October 23, 2008 8 pm:

Changing The Language Of Jazz

We have many great musicians” says drummer Andre Wright “but few legends who have actually changed the language of jazz”. Legends like miles Davis, Charley Mingus, Oscar Peterson, John Coltrane, Charley parker and Dizzy Gillespie have each infused the universal musical discourse with their personal lexis opening broad visions and eloquent discussions. “Notes From Jazz Legends “ featuring Ambrose Akinmusire winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, and the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition who will make his own statement at 8:00 P.M on Thursday October 23rd. at Kerrytown Concert House, 415 North Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ambrose’s journey into a new musical language never excludes beauty. He listens intently, values the fertility of a pause, of communication and tension. He seeks other genres of music to analyze and draws inspiration from such musicians as Bjork and Chopin. Ambrose’s music restructures accepted notions of jazz in a way that reflects his ability to recognize nuances, multiplicities, and patterns.

Akinmusire will be accompanied by three accomplished veterans, bassist, Marion Hayden, pianist Tim Whalen and drummer, Andre Wright. Sponsor and master trumpeter Marcus Belgrave will also make an appearance.

“Notes From Jazz Legends“ is sponsored by Marcus Belgrave and the
Detroit Jazz Musicians Co-Op Inc. Ticket prices are $25 reserved seating, $15 reserved seating and $10 general admission. Reservations over the Internet must be made at least 2 hours in advance of the event. If it is less than 2 hours before the show, please call 734-769-2999 to place a reservation or visit http://www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com/reservation

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October 23, 2008 8pm:

Marsalis Brasilianos

Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis, along with members of the Philharmonia Brasileira, as they coalesce to form the unique and exhilarating music of Marsalis Brasilianos at Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts .

Marsalis Brasilianos, brings together Branford Marsalis, one of the giants of the jazz world, with a remarkable 35 piece Brazilian orchestra - The Philharmonia Brasileira (Gil Jardim, conductor) on the main stage at Music Hall, Thursday, October 23rd @ 8PM. Together they celebrate the rich and sensual music of Heitor Villa-Lobos . Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) combined Brazilian folk music with the European classical tradition to create soothing yet powerful melodies. Marsalis Brasilianos gives Branford Marsalis a chance to demonstrate his talent, as he uses his “mastery of both jazz and classical music [to allow] the language of Villa-Lobos’ compositions to truly shine.

Branford Marsalis, the New Orleans-born jazz artist and this Brazilian ensemble find a point of departure in the work of Villa-Lobos, whose music draws on Afro-Brazilian folk influences (the roots of 1950s bossa nova—the now-classic meeting of jazz and Brazilian music) as well as an admiration for classical composers such as Stravinsky, Bach, and Milhaud.

This is an amazing musical hybrid that should not be missed. The perfect acoustics of Music Hall will provide the ambience for a potentially, magical evening of up-tempo rhythms and steamy hot jazz – flavored to the classical tradition, yet swings with an unbridled Brazilian passion.

Learn more about Heitor Villa-Lobos here: http://www.villalobos.ca. Tickets are available at Music Hall Box Office and Ticketmaster.com. Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts is located at 350 Madison, Detroit, MI 48226. Call 313- 887-8500 fro more information or visit www.musichall.org.

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November 7th & 8th

Jeff “Tain” Watts

World-renown drummer and bandleader, Jeff “Tain” Watts and his hot-shot trio of sidemen, Jeff “Tain” Watts Quartet will perform 2 sets a night at Jazz Café, November 7th and 8th at 10PM and 12 Midnight each night.

Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Watts is one of the most respected jazz drummers in the world today, Jeff started out majoring in classical percussion at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University, where he studied to be a timpanist, but then matriculated to the Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies alongside such soon to be household name players as Branford Marsalis, Kevin Eubanks, Greg Osby, Aimee Mann, Steve Vai and Marvin “Smitty” Smith.

Jeff Watts joined the Wynton Marsalis Quartet in 1981 and proceeded to win three Grammy Awards with the ensemble. Watts left Wynton Marsalis in 1988. After working with George Benson, Harry Connick. Jr. and McCoy Tyner, he joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989.

Watts has worked in the film and television industry as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s “Mo Better Blues". Jeff joined Kenny Garrett’s band after returning to New York in 1995 after three years in LA on the Tonight Show. Watts also continued to record and tour with Branford Marsalis as well as Danilo Perez, Michael Brecker, Betty Carter, Kenny Kirkland, Courtney Pine, Geri Allen, Alice Coltrane, Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and Ravi Coltrane.

Watts’ latest album is with his other group, Tain and the Ebonix is the 2007 Dark Key Music release, “Folk’s Songs".
http://chambersoftain.com

Tain’s Quartet boasts a power packed line-up featuring, Bassist, Chris Smith, Sax man, Kebbi Williams and Lawrence Field on piano who together, make this another all-star night at Jazz Café.

The Jeff “Tain” Watts Quartet are also a part of the Practice Your Cool in ¾ Time package, along with Victor Goines (Nov 28-29) and Javon Jackson with Les McCann (Dec 12-13).
Act between now and October 30th, and purchase all three shows for $30!

Otherwise, tickets are $15 available at Music Hall Box Office or Ticketmaster.com. Jazz Café at Music Hall, 350 Madison, Detroit, MI 48226. Call 313.887.8498 for more information or visit www.jazzcafedetroit.com or www.myspace.com/jazzcafedetroit