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Aaron Parks Little Big

Friday, June 21, 2019 at 8 PM – 11 PM
The Jazz Estate
2423 N Murray Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211

Aaron Parks Little Big, the new Ropeadope album from the acclaimed pianist, keyboardist and composer, is at once the culmination of his brilliant early career and the long-awaited follow-up to his Blue Note Records debut, Invisible Cinema.

That 2008 release, with its gorgeously melodic writing and improvising and deft use of indie-rock, electronica and hip-hop elements, established Parks as one of the most gifted and original young voices in jazz. “This is the natural successor to that record,” says the New York-based artist, 34. “It’s taking the ideas of that project and doubling down on them—fully committing to that direction.”

Little Big also marks the recorded debut of the intuitive working group that gives the album its title (and which takes its name from a fantastical novel by John Crowley—a favorite book of Parks and, the pianist notes, Wayne Shorter). Parks handled the production duties, with engineering by Daniel Schlett (whose credits include The War on Drugs and Ghostface Killah). The album was mixed by both Schlett and Grizzly Bear bassist/producer Chris Taylor, the latter of whom Parks met in a Seattle big band at the age of 10. “We put a lot of time and care into the way this record sounds, and the result”—simultaneously crystalline and warm, postmodern and natural—“makes me really happy,” Parks adds.

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Michael Weiss Trio at Blu

Saturday, June 23 | 8pm – 12am
Blu Milwaukee
424 East Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Located on the 23rd floor of the Pfister Hotel
Phone: (414) 298-3196

Pianist Michael Weiss, grand prize winner of the 2000 BMI/Thelonious Monk Institute Composers Competition, has established a formidable reputation working with such names as Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer and Wynton Marsalis. In addition to his demand as a sideman, Weiss’ role as bandleader, recording artist, composer, arranger and educator have earned him accolades from both audiences and critics:

“…one of the most dynamic young pianists in jazz”
Chicago Tribune

“…focuses the intensity of a tune as well as any pianist in mainstream jazz”
New York Times

“…writes with thought-provoking originality”
JazzTimes

“…one of the most dependable pianists on the scene”
The New Yorker

Ted Nash and Kristen Lee Sergeant

Saturday May 20th, 2017 8pm-11pm

The Jazz Estate
2423 North Murray Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211

Kristen Lee Sergeant‘s emergence on the NYC jazz scene has branded this innovative artist with a distinct musicality, an intuitive sense of vocal phrasing, fresh lyrical interpretations, and arrangements all her own – and the word is spreading nationally. Jay Edwards, WCLK-FM Atlanta’s On-Air Jazz Tones host says “Sergeant takes your breath away as an effervescent spirit whose superb vocals and phrasing inject the lyrics with new life.” The Boston Globe has called her “especially entertaining.”

In October, Sergeant debuted the record at Birdland, and the performance spoke to even greater things to come. Downbeat chose her CD as its’ Editors’ Pick (September ‘16) – praising her “buttery to deliciously tart” vocals and “dramatically fresh arrangements.” Jay Edwards of WCLK-Atlanta notes her “effervescent spirit which injects the lyrics with new life.” Grammy winning writer, Bob Blumenthal, says her “superior intonation and control, an interpretive command that ranges from defiance to gentility, a willingness to take risks with harmony and rhythm, the freshness of her arrangements, synchronicity with her accompanists, and the manner in which all these elements yield a supremely musical package.”

Ted Nash enjoys an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger and educator. Born in Los Angeles into a musical family (his father, Dick Nash, and uncle, the late Ted Nash, were both well-known jazz and studio musicians), Nash has that uncanny ability to mix freedom with substance, blues with intellect, and risk-taking with clarity. He is a co-founder of the New York-based Jazz Composers Collective, a musician-run, non-profit innovative entity dedicated to presenting the original works of composers pushing the boundaries of their self-expression. Nash is also a long-standing member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, with Wynton Marsalis.

Nash has become one of the most significant jazz composers of the 21st century. His recordings have received wide critical acclaim, appearing on the “best-of” lists in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Village Voice, and The Boston Globe. Portrait in Seven Shades, his first big band recording, garnered two Grammy nominations. His following big band album, Chakra, received critical acclaim and charted on Billboard.

“Neither a poster boy for the avant-garde nor a blinders-on traditionalist, Nash is simply his own man.” -Washington Post

http://tednash.com/index.html

http://kristenleesergeant.com/

Dave King Trio featuring Bill Carrothers and Billy Peterson

Wednesday May 17th, 2017 8pm-11pm

The Jazz Estate
2423 North Murray Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211

Dave King is one of the most celebrated drummers in modern jazz. His contributions to the Minneapolis and New York jazz scenes are incalculable, and his imagination and boundless enthusiasm behind (and around) the drum set are singular and stunning. He has performed in 75 countries on six continents, and has been a member of bands like The Bad Plus, Happy Apple, Halloween Alaska, 12 Rods, Love Cars, The Gang Font, and others. He has also recorded or performed with Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Jeff Beck, Tim Berne, Mason Jennings, Mark Morris Dance Company, Haley Bonar, Meat Beat Manifesto, Craig Taborn, Jason Moran, David Torn, Atmosphere, and many others.

Bill Carrothers has been a professional pianist for over 25 years. He has played many venues throughout the U. S. and Europe including the Village Gate, Knitting Factory, Birdland, Blues Alley, New Morning (Paris), the Audi Jazz Festival in Brussels, the Nevers Jazz Festival (where he shared the bill with Abbey Lincoln), the Montreal Jazz Festival , Jazz Middelheim, and the Marciac Festival in France. In October of 2000, Mr. Carrothers headlined the prestigious Rising Star Tour throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. He has been a leader on seventeen recordings, all of which have received critical acclaim. His sideman credits have included some of the greatest names in jazz, including Joe Beck, Scot t Colley, Buddy DeFranco, Dave Douglas, Curtis Fuller, Eric Gravatt, Drew Gress, Tim Hagans, Billy Higgins, Ari Hoenig, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Gary Peacock, Dewey Redman, Charlie Rouse, James Spaulding, Bill Stewart, Ben Street, Ira Sullivan, Toots Thielemans, and Benny Wallace.

Billy Peterson is one of the premier bass players in the world, as well as being a successful producer and arranger, having worked with Ben Sidran, Eddie Harris, Leo Kottke, Bob Dylan and Steve Miller, to name a few. Billy has been the bassist for the Steve Miller band for 15 years and they are currently touring. He is also the musical director for a cooking show which is produced in the south of France, soon to be seen in the US.

http://daveking.net/

Peter Bernstein Quartet and Trio

BLU
424 E Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI

Friday & Saturday Feb 17 & 18, from 8-12 with
Mark Davis piano, Jeff Hamann bass, and David Bayles drums

Gibraltar
538 W National Ave
Milwaukee, WI

Sunday Feb 19th Peter will be performing from 8-12 with
Dan Trudell on Hammond B-3 & Organ and David Bayles on drums.

Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein (b. 1967, New York City) has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 80 recordings and numerous festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released nine albums and a DVD, Live at Smoke. He got his first break while attending the New School when he met the legendary guitarist Jim Hall. Hall asked Peter to participate in his Invitational Concert as part of the 1990 JVC Jazz Festival. The event featured such guitarists as John Scofield and Pat Metheny and was release as Live at Town Hall Vol. 2. by Music Masters. Hall noted that Peter “…has paid attention to the past as well as the future. He is the most impressive guitarist I’ve heard. He plays the best of them all for swing, logic, feel and taste.”

Also in 1990, Peter Bernstein was discovered by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and took part in the first of four recordings with him. He was a regular member of his group throughout the 1990s. “Some people just have it.” Donaldson said. “…most of the time you have to teach someone what to do, but Peter knows it all.” Peter has also enjoyed long musical associations with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (Cobb’s Mob), as well as organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart as a member of their highly acclaimed trio. The New York Times called them “the best organ trio of the last decade”. Together they recorded a dozen of records, all of which display their distinctive sound, whether exploring the depths of jazz standards or playing their original compositions.

From 1995 through 1997, Peter was a member of Joshua Redman’s band and played on Redman’s Freedom in the Groove CD. He played with Diana Krall’s quartet from 1999 through 2001 and with Dr. Lonnie Smith, the legendary organist who made his debut on the George Benson Cookbook albums. He has also recorded five CDs with organist Melvin Rhyne, known for his association with Wes Montgomery. In addition, Peter has appeared in groups led by Nicholas Payton, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, Tom Harrell, and Eric Alexander. Current projects include his recent album, Monk, recorded for the newly reactivated Xanadu label. Together with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart, he put their own spin on the rich legacy of Thelonious Monk. In September, Bernstein released a solo guitar record, Solo Guitar – Live at Smalls (Smalls Live), an intimate recording that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the front row at Small’s jazz club in New York City.

Peter’s an extremely elegant musician with a gorgeous tone that seems to relax you when you hear it. – The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles

The jazz guitarist, among the most sought after in the New York area, has a feather-light touch, an encyclopedic knowledge of chords and the ability to play standards like he’s inventing them on the spot. – The Los Angeles Daily News

Mr. Bernstein is a fluidly improvising guitarist in the post-bop tradition, with control over harmony and a beautiful sound. – The New York Times

Peter Bernstein produces a warm, ringing, muscular tone which echoes that of such giants as Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, and Kenny Burrell. – Jazziz

Tim Berne’s Decay at West End Conservatory

Live at The West End Conservatory
5500 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Phone: (414) 502-9378
www.westendconservatory.com

Thursday, October 22, 2015. 8pm $20

Tim Berne’s Decay ft.
Michael Formanek – Bass
Ryan Ferreira – Guitar
Ches Smith – Drums

Milwaukee and Madison and Surrounding areas. Here is your chance to hear Saxophonist/Composer Tim Berne’s new quartet as they embark on a tour that will culminate with the making of a new record.

http://screwgunrecords.com/

Please join us for an intimate night with some of the world’s leading voices in Creative Music and Improvisation.

DOORS AT 730PM – SHOW AT 8PM

——-$20 for 2 sets ——–

More Information:
Beyond his recordings as a bandleader, Berne has recorded and/or performed with guitarist Bill Frisell, avant-garde composer/sax player John Zorn, violinist Mat Maneri, guitarist David Torn, cellist Hank Roberts, trumpet player Herb Robertson, the ARTE Quartett and as a member of the cooperative trio Miniature.

Recent years have found Berne performing in several different groups with drummers Tom Rainey and Gerald Cleaver, keyboardist Craig Taborn, bassists Michael Formanek and Drew Gress, guitarists Marc Ducret and David Torn, and reeds player Chris Speed.

He is one-third of the group BBC (Berne/Black/Cline) along with drummer Jim Black and Nels Cline of Wilco. The group released a critically acclaimed album called The Veil in 2011.

Berne’s complex, multi-section compositions are often quite lengthy; twenty to thirty minute pieces are not unusual. One critic wrote that Berne’s long songs “don’t grow tiresome. The musicians are brilliantly creative and experienced enough not to get lost in all the room provided by these large time frames.”

2015 Bay View Jazz Fest

Friday, June 5th 2015
5:00-11:00pm

Tonic Tavern
2335 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 455-3205
http://tonictavern.com

5:30 – Cedarburg HS
7:00 – Bill Martin Trio
8:30 – 4th Street Elevator
10:00 – Fred Boswell Quartet

The Highbury Pub
2322 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 294-4400
http://thehighbury.com

6:00 – Johannes Wallmann Quartet
7:30 – Lenard Simpson Quartet
9:00 – Twin Talk

Boone & Crockett
2151 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 763-4935
https://www.facebook.com/BooneCrockett

5:00 – WCM Batterman
6:00 – Paul Silbergleit Trio
7:30 – Cigarette Break
9:00 – Russ Johnson Quartet

The Backyard
2155 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
https://www.facebook.com/theBACKYARDpubMKE

5:30 – MYSO BJQ
7:00 – Manty Ellis Trio

Colectivo
2301 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-6117
http://colectivocoffee.com/cafes/bay-view-cafe-bakery/

6:00 – Davis/Peplin Duo
7:30 – East Side Jazz Orchestra
9:00 – Three Stacks Elliot

Morgan Park
Holt & KK

6:00 – BEMBEMKE

D14
2273 S Howell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-0399

8:00 – TBD Jazz Band
10:00 – Stubby Chubbz Brass Band

UW-Milwaukee Woody Herman Festival

The Jazz Studies Program (Department of Music, Peck School of the Arts) and the Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra are collaborating to host the eighth annual Woody Herman Educational Jazz Workshop. Middle School and High School students will participate in clinics, master classes and full ensemble sessions and there will be special activities for ensemble directors. Friday events will also include the adjudication of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Woody Herman-Sister Fabian Fund Scholarships for high school seniors.

Middle School and High School Jazz Workshop – Fri, April 17, 2015, 8:30am – 3:30pm

Open to Middle and High School workshop participants

Public Jazz Workshops and Clinics – Sat, April 18, 2015, 12pm – 5pm

Open clinics, master classes, and workshops with Woody Herman Orchestra performers Frank Tiberi, and Mike Brignola.

Location:
Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts
2419 E. Kenwood Blvd,
Milwaukee, WI 53211

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Kneebody at The Jazz Estate

Monday, March 23, 2015
8pm, $8 cover

The Jazz Estate
2423 N Murray Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 964-9923

Kneebody is keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, electric bassist Kaveh Rastegar, saxophonist Ben Wendel and drummer Nate Wood. The band has no leader or rather, each member is the leader; they’ve developed their own musical language, inventing a unique cueing system that allows them each to change the tempo, key, style, and more in an instant.

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