April
The Lello Molinari Project with George Garzone, Jeff Galindo, Frank Carlberg Mick Goodrick & Bob Gullotti
1 APR TUE 8:30pm: $12
Bassist Molinari, whose music was called by DownBeat "in your face, a little raw and fiercely alive." returns to the R with a the all-star crew which performed on his latest CD, Multiple Personalities, including saxophonist Garzone, trombonist Galindo, pianist Carlberg, guitarist Goodrick and drummer Gullotti.
Fred Hersch and Norma Winstone
2 APR WED 8:30pm: $14
Composer/pianist Hersch teams up with noted British vocalist Winstone, whose work with Kenny Wheeler, Jimmy Rowles and Dave Holland has been highly praised and who in 2001 was voted BBC Vocalist of the Year, to produce the Sunnyside CD Songs & Lullabyes (the release of which they will celebrate this evening), on which the twosome perform Hersch originals as duets, as opposed to the conventional vocalist/accompanist setting.
Jim Porcella & Ida Zecco & Friends: A Tribute to Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Arranged & Directed by Jim Rice
3 APR THU 8:30pm: $20
Vocalists (and husband-and-wife) Porcella and Zecco return to the R with a first-rate band including Dick Lowell (tp), Arne Krakowsky (reeds), Artie Montinaro (tb), Jim Rice (p), Mark Carlson (b) and Gary Johnson (dm) to celebrate the songs of that quintessential husband-and-wife team, Louis Prima and Keely Smith with the swinging music of Sam Butera and the Witnesses.
The Chris Potter Quartet with Kevin Hays, Scott Colley & Bill Stewart
4 APR FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $16
Dubbed "easily the most compelling saxophonist of his generation," by Mark Stryker of The Detroit Free Press, Mr. Potter, a double winner in last year's DownBeat International Critics Poll, is one of the busiest and most respected players in contemporary jazz. His resume includes tours and recordings with Jim Hall, Ray Brown, Steve Swallow, Paul Motian, Dave Douglas and Dave Holland. He makes his Regattabar debut as a leader with keyboardist Hays, bassist Colley and drummer Stewart, all of whom performed on his latest Verve CD, Traveling Mercies.
Swingin' the Blues-Basie and Beyond: Kendrick Oliver and The New Life Jazz Orchestra with
Monica Lynk and special guest Kevin Mahogany
5 APR SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $20
Tuba player Oliver founded the 19-piece New Life Jazz Orchestra as a Berklee student in 1995. Known early on for its killer arrangements of swing standards and original tunes, the band has attracted the attention of nationally-known musicians, including Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton and Christian McBride, all of whom have guested with the band. This evening they are joined by Kansas City born jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany, who was steeped in that city's rich jazz heritage, and it was no accident that he appeared with the all-star band that graced the Robert Altman film, Kansas City. Called "the standout jazz vocalist of his generation" by Newsweek, Mr. Mahogany leaped at the opportunity of performing in front of a big band, and his appearance here with New Life and vocalist Lynk should evoke memories of his idol, Joe Williams, with the Basie Band. To help get into the swing of the era, the R will provide a dance floor at the rear of the club, enabling patrons the chance to listen or dance to the music, or both.
WATER MUSIC/MAINSTAGE CONCERT AT THE BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER:
The Wayne Shorter Quartet with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci and Brian Blade
6 APR SUN 7pm: $32.50/$27.50 o All seats reserved
Wayne Shorter's career spans nearly thirty-five years, during which he participated in several of the most pivotal and seminal groups in jazz. Last year he fielded a star-studded acoustic group, including pianist Pérez, bassist Patitucci and drummer Blade. After their sold out show here last year, Bob Young of The Boston Herald wrote that "a pair of standing ovations showed the audience recognized a memorable event when they heard it." Now the group returns to Boston to celebrate the release of its new Verve CD, Footprints Live, which was nominated for a 2003 Grammy.
The Mili Bermejo Trio with Bruce Barth & Dan Greenspan
8 APR TUE 8:30pm: $14
Vocalist Bermejo joins with pianist Barth and bassist Greenspan to preview their forthcoming CD, which countinues their exploration of the frontier where, in the words of former Boston Globe critic Bob Blumenthal, "jazz meets Latin with elegance and soul."
Regattabar closed APRIL 9
The Mike Stern Quartet with Bob Franceschini, Lincoln Goines and Terri Lyne Carrington
10 APR THU 8 & 10pm: $16; 11 APR FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $18
One of the top guitarists in jazz over the past two decades, Mr. Stern has earned the respect of colleagues and critics alike while also exerting a towering influence on a generation of aspiring players. An alum of the Miles Davis, Michael Brecker and David Sanborn bands, he was called by Guitar World "one of the true guitar greats of his generation." His latest CD, Voices, on Atlantic, was nominated for a 2002 Grammy, and he is joined on this date by saxist Franceschini, bassist Goines and special guest drummer Carrington, who has been seen here recently working with Herbie Hancock as well as leading her own impressive band.
Regattabar closed APRIL 12
WATER MUSIC/MAINSTAGE CONCERT AT THE BERKLEE PERFORMANCE CENTER:
Sonny Rollins
12 APR SAT 8pm: $35.50/$29.50 oAll seats reserved
The legendary saxophonist, who received an honorary degree from The New England Conservatory last spring, returns to Boston to to share his priceless gifts with us.
The New Black Eagle Jazz Band
13 APR SUN 3pm : $16
Boston's ambassadors of the New Orleans jazz of Louis Armstrong, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton return to the Regattabar for another afternoon of New Orleans style jazz.
Patrons of the 3pm show seated in Henrietta's Table after 1:30pm receive a $10 per person discount on brunch.
Lyambiko
15 APR TUE 8:30pm: $12
African-German vocalist Lyambiko, although only 27 years old, has caused quite a stir in Europe and will make her R debut as a part of her first US tour to celebrate her new Nagel Heyer CD,Out of this Mood. Reviewing that record in The Boston Globe, Steve Greenlee wrote that she "has a silky, mature voice with spine tingling intonations" and "may just be the freshest voice in jazz."
The Pierre Hurel Trio: April in Paris
16 APR WED 8:30pm: $12
Described by The Boston Globe's David Wildman as "the extraordinary Paris-born pianist," Mr. Hurel, whose latest Liger CD is The Crush, returns to the R for a third edition of April in Paris, in which he presents his take on French and American standards as well as perform some new originals. John Funkhouser(b) and Mike Connors (dm) assist.
Kenny Barron's "Canta Brasil"
with Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, Duduka da Fonseca & Anne Drummond
17 APR THU 8:30pm: $18; 18 APR FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $18
19 APR SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $20
Called "one of the top jazz pianists in the world" by The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Barron returns to the R with the first-call Brazilian rhythm section Trio da Paz, with guitarist Lubambo, bassist Matta and drummer da Fonseca, and with flutist Drummond for an inspired cross
fertilization that enhances both jazz and tropical elements. While most of the group have previously appeared in the R in other settings, this particular assemblage makes its Regattabar debut to explore jazz-
oriented Brazilian rhythms and to celebrate its new CD, Canta Brasil.
The Aquiles Baez Quartet
22 APR TUE 8:30pm: $12
The Venezuelan guitarist, who has worked with Paquito d'Rivera and Danilo Pérez and whose music bridges Latin rhythms and jazz melodies, returns to the R with Anat Cohen (reeds) Gustavo Amarante (b) and Omar Ledezma (perc) to celebrate his new Latin World CD.
Gargonz with George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi
Bruce Gertz, John Lockwood Bob Gullotti and Bob Kaufman
23 APR WED 8 & 10pm: $12
Saxophonist Garzone's adventurous flights with his longtime band The Fringe, with bassist Lockwood and drummer Gullotti, have made him a legend in the Boston area. Saxophonist Bergonzi is an internationally recognized jazz performer/composer and a member of Boston's innovative group Con Brio, with bassist Gertz and drummer Kaufman. In the 1980s, Mssrs. Garzone and Bergonzi joined the forces of their two bands into the supergroup Gargonz and was an instant success. They return to the Regattabar for another kaleidoscopic round-robin of jazz.
The Dominique Eade Quartet with Bill Pierce, Mick Goodrick & John Lockwood
24 APR THU 8:30pm: $12
Vocalist Eade, who was named Outstanding Jazz Vocalist in the 1999 Boston Music Awards and a Top Ten Female Vocalist in the 1999 Downbeat Critics' Poll, continues to impress. Ed Hazell wrote in The Boston Phoenix "her vocal control and imagination are peerless,'' and Steve Greenlee in The Boston Globe adds "Eade can improvise like few singers today." She returns to the R'bar with Pierce (sax), Goodrick (g) and Lockwood (b).
The Michel Camilo Trio with Charles Flores & Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez
25 APR FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $18
26 APR SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $20
Pianist/composer Camilo, who has been nominated for a Grammy for his Verve CD Triangulo, combines the fire and excitement of Tito Puente and the sophistication of Bill Evans. He joins the rhythms of his Caribbean heritage with a rich use of harmonic textures, jazz roots and superb piano technique. In 2000 his Verve release, Spain, won Best Latin Jazz Album in the first-ever Latin Grammy Awards. One of the most important jazz musicians to emerge in the past decade, he makes his Regattabar debut with bassist Flores and drummer Hernandez.
Orquesta Aragón
27 APR SUN 6:30 & 9pm: $20
28 APR MON 8pm: $16
Founded in Cienfuegos, Cuba by Orestes Aragón in 1939, this legendary 10-piece dance band has continued performing for over 60 years. In the early 50s they moved to Havana (the band's arrival coincided with the cha-cha boom), and their sound, combining strings, flute and percussion, quickly won over that capital and then proceeded to become world famous. While no original band members still perform with it, Orquesta Aragón is mostly manned by their second and third generation relatives, giving it both authenticity and soul. The band returns to the Regattabar for another fiesta, and the R will again provide a dance floor for those who can't resist the tropical beat.
Tre Corda with Tim Ray, Greg Hopkins & Eugene Friesen
29 APR TUE 8:30pm: $12
Pianist Ray is perhaps best known around here as accompanist to some of the area's leading vocalists (Donna Byrne and Mili Bermejo come to mind) and on the road as Lyle Lovett's piano player for the past 11 years. His latest project employs the talents of trumpeter Hopkins and multi-genre cellist Friesen, who join him in a trio dedicated to the blending of composition and improvisation in new and unexpected ways, using the musical vocabulary of Bartok and Stravinsky and ideas from the world of jazz and pop. The result is spirited, inventive and often humorous treatments of music you thought you knew well.
The group returns to the R to celebrate the release of its new CD.
The Bruce Katz Band
30 APR WED 8:30pm: $12
Called "one of Boston's musical treasures" by The Boston Phoenix, Mr. Katz's live performances combine a blues earthiness with jazz sophistication. He returns to the R on piano and Hammond B3 organ with his band featuring Julien Kasper (g), Ed Spargo (b) and Ralph Rosen (dm). His latest Audioquest CD, Three Feet Off The Ground, was called "one of the milestone recordings of modern blues" by The Boston Globe.
