Fabian Almazan Trio (Piano)

Featuring: Linda Oh & Kendrick Scott (Bass/Drums)

Wednesday, May 30

Pianist and composer Fabian Almazan, a native of Cuba now residing in New York City, found his musical roots as a child in his homeland of Havana where he first became involved in the classical piano tradition. When his parents could not afford to pay for private piano lessons, having fled Cuba in political exile to Miami, FL, pianist Conchita Betancourt was gracious enough to impart free lessons for over three years. Thanks to Mrs. Betancourt's exceeding generosity, Fabian was able to audition for the New World School of the Arts High School in Miami, FL where he studied from 1998 to 2002.

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Frederic Yonnet (Harmonica)

Friday, June 1 & Saturday, June 2

When it comes to the harmonica, Frédéric Yonnet knows how to turn skeptics into believers. Yonnet - as part of a wave of that emerged from Europe's jazz underground - is one of a handful of musicians to successfully demonstrate the harmonica's versatility as a lead instrument in contemporary jazz, R&B and other genres of music. Called "the Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica," Frédéric Yonnet brings the humble harmonica front and center, defying expectations and coaxing contemporary jazz, R&B, and a rainbow of genres from this versatile instrument. He's performed with Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and Erykah Badu; recorded with the Jonas Brothers, toured with Prince - and won the respect of audiences everywhere.

The Vocal Workshop Graduation Concert       (Amateur Vocalists)

Featuring The Chris Grasso & Paul Pieper (Piano/Guitar)

Monday, June 4

The Vocal Workshop is an eight-week program designed to guide you in your journey towards becoming the jazz vocalist you want to be. We offer high-quality instruction in the art of jazz singing, in a setting with other vocalists who share your goals.  Each eight-week session of The Vocal Workshop culminates in a live performance, where our vocalists get to sing the tunes they've been working on, with a live band in a real jazz club. We invite you to come hear our vocalists do their thing, meet the instructors, and see if you'd like to join us, too.

Marty Knepp Trio (Drums)

Tuesday, June 5

The trio is made of of Clem Ehoff Piano, Jason Gano Bass, Marty Knepp Drums. The birth of the trio started some 3 years at a big band rehearsal for a upcoming gig. As we joined forces to play an upfront set for the big band Magic was created. After that the trio began to work regularly. The love we have for the piano based trio is close to our love for Latin Jazz. Whether it is a standard or one of Clem's incredible songs, We promise that you will be moving to our Groove.

Kenny Garrett Quartet (Sax)

"CD Release Party"

Friday, June 8 thru Sunday, June 10

During his career, Kenny has performed and recorded with many jazz greats such as Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders, Brian Blade, Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter, Elvin Jones, and Mulgrew Miller. Garrett's music sometimes exhibits Asian influence, an aspect which is especially prevalent in his 2006 recording, Beyond the Wall.  From collaborating with the New Jersey symphony on Adagio For Strings to mixing it up with hip-hop legend GURU on his Jazzmatazz projects; From swinging hard with legends Miles Davis and Art Blakey, to rockin' out with Sting and Peter Gabriel. Alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett brings a muscular yet lyrical eloquence to everything he does.

Claude Diallo Situation (Piano/Guitar/Drums)

Monday, June 11

Pianist and composer Claude Diallo displays a striking array of talents on his new release, Now Then. His trio, the Situation, plays with a refreshing cohesiveness and dynamism and Diallo leads the way with his robust technique, cleverness and palpable sense of joy.

Pat Martino Organ Trio (Guitar/Organ/Drums)

Friday, June 15 & Saturday, June 16

When the anesthesia wore off, Pat Martino looked up hazily at his parents and his doctors. and tried to piece together any memory of his life. One of the greatest guitarists in jazz, Martino had suffered a severe brain aneurysm and underwent surgery after being told that his condition could be terminal. After his operations he could remember almost nothing. He barely recognized his parents. and had no memory of his guitar or his career. In the following months. Martino made a remarkable recovery. Through intensive study of his own historic recordings, and with the help of computer technology, Pat managed to reverse his memory loss and return to form on his instrument.

Steve Smith & Vital Information (Drums/Fusion)

"20^th Anniversary Tour"

Sunday, June 17

The all-star lineup of keyboardist Tom Coster, bassist Baron Browne, guitarist Vinny Valentino and drummer Steve Smith serve up a veritable banquet of sounds, from slamming funk and syncopated second-line grooves to seriously swinging, uptempo B-3 burners, South Indian inspired jams and sizzling fuzoid romps. The group's founder and drummer, Steve Smith, has a history that stretches from Journey and Steps Ahead to The Buddy Rich Big Band, Ahmad Jamal, Zakir Hussain and Hiromi. Steve has recently been voted 2012's #1 Fusion Drummer in Modern Drummer Magazine. Over the years Smith has won a number of Modern Drummer reader's polls including #1 All-Around Drummer - five years in a row.

Capital City Jazz Choir (30 Voice Choir)

Tuesday, June 19

Capital City Voices is an exciting new jazz choir bringing soul-stirring harmonies and thrilling rhythmic variations to audiences in and around the nation's capital. Launched by internationally respected saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk, the choir is conducted by Peggy Stern, one of America's first ladies of jazz. Stern is an acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger.

FIRM ROOTS: Benjie Porecki - Mark Prince - Brad Collins (Keys/Drums/Sax)

"Recording Live CD"

Thursday, June 21

Versatility and virtuosity characterize the career of multi-talented songwriter-producer Benjie Porecki, who is often called a "musician's musician." He has earned that moniker by performing equally well as a jazz/gospel/funk B-3 organist, jazz/blues pianist, rock keyboardist, and reggae/blues guitarist while holding his own as a solo artist.

Born and raised in Washington, DC, Mark Prince has developed into one of the premier drummers in today's music scene. Honing his skills at Howard University under the expert tutelage of the legendary Grady Tate, as well as maintaining a strong classical background as a National Symphony Fellowship recipient, his versatility is a sought after attribute amongst the musical community both nationally and internationally.

Brad Collins has performed in the Baltimore area since the age of 13. He was a student in saxophone improvisation by the late great Mickey Fields while performing with organist Billy `Hump' Dixon & The Congregation.

A'ngela Winbush (Soul/R&B)

Friday, June 22 thru Sunday, June 23

Winbush has had a long list of career accomplishments. She is the rare female African-American producer-writer and has worked with Janet Jackson, Sheena Easton and Stephanie Mills. Winbush also scored top 10 hits with "Your Smile," "You Don't Have to Cry," "My First Love" and "Save Your Love (for #1)." Acts including Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Foxy Brown and Avant have embraced her music.

Chaise Lounge (Swing/Lounge)

Wednesday, June 27

At first, it sounds like the jazz soundtrack to either your favorite noir film or a Doris Day film from 1962. Then you realize that it isn't quite jazz at all but the orchestrated sound of six accomplished jazz musicians playing an eclectic mix of original songs and re-arranged iconic pop tunes that go back to the "50"s that all sound unmistakably Chaise Lounge.

Regina Belle (Soul/R&B)

Friday, June 29 thru Sunday, June 1

Four-time GRAMMY®-winning R&B/Pop songstress Regina Belle is a different story. Even as the New Jersey native rode high in the urban charts throughout the '80s and '90s with such urban classics as "Baby Come to Me," "Make It Like It Was" and "What Goes Around," faith, churchgoing, and gospel music remained at the very core of her life in the spotlight.

MAY

29 MARTY KNEPP TRIO (Drums/Piano/Bass)

30 FABIAN ALMAZAN TRIO (Piano/Bass/Drums)

31 MIKE PHILLIPS & THE HIDDEN BEACH ALL STARS

     w/SANDRA St. VICTOR & JEFF BRADSHAW (Sax/Trombone)

 

JUNE

1-2 FREDERIC YONNET (Harmonica)

3 CRAVIN DOGS (Roots/Blues/Folk)

4 VOCAL WORKSHOP GRADUATION CONCERT *7 & 9 PM*

6 JON REGEN (Piano/Vocals)

7 CHAZ SHEPHERD (Soul/R&B Vocals)

8-10 KENNY GARRETT (Sax)

11 CLAUDE DIALLO SITUATION (Piano/Guitar/Drums)

13 SY SMITH & ZO! (Soul Vocals)

14 KEN NAVARRO (Guitar/Smooth)

15-16 PAT MARTINO ORGAN TRIO (Guitar Legend)

"CD Release Party"

17 STEVE SMITH & VITAL INFORMATION (Drums/Fusion)

        TOM COSTER - BARRON BROWNE - VINNY VALENTINO

18 M. QUEST (Soul Fusion)

19 CAPITAL CITY JAZZ CHOIR (30 Voice Choir & Jazz Quintet)

20 SHELBY BROWN (Sax/Smooth)

21 "FIRM ROOTS" (Keys/Drums/Sax) "Recording Live CD"

            BENJI PORECKI - MARC PRINCE - BRAD COLLINS

22-24 A'NGELA WINBUSH (R&B Vocals)

25 DJ 2-TONE "SHAOLIN JAZZ PROJECT" (DJ lead band)

26 ANTOINE KNIGHT (Sax)

27 CHAISE LOUNGE (Swing/Lounge)

29-JULY 1 REGINA BELLE (Soul Vocals)

JULY

3 ERIC FELTEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA (19 Piece Big Band)

            "The Big Band Sounds of WWII"

5 SURE-WILL & JOEL De ROSARIO (Keys/Guitar/Smooth)

6-8 JEAN CARNE & TOM BROWNE (Soul Vocals/Trumpet)

10 SYNCHRONICITY (Jazz/Funk)

11 NICK CLEMONS (Blues Harmonica)

12-15 MARCUS JOHNSON (Keys/JazzyFunk)

16 IGOR BUTMAN ORCHESTRA (Sax/Big Band)

17 TERRI S. (Vocals)

18 KENNY WESLEY (Soul Vocals)

19 EVERETT HARP (Sax/Smooth)

20-21 SHANICE (R&B Vocals)

22 ARNOLD McCULLER (Vocals)

23 ELDAR DJANGRIOV TRIO (Piano)

24 INGRID JENSEN & JEFF ANTONIUK (Trumpet/Sax)

26-29 COBB-CORYELL-DeFRANCESCO (Drums/Guitar/B3)

            "A Tribute to Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery"

 

AUGUST

1 JAZZY BLU (Smooth Jazz)

2-5 FREDDY COLE (Piano/Vocals)

9 ANGELA STRIBLING (Jazz Vocals)

10-12 JEFF COFFIN & THE MU'TET (Sax)

11 CHRIS THOMAS KING (Blues Fusion)

15 CINDY BRADLEY (Trumpet)

23-26 TERENCE BLANCHARD (Trumpet/Grammy Winner)

COMING SOON!

MOSE ALLISON - CYRUS CHESTNUT - YELLOWJACKETS -

JOE LOVANO & ESPERANZA SPALDING - FRED HERSCH -

MARK O'CONNOR - RACHELLE FERRELL - NAJEE