May & June

Stefon Harris & Blackout with Casey Benjamin, Marc Casey, Darryl Hall and Terreon Gully
4 MAY TUE 8:30pm: $16; 5 MAY WED 7:30 & 10pm: $16
Stefon Harris has established himself as the most important and creative vibraphonists of his generation. He has recorded and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Joe Henderson, Charlie Hunter and Greg Osby and was called by The Los Angeles Times "one of the most important young artists in jazz." His last Blue Note CD, The Grand Unification Theory, was nominated for a Grammy this year, and he returns to the R to celebrate the release of his new Blue Note CD, Evolution.

Ruth Brown & Friends
6 MAY THU 8:30pm: $20
7 MAY FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $22; 8 MAY SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $24
Jazz and blues vocalist Brown's credits include several million-selling hits, induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Award, two W.C. Handy Awards, a Tony Award, the Ralph Gleason Award for Music Journalism (for her 1996 autobiography) and a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. At Ms. Brown's appearance here last July, when she came back once again from health problems, she drew standing ovations not only for her musicality and humanity but for her indomitable spirit. She returns with a sextet to perform her many classic hits and newer material imbued with the same timeless swing that has characterized her storied career.

The Ryoko Moriyama Quintet
11 MAY TUE 7:30 & 10pm: $16
Jazz vocalist Moriyama, who in her 35-year career has consistently topped charts and won awards in her native Japan, became an international star in 2000 with tours in America and Europe. Tonight, she makes her Boston debut to celebrate the release of her new CD, The Jazz Singer, which was recorded with saxophonist Michael Brecker and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

The Issi Rozen Quartet
12 MAY WED 8:30pm: $12
Israeli-born guitarist Rozen has emerged as a leading performer on the Boston jazz scene, creating a unique musical style by blending Middle Eastern and Latin motifs with straight ahead jazz. He returns to the R with Gilad Barkan (p), Thomson Kneeland (b), and Harvey Wirht (dm).

Jack Donahue
13 MAY THU 8:30pm: $16
Vocalist Donahue has appeared at the Plush Room in San Francisco and The Rainbow Room, Town Hall and the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in New York. Reviewing his Oak Room date, Rex Reed wrote in The New York Observer that "there is a bright new talent in our midst . . . with a rich and enchanting voice." Mr. Donahue returns to the R to celebrate the release of his second CD, Strange Weather, produced by New York Voices' Peter Eldridge and featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. Mr. Eldridge will assist on piano and backup vocals, joined by bassist Eric Stiller and percussionist David Brophy.

Roomful Of Blues
14 MAY FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $18
Begun in 1968, the ten piece blues band has perfected and maintained its hard-driving, infectious energy and gritty attack. It was named Blues Group of 1996 and 1998 in the DownBeat Critics' Poll and has been nominated for five Grammys beginning in 1983, including this year's nomination for their recent Alligator Records CD, That's Right.

Tiger's Baku
15 MAY SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $14
Trumpeter Tiger Okoshi returns with his respected fusion sextet, including Bruce Bartlett (g), Steve Hunt (keys), David Buda (b), Larry Finn (dm) and Mimy Siaindratovo (perc). His latest CD is The Color of Soil, on JVC.

Regattabar closed May 18

The Greg Burk Quartet with Jerry Bergonzi
19 MAY WED 8:30pm: $12
Pianist, recording artist and educator Burk returns to the R with saxist Bergonzi to celebrate his new Soul Note CD, Carpe Momentum.

The Katie Viqueira Group with Nando Michelin-A Night of Tango Jazz
20 MAY THU 8:30pm: $12
Buenos Aires native Viqueira returns with her unique vocal blend of passionate Tangos, Candombes, Milongas and Chacareras. She received highest critical accolades for her performance in the U. S. premiere of Astor Piazolla's Tango-oratory "Pueblo Joven" at Town Hall in New York City. Called "a hot Tango star" by The Boston Globe, she will be assisted by pianist Michelin, Fernando Huergo (b) and Bertram Lehmann (dm).

The Duke Robillard Band
21 MAY FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $14
Inspired by blues legends like T-Bone Walker and Big Joe Turner and called "one of the great players" by B. B. King, guitarist Robillard (a Roomful of Blues alum) has recorded over a dozen albums as a leader and has worked with Bob Dylan, Jay McShann and Pinetop Perkins.

Annie Royer: Cabaret de Paris
22 MAY SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $16
International chanteuse Royer, a native of Paris (and now a Florida resident), is equally at home with the soulful songs of Edith Piaf as she is with jazz standards. Backed by her band, Les garcons musettes, she makes a welcome return.

Regattabar closed MAY 25

The Aquiles Baez Quartet
26 MAY WED 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 his quartet.

The Charlie Kohlhase Quintet
27 MAY THU 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 Quintet, with John Carlson (tp), Matt Langley (sax), John Turner (b) and Eric Rosenthal (dm) returns to the R to celebrate its new CD, Play Free or Die, on Boxholder.

The Jane Monheit Quintet
28 MAY FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $26; 29 MAY SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $28
Vocalist Monheit, who in these parts has lately delivered knockout performances in concert venues (Sanders Theatre, The Tanglewood Jazz Festival and The Boston Globe Jazz Festival) makes her R debut for a rare club appearance. With three highly acclaimed CDs (Never Never Land, Come Dream with Me and In The Sun) and SRO houses on recent tours, in the opinion of Time Magazine, "she has, in a word, everything." Steve Greenlee wrote in The Boston Globe, "Like the best jazz singers, Monheit has her way with songs . . . many of our best vocalists-Mel Torme, Julie London and Frank Sinatra, to name a few-floated among cabaret, jazz and pop. Monheit takes her place beside them." Accompanying her are saxist Joel Frahm, pianist Michael Kamin, bassist Joe Martin and drummer Rick Malbano.

JUNE Post-Festival Shows:

Regattabar closed JUNE 1

The Felipe Salles Group
2 JUN WED 8:30pm: $12
Saxophonist Salles, a native of Sâo Paulo, returns to the R with his Brazilian jazz quintet featuring Joel Yennior (tb), Nando Michelin (p), Rick McLaughlin (b) and Bertram Lehmann (dm). Regattabar closed JUNE 3

The Regina Carter Quintet
4 JUN FRI 7:30 & 10pm: $20; 5 JUN SAT 7:30 & 10pm: $22
Considered the most significant jazz violinist since Stephane Grappelli, Ms. Carter continues to reveal a distinctly diverse musical personality. Time Magazine states that "Regina Carter creates music that is wonderfully listenable, probingly intelligent and, at times breathtakingly daring....taking the listener into the future of jazz." Her recordings include work with Cassandra Wilson, Kenny Barron, Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin. Her latest Verve CD is