November 19-22, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm WED: $25 / THURS-SAT $30

ANDY BEY

One of the great unsung heroes of jazz singing, Andy Bey is a commanding interpreter of lyrics who has a wide vocal range and a big, rich, full voice. Bey enjoys a following that swears by him; nonetheless, he isn't nearly as well known as he should be.
Andy's latest album, Ain't Necessarily So will be released 10/30/08 and captures Bey's first headlining engagement ever at a major New York nightclub—May 13 through 15, 1997, at Birdland.
In addition to reprising “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Ballads Blues and Bey, the set finds Bey vocally and pianistically reinventing the Gershwins’ “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” Mary Rodgers and Martin Chamin’s “Hey, Love,” Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “All the Things You Are,” Cy Coleman and Carol Leigh’s “On Second Thought,” and the Yip Harburg-Jay Gorney Depression-era anthem “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”

http://www.myspace.com/andybey

November 23, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $25

THE ODD COUPLE RON KALINA JIM SELF

This performance features the jazzier side of the tuba as played by Jim Self, along with the harmonica stylings of Ron Kalina.

A spirit of good humor and joy pervades this delightful duo as they romp through tunes like “No More Mister Nice Guy,” and “The Odd Couple” or burn through more challenging material like Charlie Parker classics, “Confirmation” or Jobim’s “Someone To Light Up My Life.” "The guys are obviously having a good time and they manage to communicate that feeling to the listener, not only with their choice of music but also in how they approach it." -Posted by BG "The Big Geezer Music Club"

November 23, 2008 4:00 PM $25

JUDY WOLMAN'S SING! SING! SING!
“AMERICAN SONG BOOK A TO Z”

(Songs chosen from a survey from past audiences)

Judy Wolman's onstage singers lead the way, with
Howard Lewis’ droll and delightful narration punctuating the songs.
All ages show up to SING ALONG with these great songs
which feature Judy herself at the grand piano.
Other featured musicians and honored guests
drop by frequently – you never know whom you might meet.
But you ALWAYS know you’ll have an great afternoon of singing!

November 24, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $25

LA JAZZ COLLECTIVE

The Los Angeles Jazz Collective is a group of musicians working together to build a stronger jazz community within Los Angeles. Through cooperative effort and education, we seek to promote our work and generate greater public appreciation for improvised music.

The LAJC was co-founded by jazz saxophonist Matt Otto and jazz pianist Gary Fukushima, and it’s membership includes many of the area’s talented younger artists, including pianist/organist Joe Bagg; saxophonists Matt Zebley, Robby Marshall and Damon Zick; drummer Jason Harnell; bassist Ryan McGillicuddy; trumpeters Brian Swartz and Josh Welchez, and guitarists Steve Cotter, Jamie Rosenn, and Mike Scott. There are currently 13 core members and a growing number of associate members. The collective has held meetings several times each month since November of 2007 and has already established a strong sense of community within the membership. Many members are on the faculty at various colleges and schools, and the collective intends to integrate enthusiastic students into this community. The LAJC aims to be a catalyst for those who play modern, creative jazz to represent the pioneering spirit that is the essence of the jazz tradition. The collective is compelled to live out that spirit by forging ahead in it’s members’s own compositions and performances.

VISIT OUR BLOG at: http://www.lajazzcollective.com/blog/

November 25, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $25

BILL CUNLIFFE PLAYS JONI MITCHELL

Grammy nominated composer, arranger and jazz pianist Bill Cunliffe is gathering nationwide attention with his innovative and swinging recordings and compositions.
http://www.billcunliffe.com

November 28, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $30

PHIL NORMAN TENTET

"With these great musicians and charts, this ensemble creates a cool sound that Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, Shorty Rogers and even Kenton would relish."
Chuck Niles

"Those who can appreciate talented musicians, creative arrangers and glorious songwriters will rejoice in the Tentet's newest CD, WIDE RANGE."
Bob Gefaell, Former Manager, The Woody Herman Band

"What more could I say except, they are simply magnificent."
Howard Rumsey, Former Owner, The Lighthouse Cafe

"It's a terrific band, and if you haven't caught it yet, dig it soon. You'll thank me"
Med Flory, Grammy award winner for Supersax

http://www.philnormantentet.com/playersarrangers.html

November 29, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $35

PONCHO SANCHEZ

Live in concert or on recordings, Poncho spins vivacious tales that pay homage to the glories of a half-century tradition that was born when Afro-Cuban rhythms merged with bebop. One-on-one, the Chicano conguero is equally expressive, recounting in vivid detail the encounters, friendships, and passions that have contributed to his remarkable career as a bandleader and recording artist. Behind the choice of every song, album title and guest artist, there's a story Poncho Sanchez delights in telling.
http://www.ponchosanchez.com

November 30, 2008 8:00 / 9:30 pm $25

MON DAVID

Recognized as one of the Philippine’s great singers, he is known for his wide vocal range, rich tone, mellifluous style and eclectic musicality, Mon has shared the stage with jazz luminaries such as David Benoit, Eric Marienthal, Tina May, Lee Gibson, Bobby Enriquez, Boney James, Peter White and Pete Churchill Trio among others.

With his latest outing “MY ONE AND ONLY LOVE” (a compilation of jazz evergreens and Mon’s originals “Ama, Abe Mu Ku, Nasa ‘Yo, Yan Ang Pinoy”) to be released worldwide by CANDID RECORDS U.K., First London International Jazz Competition for Vocalist 2006 Grand Prize Winner MON DAVID is all set to share with the whole world his unique artistry and his philosophy that indeed music that comes from the heart can heal, build, inspire & unite.
http://www.mondavid.com/

November 30, 2008 4:00 PM $25

m-pact -- A - CAPPELLA JAZZ VOCAL GROUP

From the beginning, the "pact" of these well-studied masters has been to stay true to Music, regardless of style or genre. Their sophisticated sound and accessible appeal have garnered vast accolades, from Vocal Group of the Year from the LA Music Awards, an Indie nomination (the Independent GrammyTM), and Artist of the Year (Seattle Music Awards), to Grand National Champs of the Harmony Sweepstakes competition.
http://www.myspace.com/mpact

December 1, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

CHRIS WALDEN BIG BAND

The award winning German composer/arranger has scored over 30 feature & TV films and has done arrangements for dozens of artists including Nancy Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Bill Conti, and the Chicago Symphony. Walden started writing for German radio orchestras at 21 and conducted the Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the RIAS Big Band in Berlin before relocating to Los Angeles at age 29. His big band is comprised of Los Angeles' top studio and jazz artists including Peter Erskine, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew and many more.

www.origin-records.com

December 2, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

MATT OTTO GROUP

Orginal Compositions Written by Matt Otto and dedicated to the Paris Commune of 1871.
The Paris Commune was the first working class revolution in history. The workers of Paris seized and controlled the city for 72 days, setting up workers' cooperatives, distributing food and necessities, running the entire city in their interest, free of any profit motive, while simultaneously holding the Prussian and French Armys at bay. It is often referred to as the biggest urban insurrection of the nineteenth century, and the best example of the working class emancipating itself from the binds of Capitalism. read more.

http://ottojazz.wordpress.com/

December 3, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

CHELSEA SPANN SUN RISING

Chelsea Spann is an up and coming jazz vocalist taught by world renowned musicians such as Barbara Morrison, Ruth Price, Michele Weir, Gerald Wilson, and Kenny Burrell. She is innately talented and willing to risk in performances, jamming sessions, or recording studio. It has been said that she is able to translate human emotion through music beckoning others to feel the hope, possibility, and wonder of life. Her voice has often been compared to a fine French Burgundy wine: full bodied, round, warm, silky, and classic, with a hint of pleasurable aftertaste that lingers after she performs. We invite you to hear this fantastic new sound that'll make you share, laugh, and love more.

December 4-6,2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

JOHN BEASLEY QUARTET

“With John playing against silence, or just his heart tones, he came up with these strikingly beautiful, short, dark dramas - this music- and they’re as deep as they are disarmingly sweet. I could never figure out if he was thinking with his fingers, or hearing the possibilities with his fingers, or is just so comfortable with the instrument that internally hearing it, imagining the music that could be, and playing it were effortless and immediate.”
--Kip Hanrahan, Record Producer

http://www.beasleymusic.com

December 7, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

ROBERTO MAGRIS EUROPLANE QUINTET

Magris was born in Trieste (Italy) in 1959 and began his jazz career in the late ‘70s. In the ‘80s, he led a jazz trio named “Gruppo Jazz Marca”, whose recordings were reissued in 2006, as collector’s items, by English label Arision. In 1987, he founded the “Roberto Magris Quartet”, a group that has performed all around the world for two decades. In 1998, he founded the “Europlane Orchestra”, a central-European jazz venture sponsored by INCE-CEI (Central European Initiative), which eventually led to the creation of the Internationally renowned “Roberto Magris Europlane”. In 2003, he collaborated with Herb Geller (the West-Coast jazz master), recording the Cd “Il bello del Jazz” (Soulnote). In the same year, he started his musical partnership with Tony Lakatos (the outstanding European jazz saxophonist), recording the Cd “Check In” (Soulnote). Both the Cd’s received stunning reviews from the International jazz critics. read entire article www.allaboutjazz.com

.

December 7, 2008, Matinee 3pm $25

"Come Sunday - JAZZ ON THE SACRED SIDE"

Featuring Nailah - a voice full of African American Dap and Reciprocity. She praises the culture and its elders. Praises the difficulty of living with integrity. Praises the satisfaction that blossoms when music is more than entertainment - it's the soundtrack for ceremonial living and doing the right thing." - Peter J. Harris, Author http://nailahmusic.com/

THIS NEW SERIES IS INSPIRED BY DUKE ELLINGTON'S SACRED CONCERTS. When Mr. Ellington was commissioned to do the first of his three Sacred Concerts he wrote: "Now I can say openly what I've been saying to myself on my knees" This series is an invitation for the great jazz musicians of our city and of our time to musically dive into their own "knee conversations" with and for the great jazz lovers/listeners in our city and in this time from Buddhists to Baptists to Baha'is and beyond...all who believe in the unifying and liberating principal of SWING COME SUNDAY!

http://jazzhallelujah.blogspot.com/

December 8, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

BIG BAND: A KUBIS XMAS

One of this era's finest big band arrangers also leads his own orchestra in Southern California. Loaded with talent and blessed with superb charts, Tom Kubis's band has assembled holiday cheer in a session that both meets traditional expectations and provides a fresh look at the holiday season. Performed live at the JB with some of the aria's greatest players.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com

December 9, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

AUSTIN PERALTA QUARTET

Music is an intense search, a probe of the untapped realm, an eternal sojourn. Music is a harmonious, discordant, mellifluous, cacophonous, tense, free, screaming, whispering, incongruous, euphonious, ugly, beautiful incarnation of sound. It is a language, a force of energy, a dance, a pause, a breath, a cosmic transcendence. Peralta’s life is defined by, immersed in, obsessed with, said music. It is a necessity. Music is his religion, his spirituality, his existence, his passion. http://www.myspace.com/austinperalta

December 10-13, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

BENNY GOLSON QUARTET

Few jazz musicians can claim to be true innovators and even fewer can boast of a performing and recording career that literally redefines the term "jazz". Benny Golson has made major contributions to the world of jazz with such jazz standards as:

Killer Joe, I Remember Clifford, Along Came Betty, Stablemates
Whisper Not, Blues March, Five Spot After Dark, Are you Real?

Benny Golson is the only living jazz artist to have written 8 standards for jazz repertoire. These jazz standards have found their way into countless recordings internationally over the years and are still being recorded.

He has recorded over 30 albums for many recording companies in the United States and Europe under his own name and innumerable ones with other major artists. A prodigious writer, Golson has written well over 300 compositions.

http://www.bennygolson.com

December 14, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

KEVYN LETTAU - PETER SPRAGUE

Official CD release concert

December 14, 2008, Matinee 4pm $25

TISH ONEY QUARTET PEGGY LEE TRIBUTE

TISH ONEY & JOHN CHIODINI TRIO (not affiliated with Jazz Bakery)

December 15, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

CLARE FISCHER BIG BAND

"He is one of those rare musicians who truly understands music, not only with his mind but first and most importantly with his heart and soul. His music never stops evolving."
(Daniel Cytrynowicz, Feb. 1999)

Clare Fischer has so many interests, it is impossible to put him in a slot - he writes classical music as well as jazz and jazz as well as classical and both reflect his early street training as well as his academic training. His work has been commissioned by the legendary Hi-Lo's of the 1950's as well as Dizzy Gillespie, Prince, and Richard Stoltzman, with arrangements for Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Branford Marsalis, Brandy and so many others.

Clare has been recording for over forty years and here are just a few of the most recent CD's. As we are able to obtain the rights for others, we will be showing them to you here, so keep an eye on this site. The rest is yet to come... http://www.clarefischer.com/

Read a great interview with Clare:

http://www.thebottomend.co.uk/clare_fischer_artists.php

December 16, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $35 - $20

GORDON GOODWIN BIG PHAT BAND XMAS SHOW

Could this possibly be the biggest big band ever? The Phat Band play down some of Gordon's meanest xmas charts (and probably a few from their latest CD "Act Your Age".

http://www.gordongoodwin.com/

December 17-20, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

CLAYTON BROS. JOHN & JEFF

John and Jeff Clayton prove conclusively, that while blood may be thicker than water, it can also carry an unimpeded flow of pure creativity. The Clayton Brothers Quartet was originally founded in 1977, and while their paths would sometimes diverge, the brothers continued to share a common musical vision that would draw them back together.
John's younger brother Jeff Clayton had developed into a major alto-saxophonist during the years that he was away. Upon his return to Los Angeles, John played in groups with Jeff on an occasional basis and in 1978 they thought that making a recording would be a good idea. "I mentioned to Ray Brown that my brother Jeff and I would love to do a Clayton Brothers record together and I was wondering if Carl Jefferson of Concord would be interested. Ray said 'I don't know, let me see if I could set it up for you.'" As usual, Ray Brown came through. With pianist Patrice Rushen, guitarist Ron Eschete and Jeff Hamilton (who was back in Los Angeles), he and his brother recorded "The Clayton Brothers, Jeff & John" (Concord). In addition to the catchy instrumentals, the LP was highlighted by John's talking on "Walkin' Bass," a humorous monologue that he learned from bassist Keeter Betts. With pianist Roger Kellaway and guitarist Emily Remler joining the Clayton Brothers and Hamilton, the group recorded their follow-up "It's All In The Family" (Concord) in 1980.

http://www.johnclaytonjazz.com/

December 21, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

COLIN WOODFORD TRIO

December 21, 2008, Matinee 4pm $25

INNERVOICES XMAS CONCERT

The four members of Inner Voices' bios read like a who's who of session recording. Practice has made perfect, and they are caroling at your door! Their luminous sound has been refined and honed until it shimmers. This sophisticated group satisfies the heart and the mind.

December 22, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

ED NEUMEISTER - JAZZ ORCHESTRA

A veteran of most of the major big bands including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich and Gerry Mulligan, Ed played with and wrote for the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra) from1981-1999. Ed presents his own compositions with his choice of renowned musicians.

http://www.myspace.com/edneumeister

December 23, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

SING! SING! SING! Candlelight Carols

Our entertaining and nostalgic program features favorite holiday songs from our Great American Songbook composers. This festive, family-friendly sing-along will also feature the Jazz Bakery Kids Into Singing (JBKIS) serving up holiday cheer from "Charlie Brown's Christmas" and a tune from "The Grinch ..."! We'll enjoy music by Irving Berlin, Mel Torme, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn and Hugh Martin, to name just a few. Howard Lewis always provides great background stories as he introduces each song! From traditional carols to popular music, past and present, this program lifts our spirits as we sing joyful music as a community!
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"...with us! Give yourself the gift of song!

December 26, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

BANU GIBSON NEW ORLEANS HOT JAZZ

Today, Banu (bah'new) Gibson stands virtually at the top of her field. A superior and swinging jazz singer, Banu is one of the few vocalists of her generation to maintain exclusive loyalty to songs of the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. Rather than mimic singers of the past, she mixes fresh renditions of Tin Pan Alley standards and jazz classics by Gershwin, Ellington, Berlin, Carmichael, Waller, Porter, et al. A powerful force on stage as well as on her CDs on the Swing Out label, her enthusiasm and showmanship are highlighted by her wide range and versatility.

http://www.banugibson.com/

December 27, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $30

ERNIE ANDREWS 81ST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

He is in essence, the last of those true jazz singers from an era where a swagger in one's persona was the way of the times in a man's world. Today, the swagger is as desirable as ever, but the mainstream media has redirected teens and the masses to other genres of music. Nonetheless, jazz has withstood the test of time, and has survived the worst of times.

Ernie Andrews has a style of swing that goes back to a time when gentlemen were just that and ladies adored their men. Andrews carries an air of class that is rarely seen today. His saucy style, presence and general manner reflect his debonaire personality and life experience. In short, he is a well-seasoned entertainer who is a consummate professional. His work ethic and personal commitment is parallel to such jazz greats as Billy Eckstine, Walter Brown, Kenny Burrell, and Duke Ellington. Andrews, like many, praises Ellington for his enormous contribution to the world of music and jazz. You can hear the love and respect Andrews has for Duke when he performs the Ellington Tribute Medley: Satin Doll / I Got It Bad / Take The A Train. He brings these Ellington tunes to life like no other and you know if Duke were here, he'd be smiling from ear to ear!

Written By Chad Carter

http://www.ernieandrews.com/

December 28, 2008, 8:00 and 9:30pm $25

RICKY HOPKINS URBAN BAND

Mr Hopkins recieved many honors as a youth; top soloist at the Monterey Jazz Festival; Downbeat Magazine Student Award, ranked as the best young tenor saxophonist. In October 2005, Hopkins was severly beaten in a hate crime. After two months of recovery, Hopkins picked up his horn and got back at it. "I would say that was the rebirth of my music career. I think it inspired me to play music that was meaningful."

December 28, 2008, Matinee 4pm $25

THE “BIG ENOUGH” BAND