Blues Alley is very happy to partner with the Washington Performing Arts Society to offer a special 10% discount offer for Eartha Kitt's performance at the Warner Theater on Saturday, November 10th at 8 pm. To take advantage of this offer, Blues Alley patrons can access http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/734057with the following caps-sensitive code: "BAKITT2".
With an enduring career spanning theater, cabaret and television, Earth Kitt returns to the stage for an unforgettable live performance at the Warner Theater. Kitt is the standard-bearer in electrifying cabaret performances. A new, younger generation of fans has taken to her fabulous vocals. As Stephen Holden of The New York Times recently wrote, "Eartha Kitt is finally being discovered by the generation that thought Madonna pioneered the image of pop singer as a gold-digging femme fatale." Her background of international touring makes her live show both entertaining and enthralling.
Monday, May 21st-Georgetown Day School and Edmund Burke School Jazz Ensembles-7 & 9pm showtimes penchant
Two of D.C.'s premiere High School Jazz ensembles grace the stage of Blues Alley with special early showtimes. Both schools have recently played the Third Annual Washington D.C. Big Band JAM!, where they received accolades from the International Association for Jazz Education for their performances on the National Mall.
Tuesday, May 22nd-Rodney Richardson Quintet-Guitar
The Rodney Richardson Quartet was formed in 2002 by collaborators and fellow Howard University graduates Rodney Richardson (Guitar) and Charles Washington (Trumpet). With a focus on original modern jazz compositions as well as bebop and hard bop standards, the quintet has performed over a dozen times at Blues Alley including a New Years Eve celebration with the Roy Hargrove Quintet.
Wednesday, May 23rd-Larry Brown Quintet (Piano) featuring Rebecca Parris (Vocalist)
Larry Brown is accompanied by award-winning vocalist Rebecca Parris for this special performance. The Washington Post calls pianist Brown an artist deserving of greater exposure. In 2000 Larry appeared on BET's "Jazz Discovery" where he won in the instrumentalist category. He has also appeared on BET's "Jazz Scene" as a featured artist, and in 2001 Larry received WAMMY nominations for Best Jazz Group, Best Jazz Instrumentalist, and Best Jazz CD. A kind of throwback jazz pianist, Mr. Brown lists his major influences as Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly and Miles Davis. After graduate school Larry toured with his trio "Spice of Life" with vocalist George Chapin and other local bandleaders.
Thursday, May 24th-John Eaton-Piano
John Eaton is Washington DC's pianist extraordinaire. Considered one of the foremost interpreters of American music, Mr. Eaton offers a unique combination of ultra-tasteful jazz and fascinating observations. Pianist, vocalist, musicologist and humorist - John Eaton is one of America's true musical treasures. A graduate of Yale University and a student of renowned classical teacher Alexander Lipsky, Eaton has been performing professionally for more than 30 years. He was named to the Steinway Concert Artist roster in 1988. From shows at smoky jazz clubs to a command performance in the East Room of the White House, he has appeared both as a soloist and with such legendary artists as Zoot Sims, Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Wild Bill Davison. More on this artist at http://www.eatonpiano.com/.
Friday, May 25th-Sharon Clark-Jazz Vocals
Heralded by the Washington Post's Mike Joyce as "The lady equipped with a lusty voice," Sharon Clark has been one of D.C.'s best kept secrets for over a decade. Her album "Finally" captures Sharon at her best, performing with a group of top D.C. jazz musicians, including pianist and co-producer James Levy who contributed the film-noir inspired, "Late at Night." Recently in anticipation of this release, it was declared "Sharon Clark" week by Howard Banks of Jazz 90 WDCU FM who has said that she continues the tradition of Ella and Sarah.
Saturday, May 26th-Tommy Cecil Quartet-Bass
Jazz bassist and composer Tommy Cecil first picked up the bass as a teenager in his hometown of Baltimore, and started teaching himself how to play. In 1976, Tommy moved to Washington and since then has established himself as one of the most sought-after bassists in the area. As a free-lancer he has worked with artists as diverse as Joe Henderson, Charlie Byrd and Tommy Flanagan. Tommy has also played in the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra under the direction of Gunther Schuller.
Sunday, May 27th-Eric Felten's "Lester Young Tribute"
At 24, Eric was named best new jazz trombonist by the International Trombone Association. In 1993 he released his first album for the respected European jazz label Soul Note, T-Bop, a record that featured Eric with legendary trombonist Jimmy Knepper and a young Joshua Redman. The result was a critically acclaimed debut album that earned four stars in Down Beat magazine. The prestigious Penguin Guide to Jazz declared that Eric "has the music in his genes...a more than promising talent, he's a man we're going to hear a lot more about." Felten honors Lester Young - the great jazz saxophonist.
Tuesday, May 29th-Capitol Bones-Big Band
The Capitol Bones are DC's premiere jazz trombone ensemble, offers something exciting and new for jazz lovers everywhere. Group founder and leader Matt Niess brought together the best jazz trombonists in DC, an area known for the depth of its trombone bench, to participate in a group dedicated to promoting not only great ensemble playing but the expansion of the repertoire of this unique medium. Since its inception in 1991 The Capitol Bones have played throughout the country to include performances at The International Trombone Workshop in Las Vegas-Nevada & Rochester- NY, jazz clubs, Universities and an annual appearance at The Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, DC. In addition to the standard arrangements The Capitol Bones have added several new works to the jazz trombone ensemble repertoire by such notables as Conrad Herwig, Mike Tomaro, Mark Taylor, Jim Roberts and Matt Niess.
Wednesday, May 30th-Collaboration-Jazz Ensemble
DC-area musicians Kenneth Dickerson and Tracy Cutler founded Collaboration while in High School. Over time it has come to include keyboardist Glenn Douglas, guitarist Lee Edgecomb, bassist Yusef Chisolm and vocalist Lori Williams. If you're looking for the same old tired saxophone driven sound too prevalent in this smooth jazz driver era, then look elsewhere. Collaboration lays claim to putting the "soul" back in jazz, with its supple and cohesive sound.
Thursday, May 31st-Robert Glasper-Piano
Ben Ratliff of the New York Times has said that Robert Glasper "deserves comparison with the best of the newer piano trios... his group has its own crisp, skittering cooperation, with hip-hop in its bounce." As a composer, he is absorbed by the usual influences of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, yet his delicate touch and harmonic touch exhibit a sound that is undeniably Glasper. He blends hip-hop and R&B into his jazz piano compositions, which are artfully showcased in "Canvas," his latest Blue Note release.
Friday, June 1st-Sunday, June 3rd-Pat Martino Quartet-Guitar
One of the most original of the jazz-based guitarists to emerge in the 1960s, Pat Martino made a remarkable comeback after brain surgery in 1980 to correct an aneurysm caused him to lose his memory and completely forget how to play. It took years, but he regained his ability, partly by listening to his older records. Martino began playing professionally when he was 15. He worked early on with groups led by Willis Jackson, Red Holloway, and a series of organists, including Don Patterson, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Jimmy McGriff. After playing with John Handy (1966), he started leading his own bands and heading sessions for Prestige, Muse, and Warner Bros. that found him welcoming the influences of avant-garde jazz, rock, pop, and world music into his advanced hard bop style.
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