News - Berkshires Jazz

Laroo/Byrd 4tet, dinner show on July 14

As hot as jazz gets, the internationally renowned Laroo/Byrd Quartet makes its Berkshires debut on Saturday, July 14 with a dinner show at our newest popular venue, American Legion Hall. An optional dinner buffet makes for a complete evening’s entertainment. Dinner starts at 6:30pm; show at 7:30. Tickets are on sale now, click here for details.

Having appeared here in Pittsfield as part of the Latin Jazz Trio some 10 years ago, the monster pianist Warren Byrd returns in a new quartet configuration with his wife, the trumpeter and saxophonist Saskia Laroo. The Laroo/Byrd Quartet (or “4tet,” as it is often called) is the transmutation from their popular duo configuration into a full band with added bass (Rick Rozie) and drums (Jocelyn Pleasant).

Hailing from Hartford, Connecticut, Warren Byrd is a pianist/vocalist with a long list of international credits, tours, and celebrated work. Though earning a full scholarship for a voice major at Hartt College of Music, he chose to focus on jazz piano and composition, emerging primarily self-taught. His work is a testament to his gifts: freelancing with such notables as Archie Shepp and Eddie Henderson to leading Gospel choirs to composing for theatre and dance. He is co-founder/leader of Duo Laroo/Byrd and the Afro-Semitic Experience, performs as a freelancer, with Saskia’s other groups, as a solo pianist and with his own Byrdspeak Ensemble.

A native of Amsterdam, Saskia Laroo is a premiere figure in music and one of the finest female trumpet players in the world. She began playing trumpet at age 8, and as a teen picked-up cello and guitar. Though first enrolling as a Mathematics major in college, she switched to music, graduating from the Muziekacademie of Hilversum. Versatility has propelled her illustrious career, from barnstorming with Latin, jazz and pop bands, to collaborations with legends such as Hans Dulfer and Teddy Edwards. She released her first CD, “It’s Like Jazz” in 1994 under her own label Laroo Records. Since, she has produced seven CDs and a DVD varying from classic jazz to Club-influenced acid jazz fusion. She has performed worldwide in hundreds of settings.

The optional dinner buffet is highlighted by Brenda Torchio’s renowned chicken piccata. $17, all-inclusive, but please make your reservations in advance.

Berkshire Gateway headliners: Frank Vignola Trio, Jeff Holmes Big Band

Ready to buy? Quick links to our online box office:

Click here for Frank Vignola tickets.

Click here for Jeff Holmes Big Band tickets.

“Headline weekend” for the Berkshires Gateway Jazz Weekend kicks off with the Frank Vignola Trio (7:30pm, Lee Congregational Church). Frank is one of the most extraordinary (and popular) guitarists performing before the public today. His virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, the Boston Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Frank to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List”. The New York Times deemed him “one of the brightest stars of the guitar”.

It’s great to welcome him back to the Berkshires, where he has performed at two Pittsfield CityJazz Festivals, to great critical and popular acclaim. His trio includes co-guitarist Vinny Raniolo and bassist Elias Bailey.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the event. Click here for ticket information and online box office.

Headline weekend continues on Saturday, June 16 with the Jeff Holmes big band. Click here for details and tickets.

Berkshire Gateway: Jeff Holmes Big Band with vocalist Dawning Holmes

Closing-out the headline performances at this year’s Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend will be the Jeff Holmes Big Band, featuring the amazing vocalist Dawning Holmes. [Click here for tickets, or read on]

Pianist, composer, arranger and trumpeter Jeff Holmes is a nationally published composer/arranger, and a multiple recipient of National Endowment For The Arts Jazz Composition Grants. He has written music for renowned jazz musicians including John Abercrombie, Max Roach, Sheila Jordan, Yusef Lateef, Rufus Reid, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

In addition to the band’s impressive library of big-band standards and originals, this evening’s repertoire will include a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, whose 100th birthday is being celebrated this year by musical organizations across the globe. Bernstein’s music touched all genres, from classical to pop, opera to jazz, and Hollywood.

The band features the outstanding vocalist Dawning Holmes, who was first heard in Lee during the 2017 tribute to Buddy Rich. In addition to her work with Jeff’s big band, Dawning has sung in jazz clubs from New York City to London, has guested with both Paul Winter and the UMASS Studio Orchestra/Jazz Ensemble I, and opened for Bob Newhart at the Foxwoods Casino Theatre. She performs pieces made popular by Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Sam Cooke, Amy Winehouse, and is currently working on a project of her own original music and lyrics.

Concert time is 7:30pm, at the Lee Meeting House (Lee Congregational Church). Tickets [click here] are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of the event.

Stride Night May 4th!

Friday, May 4, 7:30pm. Legion Hall, Pittsfield

Optional Italian buffet, as only Brenda’s can do it!

Matt DeChamplain is “the man” when it comes to stride piano. He approaches his instrument in a fresh and interesting way, reworking familiar standards and interpreting his own compositions. Not just a repertory player, Matt is a creative interpreter of the genre, as shown on his CD “Stride – Bop.”

Matt’s music is rooted in a profound love for the early jazz masters. What makes him unique is his application of early jazz piano devices created by Ragtime, Blues and Stride musicians. He pursues a musicianship that fuses traditional elements with modern jazz concepts. In this program, Matt illustrates how various stride players influenced generations of jazz giants.

So, after Pittsfield’s monthly “First Friday Artswalk,” stride over to 41 Wendell Ave. for this special event. An optional Italian buffet will be available from Brenda’s Catering, starting at 6:30pm. Regular seating will be available at 7pm. Cash bar.

A popular participant in Pittsfield’s jazz scene, Matt DeChamplain is an educator and performer, but rarely gets the chance to mix the two professions. A growing interest in jazz in the Berkshires, encouraged by his two previous appearances in a different (vocal) setting, gives him the opportunity to stretch out.

Advance price for tickets is $42 all-inclusive, including the dinner, tax, and tip, or $25 for the concert only. Available online (click here), don’t miss out!

10, by George: Ted Rosenthal explores the Gershwin songbook

Ted Rosenthal and his trio perform jazz interpretations of ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ and 9 other familiar compositions of George Gershwin

Ted Rosenthal is one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation, actively touring worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and in various configurations. Winner of the 1988 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and James Moody.

His interpretation of George Gershwin compositions was captured on the CD “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” which provides the foundation for our “10, by George” concert. In reviewing this album, Kevin Whitehead of NPR said, “Rosenthal gets Gershwin’s sensibility (with) a classical pianist’s reverence for the material and a jazz musician’s way of running off of it.” As for the band, Whitehead adds, “these players really make the Rhapsody their own and make it modern again.” It’s no wonder that this CD reached #1 in jazz album sales at iTunes and Amazon.

A virtuoso interpreter and presenter of jazz and crossover music, Ted has 15 CDs to his name. His trio includes Martin Wind, bass, and Tim Horner, drums.

A wine bar, featuring the products of Berkshires’ own Balderdash Winery, will be available starting at 6:30pm.

This concert is part of downtown Pittsfield’s annual “10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival,” when arts organizations present a variety of concerts, plays, and other performances with a “10” theme.

Click here for tickets.

“Jazz About Town.” Snippets from the annual 2017 jazz crawl

Our annual jazz crawl, part of the 2017 Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival. Sub-optimal audio in some instances, but a good sense of the variety of local artists being presented.

Shown here: Andy Kelly Gypsy Jazz (at J. Allen’s). Banulis and Miller jazz duo (Panchos). John Kozinski guitar duo (Patrick’s). Mary Ann Palermo and First Take (The Rainbow). Sarah Clay (Mission).

Jazz Prodigy Caelan Cardello at the 2017 Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival

Did you miss this year’s Jazz Prodigy concert during the Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival? Just in case you did, or want to revisit it, here’s a sample, a unique treatment of “Stella By Starlight,” featuring Caelan Cardello. A product of Jazz House Kids, the renowned after-school music program in Newark, New Jersey, Caelan’s trio performed their maiden gig on Oct. 11, at the Berkshire Athenaeum. Watch him!

Latin Percussion workshop, Oct. 14, 1pm (free)

Attention percussion teachers, students, and anyone interested in Latin rhythms: Berkshires Jazz is hosting a free Latin Percussion Workshop this Saturday, Oct. 14, at Wood Brothers Music Store (Allendale Shopping Center, Pittsfield. 1-2:30pm). The clinic will be conducted by Roger Squitero, percussionist with the Dizzy Gillespie Afro- Cuban Experience.

Dizzy Gillespie is generally credited with bringing Afro-Cuban rhythms to the American jazz scene, and Roger Squitero is helping to perpetuate that movement. Here’s a unique opportunity to get inside tips from one of the top percussionists in jazz. No charge, thanks to a grant from The Feigenbaum Foundation.

Please contact web@BerkshiresJazz.org with any questions.

Jazz About Town: our annual “jazz crawl” schedule

Spanning two weekends, our 13th Pittsfield CityJAZZ Festival festival kicks-off with the popular “jazz crawl” on Friday, Oct. 6. Various local restaurants and lounges present local musicians in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District. No cover charge!

It’s no secret that the Berkshires are home for some amazing talent, and it’s a pleasure to present so many of them in a concentrated timeframe and format.

For full details on this year’s festival, including our jazz prodigy concert and headliners, click here.

Here’s the Jazz Crawl schedule so far. Check back for possible changes and updates.

Friday, Oct. 6

Panchos, 156 North St,
6-9pm: Nico Wohl, guitar

Patrick’s Pub, 26 Bank Row
7-10pm: Andy Kelly Jazz Ambassadors

Rainbow, 109 First St.
7:30pm: Blue Light Trio

Saturday, Oct. 7

Panchos, 156 North St.
6-9pm: Banulis and Miller Jazz Duo

J. Allen’s Clubhouse Grille, 41 North St.
7-10om: Andy Kelly Gypsy Jazz

The Rainbow, 109 First St.
7:30pm: Mary Ann Palermo and First Take

Patrick’s Pub, 26 Bank Row
6-9pm: Kozinski/Ricker Guitar Duo

Mission Bar and Tapas, 438 North St.
8-11pm: Sarah Clay Duo

Sunday, Oct. 8

Jazz Brunch at The Rainbow, 109 First St.
11am-3pm: Mary Ann Palermo and First Take

Discount tix for Hot Summer Swing Bash benefit Berkshires Jazz

Saturday, August 26, 3:00pm-8:00pm the HOT SUMMER SWING BASH (rocks and) rolls into Ski Butternut in Great Barrington. There’s some great jazz and swing music in store, including the Squirrel Nut Zippers, local bands, and a discount on tickets, to boot.

The sponsors, Berkshire Bash, are offering an exclusive, special discount offer for friends of Berkshires Jazz that is also a fund-raiser for us. Your ticket is just $30 ($10 off per ticket, which is normally $40), and $5 of that ticket goes directly to Berkshires Jazz. When purchasing your ticket, use code: JAZZ and Berkshire Bash remits $5 per ticket to us!

The day-long festival features national headliner SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS, and local favorites THE LUCKY 5 and BLUE LIGHT TRIO. This family-friendly, fun-filled day also includes ROGER THE JESTER and more kids activities courtesy of United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County.

Squirrel Nut Zippers’ music is a high-energy fusion of Delta blues, gypsy jazz, 1930s era swing, klezmer and other styles. Originally formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, their one-of-a-kind sound ranges in influence from Harlem Hot Music to the sounds of Cab Calloway, Johnny Ace, Raymond Scott, Fats Waller, and Django Reinhardt.

Food options include delicious Indian cuisine from Chef Express, SoCo Creamery, and beer & wine from Lefty’s Brewing. Bring a blanket, a picnic and the whole family!

Tickets and more info: berkshirebash.com

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