James Weidman

Decades long experience with a multitude of notable artists — from his early days as accompanist to iconic vocalists Abbey Lincoln and Cassandra Wilson, on to his years as a member of M-Base Collective innovator Steve Coleman’s group and music director for the late great Kevin Mahogany, up to his current tenure with saxophonist Joe Lovano’s critically acclaimed nonet and Grammy nominated Us Five band — has proven pianist/composer/arranger James Weidman to be one of the most versatile artists in music today and prepared him well for his steady emergence as an important bandleader in his own right.

Alvester Garnett is an American jazz drummer who, among many other productions, has appeared on Great Performances on PBS in a tribute to Kurt Weill. Garnett has played with Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Regina Carter, Clark Terry, Pharoah Sanders, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Teddy Edwards, James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Charenee Wade, Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Al Grey, Rodney Jones, and Sherman Irby, among others.

Bass master Harvie S is one of the most recorded jazz musicians of our time. He is an award winning bassist, educator, composer, arranger, and producer, who is continually challenging himself and his peers and expanding the borders of musical direction.

We welcome back two of this generation’s greatest horn blowers, Andy Gravish and Joe Magnarelli, as we pay tribute to the spontaneity and majesty of a unique moment in recorded jazz history.

In April of 1965 Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan, two of the greatest trumpeters of their generation, played a gig at Club La Marchal in Brooklyn, which was recorded and released on two LP’s on Blue Note Records as “The Night of the Cookers”. It stands out as an example of the pure excitement than can only be generated from live jazz, played by artists at the peak of their musical abilities.

Andy and Joe are are the height of their powers, and this night is sure to thrill all who are fortunate enough to get in the door!

Joe Magnarelli  has emerged as one of the premier trumpeters, improvisers, composers, and educators in jazz. Magnarelli has had the opportunity to play engagements in New York and around the world with Aretha Franklin, Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Freddy Cole, Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis, John Pizzarelli, Jane Monheit, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, George Grunz’s European Orchestra, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Smalls Jazz All-Stars, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill, Jimmy Cobb’s Mob, and Louis Hayes’s Cannonball Legacy Band.
   Mags has also performed such jazz and pop luminaries as Dr. John, Leon Russell, Liberace, the Manhattan Transfer, Freddie Hubbard, Art Farmer, Jimmy Heath, Al Jarreau, Jerry Bergonzi, Louie Bellson, Paquito D’Rivera, and Thiago Dimello.This impressive list of affiliations clearly demonstrates that Magnarelli is in demand as a top-tier trumpet stylist with a warm, open sound and stellar technique.

Andy Gravish combines a passionate warmth with a blazing facility and a musical wit that always leaves one wanting to hear more. Andy regularly performs at the top jazz festivals around the world, and has been the featured soloist with the Village Vanguard Orchestra, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, Paquito D’Rivera, and countless others. His resume is a who’s who of jazz: Buddy Rich, Artie Shaw, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, Mel Torme, Makoto Ozone,  Paquito D’Rivera,  Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Machito Latin Jazz  Orchestra, \ Gary Morgan Pan American Big Band, Wayne Andre Big Band, Nick  Kenny Werner, Jon Gordon, Donald Brown, Miles Griffith, Harrold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Pierce, James Williams, Kenny Berger, Joe Cohn, Jim Rotondi, Tom Harrell, Joe Magnarelli, 
He is also a very funny fellow! Come on out on Thursday, you will love him!