Rachel Z
Monday May 15  7PM    $20

Rachel Z's "Wild Horses"

“Rachel Z is a consistently adventurous player.  Rachel occasionally reveals traces of influence from McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock, but more often she is her own player, voicing her harmonies with a dark, intimate quality.”
Don Heckman
The Los Angeles Times
 
"Ms. Z is managing to make the age-old piano trio combo sound relevant and fresh to younger ears.  And she’s made this improbable connection without sacrificing her artistry or forsaking her own connection to the jazz piano legacy of Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, and Herbie Hancock."
Bill Milkowski
Contributor to Jazz Times and Jazziz magazines


After two world tours as the featured pianist and keyboard player in Peter Gabriel's group, Rachel Z has a solo career that is rapidly on the rise.
 
Rachel Z has just released her seventh solo recording "Grace," which features several original compositions and is the first CD where she sings.  This CD is a combination of originals and unique interpretations of modern pop writers like John Lennon, Kate Bush, and Kurt Cobain.  Her previous CD "Everlasting" presented instrumental jazz versions of pop songs by artists ranging from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Seal, Sade, Steely Dan, and  Kurt Cobain.  Prior to that Rachel Z recorded a tribute to Joni Mitchell.   Rachel Z is among the vanguard of musicians who are finding the jazz in modern pop music, and realizing its lasting value.
 
Rachel recorded and toured with saxophonist Wayne Shorter extensively in the late 90's and collaborated with him on the Grammy-winning CD "High Life."  Rachel Z has also played a prominent role in several major  groups including those of Al DiMeola, Steps Ahead, Wayne Shorter, Vertu with Lenny White and Stanley Clarke, and most recently as a featured artist with Peter Gabriel's band.  Rachel Z is clearly among the elite group of jazz musicians working today. This Summer and Fall, Rachel will be touring again in Europe and North America. For her appearance at Night Town, Rachel will be supported by her current New York trio consisting of drummer Bobby Rae and bassist Chris Luard.
 
Don't miss the dynamic sounds of pianist Rachel Z and her Trio live at Nighttown on Monday May 15th at 7 PM.

 

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From Israel
Sharon Sharr
with the Joe Hunter Trio
Wednesday May 17  7PM    $10


Sharon Sharr
Sharon Sharr was born in NY and at an early age, her family immigrated back to her father's hometown in Israel. Her father, Yoel Sharr, an acclaimed pianist-entertainer and composer, also performed at Nighttown, among other celebrated places. Her mother is a native Clevelander with a life long passion for jazz music.
Growing up in a house filled with music, particularly with jazz, has influenced Sharon’s taste in music as well as fueled her passion for performing arts in general.

Sharon is a graduate of Mike Nichols' acting school - “The New Actor’s Workshop” in NY. She also studied at the renowned Rimon School of Jazz in Israel. During the course of her studies, she formed the "Sharr Trio", a jazz music ensemble, together with two outstanding musicians, a pianist and a contrabassist, whom she met, and first collaborated with, at Rimon. The trio is known for its unique interpretations of George Benson’s "Masquerade" and Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” theme song - “Bang Bang”. Sharon is also the singer of the septet “Jazz 443”, a new fresh and versatile group.  Their styles vary from cool bebop and classical jazz to blues, funk and even Latin.  Sharon has performed in several musical productions in Israel and has participated in many TV programs.

Joining Sharon in her Nighttown premier is the Joe Hunter Trio: Joe Hunter -piano, Dallas Coffey – bass and Roy King - drums.

The Joe Hunter Trio
Joe Hunter is the pianist of choice in the Northeast Ohio area.  He can be heard frequently in the Fat Tuesday Big Band, Swing City, and backing big name artists.  He has backed many, including the legendary Tito Puente, saxophonist David Sanborn.  At Nighttown he has backed several major artists including David "Fathead" Newman, Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski. Joe Hunter is also on the faculty at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), one of the top jazz programs in the country.

Bassist Dallas Coffey rarely has a day off.  He has worked over 7 gigs a week frequently in the recent past.  A versatile musician Coffey, can be found playing electric bass in blues, funk, and rock bands throughout the region and is frequently found on new CD's from our area.  An excellent acoustic bassist, Coffey's jazz skills are immediately evident. Joe Hunter and Dallas Coffey have released two highly successful CD's "East of the Sun" and "From This Moment On". 

Rounding out the trio is veteran drummer Roy King.  King is also a regular at Nighttown.  He has played in support of several Nighttown favorites including Mose Allison, Mike Petrone, Lev Polyakin, and Gay Marshall.  Roy King is a consummate professional.  The Joe Hunter Trio has provided a wealth of good jazz for Cleveland jazz fans and there is much more to come.

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Aaron Goldberg
featuring Omar Avital and Eric Harland
Wednesday May 24  7PM    $10
Aaron Goldberg's "Turning Point"

Aaron Goldberg has been the pianist of choice for some of the biggest names in jazz.  In recent years he has worked extensively in the Quartets of Wynton Marsalis and Joshua Redman.  Currently Goldberg is touring as a leader in support of his new CD "Worlds" which will be released on May 9 on Sunnyside records.  The CD features his longtime trio of Reuben Rogers on acoustic bass, and drummer Eric Harland.  The CD also features special guests guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and Brazilian vocalist Louciana Souza.  The CD features several new compositions as well as classics from the pens of Brazilan artists Antonio Carlos Jobim and Djavan.
 
A native of Boston, Aaron Goldberg entered the national jazz spotlight in the early 90's when he was invited to join the group of the late great jazz vocalist Betty Carter.  At the time he was a student at Harvard.  After graduating from Harvard in 1996, Goldberg moved to Brooklyn, New York and he has been a high profile member of the national jazz scene ever since.   Besides his work with Redman and Marsalis, Goldberg is also a member of acclaimed guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel's Quintet, and is part of the cooperative Trio OAM with Israeli bassist Omer Avital and Italian percussionist Marc Miralta.  Besides his high profile sideman appearances Aaron Goldberg has recorded three solo CD's and has continued to build his repertoire as a leader.
 
Appearing with the dynamic pianist Aaron Goldberg will be acoustic bassist Omer Avital from Israel.  Avital is been compared to Charles Mingus by critics and is one of the more orginal young players on the scene.  On drums is Eric Harland.  Harland has toured and recorded with McCoy Tyner and recently has been featured as part of the San Francisco Jazz Collective along with Bobby Hutcherson, Joshua Redman, and Nicholas Payton.
 
Don't miss the exciting cutting edge pianist Aaron Goldberg and his Trio live at Nighttown on Wednesday, May 24th.

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From Brazil
Luca Mundaca
Thursday May 25  8PM    $10
Há Dias

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Luca Mundaca is the latest in a long line of great Brazilian artists who have gained international acclaim.  Luca is from a small town just south of Sao Paolo.  From her early teens on, she has been fine tuning her musical gifts.  Early on she quickly mastered the standard Bossa Nova repertoire and she became adept at interpreting the work of the masters. 
 
With the recent release of her debut CD "Day by Day" it is clear that Luca Mundaca is a musical artist in her prime.  A formidable composer and arranger, the new CD features all original compositions.  Shortly after releasing the CD an unsolicited copy was sent to Putumayo records in New York City.  So impressed were the Putumayo people they immediately added her to their brand new "Brazilian Lounge" CD.  She is featured alongside several major Brazilian artists on that CD including Bebel Gilberto, Paula Morlenbaum, and Marcos Valle.  The Putumayo CD features her original composition "Ha Dias". 
 
Now splitting her time between Brazil and the US, Luca Mundaca is truly a citizen of the world.  After spending substantial time in New York City since 1999, Mudaca is currently making Cleveland her US base.  This appearance at Nighttown follows her sold out performance at Nighttown in late March.  This will be a very special solo program and she will be featuring music from her new CD.  Now back by popular demand, don't miss the  multitalented Brazilian artist Luca Mundaca at Nighttown on Thursday, May 25th.

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From the Transiberian Orchestra
Alex Skolnick
Friday May 26  9PM    $15

Listen to a live interview with Alex Skolnick on Randy Allar's "Fusion Show" on Friday 5/26 at 1:00PM on WCSB 89.3FM.  

Alex Skolnick's "Transformation"

Skolnick's revved-up trio stunningly reconfigures tunes by rock icons into jazz-based, guitar trio fare."
****1/2 
- Downbeat
 
"Yes, here a former metalhead is reborn as a heady jazz guitarist in the Metheny-Scofield mold."
-Jazziz
 
"Sounds like the longhaired and tatooed stepchild of Joe Pass."
-Village Voice
 
Formerly the guitarist for the West coast based speed metal band Testament, Alex Skolnick was already playing arenas when he was just 16 years old. He recorded and toured with Testament for 5 years. An ambitious guitarist, Skolnick discovered jazz guitar while watching a Miles Davis video late at night in a hotel room. Always searching for new creative vistas, Skolnick found a new spark and creative freedom in jazz guitar. Soon he was soaking up the work of John Scofield, Mike Stern, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock. Eventually he moved to New York City, enrolled in the New School's jazz program, and now plays jazz most of the time. He does some rock work still notably as the featured guitarist in the Transiberian Orchestra.
 
His first jazz CD "Goodbye To Romance: Standards For a New Generation" has achieved critical and commercial acclaim. The CD features jazz arrangements of rock hits by groups ranging from The Who, to Kiss, Aerosmith, and even Ozzy Osborne. The tunes adapt to jazz amazingly well in the skillful hands of Skolnick.  Alex  released his second CD "Transformation" on Magnatude records in 2005.  "Transformation" features six original compositions as well as some new jazz covers of rock bands including Pink Floyd. His current Trio is featured on the CD along with special guests Charlie Hunter and Dave Eggars.  Like his first CD "Magnatude" has been a rousing success. 
 
For his appearance at Nighttown Skolnick will feature bassist Nathan Peck, and drummer Matt Zebroski. Don't miss the dynamic and exciting guitarist Alex Skolnick when he returns to Nighttown on Friday, May 26th.

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From Jamaica
Monty Alexander
Wednesday May 31 and Thursday June 1
Wed  7PM
Thurs  8PM   
$25

One of the finest jazz pianists living, Monty Alexander continues to carry on and extend the jazz lexicon.  Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Alexander has lived in the States since the mid sixties.  His passage to New York was secured by none other than Frank Sinatra, who first heard him play with a Jamaican Big Band in Las Vegas.  Shortly after arriving in New York, Monty Alexander was discovered by Milt Jackson, Ray Brown, and Dizzy Gillespie, who would all become his long time musical colleagues.  While Alexander was and is an able sideman, the majority of his career has been as a leader and he has over 50 recordings released under his name. 

Monty Alexander is very much in the jazz tradition, having been heavily influenced by Nat "King" Cole and Oscar Peterson.  However, one can hear the influence of his Jamaican heritage as well as the worldliness of an artist who has traveled globally for over 35 years. 

Currently recording for Cleveland's Telarc Records, Alexander's new CD is entitled "Concrete Jungle, The Music of Bob Marley" and was recorded in Kingston, Jamiaca at the legendary Tuff Gong Studio.  This CD is a follow up to his 1999 release "Stir it Up" which also featured all Bob Marley compositions.  Just released on March 28, this new CD features and all-star cast of Jamaican and US musicians including the vocalist Luciano, bassist Glenroy Brown, trombonist Delfayeo Marsalis, and Alexander's regular working trio mates acoustic bassist Hassan Shakur and drummer Herlin Riley.  These are just a few of the great artists on what is sure to be a landmark recording for Monty Alexander.  While Monty Alexander remains a master jazz pianist, this recording makes clear that Monty also has a firm command of the Reggae genre.  This musical exploration of his Jamaican roots is both an artistic success and shows a deep affection and regard for his Jamaican heritage.   Monty Alexander's combination of jazz and reggae will please listeners from both genres.  No one is better suited to this material than Monty Alexander.
 
Joining Monty Alexander for his performance at Nighttown will be Hassan Shakur on acoustic bass.  Shakur is featured on the new CD and has been with the trio for close to 10 years now.  On drums will be George Floudas from Chicago.  Floudas played Nighttown a few years back with Ray Brown and has also toured with Diana Krall.
 
Don't miss the great Jamaican pianist Monty Alexander performing music from his new CD "Concrete Jungle, the Music of Bob Marley" live at Nighttown on Wednesday, May 31st and Thursday, June 1st.