The Rhythm Road. Saturday, January 21, 2006 – 3pm - FREE Jazz at Lincoln Center and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs present: The Rhythm Road: American Music Abroad Featuring Toni Blackman Hip-hop Ensemble – 3:00pm Toni Blackman, Bryon Hankins (bass), Ivan Katz (drums), Jeremy Mage (piano) This program presents selected professional jazz and urban music performers on concert tours to countries where there is limited exposure to live American culture. Prior to their departure to Egypt, Kosovo and many other destinations, these bands will perform in Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. Come experience The Rhythm Road. An award-winning artist whose steadfast work & commitment to hip-hop led the Dept. of State to bestow the title of U.S. Hip Hop Ambassador upon her, serving in Senegal, Ghana, Botswana, & Swaziland. Sharing the stage w/ Erykah Badu, Mos Def, The Roots, Wu, GURU, Me'Shell, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, & Rickie Lee Jones. Her first book, Inner-Course released in 2003 (Villard/Random House). In 2004, she rocked Spain, Germany, South Africa, & Senegal. In 2006, she tours Asia w/ Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of the first hip-hop acts to ever be invited. Founder of Freestyle Union, a cipher workshop that uses freestyling as a tool to encourage social responsibility, now focuses on I RHYME LIKE A GIRL--a female-centered effort. Blackman’s work holds great influence in the world of hip hop activism. Creative Consultant for Sesame Workshop’s “The New Electric Company”, Toni's recording new music for her debut album. January 23– UPSTARTS! 7:30 & 9:30pm – The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble January 24-29 7:30pm & 9:30pm w/additional 11:30pm set on Friday only Mulgrew Miller and Wingspan Mulgrew Miller (piano), Steve Nelson (vibes), Duane Eubanks (trumpet), Steve Wilson (alto and soprano saxophones), Ivan Taylor (bass), Rodney Green (drums) Pianist Mulgrew Miller has kept this group – featuring Steve Wilson on alto saxophone and vibraphonist Steve Nelson- for many years, but has not been given the opportunity to record all his new music until quite recently. The Sequel, on MaxJazz, appeared in the fall of 2002 and reached the number one position on the radio charts in the U.S. Wonderful original music and inspired solos contribute to the success of this group. January 24-28 11pm Tuesday-Thursday, 12:45am Friday-Saturday After Hours With: The George Colligan Trio : George Colligan (piano), Josh Ginsburg (bass), Johnathan Blake (drums). write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |