This Weekend: Freddy Cole @ Jazz Forum!

Freddy Cole
Performing on our new Steinway B Classic Grand Piano!
Three-time Grammy nominee Freddy Cole is a singer/pianist and younger brother to Nat King Cole. While there are certain unmistakable similarities in timbre to his brother, he has a unique voice and personality. His vocals – suave, elegant, formidable, sometimes spoken and articulate – make him the most respected lyrical storyteller in jazz. Cole’s career continues to ascend as he has moved into the front ranks of America’s homegrown art form with a style and musical sophistication all his own.

HEAR THE MUSIC

Adriano Santos Quartet
Adriano Santos is at the epicenter of New York’s contemporary Brazilian drummers. Growing up in São Paulo and studying at the acclaimed Zimbo Trio Music School since age twelve, he moved to Boston in 1988 and earned a degree in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music. In 1995 he relocated to New York City to pursue a master’s degree at City College and has never turned back. Adriano’s playing style is typified by a natural clarity, swing and deep-seated groove in the tradition of Airto Moreira and Milton Banana. In addition to his extensive experience as a sideman, he has also shared his knowledge about Brazilian music teaching at Columbia University, New York University and for the past fifteen years at the renowned Drummers Collective Music School in NYC. As a professional musician, he has performed with top international artists such as Filó Machado, Romero Lubambo, Claudio Roditi, Gato Barbieri, David Binney, Bill Charlap, John Pizzarelli, Slide Hampton, Harry Allen, Vic Juris, Vana Gierig and Eileen Ivers to name a few.

HEAR THE MUSIC

Polly Gibbons & Her Quartet
Polly Gibbons is a singer/songwriter who hails from the small town of Framlingham in Suffolk, England. Once she began to sing around age 13, Polly discovered jazz and blues through listening to artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Donny Hathaway and Thelonious Monk. Polly has cultivated her craft and eclecticism over the past decade, performing at all the leading UK jazz clubs, international festivals and as a regular at the legendary venue Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, where she has sung with the All-Stars, led by pianist and house musical director James Pearson. Now, Polly is quickly establishing herself in the States as well, with shows these past few years in Florida, Boston, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles and Birdland in NYC. See Polly Gibbons with Shedrick Mitchel (piano), Paul Bollenback (guitar), Richie Goods (bass) and Willie Jones III (drums) at the Jazz Forum!

HEAR THE MUSIC

T.S. Monk Sextet
Percussionist T.S. Monk was born into the world of jazz. As the son of Thelonious Monk, his home was the gathering place for musicians such as Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Max Roach, who gave him his first pair of drumsticks. An accomplished musician, Monk has charted his own course as a composer, arranger and melodic drummer. In 1986, he established the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. His work with the institute inspired the drummer to return to jazz. He played in Clifford Jordan’s big band and with Walter Davis before putting together his own sextet, which has had stable personnel since the late ’80s.

HEAR THE MUSIC

Diego Figueiredo 

“Diego Figueiredo is one of the greatest guitarists I’ve seen in my whole life. The world needs to listen to his music.” – George Benson

Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo is a virtuoso with an infectious, joyful feeling that will leave you amazed and happy. He is an extraordinary fast-rising star among the world’s greatest jazz guitarists. His superb technique, timing and imagination have made him one of the hottest international names right now. He has very unique skills and his concerts have been a great success in more than 50 countries around the world. Diego has already released 23 CDs, 3 DVDs and a book, and has received awards twice at the “Montreux Jazz Festival” as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Diego Figueiredo is a brilliant musician who keeps the tradition of the true essence of Brazilian music and at the same time can be extremely virtuous, modern and innovative. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover this incredible artist!

HEAR THE MUSIC

Neal Spitzer Quartet
Neal Spitzer is a full-time musician, composer, educator and sound engineer. He has lived and performed in the New York City area since moving there from Boston to attend the New School for Jazz Performance. He is the son of accomplished concert pianist, Rosalie Spitzer, and was often surrounded by composers and musicians in his home while growing up. Neal studied closely with Ricky Ford and Arnie Lawrence while in school, which led to him playing with greats such as Milt Hinton, Stafford James, Houston Person, Jimmy Cobb and Frank Luther.

HEAR THE MUSIC

Sherma Andrews Group
Tribute to the Great Lady Singers
Singer/songwriter Sherma Andrews was born the youngest in a musically gifted family living in the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. Her perfect pitch and her ability to play any song after only one listening led her to serve as the church organist at age 7. Sherma toured and worked with many accomplished recording artists such as Branford Marsalis, Britney Spears, Donna Summer and opened for Michael Mc Donald and Michael Feinstein. She has also performed at many festivals including The Montreux and Cape Cod Jazz Festivals. Sherma developed a production called,” The Legendary Lady Singers,” where she performs the hit songs of some of the greatest female singers in a way that only Sherma Andrews can deliver. 

HEAR THE MUSIC

Enrico Granafei Quartet
Harmonica virtuoso, classical guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and composer Enrico Granafei has a long history of musical experience which encompasses both Classical Music and Jazz. After earning a degree in classical guitar from the Conservatory of l’Aquila in Italy, Enrico started to broaden his horizons by discovering Jazz through the harmonica. Following in the tradition of the legendary Toots Thielemans, he began to explore new possibilities for the harmonica. His love for Jazz led him to New York City, where he soon started to perform in local jazz clubs, including The Blue Note, Birdland, Visiones, Angry Squire, and the Bottom Line. Enrico has performed extensively on the Chromatic Harmonica in the United States and continues to be a featured musician in major Festivals and Jazz clubs in Finland, Estonia, France, Italy and Hungary. He has recorded with Eddie Gomez, Marc Johnson, Adam Nussbaum, Patrick Saussois, Amina Figarova, Billy Hart, Wallace Roney, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Irio de Paula and many others. See Enrico Granafei with Galuco Lima (piano), Rick Crane (bass) and Samuel Martinelli (drums) at the Jazz Forum!

HEAR THE MUSIC

Roni Ben-Hur/Harvie S Trio
CD Release Event!
Jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has earned a sterling reputation as a musician and educator, renowned for his golden tone, improvisational brilliance, compositional lyricism and ability to charm peers, students and listeners alike. While living in Israel, he began playing in wedding bands and in Tel Aviv clubs as a teenager enraptured by the recordings of Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Jim Hall and Kenny Burrell. The young musician also came to love the classical Spanish repertoire via Segovia, hearing a Moorish sound that resonated with his family’s North African roots. Later, after moving to New York in 1985, he would fall for Brazilian music, particularly through the work of guitarist-composer Baden Powell. When Roni came onto the New York jazz scene, he was fortunate to be taken under the wing of veteran jazz pianist Barry Harris, a Monk disciple and Grammy Award-winner who led the influential Jazz Cultural Theater during the mid-’80s in Manhattan. The up-and-coming guitarist played in Harris’s band, absorbing musical wisdom and life lessons. Roni regularly performs in the top jazz venues and in major festivals across the country and around the world.

HEAR THE MUSIC