Jazz Datebook: June
Jazz in West Michigan has a lot to offer. Take a look at these options coming up in your own community.
Timely Hits
Saturday, June 2, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Organissimo gets down at Founders Taproom, 235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids. See www.organissimo.org.
Sunday, June 3 at 7 p.m. trombonist Nick Finzer from New York City appears at The Kalamazoo Piano Company, 310 N. Rose St, Kalamazoo, behind the release of his album “No Arrival.” Information from (269) 389–0066 or www.kalamazoopiano.com or www.nicfinzermusic.com.
Tuesday, June 5, vocalist/pianist Diana Krall brings her “Turn Up The Quiet” tour to The Midland Center for the Arts, 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland, MI. (989) 631–5930 or www.midlandcenter.org.
Sunday June 10 from noon to 2 p.m. pianist and vocalist Mark Kahny with drummer Randy Marsh at Cedar Springs Brewing Co., 95 North Main Street, Cedar Springs. Pop and jazz on the patio. (616) 696-BEER or https://csbrew.com .
Wednesday, June 20 at 8 p.m. The Rebirth Brass Band appears at The Pyramid Scheme, 68 Commerce Avenue SW, Grand Rapids. Age 21 and over. www.ticketweb.com. See www.rebirthbrassband.com. Formed in 1983 when its principal members where still in high school, the Rebirth Brass Band has been a New Orleans fixture ever since. Frenchman Street comes to Grand Rapids.
Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23 the 2018 Sumer Solstice Jazz Festival in East Lansing, free and open to the public. With vocalists Sunny Wilkinson, Barbara Ware, Rene Marie and Thornetta Davis among many instrumentalists. A full schedule from www.eljazzfest.com.
Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m. guitarist Al DiMeola presents his “Notorious-Opus Electric Tour” presenting music from his “notorious” earlier recordings such as Elegant Gypsy up to Opus, his most recent album, at 20 Monroe Live, 11 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids. All ages. More from www.20monorelive.com.
Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. jazz giant Herbie Hancock performs in the Fredrick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park Summer Concert Series. With Trevor Lawrence Jr., drums; James Genus, bass; Terrace Martin on saxophones and synthesizers and Lionel Loueke, guitar. See www.meijergardens.corg/calendar/herbie18/
June 28 through July 4 The West Michigan Wine and Jazz Festival at The Book Nook and Java Shop, 8744 ferry street, Montague. With Detroiter Marcus Elliot’s ME3, the Rob Crozier 5tet, The Pherotones, Robin Connell Trio, The Dave Collee Quintet, Blushing Monk and In the Blue Jazz Ensemble. For a full schedule and tickets please see www.westmichiganwinejazz.com or contact (231) 894–5333 or bryan@thebooknookjavashop.com.
Thursday, June 28, jazz vocalist Melanie Marod joins guitarist/vocalist Chris Wiser at One Trick Pony Grill and Taproom, 136 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids. (616) 235–7669.
Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. drummer Tim Froncek and Friends at The Block, 360 West Western Avenue, 2nd floor, Muskegon. www.theblockwestmichigan.org.
Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19 the 7th Annual GRandJazzFest presented by DTE Energy takes place at Rosa Park Circle, downtown Grand Rapids. Free. Headlined by saxophonist Euge Groove. More from www.grandjazzfest.org, (616) 617–7720, or e-mail grandjazzfest@gmail.com.
Regular Hits:
Mondays from 8 to 11 p.m. pianist/vocalist John Shea swings downtown Grand Rapids from the front window of Rockwell’s Republic Gastropub Restaurant and Beer Garden, 45 South Division, Grand Rapids. With bassist Warren Jones III and drummer Fred Knapp, John presents a wide variety of jazz and songbook standards. www.rockwellsrepublic.com.
Mondays from 6 to 10 p.m., Fridays 7–11 p.m. and Saturdays 6–10 p.m. The What Not Inn features a revolving cast of local musicians each weekend and Mondays hosts a jam session open to musicians and vocalists. See the full schedule here: www.whatnotinn.com. The What Not Inn is located at M89 and the Blue Star Highway, 2405 68th Street, Fennville, MI. (269) 543–3341.
Mondays starting June 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 The West Michigan Jazz Society presents “Monday Jazz in the Park” at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, 220 Front Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. See www.wmichjazz.org or phone (616) 490–9506 and e-mail wmjs.gr@gmail.com. June 11th the Byron Center High School Jazz Band; June 18th vocalist Kathy Lamar blends jazz, R&B, soul an pop; June 25th vibraphonist Ben Gillece comes in from NYC to perform.
Tuesdays, 7:30–10:30, there’s an open mic jazz jam session at The Grand, 22 Washington, Grand Haven, MI. (616) 847–8944 often featuring the Take Three Jazz Ensemble.
Wednesdays, from 6–9 p.m. it’s “Jazz Night” at The Old Goat, 2434 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, featuring live jazz. See www.baaaaaaaa.com.
Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. The Tom Hagen Trio with vocalist Rick Reuther have been appearing at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids for more than 13 years, the longest continuous jazz hang in west Michigan. (616) 493–6686, or www.notosoldworld.com.
Wednesdays, House of Music Entertainment at The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 49503, occasionally features jazz and blues. More from www.thebob.com/houseofmusic .
Thursdays at 8, Laura Bennett sings with Chris Corey on keyboards at New Holland Brewing, the Knickerbocker, 417 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids. See http://laurabennettmusic.com
Thursdays at 7 p.m. a variety of jazz bands rotate the schedule at The Book Nook and Java Shop, 8744 Ferry Street in Montague. See www.thebooknookjavashop.com and click on the calendar for Thursday night.
Thursdays from 7- 10 p.m. then Friday and Saturday from 8–11 p.m. live jazz at Lily Pearls, 115 S. Washington Street, Owosso, MI 48867. See www.lilypearls.com or phone (989) 720–5852.
The first Thursday evening of each month the Bill Huyge/Jeff Beavan/Dave Schock trio appear at New Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233–9186, or on the web, http://harmonybeer.com/harmony-hall/
Fridays and Saturdays from 8–11 p.m. jazz at The Rendezvous in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. June 1st and 2nd, Entourage; June 8th, Mike Frost Trio; June 9th vocalist Edye Evans-Hyde; June 15th and 16th drummer Scott Veenstra’s Trio; June 22nd and 23rd, saxophonist Mike Frost’s Trio; June 29th and 30th drummer Scott Veenstra’s Trio.
Fridays at 7 p.m., “It’s a Friday Thing” features vocalist Kathy Lamar with pianist Bob VanStee and drummer Kevin Jones at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493–6686.
Fridays Through Sundays live jazz is featured in Mixology, the lounge of the the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 235 Louis Street NW, Grand Rapids. Every Friday at 7 p.m. the John Shea Trio plays. Saturday’s the music is heard from 7–10 p.m. and Sunday’s from 10 a.m. — 1 p.m., June 2, drummer Scott Veenstra’s Trio; June 3rd guitarist Gregg Miller; June 9th Neil Gordon’s Trio; June 10th saxophonist Mike Frost joins guitarist Gregg Miller; June 16th Take 3 Jazz Trio; June 17th guitarist Gregg Miller; June 23rd percussionist Kevin Jones Trio; June 24th guitarist Gregg Miller is joined by saxophonist Mike Frost; June 30th vocalist Mark Rademacher entertains. (616) 242–1448.
Fridays from 8–11 p.m. a variety of local jazz bands rotate through the schedule at 18th Amendment, 350 W. Western Avenue, Muskegon. June 8th, vocalist Mary Rademacher with pianist/vocalist Mark Kahny; June 15th, saxophonist Andy Frisinger.
Saturdays at 7:30, pianist John Shea leads his trio at Noto’s Old World Italian Dining, 6600 28th Street S.E., Grand Rapids. See www.notosoldworld.com or call (616) 493–6686.
Saturdays and Sundays pianist/vocalist Mark Kahny plays Marro’s Restaurant, 147 Water Street, Saugatuck. 7–11 p.m. Saturdays, 6–10 p.m. Sundays. www.marrosrestaurant.com.
The second and fourth Sundays of the month from 2–4 p.m. the Bill Huyge, Jeff Beavan, David Schock trio (https://www.facebook.com/events/163529711041371/). Alternate weekends with the River Rogues traditional jazz band (see www.theriverrogues.org ) at Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Phone: (616) 233–9186, or on the web, www.harmonybeer.com.
Sundays from 11 a.m. — 2 p.m. “Jazz Brunch” at The Old Goat, 2434 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, features live jazz with bassist Chris Kjorness and drummer Tim Froncek anchoring the house band. See www.baaaaaaaa.com.
Sundays at 7 p.m. Randy Marsh’s Sunday Night Jazz Hang at The Speak EZ Lounge, 600 Monroe Avenue N.W., Grand Rapids (616) 458–2689. A fun jam session celebrating a 3rd year anniversary Oct 18. Student jazz musicians under 21 with a parent or legal guardian have a chance to play from 8:15 until 9:00 p.m. Anyone under 21 has to leave at 9 pm. The host trio plays from 7:00–8:00. www.speakezlounge.com.
First Sunday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra plays Founders Brewing Company, 235 Grandville Avenue S.W., downtown Grand Rapids. The GRJO is the region’s premier professional jazz orchestra. Information from www.grjo.com.
The Jazz Datebook is a regular feature at Blue Lake Public Radio. You can find the original posting of this information on bluelake.org.
