February Festival Shows
The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine
29 JAN WED 8:30pm: $20; 30 JAN THU 8:30pm: $22
31 JAN FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $22; 1 FEB SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $24
2 FEB SUN 3pm & 7pm: $20*(*Children under 12: $12)
The legendary drummer, who turned 75 last September, has played with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Peter Watrous in The New York Times called his playing "as exciting as anything in American music." He returns to the R with his current quintet, which features Delfeayo Marsalis (tb), Pat LaBarbera (sax), Anthony Wonsey (p) and Gerard Cannon (b) to celebrate his new CD.
Patrons of the 3pm show seated in Henrietta's Table after 1:30pm receive a $10 per person discount on brunch.
Charlie Kohlhase's CK5
4 FEB TUE 8:30pm: $12
Saxist Kohlhase's bands have been called Best Jazz Band by Boston magazine and are three-time recipients of a Boston Music Award for Outstanding Jazz CD. His new group, with Jason Hunter (sax), Eric Hofbauer (g), Scott Varnum (b) and Robert Roses (dm) comes to the R to celebrate its new CD, CK5 Live, on Creative Nation.
The Issi Rozen Quartet
5 FEB WED 8:30pm: $12
Named Boston magazine's Best Jazz Performer of 1999, Israeli-born guitarist Rozen plays jazz standards and original compositions that are infused with Middle Eastern and Latin motifs to create a dynamic, passionate and infectious sound.
The Lee Konitz Trio with Dennis Irwin & Matt Wilson
6 FEB THU 8:30pm: $16; 7 FEB FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $16
Legendary saxophonist Konitz began in jazz in the late 40s, working with such icons as Stan Kenton, Miles Davis, Lennie Tristano and Gerry Mulligan, before moving off on his own. A master improviser, he pioneered many pianoless, bassless and drummerless groups and was involved in many historic associations, including trios with Elvin Jones and duos with Joe Henderson and Jim Hall. He returns to the R with bassist Irwin and drummer Wilson.
Regattabar closed February 8
The Laszlo Gardony Trio with John Lockwood & Yoron Israel and special guest Dave Liebman
11 FEB TUE 8:30pm: $14
Pianist Gardony, writes Kevin Convey of The Boston Herald, "has arrived, not only as an original voice, but also as a player who spans the conservatory and the gutbucket without a hint of strain." He returns to the R with bassist Lockwood, drummer Israel and saxophone eminence Liebman, whose career includes work as a sideman and as a leader with Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, John Scofield and Dave Holland.
The Fully Celebrated Orchestra
12 FEB WED 8:30pm: $12
The FCO, whose free-wheeling material derives from jazz, rock, blues and world music, includes saxophonist Jim Hobbs, trumpeter Taylor Ho Bynum, bassist Timo Shanko and drummer Django Carranza. The Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick described their sound as "an out-there squall of horns over a very deep groove." Bob Blumenthal in The Boston Globe called the band "Boston's best local jazz group...our best kept secret in the wider jazz world."
The Rusty Scott Quintet with special guest Bill Pierce
13 FEB THU 8:30pm: $12
Pianist/composer Scott returns to the R with his band for a reprise of last year's memorable battle of the saxes, which featured renowned tenorman Pierce facing off with resident tenor saxist Tim Mayer. This evening they will feature the music of Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons as they trade eights and fours over breakneck tempos, reminding us of the great tenor matches of the past. Keala Kaumeheiwa (b) and Harold Layne (dm) assist.
A Valentine from Irma Thomas
14 FEB FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $26; 15 FEB SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $26
Currently reigning as the Soul Queen of New Orleans, vocalist Thomas returns with her septet to deliver her unflagging high spirits and powerhouse vocals to the R. As Billboard saw it, "Thomas' entire career has been about using her dazzling voice to take great songs to her heart and make them special." Her latest Rounder CD is If You Want it, Come and Get It.
Boston Musical Theater:
Telling The Truth About Love featuring Mara Bonde and Aaron Engebreth Charlotte Kaufman, Musical Director
16 FEB SUN 3:30pm & 7pm: $20
BMT returns to the R with soprano Bonde and baritone Engebreth, backed by pianist Dan Loschen, bassist Rich Appleman and percussionist Bertram Lehmann, to comment on this weekend's hot topic in a special post Valentine's concert. They will present music from Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Rodgers and Hart and the Gershwins to make their point.
Patrons of the 3:30pm show seated in Henrietta's Table after 1:30pm receive a $10 per person discount on brunch.
Guaranteed Swahili
18 FEB TUE 8:30pm: $12
Many of the members of Guaranteed Swahili, a group popular on the Boston scene over the past seven years, with two CDs to its credit, have since moved to New York. The band incorporates elements of jazz, 20th century classical music, world music, hip-hop, rock and funk, resulting in a unique yet accessible blend of original music and interpretations of jazz standards. It makes its R debut tonight with Jason Hunter and Eric Rasmussen (saxes), Tim Luntzel (b), and Eric Thompson (dm).
Marta Gomez and Friends
19 FEB WED 8:30pm: $12
Berklee educated Colombian singer/songwriter Gomez joins with guitarist Julio Santillan and percussionist Franco Pinna to express the musical treasures of South America, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Mexico. She makes her Regattabar debut this evening to celebrate her new CD, Solo Es Vivar.
The Ron Carter Quartet
with Stephen Scott, Payton Crossley and Steve Kroon
20 FEB THU 8:30pm: $16; 21 FEB FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $16
22 FEB SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $18
Grammy award winner Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific and influential bassists in jazz, and he has performed and recorded with many of the music's greats-notably Miles Davis, as a member of his second "classic" quintet. He returns to the R with his quartet featuring pianist Scott, drummer Crossley and percussionist Kroon.
David Zoffer & Adam Larrabee
23 FEB SUN 3pm : $12
Pianist Zoffer and guitarist Larrabee, who are both NEC jazz profs, have performed and recorded with artists as diverse as Eddie Gomez, Bruce Hornsby, Don Byron, Harry Connick, Jr. and Bela Fleck. The duo, which reminds drummer Bob Moses of "the masterful Bill Evans/Jim Hall duets in its level of musicianship and interplay," brings its lush, lyrical grooves to the R to celebrate its new CD, Courage In Closeness. Patrons of the 3pm show seated in Henrietta's Table after 1:30pm receive a $10 per person discount on brunch. schedule continued on next page.
SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE SHOW
The Michael Musillami / Mario Pavone Quintet
George Schuller and The Schulldogs
25 FEB TUE 8pm: $14
Guitarist Musillami and bassist Pavone have been performing together in various bands for the last two decades and have created a group in which the rhythm section is the focus and the usual frontline of horns plays a supporting role. They make their Regattabar debut tonight with Art Baron (tb), George Sovak (sax) and George Schuller (dm) to celebrate the release of their new Playscape CD, Pivot.
Drummer/composer Schuller, whose Schulldogs have been tearing up the New York improvisational scene for the last five years, returns to the R with Tony Malaby and Jeff Lederer (saxes) and Ed Schuller (b) to celebrate the release of its new Playscape CD, Hellbent.
The Eric T. Johnson Quartet with special guest George Garzone
26 FEB WED 8:30pm: $12
Guitarist Johnson returns to the Regattabar with saxophonist Garzone, trumpeter Phil Grenadier, bassist Bob Nieske and drummer Nat Mugavero to celebrate the release of his new Summit Records CD, Herbie Nichols, Volume 1.
The Mark Shilansky Ensemble with special guest Luciana Souza
27 FEB THU 8:30pm: $12
Pianist Shilansky returns to the R to celebrate the release of his new CD, Other Voices, a collection of original compositions featuring the human voice in jazz in various ways-from scat singing to vocalise to straight ahead lyrics. Mr. Shilansky's complex, heartfelt and infectious music draws from jazz, as well as from pop and Brazilian music. Joining him this evening are special guest vocalist Souza (whose band Shilansky graced for several years), saxist Andrew Rathbun, bassist Fernando Huergo, drummer Bertram Lehmann, guitarist Eric Byers and a backup vocal ensemble comprised of Yumiko Matsuoka, Sharon Broadley-Martin, Bob Martin and Paul Stiller.
The José de Santos / Val Ramos / José Ramos Flamenco Trio
28 FEB FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $14
Called "one of the hidden treasures of the Flamenco world in America" by Flamenco Connection, the trio, with singer (and Valencia native) de Santos and guitarist brothers Valeriano and José Ramos, have for the past three summers journeyed to Spain to appear on Radio Nacional de España. This summer they will also perform shows in Salamanca, Madrid and Seville. Of their last R date, Maria Katsigianis opined on the Flamenco Buzz website, "In a word, it was brilliant!" The trio, whose latest CD is Por Mi Camino, on Piram, returns to the R for another enchanted evening.
